Dog/Baby Friendly car

McNulty

Not sure if this should be here or Animal/Pets - so going in both! I'm in the market for a newish car which I can get through work. I pretty much have a free choice so I'm looking for something that will comfortably fit two cockers in the boot - plus a buggy (and soon to be double buggy). Crrently have a ford focus 01 which is getting a bit too cramped.
Any ideas? Saloons are out as I have some relatively rough ground to drive to when I go to the beach so looking for something quite robust. At first look I'm thinking Cmax, Rav4 or a Quashqai but haven;t tested any out?
Does anyone have any idea for a good dog/babies friendly vehicle?

Cheers in advance

Jim

Berty

The Qashqai is a nice piece of kit but wouldnt you be better off with an estate car? The kids maybe easier to get in and out of an SUV but I hate SUV's. If it doesnt go offroad then I dont understand why people need it. Remember just because it looks like a 4x4 does not mean it is a 4x4. Most Qashqais in this country are two wheel drive.

You can get a better kit from an estate car?

What is your budget anyway?

I am a strong believer in the Volvo V50



How rough is this rough ground? Where is the beach?

Zube

McNulty wrote: »

At first look I'm thinking Cmax, Rav4 or a Quashqai but haven;t tested any out?

The C-Max is a waste of time, no more useful space than a Focus. The Kuga is supposed to be good if you like jeeps, and the RAV4 and Cashcow are popular, but I'd go and check them out for size if I were you. Nothing worse than running out of space within a year of changing up.

With three kids and one dog, we've had an S-Max for a year now. You really should take a look when you're at the Ford dealer: the extra space is a real luxury when carrying a family.

R.O.R

^^
That was my initial thought too Berty, but the wife has one of them. It's fine for one dog, but 2 dogs and a double buggy aren't going to fit in the boot.

V70 Estate maybe, or a good old Mondeo estate should be big enough.

Anan1

How about a Subaru Legacy Outback 2.0TD? Sounds to me as though it covers everything you want it to do.

robtri

I would be going for an estate as well if I was you, but it depends on your budget, a good model would be the new scooby TD boxer... nice estate, and a good price....

Berty

The old Ford Mondeo is an ugly beast so is the new one.

The XC70 is a big as* volvo but is a pricey beast of a car. I think the Kuga would be too small. It may be high but its not a big vehicle.

How about the new Avensis Estate with tax only €156 per year on a diesel?



Double buggy definately but arent those dogs small dogs?

Zube

Berty wrote: »

Double buggy definately but arent those dogs small dogs?

Sure, but two dogs in a cage is still a few cubic feet of space.

Two dogs without a cage are unguided missiles in a crash. Check the boot of your car for D rings to tie a cage down, or get a dog-screen fitted behind the rear seats on day one.

Drummerboy08

I second the call for the Scooby Legacy Estate. The Outback seems to cover most of what you need here, and there is a decent bit of spec in them.

Legacy FTW

Actually - have a look at the Qashqai +2.

Berty

Zube wrote: »

Two dogs without a cage are unguided missiles in a crash. Check the boot of your car for D rings to tie a cage down, or get a dog-screen fitted behind the rear seats on day one.

I just assumed that all sensible dog owners do this as oppossed to the ones with their dogs asleep on the back window. They deserve to be hit in the back of the head by a dog when emergency braking/crashing.

On estates, the Jag and the Volvo have the biggest space.

The XC90 has the best usable space on an SUV and at least would be a suitable 4x4 also.

I did find a Cadillac Escalade in Japan that could import for around €16000 + VRT. Lots of room in that for dogs and 100 buggies.

Anan1

Berty wrote: »

I did find a Cadillac Escalade in Japan that could import for around €16000 + VRT. Lots of room in that for dogs and 100 buggies.

& machine-pistols & coke.;)

Zube

Berty says the Mondeo estate is ugly, but this makes it look like a Maserati.

A 4x4 Renault Kangoo diesel. Very useful if you have a real car too.

McNulty

Wow - thanks for the help!

Admittedly I have been tempted more by looks of the car so far and also my wife isn't keen to have something too big as she is a relatively new driver and would be doing most of the driving. I'd never really cosidered the estate's either. The dogs are currently pretty secure on the back of the focus with a guard that is very tightly attached to the headrests and also 'trapped' between the back seat and boot.

The budget thing is a bit up in the air as I'll be leasing it through work and they have a variety of deals. I also need to factor in BIK as well. I want to look at a few 'ideal' cars and also rule some out. If I had my choice I'd go for a Golf TDi but it obviosuly won't help with what I need!
The beach is Mornington and the carpark is rough - can manage it in most cars but would prefer something a bit more robust.

All help very useful so far - please keep it coming!

Anan1

Don't worry, a Subaru Outback will be nicer than a Golf TDI in every possible way.:)

peasant

Bootwise the old style Citroen C5 estate was as big as it gets (or very close anyway) and with hydropneumatic suspension you can actually raise the car to creep over rough tracks.

Don't know what the new model is like, but should be worth a look (Hydro suspension is an option now, so you would have to spec that)

Eric Cartman

well if you have free choice i hear the lexus 460L is a big car :pac::D

on a more serious note a 3 or 5 series bmw estate ? , does the 320d come in touring lads ?

bazz26

Eric Cartman wrote: »

well if you have free choice i hear the lexus 460L is a big car :pac::D

on a more serious note a 3 or 5 series bmw estate ? , does the 320d come in touring lads ?

It does but it is not very big, more suited to golf clubs than dogs.

OP what kind of budget are you on?

Here is a big load lugger:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1152939

or one of these:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=859561

Drummerboy08

That Mercedes looks a decent car at that price.

Try one of these either -
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1133800
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1304482

The old model there looks a nice car.
As Peasant pointed out, the hydro Suspension would be handy for getting over the rough stuff, but it is an expensive option an the new model IIRC.

Eric Cartman

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

That Mercedes looks a decent car at that price.

Try one of these either -
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1133800
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1304482

The old model there looks a nice car.
As Peasant pointed out, the hydro Suspension would be handy for getting over the rough stuff, but it is an expensive option an the new model IIRC.

the steering wheel on the first one looks like a space shuttle, wayyy too many controls

Berty

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the steering wheel on the first one looks like a space shuttle, wayyy too many controls

Its better to have more than none at all. I hate having a car with buttons missing. I have two buttons missing on my dash for heated seats. :mad: