Cars & Motorbikes Cars for dogs.

I'm looking to buy a medium size SUV for the purpose of carting a couple of Labradors to and from the beach. I'm thinking of something like a Nissan X- trail or a Suzuki vitara. One of the considerations is the room in the hatch when the seats are folded down. Can anyone recommend one over the other or suggest a simulate vehicle? I'm hoping one of them has up - folding rear seats as to give even more room.

 

My Hyundai Santa Fe has heaps of room in the boot - seats can do down too.

The later model (2009 ish) represent good value.

Cheers

Jamie

 

Hilux twincab ute.

 

I just sold my swift as it was a PITA carting around 2 golden retrievers and keeping the vehicle presentable as they had to go on the back seat and one dog gets car sick... I also wanted something with a low range gear box so I could go off roading too. Ended up getting a Pajero but on my soft roader short list was the SWB and LWB Grand Vitara, X trail, Wrangler and Rav 4.

Now in 2 minds whether to remove middle and back row of seats and let the dogs have free reign, well as far as their seat belts and tethers will allow. Never have more than 1 passenger usually.

 

I've got a friend who has a Lamborghini Gallardo who carts his German Sheppard everywhere in it (he's got other cars as well). Probably not the most suitable car for this though..

 

The person who invents a car which is impervious to the god-awful vomite-like smell that comes with lots of dog activity in cars; will be a millionaire.

 

Lab owner here. They do love to swim and roll in mud...

I had a RAV 4 which I put a liner in the back, covered with a rubber cargo mat. It worked quite well, but the car still had a 'wet dog' smell.

I've replaced it with a dual cab ute (Mazda BT-50) with a canopy and waterproof cargo liner. The dogs are completely separate from the passenger compartment and I can litteraly take a hose to the back of the car if necessary.

The dogs don't seem to like it though. They prefer to be closer to their people.

 

Strangely enough we have a swift to get rid of for the same reason.
I have an Audi avant but it's strictly humans only!

 

They're great little vehicles and was sad to see Suzie go but I found myself not wanting to take the dogs places because I didn't want my car getting dirty. Our other vehicle is a newish BT-50 and whenever I suggest to my husband that we take the dogs somewhere in the ute he acts like I asked him to give up his left tes...arm.

Now I have a 1991 Pajero which will be a good dog vehicle and still be able to get to places most can't and will be able to snatch my husband out of the mud when he gets bogged but not new and shiny enough for me to worry about a bit of dog hair and sand in it!

We tested out the dog-worthiness this arvo....



I think they approve

 

Vitaras aren't great quality.
X-Trails are pretty good, some different engines available.
Would pick it over the similar Honda because the X-trails back seats fold flat and you can fit a double air bed in the back. Go for one with the sunroof.

 

I have a pajero as well, cost me $4k and is great for dog, reno, offroad and mountain bike duty

 

The Misses had a grand vitara to cart our kelpie and staffy round along with 2 kids, flogged it off because it was a touch too small and guzzled a heap of fuel . Now have an i30 wagon and it's pretty much spot on

 

Another bonus is you can tell people to jam it in your paj.

 

Oh Geoff - groan

I have a Corolla with the seats folded down most of the time ... seriously used like a ute to car dogs, hay, building materials, furniture and occasionally shopping ... those things are a Tardis

 

Just ensure that you dont allow the govt to pass a law making all new cars coloured white.... it would be a white car nation

 

You can get dog seat covers for your cars for pretty reasonable prices these days as well.

 

Depends on how much you want to use it - will it be an everday car as well?
The hyundai i30 station wagon is a very good every day and dog friendly car - especially for dogs that can't get up into a 4WD.
The most dog proof car I've seen is a Toyota FJ Cruiser and it's my dream animal car



The other week I took our 4yo Weimeraner to work with me and she found some lovely freshly landscaped garden next door which had fresh manure and she rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled and whilst her short hair meant she wasn't too dirty she STUNK! I had to drive 25km home with all the windows down. After a few weeks of dog/kids/building sites my 4wd looks like 50 tradies have been sleeping in it. It's got yellow sand, concrete dust, kid muck and dog hair all over it. I really don't deserve a nice car.

 

This is one of the seat protectors, this one's the bucket style: