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Assuming you mean the Berlingo-sized Transit Courier then you want a Berlingo-van as that has 3 seats up front (but admittedly it is more like 2-and-just-over-a-half seats up front).
Awesome article - I am in exactly the same boat as our ageing diesel Rav4 is spending more and more time in the garage (but does have a tow bar bike rack). Bike theft is mental at the moment so ideally would like to put bike (minus front wheel) into the main vehicle but then fitting in partner, two kids and a dog pretty much makes it impossible without a full on van who's prices are rocketing. Secondhand market may be good in a year or two once overseas holidays are a viable option again!
I am looking at a EV estate... the MG5. Decent range in the long range version and and the (Scottish) Government are providing interest free loans for new EVs. Solo trips a bike will go in the back with a bit of faff but full family trip it will still need a bike rack and roof box (and then what will the real world range be..., yet to get a decent answer). If that is still unaffordable then a Octavia estate may be the order of the day.
Will continue to hunt!
Volvo 240DL
Something dull and common
Any grey import or non normal car can be a pain to find someone to fix it.
Petrols easier to fix and service.
V50. Kip in it, bike with wheels off in across front seats. Foil-backed bubble wrap in windows, job jobbed.
Subaru Outback all the way
MKII wrote:
Volvo 240DL
A good mate of mine has one for sale on his forecourt. May be a little over budget though 🙂
It really is a mint example though
http://www.formulacars.co.uk/used-cars/336/volvo-240-glt-estate/
Looking for something at the moment which will satisfy pulling a caravan, put bikes in (all in the caravan at the moment) but still be decent to drive.
Looking at the price of used vans at present puts me off. Looking for something decent and upto 5 years old so Vito's are about £25k and T6s over £30k. Lot of cash for few creature comforts..
I did fancy an A6 or Passat/Superb estate but they're not useful for carrying children and bikes, it's one or the other.
Don't want to look like I've given up on life so Picassos and Zafiras are out. S-Max? Anything else worth looking at?
When you say no good for carrying bikes and kids - is that everything inside? Estates are great for kids inside and bikes on (or behind)...
Don’t want to look like I’ve given up on life so Picassos and Zafiras are out.
I always think that ruling out vehicles that would be really good for chucking loads of stuff in up to allow you to do activities that are fundamentally the opposite of giving up on life, because someone might think you've given up on life is a bit daft. Who cares what other people think, embrace the practicality!
(What you're looking for is actually a Toyota proace verso or one of its cousins)
I actually like a nice car still, and as it would be the main family motor, then it has to have some appeal. That said, I want to chop my wife's vehicle in once this one is sorted so I might get something a bit more interesting to replace that.
When the caravan is on the back of the car, the only option is to carry inside or on top. I'm not a fan of putting them on the roof, the road bike not so much but definitely not lifting 25kg of ebike up there!
Length of the eSommet is about 120cm with the wheels off. Takes moments to whip them on/off. Usually to carry it anywhere I take it inside with the seats down and one wheel off but that is with me riding solo.
Pro-ace is still pretty new and with fairly strong prices but look like a decent van.
You don't want to look like you've given up on life, but are happy to be seen with a caravan?!
SUVs might be a good option, the tall boot means you can get bigger bikes in the right way up and still have 1 or 2 back seats in action. I have an old Outlander that's good like this, I can fit 2 adult bikes, a trailer and stores in with the back seats split, so room for a child seat still. Something 4x4 based might be better still. Pickup with a solid covered load area?
If towing the caravan, keep the bikes in the caravan (as you already are) and job jobbed...