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Family car recommendations please

Looking like I'm going to need to replace my trusty Passat - looking for a bike-friendly replacement. Rather than resorting to bike racks I quite like the idea of transporting the bikes in the car. Do MPVs have enough headroom to do this with the rear seats folded? Any with three seats up front? Or am I restricted to looking at Transit vans and the like?

We don't do huge miles but comfort and safety are the other priorities. Heated seats a must. Couldn't care about performance or brand. Ideally something less than £5k.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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42 comments

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Jem PT | 5 years ago
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You can't beat a van or van-based car for lugging bikes. I used to have a Transporter that could get 5 bikes (front wheels off) and 5 passengers in. The problem was the engine which was worn-out by 60,000 miles - all driven by me - it's that great German engineering again! I've now got a Peugeot Traveller (like a Partner/Berlingo but bigger). Great to drive and stacks of room. Had an S-Max a few years ago and there's just no comparison really when it comes to room between a car and a van.

 

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Team EPO | 5 years ago
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General them is that estate cars are not "on trend" as my daughter would say so 1 year old versions  are great value eg compare used prices of 5 series estates and the X5/ X3

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Crampy | 5 years ago
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I had a Ford Kuga. A diesel one. Just traded it in for a Subaru Levorg. 

That said, I have never and probably will never carry my bikes in the car. Too messy. I use a detachable tow ball mounted rack from Thule. 

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Guanajuato | 5 years ago
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Citroen Berlingo Multispace / Peugeot Partner Teepee (about to be replaced by the Rifter, but essentially the same car) can take bikes upright with both wheels on (though 29" wheeled bikes are a squeeze).  I can get 3 bikes in mine with space for 3 people with wheels on. Or 4 bikes & 3 people with front wheels off. Surprisingly civilised to drive too - I've had several hire cars for work (including a BMW 1-series and VW Golf) that couldn't manage the twisty, narrow lake district fell roads anywhere near as well as the Berlingo. Maybe that's down to familiarity though.  The new version coming out has a longer wheelbase 7-seat version. The older model also had a 7-seat version, but that moved the middle row an inch or so forward to give enough room for adults in the 3rd row. Crap in the snow mind you, but nothing that a set of winter tyres didn't fix.

Ford Torneo Custom is slightly larger (between a full-on transit and the Transit connect car-based van), but also more van-like. I reckon you could get 5 or 6 bikes in there.  I had one for a couple of weeks for work and it was great for getting changed for a ride after a day at work   1

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kil0ran replied to Guanajuato | 5 years ago
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Guanajuato wrote:

Citroen Berlingo Multispace / Peugeot Partner Teepee (about to be replaced by the Rifter, but essentially the same car) can take bikes upright with both wheels on (though 29" wheeled bikes are a squeeze).  I can get 3 bikes in mine with space for 3 people with wheels on. Or 4 bikes & 3 people with front wheels off. Surprisingly civilised to drive too - I've had several hire cars for work (including a BMW 1-series and VW Golf) that couldn't manage the twisty, narrow lake district fell roads anywhere near as well as the Berlingo. Maybe that's down to familiarity though.  The new version coming out has a longer wheelbase 7-seat version. The older model also had a 7-seat version, but that moved the middle row an inch or so forward to give enough room for adults in the 3rd row. Crap in the snow mind you, but nothing that a set of winter tyres didn't fix.

Ford Torneo Custom is slightly larger (between a full-on transit and the Transit connect car-based van), but also more van-like. I reckon you could get 5 or 6 bikes in there.  I had one for a couple of weeks for work and it was great for getting changed for a ride after a day at work   1

Ta. Neighbour has a Torneo Custom camper conversion. Lovely but as soon as it gets camperified you lose the lugging capability. Nice to drive and comfy for a van.

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zero_trooper replied to Guanajuato | 5 years ago
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Guanajuato wrote:

 

Ford Torneo Custom is slightly larger (between a full-on transit and the Transit connect car-based van), but also more van-like. I reckon you could get 5 or 6 bikes in there.  I had one for a couple of weeks for work and it was great for getting changed for a ride after a day at work   1

I drive a Tourneo at work. It's a short wheel based Transit and is excellent to drive. The seats (6 in two rows of three) fold down either half way (all the backrests fold flat) or fold half way and tip forward, very easily.I presume that they can be removed, but I've never tried it. Loads of room in the back. I suspect expensive (but that's very subjective BtBS).

I often pass a guy who drives so far to work in his Transit Connect and cycles the rest. He seems to store his bike (a largish hybrid) upright.

I often..............in his Skoda Octavia......... He .........(smallish drop bar) in the boot. Impressive.

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Mark B replied to Guanajuato | 5 years ago
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Guanajuato wrote:

I can get 3 bikes in mine with space for 3 people with wheels on.

 

Yes but do the bikes have wheels on?  3
 

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Daveyraveygravey | 5 years ago
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I had a Fiat Multipla before the current Octavia, and it was a fantastic car for a young family.  The middle seat up front is set about 3 inches behind the other two so your shoulders overlap rather than go side by side.  Brilliant interior design, very light and airy, double sun rooves, not big on the outside. I wish there was something similar available today.  You could probably get 3 with your 5k budget but they would all have mega miles!

I'm looking for something to replace the Octavia, which has been a great car.  It's low to the ground though, so with four adults in it you have to be careful with speed bumps and ramps. I'm tempted by a Yeti, I think Skoda make an internal bike rack for it.  Again not too big externally but clever on the inside.

As a flip side to the Yeti, I am also thinking of a Volkswagen CC.  We drive to Italy and back every summer, so I want something good for 4 people to spend 2 whole days in a few weeks apart.  I think it is slightly bigger on the inside than a Passat, although only really seats 4.  Your tales of the complexity of the Passat are putting me off though.

The Mrs saw a new XC90 the other day and liked it, but they are too much, too big, and too complicated.  

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kil0ran replied to Daveyraveygravey | 5 years ago
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Daveyraveygravey wrote:

Your tales of the complexity of the Passat are putting me off though.

The Mrs saw a new XC90 the other day and liked it, but they are too much, too big, and too complicated.  

I think whatever you buy today is going to be complicated. I have absolutely no desire in owning something that controlled by software/electronics where a tiny fault can end up costing £1000+ to fix. That's been going on for years by the way - Audi TT dash pods were probably the first widespread wallet-killing electronic glitch all the way back in '99.

Starting to have a look at 2nd hand leasing with a service plan/warranty but it means we still end up paying more for cars than we want.

I may look at the Multipla option - always liked the quirkiness of them (see also 2nd gen Nissan Cube)

I have this vision of the future where you just hire the car you need for the task at hand. For load luggers they'd be like a container lorry where your load space is standardised so you can store your beach gear in a pod at home, car is delivered in AV mode, you load up, and off you go. Car as a Service if you will.

It would have the benefit of pricing road use accurately and remove most private parking on public roads. Yes it's convenient to hop in the Passat and pop to the beach after school but the costs are masked and so you do it more frequently than you would if you were paying per mile.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
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You came out with £5k is a lot, you've still not justified in any way shape or form as to why your viewpoint on that has any validity, zero. I have given multiple reasons as to why £5 is not a 'lot', I'll leave it there.

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kil0ran | 5 years ago
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I'd love to go car-free but it really doesn't fit our lifestyle at the moment. We like the convenience of the Passat lugging around all our outdoor equipment so we can head off to the beach/forest/park after school. Living on the edge of the New Forest we've got so much stuff on our doorstop, the issue is just that we have cycle on busy narrow roads to get there.

If the Passat had a towbar I'd definitely have a hitch rack, and it's interesting to hear that some of them fit so quickly, I'd imagined it was a major faff.

We are considering going down to one car but that would mean replacing both (missus has a Ka). Part of the issue is that they don't cost us much to run as neither of us do many miles. Getting rid of one car would save maybe £350 a year but clearly that doesn't make sense if I have to spend £5k on a replacement. Round here, being semi-rural you don't get many taxi rides for £350 a year and there are times when two cars are convenient.

I think this is all pointing to fixing the Passat and getting a towbar fitted. Probably £2k all in unless I source parts secondhand and fit myself but that's still cheaper than £5k+ on a replacement.

Bloody cars! (and to think I used to be a petrolhead...)

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zero_trooper replied to kil0ran | 5 years ago
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kil0ran wrote:

I'd love to go car-free but it really doesn't fit our lifestyle at the moment. We like the convenience of the Passat lugging around all our outdoor equipment so we can head off to the beach/forest/park after school. Living on the edge of the New Forest we've got so much stuff on our doorstop, the issue is just that we have cycle on busy narrow roads to get there.

If the Passat had a towbar I'd definitely have a hitch rack, and it's interesting to hear that some of them fit so quickly, I'd imagined it was a major faff.

We are considering going down to one car but that would mean replacing both (missus has a Ka). Part of the issue is that they don't cost us much to run as neither of us do many miles. Getting rid of one car would save maybe £350 a year but clearly that doesn't make sense if I have to spend £5k on a replacement. Round here, being semi-rural you don't get many taxi rides for £350 a year and there are times when two cars are convenient.

I think this is all pointing to fixing the Passat and getting a towbar fitted. Probably £2k all in unless I source parts secondhand and fit myself but that's still cheaper than £5k+ on a replacement.

Bloody cars! (and to think I used to be a petrolhead...)

'We like the convenience of the Passat lugging around all our outdoor equipment' - o.k., there goes the 'small car' suggestion out of the window yes

I used to work with a guy who had an older Passat estate with a problem similar to yours. I'm sure that he needed a second opinion, but eventually he just got a local garage to fettle it. A quick google for VAG specialist garages in your area might help. Possibly there's an easy (i.e. cheap) fix that they would be aware of.

 

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CAF2012 | 5 years ago
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"I'm thinking the solution is probably a hitch rack but it would need to be left permanently attached to the car to have any benefit over a Saris Bones or similar"

Thule do a 2-bike rack (and a 3-bike version) that takes me about 15 seconds to attach/detach from the tow bar: https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/towbar-bike-racks/thule-xpress-... - it's significantly easier to use than a Bones or anything else that needs to be strapped down, tightened up etc. It also lives quite happily in the boot of my Corsa. YMMV as usual.

 

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zero_trooper | 5 years ago
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Sorry to hear of your son's fear of our modern transport system. If the roads and their users weren't so shit then this wouldn't be such an issue for you (and your son).

£5000 is a lot of money to spend on a car only doing 5000 miles a year. Especially a 'big' car. I know that you mentioned cycle racks, but have you considered a cheap, small car and on the money you save, a decent cycle rack? One that you can easily remove after use. How often will you use the car to transport bikes? Would a cycle rack really be that much hassle?

 

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to zero_trooper | 5 years ago
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zero_trooper wrote:

Sorry to hear of your son's fear of our modern transport system. If the roads and their users weren't so shit then this wouldn't be such an issue for you (and your son).

£5000 is a lot of money to spend on a car only doing 5000 miles a year. Especially a 'big' car. I know that you mentioned cycle racks, but have you considered a cheap, small car and on the money you save, a decent cycle rack? One that you can easily remove after use. How often will you use the car to transport bikes? Would a cycle rack really be that much hassle?

 

why is it a 'lot', how much do you think a 'small' car can save you? Bike racks are a hassle, they expose your bike/s and they cost you money for a decent one, plus they cost you in terms of fuel economy as well. A Fiesta is not much cop for long distances even three up with three bikes plus kit IMHO, they are also not that much cheaper than a bigger car. See above for the C4 Grand Picasso I found for £3.5k with low miles!

Trips with family that would be all but impossible or make them extremely expensive by train plus some journeys that need a car on the odd occasion make £5k not that big a deal when you add things up.

Pollution factor and reliability is more of a consideration IMHO. I've kept my car for 13 years after buying it at 4 years old and done less than 5k average over those years, I consider it to have been a very good 'investment' in terms of being able to get places sometimes fully loaded (self catering trips as above) and/or 5 up going into London on nights out that would have cost an awul lot of money otherwise.

£75 (at least) in offpeak train in London for 5 of us or £8 in diesel, that's just one trip, I had my old Astra before the Passat so we're going back 25+ years of going for nights out in the smoke

Train to visit family in North, offpeak that'd be £140 easily for the three of us when minibikesheds was little because otherwise it would mean getting the very last train on a Sunday night to get tickets £10-£15 cheaper. Diesel+tolls would even with todays prices only cost me £39, 6 trips a year (1860 miles - which would be the biggest block of my annual miles) that's £6000 less cost over 10 years we went up together plus being able to come and go as you want.

Whilst I'm doing a year without the car it's being bloody difficult at times and makes some trips simply not doable or a real bane not to mention pretty costly both in money and time. If I do replace the Passat I'd deffo spend c.£5k and not be concerned if I did fewer than 5,000 miles.

And I certainly would never buy a small car for family journeys, just not worth the hassle to save a couple of bob.

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zero_trooper replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
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BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

 

why is it a 'lot', how much do you think a 'small' car can save you? Bike racks are a hassle, they expose your bike/s and they cost you money for a decent one, plus they cost you in terms of fuel economy as well. A Fiesta is not much cop for long distances even three up with three bikes plus kit IMHO, they are also not that much cheaper than a bigger car. See above for the C4 Grand Picasso I found for £3.5k with low miles!

Trips with family that would be all but impossible or make them extremely expensive by train plus some journeys that need a car on the odd occasion make £5k not that big a deal when you add things up.

Pollution factor and reliability is more of a consideration IMHO. I've kept my car for 13 years after buying it at 4 years old and done less than 5k average over those years, I consider it to have been a very good 'investment' in terms of being able to get places sometimes fully loaded (self catering trips as above) and/or 5 up going into London on nights out that would have cost an awul lot of money otherwise.

£75 (at least) in offpeak train in London for 5 of us or £8 in diesel, that's just one trip, I had my old Astra before the Passat so we're going back 25+ years of going for nights out in the smoke

Train to visit family in North, offpeak that'd be £140 easily for the three of us when minibikesheds was little because otherwise it would mean getting the very last train on a Sunday night to get tickets £10-£15 cheaper. Diesel+tolls would even with todays prices only cost me £39, 6 trips a year (1860 miles - which would be the biggest block of my annual miles) that's £6000 less cost over 10 years we went up together plus being able to come and go as you want.

Whilst I'm doing a year without the car it's being bloody difficult at times and makes some trips simply not doable or a real bane not to mention pretty costly both in money and time. If I do replace the Passat I'd deffo spend c.£5k and not be concerned if I did fewer than 5,000 miles.

And I certainly would never buy a small car for family journeys, just not worth the hassle to save a couple of bob.

You've raised some good points, which obviously fit your domestic circumstances, however they may not meet the OP's. The point I was trying to raise was that big is not always best. The main point of the OP's post was to transport him and his son and their bikes 5 miles down the road. He also mentioned having 3 seats available. 

Ifyou are only using the car half an hour a week to transport bikes, what are you doing with it for the other 167.5 hours of the week? A small car may be easier to drive around an urban enviroment, take less room up on the drive/street, be cheaper to tax, insure, fuel etc. Certainly a bit more than 'a couple of bob'.

I don't remember advocating public transport in this example, so that's irrelevant.

12 months without a car? Kudos and way to go.

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to zero_trooper | 5 years ago
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zero_trooper wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

 

why is it a 'lot', how much do you think a 'small' car can save you? Bike racks are a hassle, they expose your bike/s and they cost you money for a decent one, plus they cost you in terms of fuel economy as well. A Fiesta is not much cop for long distances even three up with three bikes plus kit IMHO, they are also not that much cheaper than a bigger car. See above for the C4 Grand Picasso I found for £3.5k with low miles!

Trips with family that would be all but impossible or make them extremely expensive by train plus some journeys that need a car on the odd occasion make £5k not that big a deal when you add things up.

Pollution factor and reliability is more of a consideration IMHO. I've kept my car for 13 years after buying it at 4 years old and done less than 5k average over those years, I consider it to have been a very good 'investment' in terms of being able to get places sometimes fully loaded (self catering trips as above) and/or 5 up going into London on nights out that would have cost an awul lot of money otherwise.

£75 (at least) in offpeak train in London for 5 of us or £8 in diesel, that's just one trip, I had my old Astra before the Passat so we're going back 25+ years of going for nights out in the smoke

Train to visit family in North, offpeak that'd be £140 easily for the three of us when minibikesheds was little because otherwise it would mean getting the very last train on a Sunday night to get tickets £10-£15 cheaper. Diesel+tolls would even with todays prices only cost me £39, 6 trips a year (1860 miles - which would be the biggest block of my annual miles) that's £6000 less cost over 10 years we went up together plus being able to come and go as you want.

Whilst I'm doing a year without the car it's being bloody difficult at times and makes some trips simply not doable or a real bane not to mention pretty costly both in money and time. If I do replace the Passat I'd deffo spend c.£5k and not be concerned if I did fewer than 5,000 miles.

And I certainly would never buy a small car for family journeys, just not worth the hassle to save a couple of bob.

You've raised some good points, which obviously fit your domestic circumstances, however they may not meet the OP's. The point I was trying to raise was that big is not always best. The main point of the OP's post was to transport him and his son and their bikes 5 miles down the road. He also mentioned having 3 seats available. 

Ifyou are only using the car half an hour a week to transport bikes, what are you doing with it for the other 167.5 hours of the week? A small car may be easier to drive around an urban enviroment, take less room up on the drive/street, be cheaper to tax, insure, fuel etc. Certainly a bit more than 'a couple of bob'.

I don't remember advocating public transport in this example, so that's irrelevant.

12 months without a car? Kudos and way to go.

You just came out with £5k is a 'lot' for a car doing 5000 miles a year, you offered up no argument to show why that was so. I showed that even on the basis of half a dozen trips over 1800 miles a year could save a small family the full cost of a £5k over using public transport as part of my validating the amount to spend.

We'll agree to disagree on what is a 'lot' to spend, IMHO £5k is a good figure for a modern vehicle that isn't too old and shouldn't be too leggy nor cramped and fits the OPs requirements.

I'm lucky enough I don't 'need' a car but it does make things bloody difficult at times and indeed there are some trips that are so difficult time wise and/or costly I've not made them, socially especially.

Seriously thinking about putting car back on the road/buying a new one but I'd love to get a fully enclosed EV assist vehicle that I can use all year round for longer journeys to replace car/train even if that meant getting insurance and it be licensed, one with photovoltaic cells would be even better.

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zero_trooper replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
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BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

zero_trooper wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

 

 

You've raised some good points, which obviously fit your domestic circumstances, however they may not meet the OP's. The point I was trying to raise was that big is not always best. The main point of the OP's post was to transport him and his son and their bikes 5 miles down the road. He also mentioned having 3 seats available. 

Ifyou are only using the car half an hour a week to transport bikes, what are you doing with it for the other 167.5 hours of the week? A small car may be easier to drive around an urban enviroment, take less room up on the drive/street, be cheaper to tax, insure, fuel etc. Certainly a bit more than 'a couple of bob'.

I don't remember advocating public transport in this example, so that's irrelevant.

12 months without a car? Kudos and way to go.

You just came out with £5k is a 'lot' for a car doing 5000 miles a year, you offered up no argument to show why that was so. I showed that even on the basis of half a dozen trips over 1800 miles a year could save a small family the full cost of a £5k over using public transport as part of my validating the amount to spend.

We'll agree to disagree on what is a 'lot' to spend, IMHO £5k is a good figure for a modern vehicle that isn't too old and shouldn't be too leggy nor cramped and fits the OPs requirements.

I'm lucky enough I don't 'need' a car but it does make things bloody difficult at times and indeed there are some trips that are so difficult time wise and/or costly I've not made them, socially especially.

Seriously thinking about putting car back on the road/buying a new one but I'd love to get a fully enclosed EV assist vehicle that I can use all year round for longer journeys to replace car/train even if that meant getting insurance and it be licensed, one with photovoltaic cells would be even better.

But you're not comparing like with like. I never suggested replacing the 'big' car with public transport, I suggested replacing it with a 'small' car and a decent bikerack. How much cheaper would a smaller car cost to run each year? If you can justify 'ease of use' when driving so few miles, well it's your money. Or, if it 'fits the OPs requirements' and they can justify the cost. 

 

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Russell Orgazoid | 5 years ago
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An estate made from a Japanese or Korean maker.

Proven reliability and practicality, not much badge going on plus no 'perceived quality guff'.

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Crippledbiker | 5 years ago
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I'll also third the S-Max recommendation; I've got a 2018 Ti Sport, and I can fit a full length racing handcycle (2.2m), my clip on handcycle, my wheelchair, AND my partner's bike inside at the same time. I'm getting about 46.5mpg with the 180bhp diesel, but, diesel.

Doesn't meet the triple front seat requirements, though.

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kil0ran | 5 years ago
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Good tips, thanks everyone. 

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Deeferdonk | 5 years ago
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I have a Nissan NV200 Combi. I bought an ex motability one and took the wheelchair ramp out. Have regularly transported 4 strapping chaps and our mountain bikes with no need for racks.

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EK Spinner | 5 years ago
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I would look for a Caddy Maxi with 5 seats, gives you the back end of a van and still acts as a family runabout.

The 2 seater van has lower speed limits but the 5 seater avoids that I believe, because it isn't classed as a van. a couple of quick release mounts on boards on the floor makes for quick loading and you can happliy use it for garden rubbish to the tip etc as well without getting carpets dirty.

With a bulkhead fitted it keeps the bikes out the way of the passangers in the event of a collision as well

 

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Pitbull Steelers | 5 years ago
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It's more than your bufget but if you could squeeze out a bit more i would go for a Ford Kuga. I've got one and the inisde is like the tardis. Comfortably fit bikes in and with the split rear seats you can sit 3 comfortably with one in the back. 

With it being a Ford the parts are as cheap as chips so you'll get your money back that way, cheap to run as well. 

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BobbyG | 5 years ago
1 like

Skoda Yeti. I get my bike in mine by just flattening one of the back seats. In fact, you can remove the seats altogether to essentially turn it into a van. 

Heated seats standard on all Elegance/SEL spec cars.

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Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
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Have a look at one of those there MPV frogboxes. I've had a couple of Renault Scenics and a Citroen Picasso. Boring to drive, but always seemed just the right size for whatever needed to cram in especially the respective grand versions.

These also seem to be good cars for passengers, lots of window area and avoiding the high waistlines that look sleeker but not so nice from the back seat view when you are small.

Diesel versions give good mpg and maybe considerably cheaper on the VED.

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don simon fbpe | 5 years ago
1 like

Mazda Bongo!

Nissan Terrano 2.7tdi- bomb proof engine that'll run on waste veg oil and at less than £1.00 per litre, it'd be rude not to, versatile and a joy to drive/sleep in.

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Shades | 5 years ago
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VW Transporter (or similar); what you do with the space in the back is only limited by money and your imagination.  They even have a fitted bike rack if you're really loaded up with toys (and family).  It's the only vehicle I have.

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Stef Marazzi | 5 years ago
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Skoda Superb Estate, Toyota Avensis Estate, Hyundai i40 Estate, Mondeo Estate, Volvo Estate - all have cavernous boots.

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henryb replied to Stef Marazzi | 5 years ago
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cyclesteffer wrote:

Skoda Superb Estate, Toyota Avensis Estate, Hyundai i40 Estate, Mondeo Estate, Volvo Estate - all have cavernous boots.

I have a Toyota Avensis Estate, which very comfortably takes a bike lying down in the back. Also, this car has a surprisingly good turning circle.

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