Klaus and I have realised that our still good driving Chrysler Grand Voyager,
built some 16 years ago, will not last forever. It is a diesel , but know the darling
has driven us for more than 320.000 km. And we have to say that there has been never a problem and touch wood, there is no problem. But we have to have another “doggy” car.
As we suggested not to take anymore than three dogs in the car anywhere, or where we might stay overnight, we thought we would go for an “estate” – car.
Because for events, which might take place once or twice during the year, then – we can go with two cars.
What are your experiences with the Volvo V70 for example? Estate or Cross Country?
Any input for any brand would be more than helpful.
Thank you,
Björn & Klaus

can't comment,we'd love an estate car,but have a Renault megane hatchback,in which,with the back seats down,we transport 3 d/hs and a greyhound!!

Hi Björn & Klaus
We have a Fiat Scudo (same as Citroen Dispatch/Peugeot Expert). It is the best car/van we have ever owned. We fight about who gets to drive (I always win ) and it is huge. As it is more like a van than a car there is no expensive upholstery.
We will take it to the breed show, you are welcome to have a look and see what you think.

At Crufts, Barjo (UK based manufacturers of dog guards) had the same car fully fitted with their guards. It really looked very good, room for many dogs and storage as well.
The car is very big though, maybe too big for day to day use.

Rob

Our dog car is a Tarago with the back seats removed. We transport 3 DH's in relative comfort.

Hi Fiddle,
About Volvo i don't know, but since 1+1/2 year we rent big car or van to know which one is the best for us and our dh, Mercedes class R long is fantastic, but know we search a second-hand not too expensive and without too many kilometers.
But i like Volvo too, especially V70 Cross Road.
Good luck especially if you will drive it over 300.000km.
Florent

I have a Ford Mondeo 'edge' estate 2.0 TDCI. Very good on diesel, loads of room when back seats down and a nice looking car. Mine has blacked out back windows and looks really sporty. Goes like a rocket too

Murray goes on the back seat and Smokey greyhound and Carys deerhound go in the boot bit - tons of room

Hi Bjorn, our Volvo V70 can easily accomadate three DH's, four if they're friendly, and the D5 version (which ours isn't)is fairly ecconomical and very reliable and should do you for another sixteen years .Its also very good for humans over long distances.

Hi, we have a Volvo 850 estate. We love it. Volvo's are built for transporting Deerhounds. Ours even came with a factory fitted dog guard which folds up if you don't need it.

Chaps, if you're buying new, look no further than a diesel engined Subaru Legacy estate. Loads of room with the back seats down, 55 mpg and above all, such fun to drive. And what's more, you have permanent four wheel drive, which is just dandy for the winter and for driving up mountains. When my Lottery numbers come up, a new Scooby is the first thing I plan to buy.

I've had two of the petrol engined version of the Legacy and only gave up and bought a boring Citroen Xsara estate because of the cost of fuel - the petrol engine is pretty thirsty. Marjory's got one - check it out at the breed show.

Sid wrote:


Hi Sid,

a brand new car? I think that is to much of a bother:P
And Subaru; - I have no idea what is wrong with their cars, but they never loose in value.
Here the second hand Subaru`s are still to expensive...........
A very nice car indeed.

That is one car that I have always wanted - they are brilliant. I used to drive a friends diesel model and as Sid says, they are such fun

fiddle wrote:


I know what you mean. I hope that by the time I'm ready to scrap the Citroen, the diesel Legacy with have dropped in second hand value enough for me to afford one. They last forever, though - I bought my last Legacy with 45000 on the clock and very reluctantly let it go with 161521, purely because it was going to need £1200 spent on it to get it through the MOT. It was still running like a sewing machine, but the ABS cylinder needed to be replaced. Lord, I miss that car...

We have had 3 subarus in the past - I miss them!
The dogs have always gone in their own car - Ford Galaxy with the seats out. I have to say they love it and you do get the best of both worlds. We use a roof box to go away with so that they still have plenty of room
I also have to say I don't know how those taller hounds fit in a volvo!
We also looked at the Mazda 6 as a second car as they have plenty of room and are good cars. We went for the Hyundia Santa fe in the end. I love it!
It's just like a big subaru Perfect.
Am now eyeing up the Hyundia i800......... Looks like a fab upgrade to the Galaxy. Now if I could just find that lottery ticket.....

I have a Vauxhall Astravan (Opel in Europe I think) 1.7 TDi, it came with a metal bulkhead and is a fantastic car derived' van as they call it.

I also have a Skoda Estate, but it is a company car so have to be a bit careful what goes in it, plus it is petrol a juicy, the van does 600mpg to the tank. It drove from London to Pembrokeshire on the same tank.

I am a real volvo-lovers, I have had volvo since I got my driving license, different models. Last time I would change car I was looking at Cross Country wish is a very nice car. But I didn't find any who could pull as much weight as I wanted. And because of that I bought a Hyundai Santa Fe V6, and I love that car it is very nice. BUT the luggage space is small. I didn't have Norbert the time I buy the car. It's high enough but it's just room for one DH If I take the seat down two can be there but then it is no place for luggage.

Well as long as I only have Norbert and one schipperke it is ok. And it is a very good car to drive horses with

A thought....didn't volvo have to low roof for DH's? My daughter have a Chevrolet transporter, it is good, but it is just the same as the care you have.

The Volvo roof is a bit low for bigger Deerhounds, they can stand up ok, just not lift their heads up fully. As ours tend to sleep most of the time and the longest trip is not likely to be more than 5-6 hours, they seem to be ok with that.

Hi Klaus and Bjorn

There is only one way to transport your Deerhounds and that is in a Mercedes Sprinter 311 cdi MWB bags of room in the back returns 36mpg (whilst doing speeds of 80mph) really good to drive, very reliable, design the interior to your Deerhounds needs I have yet to find a down side to mine. Sid and Tavish can let you know how nice they are to travel in

alan wrote:


All right, Alan, but the second name of the deerhounds is sleeperhounds, so for 99% of the trip, no matter how high is the roof...

Yep, Sue's Merc van is a good dog-and-people transporter. We took four Deerhounds, Marjory, Sue, Sue's son Chris and me to Crufts this year, plus all our stuff and three boxes of Deerhound Club mugs and a trolley to bring them in on. And we slept overnight on the way back and lived. Good choice if you want to schlep lots of dogs and not spend too much on Travelodges.

Iv got a ford escort 1.8 diesel van! My neighbour is a welder so he fashioned me a gate for the back! Its probably the only thing bespoke that I can and will ever afford!
The gate sits approx 75cm back from the doors so it gives us room to sit too! Its a bit slow going up hills but its my first ever 'own' car so I love it!