Best car for dog travel?

druid said:
Having just done this hunt, if you dont want a van....

Dacia Bigster - square boot shape and acres of usable room. Comes in 4x4. Good ground clearance.

Skoda Estates - huge boots, nice to drive and economical

What I ended up with....Cupra Leon estate. Huge boot, does very good mpg, fantastic fun to drive. Much nicer interior than other 2 at similar price point.
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Does that come with AWD? I currently have a skoda octavia Scout, huge boot and decent mpg.
 
pistolpete said:
Golf estate has a decent boot too.
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Yep, Golf Estate, Focus Estate, Skoda Octavia/Superb are all similar in dimensions just depends what you want to pay/how plasticy you can deal with!

I was being picky and wanted heated seats/steering wheel and part leather trim. Those are standard on ours so I didn't have to pay a premium for it by going up trim levels.
 
I used to have a Ssangyong rexton for towing and it had a huge boot. Bear in mind it is a big heavy diesel so may not suit your requirements.
 
Skoda Octavia boot is huge. My dad had a diesel I borrowed once, really nice to handle too. Half the taxi drivers up north have one, the other half Mercs. My bil has a Merc estate and really rates it.
 
Oh gosh I've been doing exactly the same search. I used CHAT GBT to check dimensions of boot, reliability etc, this kind of discounted a lot of cars due to various issues they have. My search is now down to Suzuki S Cross mild hybrid, need to check both dog cages fit in the back along with my show trolley and horsey stuff. Other option is Berlingo, but has to be a specific year range due to cam chain issues and also I'd need to be extremely careful having a diesel due to lots of short journeys.
 
blackcob said:
This is a good point, we are looking at the Maxi Life, so I have technically not succumbed to a van. 😆

Plan is for a 42” cage and two 24” double deckered, leaving an L shape for storage and training/camping kit.

ETA: If you’re involved in any sort of dog sport or activity, scour the car park at an event and see what set-ups other people have. Mad dog people are often very obliging at letting you have a look if you explain you’re looking to buy similar.
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blackcob said:
I adored my ancient Forester but the new model is a completely different and not useful shape. I went to a Honda CR-V which has been serviceable, but now that’s getting on in age looking for a VW Caddy Maxi. SUVs just don’t have the boot depth now.
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Have you found one yet, I know of a garage with one for sale, but not sure if I'm allowed to say on here in case they ban me for advertising lol
 
AngelaWB said:
Oh gosh I've been doing exactly the same search. I used CHAT GBT to check dimensions of boot, reliability etc, this kind of discounted a lot of cars due to various issues they have. My search is now down to Suzuki S Cross mild hybrid, need to check both dog cages fit in the back along with my show trolley and horsey stuff. Other option is Berlingo, but has to be a specific year range due to cam chain issues and also I'd need to be extremely careful having a diesel due to lots of short journeys.
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My friend discovered the hard way that a Berlingo is classed as a van for speed limits.
 
AngelaWB said:
Oh gosh I've been doing exactly the same search. I used CHAT GBT to check dimensions of boot, reliability etc, this kind of discounted a lot of cars due to various issues they have. My search is now down to Suzuki S Cross mild hybrid, need to check both dog cages fit in the back along with my show trolley and horsey stuff. Other option is Berlingo, but has to be a specific year range due to cam chain issues and also I'd need to be extremely careful having a diesel due to lots of short journeys.
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Also not all Berlingo models have seats that fold down flat which makes it awkward for crates. Mine doesn’t but as I got a bargain I’ve made do
 
I never got done for speeding in the Caddy, but I did go through manned toll booths to show them I had a row of seats.
Despite needing commercial tyres, it was taxed and insured as a private car.

My Dad got zapped in a panel van as he wasn't aware of the -10 speed limit.
 
AngelaWB said:
Oh gosh I've been doing exactly the same search. I used CHAT GBT to check dimensions of boot, reliability etc, this kind of discounted a lot of cars due to various issues they have. My search is now down to Suzuki S Cross mild hybrid, need to check both dog cages fit in the back along with my show trolley and horsey stuff. Other option is Berlingo, but has to be a specific year range due to cam chain issues and also I'd need to be extremely careful having a diesel due to lots of short journeys.
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They have recalled berlingos for the cam chain issues, mine was recalled and cleared . They have to use a particular oil because of this . It’s quite expensive
 
Thanks Dab Dab will have a look, ok so it’s M1, I’m still no wiser 🙁

Ok I just stopped being pathetic and googled it and mine is registered as a car which I always thought it was
 
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The argument used against my friend is that the Berlingo was classed as a van derived car and not a car derived van. Hers had rear seats and was adapted for her disabled daughter to drive. No one would put it in writing that it was a car, even the instructor at her speed awareness course did not know the answer as to what it was and he did check up with the powers that be at the time.
 
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