Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

New car advice

(14 Posts)
Cindyh Wed 24-Feb-21 19:14:04

Hello, just joined so forgive me if this has been asked before. From March 1st I’ll have a grandchild, huge dog (Bernese) and a pushchair, three days a week. I have a mini! Has anyone got any recommendations for cars where the boot space would hold a dog and pushchair? I can’t fold down the rear seats as I need the dog contained and a child seat fixed in. TIA

Ps. It would be a used car and price up to £8k don’t mind what make

tanith Wed 24-Feb-21 19:20:08

A Qashqai would do the job.

Oopsadaisy1 Wed 24-Feb-21 20:39:00

I think you need to line up the dog and the folded pushchair and measure the space they will need. Most car web sites will have the internal boot area.

Folded pushchairs aren’t small these days.

Jaxjacky Wed 24-Feb-21 20:41:51

My Citroen Berlingo would do it.

Casdon Wed 24-Feb-21 20:49:17

My dog has a chest harness which attaches from the back to one of the anchor points in the boot, so he can’t move about. If you got one of those you could put the seats down to hold both the dog and the pushchair?

Grannynannywanny Wed 24-Feb-21 21:04:52

I had a Toyota Verso when my grandchildren were babies. I would describe that as a much bigger than average boot, probably twice the size of my current Honda Jazz. But I honestly don’t think I’d have been able to fit in a large dog along with the pram chassis, the type that the car seat clips into for getting around. My daughter had a Skoda Octavia estate which had a huge boot and might at a push fit pram and large dog.

When I was shopping around for a change of car I took the pushchair with me and tried it in various car boots. I think it’s difficult to picture just how much room a pram occupies till you try it. I’d recommend try before you buy!

Nansnet Thu 25-Feb-21 06:45:14

How old is your grandchild? If a few months old, and not a newborn, it may be more cost effective to purchase one of the small, lightweight, compact strollers, something like the Graco Travelite Stroller (which is actually, suitable from birth to 3 years), and folds like an umbrella. There's loads to choose from on the market, and most will fit in the footwell of a car, so you'd have the whole boot space for the dog. When I had my kids, we had a lovely pushchair, but I ended up buying one of those Maclaren umbrella strollers, and used it all the time! Obviously, you'll still need to change your car (I had a mini too!), as you won't get the Bernese in the boot of your mini!Lol But it'll give you more choice with cars, if you don't have to get the large dog, and a large pushchair in the boot ...

M0nica Thu 25-Feb-21 07:16:27

Almost any estate car.

Aveline Thu 25-Feb-21 08:04:36

Sorry I can't offer anything constructive but, wow, a Bernese! They're gorgeous.

Greyduster Thu 25-Feb-21 08:49:29

I agree with those who say get a decent folding stroller. We did this with GS when he was small, although we could get his big “off roader” in the boot of our Jazz. Accommodating a large dog would have been a different ball game.

Katie59 Thu 25-Feb-21 09:06:41

Any high roof hatchback take your pick, or even a van with side windows, a friend of mine has one of those to cope with 4 kids and 2 big dogs.

Shropshirelass Thu 25-Feb-21 09:09:11

Depends on your budget but the Land Rover Discovery has a huge boot space.

Puzzled Fri 26-Feb-21 11:01:40

FWIW we have had two Toyota Yaris, (now on two Aygos)
DD and SiL bought a small old Yaris for GS, DD fell so in love with it that she has bought a 54 plate Yaris.
We were impressed by the total reliability. (Regular servicing is essential in our eyes) In 12 years and 80K+ each of ours, apart from wiper blades, a set of tyres and front brake pads, ONE brake light bulb each.
If not too small, (look at a larger model?) highly recommended, comfortable and economical.
Otherwise, look at a Honda for reliability.
You buy a car to use, not to run to and fro to a garage..

DouglasJohnsonJr Thu 11-Mar-21 10:47:46

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.