What car for 2 adults & 2 bike transporting £15-25k
Discussion
We have one car for two of us, no desire or space to run 2 cars. Budget of 15-25k for a 3-5 year old car, main requirement is to be able to transport 2 bikes easily, so rear seats down and removing front wheels is fine but don't want to remove rear wheels/seatposts etc and have enough space for e.g. a 10 day trip. Would rather not use a roof rack or tow bar rack, the bikes aren't cheap. We're both tall so bikes are large/x-large but don't want a bigger car like e.g. a Skoda Superb. We do <5000 miles/yr so fuel economy isn't top of the list. So far have looked at A4 Avant, Octavia estate, Volvo V60, Focus estate etc. So far we are favouring the V60 for the more premium feel (above the VW group cars) and the performance in the PHEV versions or the Focus for a surprisingly big boot. Is there anything else we should be looking at or recommendations?
I've ridden large and extra large framed bikes for years and driven Volvo estates for years and whilst a large adult bike roll go in most medium to large estate cars with the front wheel off, it'd be lying given on it's side. So factor in a second bike and you'll be laying them on top of each other.
The only way large bikes will go in standing up side by side, minus front wheels is if you have suitable height (and saddles dropped or removed) and I'm pretty sure no tradition estate will manage that... so I think you'll be into the realms of MPV / tall SUV or a smaller Caddy esque van.
If you're happy to lay them down and stick them, then most estates will cope as will most large hatch backs... mates get their large and extra large eMTBs into a Tesla 3, a Focus, a Volvo XC40 and mine will go on a Volvo V50... but that's one bike taking up the entire available floor space behind the front seats. Another mate can carry 4 large MTB stood upright with front wheels of in his Caddy Maxi.
I can get 5 large ebikes in my Transporter, stood upright, wheels on and still seat 5 plus all our kit...
The only way large bikes will go in standing up side by side, minus front wheels is if you have suitable height (and saddles dropped or removed) and I'm pretty sure no tradition estate will manage that... so I think you'll be into the realms of MPV / tall SUV or a smaller Caddy esque van.
If you're happy to lay them down and stick them, then most estates will cope as will most large hatch backs... mates get their large and extra large eMTBs into a Tesla 3, a Focus, a Volvo XC40 and mine will go on a Volvo V50... but that's one bike taking up the entire available floor space behind the front seats. Another mate can carry 4 large MTB stood upright with front wheels of in his Caddy Maxi.
I can get 5 large ebikes in my Transporter, stood upright, wheels on and still seat 5 plus all our kit...
I’ve taken £15k worth of bikes on a towbar rack to the Alps several times. I’d rather do that than put bikes on top of each other, which as said above is the only way two will fit in an estate unless you buy some crappy S Max shaped thing. And pretty much your entire luggage space is taken up.
I just take a couple of quality D locks along (which you would anyway) and lock them up when on the ferry etc
I just take a couple of quality D locks along (which you would anyway) and lock them up when on the ferry etc
Here's a few I can think of that you maybe haven't considered
Top of my list is the Peugeot 308 SW - the boots on these are absolutely cavernous. You should definitely try and have a look at one. Go for the 1.6 petrol models (or the PHEV like this one) they are the most reliable. Avoid the wet cambelt 1.2 puretech engines and also avoid the diesels, not that you should be getting one if you only do 5000 miles a year anyway
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506263...
They also do a full electric model - real world range is more like 200 miles (130 in freezing weather)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505132...
Toyota Corollas should also be on your list. Either 1.8 or 2.0 are super reliable - there's a good reason loads of uber drivers use them. Personally I'd go for the 2.0 version. On that note, just be careful to make sure it is has never been used as a private hire car and that it hasn't been clocked. I'd recommend V-Check for this (a 2.0 model is also statistically less likely to have been used as a taxi)
Approved used model - warranty should be extendable until 2032
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508295...
Cheaper model
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507114...
Another approved used car here - Kia Ceed Sportswagon 1.5 GDi with 49 months of warranty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509056...
If you want something with a bit more power, there is this Seat Leon Cupra 300 4Drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...
Top of my list is the Peugeot 308 SW - the boots on these are absolutely cavernous. You should definitely try and have a look at one. Go for the 1.6 petrol models (or the PHEV like this one) they are the most reliable. Avoid the wet cambelt 1.2 puretech engines and also avoid the diesels, not that you should be getting one if you only do 5000 miles a year anyway
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506263...
They also do a full electric model - real world range is more like 200 miles (130 in freezing weather)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505132...
Toyota Corollas should also be on your list. Either 1.8 or 2.0 are super reliable - there's a good reason loads of uber drivers use them. Personally I'd go for the 2.0 version. On that note, just be careful to make sure it is has never been used as a private hire car and that it hasn't been clocked. I'd recommend V-Check for this (a 2.0 model is also statistically less likely to have been used as a taxi)
Approved used model - warranty should be extendable until 2032
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508295...
Cheaper model
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507114...
Another approved used car here - Kia Ceed Sportswagon 1.5 GDi with 49 months of warranty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509056...
If you want something with a bit more power, there is this Seat Leon Cupra 300 4Drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 24th September 21:21
Some good suggestions so far, thanks. Would rather avoid the biggest estates like the Superb/5 series/V90/Arteon etc due to driveway length and width. Prepared to lay bikes flat in the boot with an old duvet between them, it's a compromise but better for us at this time than driving a van/Kangoo type. Bike racks would open up a lot more but want to have the option of transporting the bikes in the car.
A Peugeot 308SW looked a good option but couldn't get comfortable without the steering wheel blocking the view of the instruments (both me and other half). BMW 3 touring is also good but neighbour bought one recently and we had the same car before so don't want to mirror each other again! We've looked at a couple of Octavias, but both had a very noisy/creaky cabin which a few have mentioned in the recent "Cars to be thankful for" article.
A Peugeot 308SW looked a good option but couldn't get comfortable without the steering wheel blocking the view of the instruments (both me and other half). BMW 3 touring is also good but neighbour bought one recently and we had the same car before so don't want to mirror each other again! We've looked at a couple of Octavias, but both had a very noisy/creaky cabin which a few have mentioned in the recent "Cars to be thankful for" article.
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