[langdang]

Originally Posted by jbolger

I'll have a look into the V50 so, if i go down the estates route
And i actually agree with you, they've gotten a lot better looking in recent years so not a bad option. I still want to be able to say, these are the saloons that could do the job, and then compare that then against our other options of estates / jeeps...

A jeep/SUV/softroader with a high boot could be an issue for some dogs as they get older, especially for one you struggle to physically lift.

Most 5door/liftback/hatchback* saloons would suit I spose - the octavia and the mondeo are obvious choices. Avensis? Mazda 6? Both of these are/were available as 5 door but most are 4door I'd say. 5 door saloons have a higher than average chance of being UK imports, so check the history.

*be warned, searching for these on carzone or donedeal is a nightmare, half the ads are wrong. Complete imbeciles will swear blind to you that it is a 5 door or a 4 door, and you will go to look at it and realise that no, it's not what you wanted at all.
By searching carzone for 5dr saloon only, you will exclude many liftback saloons advertised as 4 door saloons or 4 door hatchbacks or 5door hatchbacks. You'll have to trawl through them all, and look for windscreen wipers on the back window. Happy hunting...

[jbolger]

Originally Posted by Whatever_fools

Your wife is probably a reasonable lady - I'd say show her a few photos of the newer estates and she'll be on board. Is she giving up a ridiculously beautiful car to trade up to a dog friendly saloon? You sound like this dog is very important in your lives!

He he he, yeah he kinda is, but the reality is he goes in the car every day when going for a walk so it's gotta be factored in. There's no point in getting the particular car we want and then finding that it's getting ruined with dog hair...

Well she is fond of her car alright so it's not going to be an easy sell!

[kupus]

Heres another estate its a very nice Peugeot 207SW, afaik this is the only one for sale at the moment and its on uk plates, http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3095564

They look good and are not the conventional boxy type of estate that can be the stigma of the estate car and you get the work horse area of a big boot.

[vectra]

Originally Posted by langdang

By searching carzone for 5dr saloon only, you will exclude many liftback saloons advertised as 4 door saloons or 4 door hatchbacks or 5door hatchbacks. You'll have to trawl through them all, and look for windscreen wipers on the back window. Happy hunting...

That's not the ideal solution either.
I had a '00 Nissan Primera 4 door Saloon.. it had a rear window wiper

@ OP
Not all estates/Combi's look bad

Both Hatch and Combi are identical lenght 4569mm

[jbolger]

Originally Posted by vectra

That's not the ideal solution either.
I had a '00 Nissan Primera 4 door Saloon.. it had a rear window wiper

@ OP
Not all estates/Combi's look bad

Both Hatch and Combi are identical lenght 4569mm

Cheers for the info.
I quite like the i40 estate:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3171571

Or the avensis estate

[Anan1]

Bottom line is there's no such thing as a saloon with a dog-friendly boot. Hatchbacks will do the job with varying degrees of success, and a few will even do it while looking vaguely like a saloon. If the dog's welfare is really a priority, though, then IMO you need to either buy an estate or let the dog sit on the back seat. Remember also that most people who've got used to the versatility of an estate would never go back.

[jbolger]

Originally Posted by Anan1

Bottom line is there's no such thing as a saloon with a dog-friendly boot. Hatchbacks will do the job with varying degrees of success, and a few will even do it while looking vaguely like a saloon. If the dog's welfare is really a priority, though, then IMO you need to either buy an estate or let the dog sit on the back seat. Remember also that most people who've got used to the versatility of an estate would never go back.

Yeah it's looking that way alright. Only options I've seen so far are the Superb and possibly the Mondeo.

Lots of good options if we go for an estate however. Thanks guys

[OSI]

Carry the dog and look the dogs bollocks while doing so:

[langdang]

Originally Posted by jbolger

Yeah it's looking that way alright. Only options I've seen so far are the Superb and possibly the Mondeo.

Lots of good options if we go for an estate however. Thanks guys

Forgot to say earlier - I find a flat entry to the boot is a better job if you will regularly be putting stuff other than a gearbag or shopping into the boot, ie no lip that the dog (or washing machine etc) has to get over. More likely to feature in an estate or jeep (or a van) than a liftback saloon.

[jbolger]

Originally Posted by langdang

Forgot to say earlier - I find a flat entry to the boot is a better job if you will regularly be putting stuff other than a gearbag or shopping into the boot, ie no lip that the dog (or washing machine etc) has to get over. More likely to feature in an estate or jeep (or a van) than a liftback saloon.

cheers

[vectra]

Originally Posted by jbolger

Cheers for the info.
I quite like the i40 estate:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3171571

Or the avensis estate

Yes,
Those i40's are eye catching alright

[Wossack]

is the Yeti a non-runner? saw it mentioned as an edit to someones previous post, so possibly overlooked...

[jbolger]

Originally Posted by Wossack

is the Yeti a non-runner? saw it mentioned as an edit to someones previous post, so possibly overlooked...

I'm not sure I'm mad on it to be honest. Haven't seen it for real so just judging from the photos. If i was going down the jeep route, I'd have to take a good long look at the new Kia Sportage. I've seen these out and about and they look the biz. All depends on price tho eh?!

[vectra]

Originally Posted by jbolger

I'm not sure I'm mad on it to be honest. Haven't seen it for real so just judging from the photos. If i was going down the jeep route, I'd have to take a good long look at the new Kia Sportage. I've seen these out and about and they look the biz. All depends on price tho eh?!

As you mentioned the i40 and also mentioned Kia. The Kia Optima is in a showroom since yesterday so possibly another option of an estate.

[Wossack]

Originally Posted by jbolger

I'm not sure I'm mad on it to be honest. Haven't seen it for real so just judging from the photos. If i was going down the jeep route, I'd have to take a good long look at the new Kia Sportage. I've seen these out and about and they look the biz. All depends on price tho eh?!

Exactly that..! No worries, just thought it might have been overlooked

Gonna jump on the estate bandwagon and throw in the the Saab 93 estate .. no idea if they're any use mind..

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3247197