Room for all... lol

[smallzoo]

We now have three dogs, two medium/large

We went to devon for a week and we had to use two cars ( my wife's qashqai and daughters astra ) as with all the luggage for 4 adults, 3 dogs, camping chairs etc there was literally no room to move as two of the dogs had to go in the boot.

We will travelling more now maybe once a month so wondering...

Is there a family car/van etc for say under £10kish ( but would spend more.. to replace my very rust old astra estate ) that would fit all of us, plus all our luggage plus the dogs and let us travel in comfort for 6 hours

I did think of a VW Transporter T5 but really just finger in the air job as it would allow my wife and I to use it as a semi-camper for weekends

( e.g. https://www.justkampers.com/marketplace/listing/vi... )

Suggestions, insults ?

[Pixel Pusher]

Mercedes Viano?

[Roger Irrelevant]

I don't think any estate will do the job really unless you get a big roof box too - won't three dogs take up basically the whole of the boot in even the biggest estate? Having said that I think that's what I'd do rather than get a van. Having seen a couple of friends buy vans for around the same sort of money recently you don't seem to get much and I'd not be bowled over at the thought of doing 6-hour journeys in them.

[WelshRich]

Small trailer?

For the camping stuff, not the dogs

[chrisman]

7k - 8k on a decent estate for your family and the dogs. A couple of K for a decent trailer.

That way you're not spending the rest of the year driving something the size of a van.

You could probably rent the trailer as well.

Edited by chrisman on Monday 15th July 17:44

[Gordon Hill]

Yep you'll be needing a trailer and an E Class estate.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Transit Torneo should do the job, especially if you find a LWB model.

[E63eeeeee...]

You might be the definitive use case for an R Class. 4 adult seats, drop the back row flat for a properly massive boot, bit quirky, doesn't look (too much) like a van.

For preference, since this is PH, the R63 looks utterly ridiculous. There are sensible ones too, if you must.

[the-norseman]

We have a 2012 XC90

2 adults, 2 kids (12 and 2) and 2 large dogs.

Because the missus cant pack lightly we end up having to put a roof box on most of the time.

[andrebar]

I also have an XC90, which is usually comfy enough with 5 adults & 2 large dogs. A lot depends on the amount of clobber everyone insists on packing.

[ZX10R NIN]

Transit Combi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407111...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405019...

i800:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407061...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407051...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407081...

[ACCYSTAN]

For 10k you might get one of the currant shape Berlimgo / Rifter / Combo Life in the longer XL body on a 18 or 68 plate.

[Davie]

Regarding finger in the air stuff... I bought a VW Transporter when we outgrew a Volvo XC70. Ridiculously massive inside, but still pretty much on par outside with a big SUV. It's not the most refined thing, but it's surprisingly good on a long trip. Easily turns it's hand at impromptu camper stuff too without even losing the middle row of seats. The like to rust though. And rattle. And certain VW scene types insist on waving at you...

[JJ55]

If you don’t want a roof box or a trailer a transporter/ transit custom will swallow everything with ease. They are brilliant for this. I’ve owned both for similar reasons. I found the transit the better of the 2.

[smallzoo]

Thanks for the sensible suggestions

They make sense but , not sure if any on you have driven the roads in Devon/Cornwall but at over 1.9m wide there are going to be some interesting moments driving down a lot of the country lanes. At 1.8m even the qashqai is a squeeze..but.. excellent suggestions

[Belle427]

The Transporter would be ideal really, get one with at least 130 bhp though as they can be gutless loaded up.
Some of the flashier higher power models do have engine issues so just take care.

[TO73074E]

Toyota Alphard / Nissan Elgrand. I know in the Alphard the rear two seats fold up vertically and even fold flat to give even more room.

[sp222]

smallzoo said:

Thanks for the sensible suggestions

They make sense but , not sure if any on you have driven the roads in Devon/Cornwall but at over 1.9m wide there are going to be some interesting moments driving down a lot of the country lanes. At 1.8m even the qashqai is a squeeze..but.. excellent suggestions

It just takes some getting used to.

Remember that in the summer the hedges will have grown out a fair bit, so there's usually more room than you think. Unless it's a single track you can almost always get two decent sized vehicles through..

[Davie]

Tougher brief if you want something to accommodate four adults, three dogs plus all the associated luggage but be as narrow as possible. Not sure how old your Astra is but the 2012 era models are just over 1800mm wide... pretty much the same for a newer Focus. I don't think I'd be ruling stuff out based on passing cars on country lanes, people drive around down there with big vans, campers, tractors, massive 4x4 and so on. To go narrow, you'll have to then think roof box and / or camping trailer / dog trailer.

[ZX10R NIN]

smallzoo said:

Thanks for the sensible suggestions

They make sense but , not sure if any on you have driven the roads in Devon/Cornwall but at over 1.9m wide there are going to be some interesting moments driving down a lot of the country lanes. At 1.8m even the qashqai is a squeeze..but.. excellent suggestions

The i800 is 1.92 wide