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Currently share a cx5 (2017) with my ex partner, which we did use for both of our bikes (both have enduro bikes) and full gear etc to go away.
It worked perfectly by the time we had both sets of body armour, bike gear, helmets and a week's clothing each in the back of the car. Also worked for when the rack needed to go in the boot.
Now facing the reality that the car probably needs to be sold (or considered for sale). I can't justify a car as expensive as that cost us both by myself with needing to buy somewhere to live.
So now I need to think about a new car, which is economical enough for everyday driving, and will work with a tow bar and bike gear etc for me to go away alone... ideally petrol. Something reliable that I won't need to fix every 5 minutes but will be comfortable and practical for weeks up to Scotland from the South East. But something equally with plenty of space. Will likely not spend anything over £10k on it for reasons mentioned...
I don't want a van because this is going to be my full time car.
What's everyone working with that works for tow bars, bike gear, and the tonne of stuff you always take away when spending a week riding but inevitably don't use?
For context, I don't think I have the strength or height to lift my bike (trek slash) onto the roof post riding, hence wanting the tow bar.
Discovery 4 Commercial (no rear seats)
Meets almost none of your requirements
Peugeot 108.
Berlingo. (Latest model std length, there is an xl version which is longer). Latest model is a bit more roomy than my 08 berlingo.
1.2 petrol , low 40smpg (rural and small towns, odd bit of motorway)
Rear seats spit into 2 and 1 , either side folds (as previous lingo), fold single seat, levo 29 size m, and old myka 26” 13” frame go down side with front wheels out (* levo did NOT fit in older model shorter berlingo, it was slightly too long), leaving 2 seats and their floorwell and 2/3 boot for gear.
See also Peugeot rifter.
Edit, as both me and mrs are short an 8ft 6 surfboard can be wedged (boxes in the boot), strap between the seats and into the roof shelf bit in the roof space above seat head rests (*could also do in old lingo but had to go diagonally)
Can wedge levo in with with wheels on with single seat down, leaning bike against double seat sort of semi diagonally, not space efficient but quick and easy, just one strap to double seat and go
Edit 2
If you are a driving ‘god’, you might find it a bit SpongeBob on corners and it’s not great at fast a road overtaking.
Yeti...our car for last 8 years: comfy, good to drive and very practical (love the ability to remove all rear seats)
An isn’t Audi A4 avant 3.0 diesel. Certainly not ILEZ approved.
Regularly averages 40+ mpg. Road tax is extortionate.
Drives lovely and worth under 1.5K to webuyanycar. It was 38K new (not to me, I bought at 14 years old for about 6K)
To be ULEZ compliant, should you need that, you’ll want a petrol generally post 2007 or a post 2016 diesel I was told.
Fits an XL Geometron with rear seat down and front wheel off. Tempted by a van eventually but cripes they are expensive and pretty agricultural to drive compared. Transporter. Love one but no chance.
Amazingly now, it’s the Korean cars that beat all for reliability. Maybe an old Toyota? Older ones more reliable surprisingly.
Mustang with a suction cup bike rack on the roof. Reliable and surprisingly spacious but doesn't really tick the economical box.
For your needs I wouldn't be looking much further than a Honda Civic. Great cars, we had a 2006-era one that had acres of room inside (for a hatchback) and was a very nice car to sit in and drive.
Whatever comes with a factory fitted retractable tow bar in budget.
Skoda Octavia or Seat leon, 1.4 TSi's or 2.0 Tdi's are pretty bombproof and give 150 bhp+ and also 60 mpg.
Looking to purchase a leon this month so I'm following my own advice!
Honourable mentions to a focus (non-ecoboost engines) or a Volvo v40.
I’d say go with something that has a towbar, these can be retrofitted to many cars, so don’t get too hung up on a particular model.
japanese/korean tend to be more reliable.
Old school 19year old Berlingo - awesome little car van thing.
Volvo V70 - massive
Volvo XC90 - even more massive.
1/2 million miles between them.
Gr Yaris,but doesn't meet any of your requirements apart from having a petrol engine
Some kind of Kia estate would be my thought. With a 7 year warranty you may even get one with some of that left.
I sold my 2020 Q5, with towbar for bikes, last week, as salary sacrifice EV coming week after next.
So currently using eldest’s 71 plate 5 door 1.3, 3cyl Corsa. It’s great fun 🤩, but challenging to get bikes in as am used to popping them in the back, no wheels off for road or gravel, or front off for MTB. The Corsa is both wheels off for any bike.
I do miss the towbar, and am looking forward to having one again soon on the EV.
Yeti here too (1.4 TSI). It’s been reliable and I find it pretty good to drive.
love the ability to remove all rear seats
Agree with that. With the middle seat removed I can get my hardtail in (Stanton Slackline) with the back wheel on, alongside my kids 26” and all our riding gear, still with a useable rear seat (if needed). I’ve been away with my eldest camping a few times and we can get everything inside, including the bikes. On weekdays, when the kids were younger it used to have their booster seats in the back and was good for the school run.
We've an Ibiza estate and a Leon estate. Ones bigger than the other. Both petrol and do 40mpg around the doors and 50mpg on a run. Ones slow and manual (kids learned to drive in it), one is nippy and automatic. Both fit bikes in, on roof, and one has a towbar and rack.
Both are perfect for what you describe.
We also considered a Ceed or i30 estate, I preferred them but mrs_oab didn't.
Dull but handsome Volvo C30 1.6d and a Scuffy/slightly leaky but useful VW Caddy work van/bike carrier. Would like some newer van but refuse to pay post covid van prices, plus I've grown attached to the old heap over the last 8 years.
My default recommendation is a Berlingo but JDM stuff like Elgrands/Alphards are much more interesting/cooler if you can stand the running costs.
S-max, basically a van that drives like a Mondeo (ish). ML bird goes in wheels on, relaxing enough to drive long distances and worth buttons.
One bike goes in my fiesta easily enough, how badly do you need the towbar rack?
^^^^ with 2 large e-bikes, deffo need it ! I already have the rack, a Yakima Just Click 2, which has been used on my last 2 cars, an estate then a SUV, so once new car arrives shortly it’ll be back in use once I know the Reg number and get a rear plate for the rack. I have specced a factory retractable towbar.
A hatchback or estate will do. You don't need a child killing and planet burning ****panzer.
I didn't think the cx5 is actually that big but I've not actually been in one. I have a Skoda Fabia estate and it ticks most/all of the boxes you ask for. It's not huge but it depends how big you feel you need, it does the job for me.
06 nissan note, 138,000 miles on it. bit of a shed, only need the one car now so we'll drive it until it dies unless we see a bargain small petrol jobbie somewhere for about a grand.
holidays are more important to us so the more we save on driving costs the more we get to go away.
On our second Octavia estate - one bike goes in the boot if it's just me, otherwise tow bar rack
2004 330d Touring, rear seats permanently down and Apple carplay head unit, bought it 3 years ago with 78,000 miles, now on 135,000 with 80% of the miles expensed at 45p per Km.
Berlingo/Partner perhaps pre-2018 in Xtr or Teepee guide as you can remove the middle rear seat and get bike in complete.
None. Have never owned a car. May be an option.
2007 Toyota Avensis estate, petrol, 40mpg, cam chain, ultra reliable, ulez, no 2 crit air, takes our bikes inside plus camping gear for a month and we're currently cycling in Les Landes. Insurance says it's worth a grand, we reckon it'll do another 5 yrs. Free motoring!
SEAT estate It's pretty and quite quick and has a towbar in the boot which I've not fitted yet.
Civic 1.8 2013 with 75k on the clock. Nothing apart from consumables so far, hope that continues.
Berlingo 5 seater. I'm getting 52 - 55mpg with the 1.2 petrol. Fast enough. Wheelbase is the same if not smaller than most SUVs, so easy to park. Most comfortable car I've ever driven. Easy to get bikes in.
15 plate S Max. Big enough for us and all of our shit.
It was mint when I got it, but it is starting to get a bit battered now. Will drive it until it dies, then probably get another.
Passat Estate with tow bar. 60mpg on a long run, typically low 50s on short runs, which is ok for a big diesel.
911 Dakar is the best choice in my humble opinion:)
BMW 335d touring with a tow bar, perfect sensible family/bike wagon imo. Best part of 400bhp/850+nm, does 40mpg, enough space but not too big. Have a roof box for camping trips, 2 kids and all the kit just about fits.
Or get an Integrale, I’ve never seen anyone look sad in an Integrale.
Pretty much anything that takes your fancy would meet those requirements. You won't get any useful info asking such vague questions!
As said above. Skoda yeti and save some dosh at the same time
335d xDrive Touring. Full performance kit and 20" wheels. K&W coilovers. Love it. Can manage 40+ without an issue. Rear seats nearly permanently down.
Dieselgate era passat here. Ticks all your boxes. As does the replacement insignia estate, so far.
Zafira tourer is good shout too.
do you need to sell the CX5? have you checked what you can get for yours? auto trader has high milage ones from £7500 so there might not be the saving your imaging by trading down.
If (god forbid) I was newly single and wanted a runabout with the capacity for occasional bike lugging I would get a used smart 'for 2' cos they're dinky and they've got special holes specifically for a rear rack:
Small is beautiful (IMO)...
Where's the rest of the car?
Where’s the rest of the car?
Bolted onto someone else's faux by four costing them more to own and run... 😉
Civic or Jazz with magic seats and sack off the towbar.
The correct answer.
Or even keep the towbar for when you are planning longer trips and can't get everything in the boot.
Or when you get a new partner.
Is the yeti actually practical? The boot looks tiny from the outside, and the high floor must loose a load of space
Berlingo - the car that nobody wants yet everybody needs.
I’ve got a smart same as the black cabrio one(giggly 1litre turbo version) wiv the official 2 bike rack, actually surprisingly practical and fun.
Is the yeti actually practical? The boot looks tiny from the outside, and the high floor must loose a load of space
Yes it is practical in my experience but of course it depends on what you wanting to use it for regularly but its suited us fine as a family of four for day to day driving, dump runs and EU holidays. It may look small from the outside but the ceiling is high and the rear of the car has a squared off rear profile so there is a decent amount of useable space.
You can have my VW Transporter Kombi, 71 plate, perfect for your requirements. To you, a snip at 60K.
Suzuki Vitara AWD fitted with semi-off-road tyres because I regularly drive down unmade roads and tracks, ice and snow isn’t uncommon plus the roads here are mainly singletrack and being able to get off soft verges is handy when encountering numbty drivers who can’t find reverse. Enough room in the boot for 2x dogs, but poor as a bike carrier.
I’ve also got a 1974 VW Bay camper that spends most time as a garage ornament.
@jasonkingss - what made you revive an old thread? Odd posting history...