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[Closed] Compact FWD/AWD ideally with room in back for two bikes?

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Got to sell our lovely long wheel base Transit Connect as it doesn't fit up the access track from our new house very well. The switchbacks are such that I doubt the clutch will see the end of next month...

Lots of our new neighbours have Suzuki Jimnys or Fiat Pandas on account of their short length and tight turning circle. Only, they don't ride.

Am I going to have to go back to a strappy bike rack? Thoughts?


 
Posted : 29/09/2017 10:33 pm
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Something like a Golf 4motion?

Anything from Subaru that is compact enough?


 
Posted : 29/09/2017 11:52 pm
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Honda H-RV : you can flip up the rear seats and have space to carry two bikes


 
Posted : 29/09/2017 11:58 pm
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i can get two bikes in a 500. two in a panda should be easy!


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 12:02 am
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If going that long you could look at 4wd variants of the Japanese mpv imports like the Honda Stepwagon or for real offroad guts the Mitsubushi Delica (ugly though they are).


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 12:04 am
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Spent some time working in Turkey, was driven around in a Dacia Duster which was really good!


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 7:21 am
 beej
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4wd Golf or A3 with the seats down.


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 7:24 am
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4wd models will probably have reduced steering lock which won't help with the switchbacks.


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 7:28 am
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How come? They’re all front wheel drive cars originally, adding a prop shaft and diff to the rear isn’t going to alter how much the front wheels can turn.


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 8:09 am
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Yeti


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 8:37 am
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I have a Yeti two bikes in the back with the front wheels out


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 9:03 am
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The switchbacks are such that I doubt the clutch will see the end of next month...

FWD and AWD tend to have a comparatively limited turning circle - to counteract that try to keep the wheelbase as short as you can get away with for the load space you want. Most manoeuvrable vehicle I've ever owned was a SWB RWD Sprinter - despite being 5m long it could turn on a sixpence as you can practically turn the front wheels sideways


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 9:57 am
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Good point, my bad! Was comparing to RWD in my head!


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 10:01 am
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Rwd vans have much better steering Lock.

Fwd transits have best in class turning lock as well.

Are you driving up a foot path or something sounds ludicrously tight for vehicle access.

Avoid french cars -one of their biggest issues is lack of steering Lock.....


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 10:02 am
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i just bought a reanult trekka 4x4 ( same as a kangoo, but four wheel drive) its brilliant, there a few on ebay at the moment


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 10:14 am
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I do like these things, so I do.
There’s a reason that plenty frequent mountains and valleys across Europe, I’ve even looked at one myself just for the hell of it..

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 10:37 am
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Mitsubishi shogun pinin's are nice.


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 10:41 am
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Steering lock on a 4wd duster is dreadful, along with many other things. If it's an unsurfaced access track it will just rattle itself to bits. Also load space height is lacking so you will need front wheels out and seatposts out unless you're happy lying 2 bikes flat on top of each other


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 11:16 am
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Yeti is a good shout. We adored ours despite it being almost as ugly as a multipla. Many, many bikes can go in the back with multiple combination of seat options.


 
Posted : 30/09/2017 12:48 pm