hate myself for asking this but time has come to get a practical car. Needs to fit four people and four bikes...in a dream scenario I'd be able to use it on my own at races to sleep in the back. But not essential.
so go ahead, recommend me what you drive 😉
budget is fairly flexible
Skoda Superb estate. Love mine, it's lovely to drive and huge. Seriously huge! The boot could sleep a family of four
Surely a T5 is the only answer..
The California Beach is the dream but apparently have to wait until kids are bigger. And I am richer...
Whatever estate floats your boat then and towbar rack.
Transit.
Sweet sweet deo.
Love my Skoda Superb 4x4 Estate. It’s massive.
Berlingo.
Take middle seat out. I've fit three people with three bikes with wheels on in it.
Fit four people and four bikes with wheels off.
Or use towbar rack.
I sleep in it on occasion. Made a single camper unit and keep bike along side me.
Or just go big and get a dublife or transit etc.
I’ve owned a Berlingo & a T5. Now got a Mk 3 Ford Galaxy. Fits 4 with bikes (with some wheels off & easier if you’ve got dropper posts) and long enough for me to lay in.
More confortabke and better put together than the ‘lingo but it is a more expensive car. Need to take a bit more care of interior trim though
Cheaper to run and more pleasant place to be than the T5 overall but not quite as easy to throw stuff in the back of. A nearly new Galaxy with 10k on the clock cost me what I could get a 6+ year old 100k mike T5 for.
Had a couple of big Volvo's (XC90, XC60) and both have been great cars for shifting kids, bikes and caravans over the years. I tend to use roof bars (because of the caravan) and you'll either need to be tall, or carry a step if you want to go this way.
The XC90 could certainly have doubled as a hotel if needed, although I never did as I preferred to annoy other motorists by dragging mine behind me. (Hey, they all seem to hate me on the road bike, so they might as well hate me in the car too!)
Wait about three months and get the new Berlingo. Long wheel base, 5 seats.
Saving up for a Peugeot Rifter long wheel base in about a year.
Give the Ford SMAX some consideration.
Seven seats (the rear two in mind have never been used, though, as I mostly use the huge space that they leave)
Second row is very spacious, with each seat folding individually, giving flexible configuration.
Based on the Mondeo chassis, so drives like a car (sooo much nicer than the Galaxy, even though it's slightly smaller)
When camping, myself, the wife, the dog and the considerable amount of kit (7 man tent, etc) are swallowed with ease.
When off on cycling trips, I fold right hand seat on second row, slide a bike bag in there, load another three on the towbar, fill the boot with loads of bags and kit, and collect three rowdy mountain bikers. The two in the second row are very happy in their non-cramped accommodation, for hours on end.
Most practical car I've ever had (including my lovely volvo 740 estate)
A van....
T5 kombi or transit.
Though what's your budget
