Following a prat going into the back of our much loved but 9 year old Renault Laguna we have to find a new car to carry our dogs and we have two weeks to do it in. The car has been written off and that's how long we've got before they come and take it away. If we're lucky they might give us to the middle of January - thanks. Sorry but I'm more than a bit raw about this.

We currently have three Aussies but, as some of you might be aware because I posted about it, our old boy has been recently diagnosed as having cancer of the liver and according to the vet has weeks, maybe a few months. At the moment though he is enjoying life and I'm hoping it will be a few months at least. Anyway the point is we are looking for a car that will comfortably carry two Australian Shepherds in the back with the option of a third on the back seat, not ideal I agree. Ideally we'd like an estate with the boot about 1m by 33cm (1000mm x 330mm). Everything we've seen on the web that's about 1m wide is much shallower - I hope you know what I mean. To get the depth we seem to have to go much wider, which gives us the problem of our garage, which is only a single garage and just about takes our Laguna.

If anybody has any bright ideas I would be really grateful.

Vauxhall Astra Estates are quite spacious, and good running cars, I used to have one and fitted 2 Rotties, 3 BT's in it, with plenty of room, and they are priced reasonably too.

Sorry to  hear about your car!

I think Mondeo estates are selling for decent prices right now.  OH was talking about getting one, now he has his heart set on a Nissan Terrano 2 *solls eyes*.

Good thing about the credit crunch though, lots of people are selling off their bigger cars.

We use a Mondeo Estate for dog shows - lots of space for dogs, paraphenalia, humans, luggage etc. Very good mpg on the diesel and lots of little extras in comfort and the 'toy department' normally associated with more expensive German makes :)

Definitely worth considering along with the Focus Estate which we've had previously - similar comments apply, in fact the Focus estate has a slightly better height in the back for dog cages than the Mondeo so if you altready have your car cages and don't want to buy another set it's worth measuring them exactly before going to look at a replacement car.

Sorry your other car got wrecked - hope nobody was injured nor dogs traumatised.

HTH, Teri

get another laguna?

I have a diesel Citroen Picasso and there is plenty of room in the cargo area for two GR's so definitely room for your three dogs. I have one GR and a terrier, the terrier has a crate in the cargo area and there is still more than enough room for our GR. Picassos are very popular cars within the Motability scheme and are quite prolific. Cars supplied under this scheme are sold off after 3 years and are guaranteed to have been serviced regularly and normally have low mileage.

Skoda is an option.

Karen.

like another poster said why not get another laguna?  sorry to hear about your car

My Laguna was one of the last of it's type built nine years ago. I think they continued building them for about a year. If I could get the same ago only younger I would at a shot but the new Laguna is nothing like mine.

Before we had the problem with our old boy we were considering some time next year replacing the Laguna and were considering the Mondeo now we're looking smaller and more economical. We've looked at the Focus but it's actually quite big - it's actually bigger than our Laguna and so will not fit in the garage. We are going this afternoon to look at the Astra estate which I think is more similar to the Laguna. Having said that my OH really wants to go smaller but I won't compromise on the space for the dogs. Hence the problem. Does anyone have any smaller ideas?

Regarding the query about anyone hurt. Fortunately not. We were actually stationary, indicating and waiting to turn into a car park when a bigger car went into the back of us. The trouble is the car is only worth £1,000 and it's very easy to clock up more than that for repair costs now adays.

What about a Citroen Berlingo ?
We've had 2 Vauxhall Astra estates and love them !
I would love a Volvo V70 - dream on !

Glad nobody injured :)

Not much help on personal experience of smaller cars but would have thought the VW Golf or Polo estates suitable size, VW are usually very reliable and economical on the mpg too :)

An Astra Estate or one of the Peugeot estates perhaps would be a better size for you if the Focus and Mondeo are too big.  Less economical on fuel but some of the smaller 4x4s may suit you for exterior size with good interior space

regards, Teri

i have a peugeot 206 estate 1.4 nice little car have two cages in the back, but have enough to put two dogs in each compartment, for shorter journeys, then two i show will go in one compartment each, lovely car good on petrol, can't complain.

OH has a Saab Estate (not sure on type sorry!) but it's very very economical (he does a 70mile round trip commute every day), robust & has a very spacious, dog friendly boot.  He test drove quite a few estates, Mondeo being one of them but he found the Saab to give the best MPG & value for money.  If you want the exact model let me know & I'll find out.

I'm looking to buy a Volvo V70 in the new year, although hubby wants a XC90, but I need something large as I also have to get 3 children in mine. :)

Well we've been looking. But to be honest it's really hard. The Focus, Megane, 307SW & Golf estate are all too big to fit in our garage. The Astra is 1mm wider than our Laguna so is a possibility but as I said my OH wants to go smaller. We've looked at the brand new Clio Tourer but that has such a slopy rear that I can see how the dogs would be able to sit out and face backwards. Similarly the Fabia, although not quite as bad. We looked at the Peugeot 207 SW but I just don't think it's big enough. What sort of dogs do you have Venus and do you put the back seat down and hence have much more space. I don't think there is a Polo Estate - can't find one on-line anyway.

Anyway there are two we have not ruled out and I'd really appreciate any personal experience of them. First is the Skoda Roomster. This seems to be very flexible and the boot is just about big enough - I think. Second is the Mitsubushi Lancer Estate. To be honest we haven't actually seen this one yet only pictures on line and looked at dimensions. It's smaller than our Laguna but bigger than the Roomster and it looks like the boot is bigger than the Roomster. Also we've seen a few them at shows so presume that doggy people do have them. We're going to see one tomorrow afternoon. There seem to be very few of them around second hand and they are no longer available new to order so I can't make up my mind whether that's a good sign or not. Neither car has good reviews on-line but I'd really appreciate it if there's anyone out there with personal experience if they could tell me what they think good and, probably more importantly, bad.

The VW Polo certainly used to come in an Estate - a friend bought one a number of years ago and transported three gundogs comfortably in hers :)

One of the members on here (user name 'marguerite') uses a Mitsubishi Lancer Estate - perhaps she'll be able to help on space, reliability etc and you can pm her if she doesn't notice this thread :)

regards Teri

The Roomster is quite nice in that it's high and you get good all round visibility.
We considered one and a near neighbour has one.
It is economical too. I have a bil who is a motoring journo...should ask him.
Karen ;)

I get the impression that the last Polo estate was built in 2002.

It would be really good to hear Marguerite's opinion of her Lancer. How do I pm her?

2002 my perception of time is worsening (and it started off bad LOL).  Probably right though!

To pm marguerite click on 'Messages' at top of this page, then click on 'send message' and put her username in :) 

regards, Teri

I used to have a Nissan Terrano (LWB) and loved absolutely everything about it. Would have loved another one, but settled on a Freelander. I love the Freelander, but still miss my Terrano, which was just so comfortable and you never worried about getting stuck on muddy fields!!

Hi

I have had a Mitsubishi Lancer Estate now for 8yrs this is my 2nd one, and I have no compalints, have just replaced the front section of the exhaust and it was still the original that was on also front brake pads.

There is a new version of the Lancer Estate out just now, but it just looks the same as mine.  Not bad on petrol and not had problems with it at all, and starts well on a very frosty morning.

I've had many a cars for transporting dogs but none came even close to the Ford Mondeo TD Estate I've got. Relieable, mileage vs fuel ratio is brilliant and the dogs travel in style. It's very comfy for me too. I will get another one if "Bertha" should kick the bucket!

We used to have a Nissan Terrano too, lovely wagon, only had 3 dogs then.

Now we have 5 we've up-sized to a Nissan Patrol. A stunning beast of a wagon, huge interior, will fit 5 dogs in comfort in the back plus awning and frame, generator, groundsheet, barbeque and 2 cool boxes on back seat and well, for when we're vanning (don't usually drive about with all that stuff)

For it's size it is very economical, it has never cost us anything other than the usual stuff, it's very reliable and can tow anything.

Astra Estates for me for 25 years.  I change them every 3 years and they've been wonderful workhorses. :)  You can now get very good deals on 6 month old ones. :) :)

Hi i have sbt, so a smaller than your dogs, hope you find one son that your happy with.

Angela x

Skoda Octavia gets a great write up on What Car and is 1769mm wide. I have a Renault espace, which is great for the dogs but probably too big for your garage

Fiat Doblo's for me any time

Wow Pinky, talk about fitting everything but the kitchen sink!! I really loved my Terrano, and like you found it ultra reliable, apart from the usual servicing, it cost us nothing to keep it on the road. Your Patrol sounds fantastic.

I love the Freelander, but it has nowhere near the space of the Terrano, but is very flexible with the split back seat folding into itself if required, if you know what I mean. This arrangement is great for multiple dogs, and say 3 or 4 adults. I would be happy to recommend it to anyone and find I average 34 mpg on my short run to the moors each day, with lots of 2nd and 3rd gear driving. Also tax and insurance are very reasonable for a 4x4.

Been speaking to someone about 4x4 and they have said not to get one as the tax will be going up by a huge amount in 2009.. I thought it had already gone up..

I'm looking into getting a new vehicle for my dog, soon to be dogs as from some time next year. I have been looking at the VW Passat estate, transporter van and also the smaller ones. Also the Volvo cross country and the Merc Vito van.. I need something which has a flat back if going for an estate and also economical with diesel engines. Not sure if any of these(minus the vans) would fit in your garage.

I'm going to sort out test drives at the local garages in the new year, hopefully with a recession on i may be able to grab a bargain..

So are people carriers going up in cost for road tax.

Astra estate person here too - I've had three and would buy again :)

I had a Skoda Octavia estate (2006) with the 2 litre diesel and DSG transmission. One of the best cars I've ever owned. I know, not the Roomster but I can't speak highly enough of Skoda. Brakes, transmission and engine all fantastic to drive (same as on Audi and VW but without the badge price). Since I bought a Barnesbrook cage for it I have his drawings and the boot size is 914mm wide by 965 deep (it was in inches so really 38" x 36"). But, the back is quite high and the window isn't steeply angled so the boot had loads of room. Certainly my two goldens fit with no problem, a third would have still fit in.

I think my friend has a Lancer, (def a Mitsu estate) she gets two rotties in the back. Her boot wasn't as big as the one in the Skoda though. She's doggy so if I ask for measurements I'm sure she'd be happy to supply them. Her OH is a bit of a boy racer and loves the car.

Really think that its best to stick with an estate for the time being then.
All 4x4's and now the MPV's from 51 plate onwards will be going up on tax as from next year. I do recall them talking about £400p/y roughly for a 4x4, thats crazy..

Can't wait to go and test drive some of these vehicles... May also look at the Skoda from Lori's post and maybe the Lancer too..

Tax on ours was surprisingly good, £210, thought we'd be hit with monster price £400 but the emissions are reasonable on a Patrol, consumption is not any greater than a Terrano due to the engine size/bodyweight ration, just being a heavier car means we can pull a bigger van (and more dogs, could fit another two Shelties in but don't tell the OH)!  :)

Just have to say Suejaw our 4x4 Nissan Patrol on a 53 plate, just newly taxed £210, we fall in to group F, emmisions low for such a large  vehicle (but it is diesel). It's not all 4x4's that get the high tax I think you'll find emmisions has a lot to do with it.

Ah that is interesting. I think i may have to look at this a bit more as i have interested in a VW Touran. I was only going by what someone who knows cars has said to me. So low emisssions may well assist with the tax...

If you want to look into how much road tax is

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

and here's the projected costs coming up
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_172916

My 51 plate astra estate falls into cat C for emissions and so fingers crossed my road tax will be £35 for the year
from next year :)

I had a vw Touran as a hire car, when mine was off the road due to an accident, and I found the driving seat very uncomfortable gave me a really sore back, and my passengers said the same of the other seats.  I liked it to drive though.  Really was not impressed with it and I had this car for round about 3 wks and was driving it dailly. Was glad to get my old mitsubishi back.

We went to look at a nearly new Mitsubishi Lancer yesterday and I think that is what we shall end up getting. It doesn't have lots of gadgets on it (for instance it doesn't have remote control for the radio on the steering wheel, but to be honest I'm pretty boring, I tend to listen to the same radio station most of the time) but it's the right size and it has the gadgets I want (for instance it has an imboliser but not an alarm, variable intermittent wipe windscreen wipers and cruise control is a dealer fitted option). It's the only car I have found where the boot is long enough while being narrow enough to fit nicely in my garage.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Had a look at a Kia, Ive got a Carens and there loads of room in the back plus its not too high off the ground. Diesel ones are quite economic as well. Do a nice Sportage model but might be diffecult for your poorly one to hop up into.

Would have to say the Vauxhall Astra Estate, was used to have that car and its the most spacious and such a lovely car, definatly recommend, we had it till it finally carked it lol :)

Dont know if you are still looking for a car, but I have a megane estate (which has a flatter back than the current laguna so more dog friendly space) I have had 3 munsterlanders in the boot comfortably. Hope you have found something suitable.

Gill

Thanks for all your advice. We picked up our new car at the weekend - a Mitsubishi Lancer estate. It's the only car that I would consider big enough for our dogs whilst being narrow enough to fit our garage. The problem is that since we bought our last car in 2000 everything seems to have grown. The Megane, Focus, Peugeot 307 are all too big for the garage. The Astra is 1mm bigger than our old Laguna so would probably have worked but we really wanted something a bit easier to get in. The Lancer is 5 cm narrower than the Laguna so will hopefully work. Haven't tried yet as the Laguna is in there waiting for the insurance company to collect.

So far so good. I'm really pleased with the way it drives, handles etc but can't wait to get my caging. I've ordered it from Barjo - they have the tallest cage as it is put up while in the car - but there is a 4-5 week delivery.

Hope you have your Lancer Estate as long as i've had mine, its 8yrs old now still going strong.  I keep looking at other cars but still stick to my oldie.

Thanks Marguerite. So far we're really pleased with it. But I should warn you that the trouble with having an old car is that even though you value it it has very little monetary value which means that with the current high repair costs if somebody runs into you the chances are they'll right off your car. Also we have the impression that Mitsubishi are not going to continue doing a Lancer estate. The new Lancer is a more sporty car and they are not going to bring out an estate version. At least that's what we were told - of course we could have been told a porky. We had to hunt around to find a nearly new Lancer estate and they are quite hard to find. In the end we travelled nearly 50 miles to find our car but believe we have got a good deal. It was registered by the dealer in June 08 but had only done 25 miles when I test drove it. Because it was preregistered though it become a second hand car and so we got it at a good price.

Thanks Marguerite. So far we're really pleased with it. But I should warn you that the trouble with having an old car is that even though you value it it has very little monetary value which means that with the current high repair costs if somebody runs into you the chances are they'll right off your car. Also we have the impression that Mitsubishi are not going to continue doing a Lancer estate. The new Lancer is a more sporty car and they are not going to bring out an estate version. At least that's what we were told - of course we could have been told a porky. We had to hunt around to find a nearly new Lancer estate and they are quite hard to find. In the end we travelled nearly 50 miles to find our car but believe we have got a good deal. It was registered by the dealer in June 08 but had only done 25 miles when I test drove it. Because it was preregistered though it become a second hand car and so we got it at a good price.

There wasn't many Lancer Estates made in 2000/2001 either, there is a dealership not far from me, but, you dont see many of the LE about. I know mine  is not worth a lot of money, but until it maybe packs in it will do for now.  MOT is due next month, so will wait and see if it passes.

I have a LR Discovery 2 (Y-2001), the XS model, which is one step below the top model in the range. I'm sure this will be true of LR Discovery 1s too. The rear seat backs fold forwards and flat against the actual seat, and then rotate forward through 180 degrees to fit snugly behind the front seats. The height of the seat then is too high for any dog to jump over, except a small, athletic breed perhaps.The load space is awesome, and I have a Babydan Babyden playpen fully extended in the hexagon shape to keep mine safe in the rear. I carry 4 little chunky dogs and one the size of a Lab in that, and there's still ample storage around it for belongings. Without the pen, I would reckon 4 retriever size dogs would easily be comfortable, and more if your dogs are calm and curl down to sleep. Plus there's no place we can't go for walkies-three weeks ago, 8-10cms of snow on high ground and nothing in the local village below. Guess who went running (well,limping) like a kid through the snow with the hounds?I've owned several 4WDs and nothing could be better, except perhaps a Defender hard top-No carefully cleaning the upholstery, you can sweep and hose it!    

Car passed it MOT yesterday with no problems, Thank goodness.

I have a 98 Vauxhall Frontera 4x4, its a good old workhorse and it manages to get 9 Paps in (sharing cages of course) and 3 adults, I have to say I do feel safer driving in it when the weather turns treacherous, I also have an old caravan I take to some dog shows and it tows that fine to.