I have my driving test on friday and hopefully if all goes well i will be in the market for a small car. The main caveat is that i need to be able to fit my Dialled Alpine in. At the moment looking at 2000/01 Clios, Corsas, Fiestas and VW Polos. Anyone have personal experience jamming their pride and joy into the back of such a vehicle?

Cheers.

i fitted 2 in the back of a polo with two adults in the car. Fine transporting car. And fine car in general You just have to get creative with disassembly.

Ford Ka, fits 2 people and 2 bikes fairly easily.

Skoda Fabia!

I used to have a Peugeot 206 and used to fit my full-sus in the back (with seats down) with both wheels removed. IIRC I'm sure I fitted two in on occasion.

Peugeot 206 can fit a bike in with the wheels off.

206 can easily fit many bikes in.

I normally keep the back wheel on and my med nomad and it will just fit in. XC hardtail will fit in easily with back wheel on. You have to have the passenger seat forwards a bit to do this (still plenty of space for average person)

Most bikes I've had in it (with wheels removed) was 3, and lots of camping stuff.

306 hatch or estate? Hatch can fit 3 bikes with the seats down, estate can fit at least 5 from what I can see (it fits 3 with the seats up, across the boot), with wheels off. With wheels on I've fitted 3 in the estate. Estates seem to be cheaper to insure, and you can get a good old 1.9D version which might be a bit more to insure but will get you 45mpg happily, while being cheap enough for you to write off without too much worry.

Honda Jazz, 3 people and 3 bikes plus extra stuff, rear seats fold totally flat and can do so independently as well.

I think an estate will be out as day to day it would be a bit impractical. Jazz is out also as too new, only got about 2K to spend.

Cheers for the suggestions so far tho!

I used to stick 2 bikes with wheels off in the back of a 106 every weekend, if you pack well you can get camping gear in too.

non estate 306 is indeed pretty cavernous in the back for a smallish car, did 3 bikes 3 people a few times with wheels and pedals off.

You could get a wee van like a Vauxhall Combo for 2k.

Not sure why you are ruling out estate cars, parking isn't a problem even in my transporter and i live in a busy city.

Big saloons are pretty cheap, eg mondeo's are often a bit cheaper than a focus.

I use a mondy hatch for bike transport-pretty much an estate but the rear seat backings get ripped to bits so use a cloth.

I'd probably try a fiesta?

Look at your budget and insurance costs.

Good luck on tests.

Remember you also have to think about what you like to drive! This was a massive dilemma for me when I bought my first car in 2003. Criteria was had to fit 2 bikes in the back with kit oh and I wanted 5 doors for ease of doing this and shopping etc. I drove the Peugeot and didn't like it. I was told a Fiat Punto is hard to get replacement parts for if it breaks. I also looked at a Ford Fiesat however they were also out of my price bracket. Clio would do however there were considerably more expensive than other cars. I looked at the Ford Ka but you can't get stuff in there "easily"!!! I ended up buying a new Skoda Fabia 1.2 THE bottom of the range Skoda but it has been brilliant! With the seats down you can easily get 2 bikes in (1 frame on top of other placed in alternate ways) then wheels all on the top, you can also get ALL camping kit for a weekend away (ie Mountain Mayhem etc). Definately worth getting one. I still have it and it now has 85,000 miles on the clock, never had a problem with it and insurance relatively cheap. I was 24 when I got it and had no, no claims and insurance on it was about £250, remember if you have parents or older brother/sister (with no convictions!!!!! or minor 3 pointers) it will CONSIDERABLY bring the insurance policy down!!

Hope this helps, but I spent about 2 months figuring out what to buy.

Due to cash flow probs A few years ago I had to use Mrs carlos car for 12 months when mine died , it's a Fiat Siecento 😳

With the rear seats down I could fit 2 GT I-drives (with wheels off) and camping gear/clothes for a week away , so anything bigger is a possibility! But anything smaller would probably be a no no.

Polo

So new driver has 2k to spend on car and insurance – about £500 left for the car?

A bigger/flat-cap car may be cheaper and have more space.

My first car was an auto Renault 20 bought for £100, and £270 (a months net pay) to insure – over 25 years ago.

Had a VW Polo (3dr), was pretty awkward to get a single bike in, lots of indents in the internal space due to the way the rear end is designed.

Now have a 2003 Fiesta, a far better car for getting the bike in. Being a 4dr I can put a single bike in upright in the rear passenger seatwell without removing of folding the seats. A tarp stops the car getting manky, and the wheels can either sit on the back seat or in the back with the luggage.

If I need to take two bikes, the seats fold flat pretty neatly, leaving plenty of room for 2-person weeks of luggage and camping kit.

I've got a Punto 2 door,fits two bikes and two people no problem.I've never needed any spare parts,but I've not heard of any problems with availability
My advice is to buy the RIGHT car when it comes along.Despite what people say,or think,there's not much to choose between them.

My Citroen C2 take the yeti 575 with not too much difficulty – with clever packing You’d get a second bike in and assorted kit – I used to have a saxo and a pug 106 all take big full suss bikes

So new driver has 2k to spend on car and insurance – about £500 left for the car?

I am 30 so insurance is not a total disaster, plus i have just found several insurers will take on my 7 years motorbike NCB which should help.

*goes off to look at Skoda Fabias*

the missus has a previous shape (03) fiesta, swallows a bike box easily.

206 similar dimensions inside. Although after my parents 206 I wouldn't touch anything French with a barge pole, the dash flashed more lights than a bad disco.

For cheep insurance have you considered classic cars? Friend has a ford Anglia estate, I'm seriously tempted to sell the MG and get one.

I've got a 2003 Fiesta. As Dougal said, with the seats down, two bikes go in pretty esily with the wheels off. I've squeazed 3 in before.
I've now unbolted the rear seats as I never used them, giving even more space just to throw all the gear in!
The 1.4 engine is a bit underpowered but I get good enough mileage and the thing really handles nicely.
I'd buy another one as and when anyway. Probaly with a bit bigger engine though.

skoda fabia, fold back seat base up, both wheels off bikes and frame and wheels will fit in back seat area leaving boot free for other stuff, can get 2 bikes in this way. They are decent to drive and fairly reliable, same floorpan & running gear as vw polo and seat ibiza and come in 5 door or estate flavour. Good choice for first car would be either the 1.2 petrol or 1.4 tdi.

That is something else to think about is are you going to want to transfer your bike in a bike bag/box! Such as you want to fly them and driving to the airport! Again with the Skoda Fabie with seats completely down you can just get 2 bikes in large bike bags in the rear with your luggage (big rucksacks etc). Ford Ka etc I imagine you can't!!!

2006 Fiesta 3 door here, and I can easily get my Alpine in the back. Have to take both wheels off though. Reckon I could fit 2 bikes in there and a mate.

I know someone that fits their bike into a tiny yellow smart car…and drives it from Scotland to Wales for a days riding!

You could get a bike into most cars but I guess it's about wanting to get 2 bikes and kit and buddy in comfortably without fannying about!

my first car was a nissan bluebird, cheap enough to not care, totally undesirable and generally associated with the very boring and nearly dead, so had cheap insurance

so would suggest a Jap hatchback that isn't a civic, so sunny/almera, corolla

If I was more mercenary, I would say that a 3 door corsa in blue with new driver insurance friendly 1.0 engine would be ideal for fitting bikes, so that we can be shot of my girlfriends gutless 3 cylinder eco box – genuinely, it's ok for a couple of bikes, though a big DH rig may take a bit longer to wedge in

Corsa / Polo / Fiesta will easily get 2 bikes and kit in as long as you take both wheels off and pack with ingenuity if you have alot of kit. Worth getting some cheap camping sleeping mats torn into various sizes to act as padding. Did this for years with my Ibiza.

Split rear seats can help. The main benefit I find of having a larger car is I only need to take one wheel off, maybe none but not yet tried it.

Consider a rack – just popping the bike on a rack is a nice luxury on a cold winters night. Often the time to put a rear rack or roof rack on isn't much more than taking the bikes apart. With a roof rack you can leave it all bolted together and take the whole lot off in one go. Depending on the mountings this can be quicker than taking the bikes apart. Rear racks can be even quicker. Best thing is a roof rack with racks left on all the time.

+1 Fiat Seicento. Why would you consider anything else? 2 full suss bikes and camping gear, no problem.
Get a Sporting edition, they make you smile all the time.

Or if that's not you bag then go down the van route…Astra vans are good value…?

Honda Jazz, 3 people and 3 bikes plus extra stuff, rear seats fold totally flat and can do so independently as well

+1

Fiesta will do two bikes easily, plus gear for a weekend away.

I use a groundsheet that lives in the boot, bike goes on it, folded over bike one, then bike two goes on top. Gear just goes in whatever voids are created by the natural shape of the bikes.

Mitsubishi Cult. One of the reasons I got it is because the rear seats are completely removable (or, you can leave in a 1 or 2 person section of seating): you can fit shitloads of stuff in the back despite it being a tiny, economical car. They redid the body recently so I don't know if it's still true of the 2008+ ones – no reason why it shouldn't be true.

As Alasdair said however old duvets, blankets and curtains are great for layers between frames/wheels etc to prevent scrapage!

one that's larger than the bike will ensure the bike fits inside.
OK ,
With the wheels off I got my Muddyfox courier thats This big into the back seat of a Mini .
Not one of those large new minis , a small ' mini mini ' .
The seat cushions lift out for more room .
You know , it worked for me , and it had a heated rear window to keep my girlfriends hands warm .

Pride and joy .
Jammed in back .
Love it .

You dont have a girlfriend , do you ?

Escort van .
Mattress in't back .
Wallop .

+1 on the escort van – drives like a car and has a massive long load carrying capacity.

Or dare I say it, a rover? the 200's fit 2 bikes in fine and are cheap as chips with lots of bells and whistles.

I honestly never thought getting a car would be so taxing. So many different models….i miss the simplicity of motorbikes 😉

Cheers for all the help so far people. Its been very handy. After looking at insurance rates etc i think i might be edging more towards a Fabia, but off to look the Fiat Seicento on autotrader.

+1 Almera, Group 4 insurance on a 1.4. 2 Bikes with wheels off easily. Go for the MK1 though as the boot opening on a MK2 is a bit faffy.
45mpg and no-one wants to nick it.