Help me pick a new vehicle

I can stand up in and sleep/cook in for a weekend.

How does a normal estate car even get a look in if these are your criteria? 😉

My T5 swb has roughly the same footprint as my old Saab 93 Estate. Sure, it's more faffy to park than my Yaris but the increased utility compared to an estate car is massive. Tandem in the back with wheels on. 😃

Transit Custom 🙂

You'll soon get used to the size for driving/parking.

I think I want a TARDIS – Something like a Ford Focus sized vehicle that will take 2 bikes and I can stand up in and sleep/cook in for a weekend.

Is a tardis an added extra you can now spec when ordering a new focus?

I have a Ford focus and my 5 year old son can't stand up in it. Do you mean ford transit? Or connect?

I think he's describing what he'd like, not necessarily what he'll get!

Anyway, in the spirt of recommending what you have, a Ford Connect if you are happy with the manufacturer. You could sleep in the LWB one easily, but they are a bit longer than your average car. The SWB one is about Focus footprint, just a bit taller.

Van based MPV. 5-7 seats for normal use and room for multiple bikes and room to sleep at the weekend.

You've got 2 sizes to choose from, either the caddy/tourneo connect/old Berlingo size - would be tight with 2 bikes and sleeping inside, and if you're tall you'll be slightly over the front seats when camping.

Then you've got the bigger van based versions, so VW caravelle, tourneo custom, Citroen Berlingo, Spacetourer. These come in LWB and SWB versions.

These would fit 2 bikes and room for one person to sleep in, in comfort.

Unless you're very short you won't be able to stand up in any of them without a pop top, but I'm guessing when you say stand up it's just to change etc.

Ah, the exact same problem my brain is processing in the background!

on the one hand, I'd like a way to get around with the dog when my GF has the main vehicle and I want it to be cheap to (run, insure, tax), but on the other side I'd also like the flexibility to put things in the back of it covered up and, if necessary be able to sleep in the back.

I thought an LWB Connect would work but, lanky SOP that I am, the 185cm load bay in a 230TDCi is too short for me with the bulkhead in. Otherwise that's a good height and a rare van that actually felt roomy in the front. So, if I want to sleep in it, I need a T4 sized van or bigger (Jumpy, Expert, T5, Custom, etc) and that means poorer economy, higher tax, etc. With a van this size, I also have a problem of where do I park the thing at home as space is a bit limited.

I've now been stuck in a loop trying to solve this problem for weeks and can't. In reality, about the only requirement is a tow hook. I guess I could take the bulkhead out of a Connect LWB and having something that would work for sleeping if I put the seats forward, but I still have not decided what the main driver is.

ANYWAY, good luck. I guess the best way is just to have a budget, drive lots of things and see what fits.

Job Jobbed...

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...bit lacking on privacy though! 🙂

I've often thought a hearse would be an ideal donor car for biking and weekend away trips - other than the huge amount of glass, but that could be covered.

I'd say a Berlingo/Partner/whatever-the-vauxhall-varient-is-called.However, depends entirely on how tall you are - I don't ever need to stand up in mine - and being 6'1", I'd need a high-top van to be able to stand up anyway.

I've a Partner and it is a brilliant car, looking to get a new car to replace this and I think I'm going to take the hit and get the EV version of it - all the practical size and space, but it does have a vastly reduced range, so my driving habits will need to change considerably (650 mies out a tank of diesel down to 175 miles if I'm driving at 40mph with no heater on and the outside temp is 25c - not often in Scotland!!!).

Thanks, I'm after ideas to see where I'll compromise.

My head says get something more car like and just pay for glamping when I go away. My wife only uses it as a car (she actually has a 4.5T Horsebox I can't drive!).

The focus is always filthy as it's awkward to load muddy bikes and kit. Something more van like would suit my use more and the cost difference to a car isn't massive. Would really struggle to get two enduro bikes, kit and people in the car so drive everywhere alone.

Current car choice was largely down to my BiL working at ford and a healthy discount. Less good these days. Happy with ours, Hastle free for 7 years.

Daughter has used both a Tourneo Connect and a Tourneo Custom to travel round the Alps 6 weeks at a time and most weekends away in the UK. She also used a Decathlon drive away awning for extended stays in one place.

Two adults and two bikes in a Tourneo Connect.

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Same in a Tourneo Custom LWB

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I’ve been rolling a jeep grand Cherokee for a few months. It’s comfy, has a massive flat load area. Just use it responsibly as it’s a bit drinkie

I’ve just last week gone from a bling T5 to a swb tourneo connect and have to say I absolutely love it. The T5 was awesome but worked much better for driving from Hampshire to Scotland (so twice a year max) than it did for the school run. The connect is the best of both worlds. Feels far more car like than the T5. Been d1cking about and can easily get four bikes in the rear space.
Seats are super easy to fold up and / or completely remove.

Why don't you just get a licence to drive the horsebox & kip in it for biking/weekends away?

I’ve seen some use tents that attach to the side door of smaller vans and the tailgate tents. Possibly a good compromise.

My work hack is a L2 Connect. I’ve also had Customs. The L2 connect isn’t much shorter than a SWB Custom but fits in all car parks due to the low roofline. The Connect gets 10-15mpg better economy.

The Custom is actually easier to park than the Connect due to the design and lack of front parking sensors.

The Connect is definitely nicer to drive.

ceept
Full Member
Why don’t you just get a licence to drive the horsebox & kip in it for biking/weekends away?

You can't toilet train a horse. That, and it's massively impractical in terms of design space in the back unless you are a horse.

Fiat doblo high top?

Old school Berlingo here for bike/hiking roadtrips. Cheap parts, great 2.0Hdi engine, galvanized.
Can get 'bootjumps' that add removable sleeping&cooking facilities.

New Berlingo is good in lwb form - have just been in southern France for a week and lots of windsurf/kite surfer's have them.

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@dickbarton

I’m going to take the hit and get the EV version of it

The ICE Berlingo's are available to order new again due to demand

The current model of citreon dispatch/Peugeot expert/Toyota proace/vauxhall vivaro are a really good size. Not quite as long as a transit, little bit lower and very easy to live with.
Plenty space in the back. Available as MPV styles if you don't want a van.

Yeah, but I'm sold on the idea of an EV as despite how the materials are gathered, I've managed to sell myself on the idea that EV is definitely the way forward and I should be involved now when I'm thinking of changing my car. I suspect I use the car far too much so this could help reduce my usage a bit.

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You can’t toilet train a horse. That, and it’s massively impractical in terms of design space in the back unless you are a horse.</quote>

Can be very practical!
We often camp in my wife's 3.5t horsebox.
Small living section in the back with cooker/fridge etc.
We wash out the back before leaving. Scatter some laundry conditioner beads to make it smell better then camping carpet on the floor, inflatable double bed in the horsey compartment.
It's palacial 😉

Eyeing one of these up for a near future purchase. £100k car for £30k. 0-60 in 6.5s, ultimate luxury, room for bikes/dogs/whatever.

And similar economy to a transit van, just saying 😉

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Until you need to fix anything on it. Then repair bills for a £100k car.

Maybe price up some service parts before you pull the trigger 😉

I know it won't be especially helpful seeing as I have never actually had one, but I have always loved the idea of getting a VW Caddy for exactly the purposes the OP describes. I have seen some really beautiful ones about, and they just look like really attractive adventure vehicles.

My dream is, when the kids all move out, to buy one and travel across Europe in one with Mrs SR.

Nv200 little Nissan van?

Until you need to fix anything on it. Then repair bills for a £100k car.

Maybe price up some service parts before you pull the trigger 😉

Be right - Discovery 4, Discovery 5 and Audi RS5 have been my most recent vehicles. The Range would be doing small miles and bought with circa 60-70k on the clock

TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Eyeing one of these up for a near future purchase. £100k car for £30k. 0-60 in 6.5s, ultimate luxury, room for bikes/dogs/whatever

You need to spark the SUV thread back into life - it was so productive and fun!

Probably can't get a recent one but a C-Max would surely be much nicer than a Berlingo etc. Useful extra headroom over a Focus and a bit more car like but a bit less practical.

Someone will tell me they stopped making them 10 years ago now!

Eyeing one of these up for a near future purchase. £100k car for £30k. 0-60 in 6.5s, ultimate luxury, room for bikes/dogs/whatever.

And similar economy to a transit van, just saying

I got that with an Alfa Stelvio ... but with much better economy. And while I could i'd never bother with the faff of putting a bike in the car.

Saxonrider, we have the caddy you describe.. its a Maxi Comfort so lined inside from the factory. Got a box thing in the back with kitchen and folding bed. A Berghaus AirShelter does up in about 2 mins and bikes on the Thule towbar.

Obviously some compromises but overall it works well.

Peugeot Rifter?

but it does have a vastly reduced range, so my driving habits will need to change considerably (650 mies out a tank of diesel down to 175 miles

Was talking to the postie the other day who was driving an EV Partner. Said the range was about 100 miles (this is on an urban post route.) Not meant to put a downer on it, I'm all for the EV option, just double check it can do what you want!!

Aye, I'm aware the posted range in all EV cars is fanciful...I think I've sorted my trips to work - new office has opened and I can cycle if I ever need to go into the office...so the rest of the driving is either parent taxi, trailbuilding duties or biking duties (riding and coaching).

Issue with that is the places I go to do those don't have chargers so I'm needing to rethink the journeys.

Range Rover - sounds great, until you realise you need a 2-storey scaffolding setup to lift anything into the boot...;-)

Short wheel base sprinter.

The added benefit of less to rust

I think he’s describing what he’d like, not necessarily what he’ll get!

Customer wish lists are always such fun...
1000bhp, sports car handling and styling, sporty seating in leather, electric everything

But, it's got to do 50 to the gallon, 1000 miles to the tankful, seat 5 (or 7) gargantuan humans, and take golf clubs and suitcases for a fortnights holiday for everyone. Also got to have ground clearance/traction to use dirt tracks.
Servicing mustn't cost more than 100 quid a year and all parts must be dirt cheap.
Paint and glass must also be bullet proof and it's got to come with 5 full function smart keys for when my kids lose them.
Also got to have space to sleep/sit/stand/cook/get changed/build a bike in the back.
Seats must also be resistant to damage from my pet wolf...

No pet wolf in my requirements (despite us having at least one wandering around the area here at home), but I do keep trying to square the circle between small/cheap/practical and larger/more expensive/big enough to sleep in.

For me, an LWB Connect (T230) is too short with the bulkhead in and something like a T5 is going to be a sod to park at the house. I keep coming back to the Citroen Jumpy/Pug Expert as a cheaper, newer compromise to a T5, but it has the same issues as the T5 with taking to town, parking, osv.

The Connect T230 is a decent choice, but I'd have to be creative sleeping in it and it might be cramped for two and pets on longer trips. Unless we took a tent in which case why not just buy another car.

NV200 looks tempting, but I'd want it to have a 2m load area.

I'm leaning towards a Caddy, Connect, Berlingo style people carrier at the minute. They aren't really any bigger than a large car for urban driving. I don't think I want a full on van as I want car niceties and removable bike seats. Want to decide on the SWB or LWB versions. Advantages to both.

I don't think I'll camp in it but I could in the LWB version for one night if I didn't want to pitch a tent. Standing up takes me into a whole different category. Under the back door and buy a dryrobe is a more cost effective CX solution. Could probably rig a tarp off the roof bars if camping for any length of time at the same spot and in need of shelter.

Will go look at some in person over the next week, look at specs and engines, and look to see what is available new and nearly new as that might alter the shortlist considerably.