View Full Version : Small car with immense load carrying ability?
northwind
07-04-09, 07:10 PM
It's time for the annual "Time I got a car" thread from me :rolleyes: This year, I'm looking for something which can:
Fit in my driveway, which is too small for a VW Passat Estate but just big enough for a Vauxhall Combi- it's car width but the access is at an angle so a full length car won't go.
Carry 2 mountain bikes in it without too much hassle (back seats can come out)
Sit in the rain for months at a time without being driven, then still go reliably
Be cheap to insure, run and fix (if need be)
Be able to go up lumpy fire roads without snapping in half
It doesn't have to be stylish, or exciting ;) It just has to ferry pushbikes and shopping and motorbike bits around. Any suggestions?
gettin2dizzy
07-04-09, 07:17 PM
old volvo. Can't give them away!
keith_d
07-04-09, 07:18 PM
Sounds like a Subaru Forester to me. 4WD and enough ground clearance for mild off-roading. Boringly reliable (if my colleague is to be believed) which keeps garage bills down and not too expensive to insure because most of them are driven by boring old gits (like my colleague).
Obviously, if you get one with the Impreza STi engine under the hood it's a whole different ball game, expensive to insure, expensive to repair, and goes like s**t off a shiny shovel (unlike my colleague).
Keith. (the one with the underscore).
the_lone_wolf
07-04-09, 07:21 PM
http://www.warriorwomen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/overloaded-car.jpg
dizzyblonde
07-04-09, 07:35 PM
http://webbreak.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/02/vespavwbike.jpg
suzuki jimny with a bike rack
http://www.4wdonline.com/Suzuki/Jimny/PiCs37/Jimny1999bFQ.jpg
Bedford Rascal/Suzuki Super-Carry.
I had a 1.0 Yaris which I carried a Suzuki GSXF750 engine in from derby to Banbury without issues.
Back seats fold up, so there's a fair bit of space in the back.
Used to do silly speeds in it down to London once a month too, down the M40.
Very reliable and cheap little car to run. Was quite good fun.
speedplay
07-04-09, 07:50 PM
http://www.skipcar.co.uk/uploaded_images/skipcar-770575.jpg
husky03
07-04-09, 07:58 PM
northy i can get you a y reg ford fiesta 1.6 zetec, just been mot'd two weeks ago, 74000 miles,been in the family since new(was bro in laws but he moved away and gave it to father in law) looking for a grand but to an orger would knock 100-off(get you some road tax).really sweet car, only being sold due to death in the family and now to many cars.
Sid Squid
07-04-09, 08:21 PM
Bedford Rascal/Suzuki Super-Carry.
Agreed, also the Suzuki Wagon-R and Vauxhall Agila variants of the same. All good and surprisingly big inside.
Agreed, also the Suzuki Wagon-R and Vauxhall Agila variants of the same. All good and surprisingly big inside.
And cheap as chips.
I had a Rascal van (old type, 1.0L), wouldn't really recommend it, desperately underpowered and wouldn't want to crash in one.
Probably the best thing to fit your description is a Yaris Verso, easily the ugliest car ever created but owners love them because of the cavernous size and as reliable as you'll get (only came with the 1.3L IIRC).
Honda Jazz probably fits the bill too though a little bigger I think but comes right at the top of the J.D.Power survey year after year. Not cheap though. Brilliant load carrying versatility, rear seat cushions fold up to get pushbikes in etc.
thedonal
07-04-09, 09:32 PM
http://webbreak.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/02/vespavwbike.jpg
I SOOOO want me one of those- that's ACE!
carnivore
07-04-09, 09:39 PM
I'd recomend a toyota.
http://www.jimcurrie.com/images/toyota.jpg
gettin2dizzy
07-04-09, 09:41 PM
Probably the best thing to fit your description is a Yaris Verso, easily the ugliest car ever created but owners love them because of the cavernous size and as reliable as you'll get (only came with the 1.3L IIRC).
.Funny you mention that. Guy at my old work crashed his (big) scooter. Refused for the police to take his bike away so his wife turned up in a Yaris Verso. Apparently it fitted with room to spare!
northwind
07-04-09, 09:57 PM
Liking the Yaris and Jimny option so far... The Forester's brilliant but realistically, probably too big... Some of these cars are a bit too vanny! The Honda Jazz I think would be perfect, but probably out of my price range... Mmm, the Agila and its ilk are pretty cool, never really knew they even existed!
Oh, here's another criteria- ideally, not too tall. It'll sit in front of the front window so if it blocks out the sun, I'll get in trouble :rolleyes:
Cheers folks! Lots of good ideas there.
Oh, Husky, I'd be really tempted by that but I'm not looking to buy just now, really just planning for a few months away so I assume you'll want shot of it by then. But thanks!
Funny you mention that. Guy at my old work crashed his (big) scooter. Refused for the police to take his bike away so his wife turned up in a Yaris Verso. Apparently it fitted with room to spare!
I want a Yaris verso. I can fit loads into my ordinary Yaris, esp with stupid back seat (and front passenger seat) removed, but a verso would be ace. Shame there aren't many around. Last weekend I fitted a 4 drawer filing cabinet in it with loads of room to spare :-D
Nissan Cube
http://www.sidroberts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/nissan-cube-1.jpg
Cube looks big, but is actually built on the Micra chassis, still frikkin' huuge inside tho.
Daihatsu Materia
http://64.251.10.3/nimg/2007/09/thumbs/lrg_article_11080-img_0.jpg
http://webbreak.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/02/vespavwbike.jpg
That is easily the coolest thing I've seen all week. Buy that. It meets exactly none of your criteria but it wins big everywhere that matters: Style & comedy value.
Jambo
suzuki jimny with a bike rack
http://www.4wdonline.com/Suzuki/Jimny/PiCs37/Jimny1999bFQ.jpg
BIG +1
We use two as Lifeguard trucks on certain beaches in cornwall (they weigh less than the L200 that we use on most beaches)
Its a very capable vehicle, and i have a trials report if you want to see just HOW capable......?
Ceri JC
08-04-09, 09:41 AM
Honda Jazz probably fits the bill too though a little bigger I think but comes right at the top of the J.D.Power survey year after year. Not cheap though. Brilliant load carrying versatility, rear seat cushions fold up to get pushbikes in etc.
Yep, if money wasn't an issue, this is what I'd recommend you go for. Most Tardis-like vehicle I've ever been in.
Luckypants
08-04-09, 09:41 AM
It's time for the annual "Time I got a car" thread from me :rolleyes: This year, I'm looking for something which can:
Fit in my driveway, which is too small for a VW Passat Estate but just big enough for a Vauxhall Combi- it's car width but the access is at an angle so a full length car won't go.
Carry 2 mountain bikes in it without too much hassle (back seats can come out)
Sit in the rain for months at a time without being driven, then still go reliably
Be cheap to insure, run and fix (if need be)
Be able to go up lumpy fire roads without snapping in half
It doesn't have to be stylish, or exciting
Fiat Brava diesel. Survived my son and still looked good, carried MTBs, kayaks, paddles, sheep. Really good on fuel 60+mpg on a run. Started first turn of key after being stood for 6 months on the drive. That car died after being hit hard up the rear by a taxi, was a real shame.
...but a verso would be ace. Shame there aren't many around.
Quite a few listed on Autotrader (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/) , seem to start at around £2k dealer asking price. I doubt mileage is much of a problem with them, my regular Yaris is around 60k now with no problems.
-Ralph-
08-04-09, 09:37 PM
Anything with your top box fitted ;)
Quite a few listed on Autotrader (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/), seem to start at around £2k dealer asking price. I doubt mileage is much of a problem with them, my regular Yaris is around 60k now with no problems.
Mine's done about 85k so far. I guess I'll keep it until at least 100k unless anything goes seriously wrong.
Hmmm, maybe a Yaris verso in a year or two...
Agreed, also the Suzuki Wagon-R and Vauxhall Agila variants of the same. All good and surprisingly big inside.
I had an Agila. Ugly as sin but huge inside - could comfortably transport 4 adults and a humungus dog, and still dead easy to park. 1L triple engine, frugal as can be. Utterly reliable until the gearbox collapsed at only 70k miles, however i'm fairly sure this was because the repair of a fairly bad motorway crash wasn't as good as it could have been. Would just about do 90mph. I wanted practicality not style, which is good cos it has lots of one and none of the other. Seriously utterly dirt cheap now too. Don't get it confused with the new shape model which is totally different.
One thing to watch - the uber skinny tyres are an uber special size so cost more than you'd expect.
The blue one:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/247858781_621b2a17b0.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/1590539253_ec74602e2e.jpg?v=0
northwind
08-04-09, 10:04 PM
That Cube is amazing, paint it red and...
http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/images/pedal-cars/postman-pat-pedal-car-md.jpg
This is great, lots of options, thanks very much! The Brava looks like another top contender too.
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