Saloons with folding rear seats?

Eoin

I'm looking at changing to an estate sometime in the new year, but was just wondering if it's rare for saloons to have fold down rear seats? (budget would be around the 9K mark). I'm pretty sure that none of the three saloons I've owned have had them.

A small estate is my preferred choice anyway, as it'd be handy for our two dogs, but apart from that I'd like the option to pick up things like flat pack furniture etc. Obviously I'm not buying a car for that reason, but it would be very handy. I'm not mad on the majority of hatchbacks, and an MPV would be a big no-no.

CianRyan

Rear seats in my dad's Megane fold down, not totally and the back shelf makes sliding stuff in the back really awkward.
Really, if you need an estate that's probably the best thing to go for.

mickdw

Most saloons would have had folding rear seats as an option when being spec'd new so it is quite common. All my cars except one have had folding seats. Alfa 166 didnt and tbh, a car without them is useless.

Eoin

Thanks for that - I was thinking it could be quite awkward to store long items, even if they're not that deep.

Like I said, an estate is my preferred choice, I actually like a lot of them anyway so it's not a total compromise! I just wanted to see what else is out there, just in case.

mickdw wrote: »

Most saloons would have had folding rear seats as an option when being spec'd new so it is quite common. All my cars except one have had folding seats. Alfa 166 didnt and tbh, a car without them is useless.

Maybe I was unlucky with the ones I had, I'll keep an eye out.

patrickc

my old 01 s40 had fold down seats.

AugustusMinimus

In all Focus saloons, the bottom part of the seat pops up to lie against the front seats and then the back part folds down flat.

The ZTs rear seat folds down but isn't 60/40 (so the ole lad doesn't borrow it for his days out golfing :pac: ). I reckon it's more uncommon for a saloon not have a folding rear seat these days.

bbam

My 02 Passat seats fold down... Not that much you can get through the opening though and it would be next to useless for flat pack stuff...

Padraig Mor

Can't fold down the seats in my GS. Pain in the hole TBH. Has a ski hatch though - which would be handy if I had skis.

Fey!

OP; are you looking at 4 door saloons or 5 door hatches?

A lot of 4 door saloons (i.e. BMW's) have solid bulkheads behind the back seats, so the seats won't fold.

Some 4 door saloons have folding back seats, but access from the back can be limited due to the boot lid and solid parcel shelf.

A lot of 5 door hatches (i.e. Fords) have folding back seats and excellent access due to the boot door and removable parcel shelf, which also gives you huge interior space for loads, especially if you remove the parcel shelf.

Apologies if I'm stating what you already know.

neilthefunkeone

Oldfella's '05 xtype doesnt have fold down seats..

Was a pain when the boot release broke.. Had to drill all 60 rivets out of the bulk head to get into the boot and release the hatch..:D:D

Eoin

Fey! wrote: »

A lot of 4 door saloons (i.e. BMW's) have solid bulkheads behind the back seats, so the seats won't fold.

Some 4 door saloons have folding back seats, but access from the back can be limited due to the boot lid and solid parcel shelf.

A lot of 5 door hatches (i.e. Fords) have folding back seats and excellent access due to the boot door and removable parcel shelf, which also gives you huge interior space for loads, especially if you remove the parcel shelf.

Thanks for that, I think the solid parcel shelf would make things awkward. So that really leaves a hatch or estate and as odd as it sounds, I actually prefer the looks of estates in general.

I think I had already decided that, but I just wanted to see if I could widen the net at all. The estate I like the most probably has the worst storage space, but I am pretty sure it would be more than enough to do me.

Thanks all

MarkR

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Oldfella's '05 xtype doesnt have fold down seats..

Was a pain when the boot release broke.. Had to drill all 60 rivets out of the bulk head to get into the boot and release the hatch..:D:D

5 door hatch avensis does have fold down seats. Don't think the saloon did on all of them. I remember someone giving out about that.

langdang

Eoin wrote: »

The estate I like the most probably has the worst storage space, but I am pretty sure it would be more than enough to do me.

I'd guess Alfa 159 or Volvo V50?
Had a Mazda 626 estate before, I presume a Mazda 6 would have kept most of these features: Passenger seat would fold in such a way that you could use the full length of one side of the cabin.
Back seats (base and back) could be moved 4 inches backwards or forwards for more legroom or more load room.
Back seats also reclined almost all the way, not sure what this feature was for

Eoin

langdang wrote: »

I'd guess Alfa 159 or Volvo V50?

Spot on! 159 is out of budget, so the V50 D5 is looking like a strong contender.

langdang wrote: »

Had a Mazda 626 estate before, I presume a Mazda 6 would have kept most of these features: Passenger seat would fold in such a way that you could use the full length of one side of the cabin.
Back seats (base and back) could be moved 4 inches backwards or forwards for more legroom or more load room.
Back seats also reclined almost all the way, not sure what this feature was for

I'm going to check them all out, including the Mazda. I'm early in the process, but as work is so hectic, I like to do as much research online first before I can before I start doing test drives etc.

Would the back seats not recline to make it as much like a van as possible if needed?

downsouth

My Volvo has folding down seats anyhow.

Have you had muck luck on the different sites.

langdang

Eoin wrote: »

Would the back seats not recline to make it as much like a van as possible if needed?

Oh they'd fold flat forward. Even had other slots to fit the head rests into rather than flinging em on the floor or where ever.

Eoin

downsouth wrote: »

My Volvo has folding down seats anyhow.

Have you had muck luck on the different sites.

It's early days, so have only been looking casually so far.

langdang wrote: »

Oh they'd fold flat forward. Even had other slots to fit the head rests into rather than flinging em on the floor or where ever.

Must just be for giggity time then.

StevePH

Eoin wrote: »

...so the V50 D5 is looking like a strong contender.QUOTE]

For what its worth, I test drove a couple of these v recently and highly recommend them. From a driving perspective, they're v compact. Short nose/360 view out the rear windows - 3-point turns etc were a simple as with a 'regular' car - only 49mm difference in length between the V50 and S40 but a lot of difference storage wise.

...PS the S40 also has fold down rear seats.

kayos

CianRyan wrote: »

Rear seats in my dad's Megane fold down, not totally and the back shelf makes sliding stuff in the back really awkward.

Just to give an example of this myself and the mrs bought a painting a year or so ago and when we went to put in the back of my A6 the shelf prevented all attempts to get it in, but it fit easy into her micra.....

R.O.R

Wouldn't think there are very many D5 V50's around in Ireland. Unless you can get it very cheap, I'd be looking at the 2.0d which is plenty of power for Ireland, ina car that size.

You can't get a fully flat load bed on the V50, even with the rear seat bases folded forward, there is still a bit of an incline over the back of the rear seats. You usually need to move the front seats forward (or adjust the rake a lot) to get the back seat bases down in the first place.

Once all the seats are down, it's a very usable load area, but it's not for transporting Grandfather clocks.

Eoin

Thanks for that - the D5 does seem to be rare enough, though there are one or two I've spotted. A 2.0 diesel/petrol will be grand though.

The load space with the seats down sounds more than enough, I just need to see what it's like for just the boot, as it seems that's the weak point of the V50.

kayos wrote:

Just to give an example of this myself and the mrs bought a painting a year or so ago and when we went to put in the back of my A6 the shelf prevented all attempts to get it in, but it fit easy into her micra.....

Same difference between my old 5 series and my wife's 206!

R.O.R

Eoin wrote: »

Thanks for that - the D5 does seem to be rare enough, though there are one or two I've spotted. A 2.0 diesel/petrol will be grand though.

The load space with the seats down sounds more than enough, I just need to see what it's like for just the boot, as it seems that's the weak point of the V50.

What will you be carrying? It's pretty rare that we'd have to put the seats down on our V50. Only really for visits to Ikea etc.

Haven't tried getting the buggy in to it yet, suppose we should look at that............

Eoin

R.O.R wrote: »

What will you be carrying? It's pretty rare that we'd have to put the seats down on our V50. Only really for visits to Ikea etc.

Yeah, we're doing a lot of work on our house, so it would be stuff like that on occasion. I'm sure that it would be fine for that.

R.O.R wrote: »

Haven't tried getting the buggy in to it yet, suppose we should look at that............

That's the main concern I have

R.O.R

Eoin wrote: »

That's the main concern I have

Might get around to trying it at the weekend. Need to make sure it fits through the front door first (oh how we laughed after builing the cot on the landing, only to find out it wouldn't fit through the door to the nursery )

I'll let you know how I get on, might even take some pics.

Eoin

That would be really appreciated. I know I need to actually test one for myself, but it's really hard finding any time at the moment.

the_tractor

Most saloon cars that are also sold as hatches and would have folding rear seats.
i.e. Focus, Golf(Bora) etc.

It is handy, but the saloon opening can mean that it can be like a letterbox opening.

langdang

the_tractor wrote: »

Most saloon cars that are also sold as hatches and would have folding rear seats.i.e. Focus, Golf(Bora) etc.

You can't assume it either tho, plenty people caught out by previous model Avensis... (also available in 5dr hatch)

pajo1981

it was an option on the e90. most dont have it. PITA.

THall04

I used to have a saloon with folding rear seats (a 00 reg Primera)....but they didn't make much difference when trying to carry bulky items.

Bought a 40" LCD TV.....had to borrow a friends Octavia to collect it.
Another time I tried to fit a chest of drawers into the nissan...without luck....so I had to use me Dad's Fiat Cinquecento.

There was lots of space in the car ,but a narrow opening in the bulkhead between the boot and the cabin spoiled things.

VolvoMan

Volvo saloons have had fold down rear seats as standard for as long as I can remember.

Eoin wrote: »

Thanks for that - the D5 does seem to be rare enough, though there are one or two I've spotted. A 2.0 diesel/petrol will be grand though.

Here's a nice one I saw when I passed through Dun Laoghaire the other day: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V50/V50-D5-S/131833175139329/advert?channel=CARS

Eoin

Thanks, that's the very one I've been checking out online! No elec seats though, so not sure if it's lower specced in other areas.

VolvoMan

Eoin wrote: »

Thanks, that's the very one I've been checking out online! No elec seats though, so not sure if it's lower specced in other areas.

To get a complete spec like that you will have to go to the UK. I find more cars have decent spec over there (electric seats, high performance stereo etc.) than those that don't.

Eoin

Ah, I wouldn't be overly about things like that, I just need to check up the different trim levels to see what I need to look for.

The D5 seems pretty rare and gets very good reviews, so it wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. A decent stereo would be a definite bonus though, as the one in my GT is pretty good (to my ears anyway).

This 2.0D looks good (would be better with the silver console though)
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V50/V50-2.0-/201135204252034/advert?channel=CARS

Wetbench4

the s40(not sure about the v50) also has a folding front passenger seat as well as the back seats . Two little switches at the bottom of the back of the seat, and it folds forward to allow transport of long things.

edit: look for the premium sound system on the v50, 12speaker dolby pl2 system with optional sub

VolvoMan

Eoin wrote: »

This 2.0D looks good (would be better with the silver console though)http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V50/V50-2.0-/201135204252034/advert?channel=CARS

That would be nice if the wheels weren't so utterly manky.

There is no doubt the 2.0D will be more economical and easier to sell down the line, but the D5 would still be my personal choice. I also think the latter is less prone to DPF failure due to the use of a higer quality system (I know that is certainly the case on bigger models with the five cylinder engine anyway).

Eoin

Great stuff, thanks for the tips. Will try and get out and see one or two on Saturday morning.

R.O.R

R.O.R wrote: »

Might get around to trying it at the weekend. Need to make sure it fits through the front door first (oh how we laughed after builing the cot on the landing, only to find out it wouldn't fit through the door to the nursery )

I'll let you know how I get on, might even take some pics.

Took a little longer than I though to bother my ar$e seeing if the buggy would fit in the V50, but not a bother......



That's a Jane Slalom buggy, without the any of the bits in place. It's a pretty big unit in comparison to others we looked at, so if that fits, most others would too.

Eoin

Excellent - thanks so much R.O.R, that's great. I've just had some work done on the GT, so going to make the most of it until spring, but the V50 is looking good for then. Thanks again.