Car with an open boot for a dog

Ms Tootsie

Hi all

I have already posted in the motor thread but I wanted to get the advice of some pet owners. We need to get a new car and we are hoping to get one to do us for the next 4-5 years (and all going well it should accommodate any future kiddies) and because we have Frodo we want to get a car with an open boot that he can travel in. Something like this: http://pictures.autotrader.ie/servlet/media?xwm=y&id=50213d74-a757-4e06-bccf-33cc0b45db7e&width=400&height=300 as we would like to be able to bring him along in the car but make sure he is as comfortable as possible.

Any other posters have a similar boot? If so what car was / is it?

Knine

kaza2710 wrote: »

Hi all

I have already posted in the motor thread but I wanted to get the advice of some pet owners. We need to get a new car and we are hoping to get one to do us for the next 4-5 years (and all going well it should accommodate any future kiddies) and because we have Frodo we want to get a car with an open boot that he can travel in. Something like this: http://pictures.autotrader.ie/servlet/media?xwm=y&id=50213d74-a757-4e06-bccf-33cc0b45db7e&width=400&height=300 as we would like to be able to bring him along in the car but make sure he is as comfortable as possible.

Any other posters have a similar boot? If so what car was / is it?

I have one the same. Mine is a Ford Focus Estate. My very large gundog breed fits in it along with several Border Terriers. My car also has an adaption for a child with a disability.

WIZE

Are you getting a new car or Second hand?

Ms Tootsie

Open to either to be honest. Will be going to a dealer though and if it is used preferably nothing older than 2009 since we are hoping to get about 5 years out of it ourselves.

DBB

Knine wrote: »

I have one the same. Mine is a Ford Focus Estate. My very large gundog breed fits in it along with several Border Terriers. My car also has an adaption for a child with a disability.

I drive a new model Focus Estate in work, and whilst I'd never have been a Ford fan... These are a lovely car, with oodles of boot space and a flat opening so the dog (a big GSD) doesn't have to negotiate a ledge like most hatchbacks have.
It's a diesel model, and very fuel efficient.

Ms Tootsie

Yeah I was a massive Ford fan until our recent car and the trouble we have had with it really made me wary of them. Mad I know. Himself wont get a renault as he reckons their electrics are terrible. Had two renaults before both had horrific electrics.

An estate would be the easiest option though...

Knine

DBB wrote: »

I drive a new model Focus Estate in work, and whilst I'd never have been a Ford fan... These are a lovely car, with oodles of boot space and a flat opening so the dog (a big GSD) doesn't have to negotiate a ledge like most hatchbacks have.
It's a diesel model, and very fuel efficient.

Mine is the new model too. I love it as plenty of room for the dogs and I also need the extra space for disability equipment. It is great on fuel as well.

WIZE

What about a Volvo V50 or V60

iguana

This was my Ford Focus Estate with a buggy and a crate to fit two medium dogs in the back.

Ms Tootsie

Wow both the Volvo and the estate have tons of room! Two models we hadnt even thought of.

Just got told I was 'mad' choosing our car based around our dog. It has royally pissed me off!!!

Hooked

We opted for a BMW touring, albeit an older car - I'm a bit of a softie on the E46 model. I've owned 3, 2 coupes and now the touring version.

My point is - it has a removable divider that retracts behind the headrests (attaches to 2 grooves in the ceiling) and the glass opens separately to the entire boot (very handy). And two hooks near the back seats - that we use to lock Hugos harness to. Acts like a seatbelt...

3 very handy features.

Oh - and get yourself a genius device called a ventlock! Like a little extension that let's the boot (and car) be fully locked yet technically open to let air in. Handy for short stops at the shops or having a swim with the car in sight.

Ms Tootsie

Hooked wrote: »

We opted for a BMW touring, albeit an older car - I'm a bit of a softie on the E46 model. I've owned 3, 2 coupes and now the touring version.

My point is - it has a removable divider that retracts behind the headrests (attaches to 2 grooves in the ceiling) and the glass opens separately to the entire boot (very handy). And two hooks near the back seats - that we use to lock Hugos harness to. Acts like a seatbelt...

3 very handy features.

Oh - and get yourself a genius device called a ventlock! Like a little extension that let's the boot (and car) be fully locked yet technically open to let air in. Handy for short stops at the shops or having a swim with the car in sight.

wow just wow. That has everything and then some!!!

WIZE

kaza2710 wrote: »

Wow both the Volvo and the estate have tons of room! Two models we hadnt even thought of.

Just got told I was 'mad' choosing our car based around our dog. It has royally pissed me off!!!

Audi A4 Avant is also big bootied

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/Avant-2./31113518507401580/advert?channel=CARS

DBB

kaza2710 wrote: »

Just got told I was 'mad' choosing our car based around our dog. It has royally pissed me off!!!

Lol! If it's any consolation, I know lots and lots of people who bought their cars around their dogs. So whilst we might all be mad... We're not alone :-D

Hooked

DBB wrote: »

Lol! If it's any consolation, I know lots and lots of people who bought their cars around their dogs. So whilst we might all be mad... We're not alone :-D

You can lump me into that 'mad' pile too while ye're at it!!!

tk123

Hooked wrote: »

You can lump me into that 'mad' pile too while ye're at it!!!

Yep same here! Pi$$ed off loads of dealers going to showrooms and rubbishing cars based on the boot space lol!! I had a huge boot in my old jeep and have downsized a little to an ix35 - plenty of space for my retriever and his setter friend. Think I'll end up dropping the seats when the puppy is too heavy to lift into the back seat (I don't let my two jump in and out).

Toulouse

Me too! My Dad nearly killed me as I spent a load of time trying to figure out how many pound dogs/crates I'd be able to fit in the cars we were looking at.

Edited to add - I got a 5-door Nissan Almera hatchback in the end and just took the boot cover off and stuck a dog guard up. Very roomy boot.

tk123

One of the pros for mine and deciding factors lol was that the dog guard is independant of the back seats/headrests so I could potentially split the cabin in two - I was amazed at that! Also 4x4 for the beach

Inexile

Skoda do a combo option on most of their cars. Basically they have the boot style of an estate but they are not as big. Have one and find it great for the woofers just want the next size up!

murria

kaza2710 wrote: »

Just got told I was 'mad' choosing our car based around our dog. It has royally pissed me off!!!

I have a Nissan X-trail, which I got based totally on my dog as we drive to Spain with him every summer. The truth is he sits in the back seat all the way.

spurious

Skoda Roomster - massive boot space.
Bit weird looking, but that's part of its charm.

homerhop

VW Passat estate has a seriously big boot, we changed both cars in the last few months and room for the dog played a big part in it. Herself has the passat and she got one of those water proof dog mats at a game fair that fits just nicely into the back. He is happy out and has a panoramic view if he wants it and a comfy bed to snooze on during long trips.
The skoda superb estate is enormous if money is no issue

TooManyDogs

I've had Ford Escort estate, boot not big enough for my needs really (hint - user name gives it away )
Skoda Octavia estate was great, but didn't fit buggy plus the dogs once baby came along so we changed it for a VW Sharan. Great for space once you take out the back 2 seats, still leaves you with 5 seats.



Now poor Sharan is dying so we're on the hunt again, but this time I need to go bigger! I've gone to agility competitions in the sharan and slept in it with 5 dogs but I'm thinking a van would be more my style now

Edited to add - And we've also baffled car sales men when we've gone in asking for estates and they're trying to show us the engine and inside and I ask to see the boot first, and walk away after a look at the boot! I've also been told to get rid of my dogs so I could have a smaller car!!!!!!

DBB

Brilliant pic TMD!
I've just sold my van... They are damn, damn handy for dog space, and can be kitted out so each dog has its own space, but you're a lot more limited re passenger space, and although they're cheaper to buy, those damn annual DoE tests drove me mental. Tyres are more expensive than car tyres, tolls are twice the price...
So I got me a Corolla Hatchback! But then again, I'm down to two dogs now so it's just fine for them.

murria

Love the pic, I'm imagining one dog saying "no-one look at the camera" and the black white guy saying "sorry, I thought you said everyone look at the camera".

tk123

Lol - last road trip in the old jeep a few weeks ago! Must get a shot in the new one! The setter used to be very stressed in the back of the car but trips every weekend with Bailey have really helped him relax

TooManyDogs

Yeah we've been weighing up the pros and cons of a van, parking and tolls being 2 of the main cons.

The dogs have gotten so into agility that when they hear me running a dog the others sometimes re-direct their frustrated excitement onto each other so there's 2 crates for a start, and then my elderly girl is so stubborn that she lies right in the middle of the boot and barks if anyone goes near her so the other 5 are trying to be spider-dog, plus her CCD freaks one of the others out and they react with nervous aggression, so now you're up to 4 crates!!
And then the sleeping in the car at shows, actually quite comfortable but a little tight, plus I end up having the black and white dog loose in with me and she spends all night sitting staring at me like one of those psycho killers in the movies, every time I open my eyes she's 3 inches from my face staring..... freaky! Glad she has no thumbs to hold a knife

peteb2

I've a 2009 ford mondeo estate. Looked for advice here before I bought it to incorporate the dog and the baby that was due at the time. Didnt feel I was getting enought boot space in the focus estate over a hatchback. But the mondeo is just massive. And we've a dog guard behind the head rests and then one that splits the boot down the middle so baby stuff on one side and dog safely on the other.

Ms Tootsie

Thanks for all the post guys!! Great to know I am not alone in the mad house

So we went with a Nissan qashqai in the end. Massive boot so he will have plenty of space. Nissan also make boot dividers for dog owners who want to transform the boot for that very purpose (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee519/Gemma_Polmear/Sneaksy%20Whippet/boot1.jpg and http://nissan-qashqai.sgpetch.co.uk/admin/system-content/accessory_images/Nissan/Qashqai/Boot_Divider_large.gif for example).

Think the car sales man thought we were a bit nuts as we spent as much time looking at the boot as we did the rest of the car - even more so when himself got into the boot to test it out :rolleyes:

It doesnt have the roll back shelf but the shelf detaches very easily so I gave in on that point.

On the major plus side the boot is low for loading which will make it easier for him to get in and out.

So now it will be back to spending evenings sitting in the car feeding him treats and bringing him off to all the fun places so he learns to tolerate going in the new car as much as he did the old one the things we do for our pets!

tk123

kaza2710 wrote: »

Think the car sales man thought we were a bit nuts as we spent as much time looking at the boot as we did the rest of the car - even more so when himself got into the boot to test it out :rolleyes:

LOL! The salesguy I dealt with had dogs so understood lol! I was between the ix35 and qashqai and went for the ix in the end - got a good deal on a 2012 one. It was spotless..until the doggies got in. My ramp doest fit on it's side so a bit cramped with it and the 2 dogs in the back and a bit of a pain taking it in and out so getting an ottostep to make life easier!

hadook

spurious wrote: »

Skoda Roomster - massive boot space.
Bit weird looking, but that's part of its charm.

I bought a Roomster for the dogs so that I could fit a rear headrest and tailgate guard and still have enough space for me and my stuff. It's a great car as long as you don't parallel park it and have to approach from the side