Length of car luggage space

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
thirdcrank
Posts: 36776
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by thirdcrank »

I'd agree that the way seats fold can make a big difference to what can be carried. We had one of the original Yaris's and the fold was ideal. Indeed, at that time there was a Yaris Verso with a huge back end with loads of capacity, but which was a marketing flop. In 2010 I bought another Yaris without checking the seats. As with so many new models, the overall dimensions of the car were bigger, but the load carrying was reduced by the change in the folding of the seats. ie The load area wasn't flat and used the seat backs which weren't constructed to carry stuff.

When I had the Berlingo, if I needed more room, I removed the rear seats which were bolted in.
Jamesh
Posts: 2963
Joined: 2 Jan 2017, 5:56pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Jamesh »

How about Nissan note like the jazz a big small car.

Also look at van derived cars like Peugeot partner etc.

Cheers James
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Jdsk »

Lots of Jazzists.

The flat floor has been praised. Its other party piece is lifting the rear seats. We've used that a lot for a wheelchair but other objects are available.

(The design compromise is the small fuel tank, but that can now be thought of as training for battery-only propulsion!)

Jonathan
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Jdsk »

Jamesh wrote: 11 May 2021, 2:05pmAlso look at van derived cars like Peugeot partner etc.
Yes.

We've hired a Partner on holiday. And there are Berlingists above. And a comment about the Caddy.

There used to be big differences between car-derived and van-derived underpinnings, but I think that's just about disappeared. So the space gains don't come with a big trade-off in refinement or handling.

Jonathan
User avatar
Ride-sleep-repeat
Posts: 382
Joined: 24 Nov 2020, 11:58am

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Ride-sleep-repeat »

Back in 2011 I got:-
3 Mountain bikes,camping gear for 3 adults and the 3 adults in a Vauxhall Vectra estate!
Was for a 3 day trip to Loch Lomond.The car was pretty much packed out!
CathM
Posts: 77
Joined: 1 Nov 2019, 5:20pm
Location: Cumbria

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by CathM »

Our last car was a Peugeot 207 SW, which took two touring bikes easily with front wheels off. The boot has no raised sill at the back which makes loading bikes very easy. It still looked like a car rather than a van.

Cath.
thirdcrank
Posts: 36776
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by thirdcrank »

Unless the Partner has changed significantly, it used to be the same as a Berlingo but with more tarting up.

I think vans have improved in all sorts of respects. Some years ago I saw Caddy van then only a couple of years old and the paint was flaking off.

OTOH, one of the best things about my Berlingo was the paint which really impressed me. I'd not have been surprised if the paint had still been intact after the vehicle was scrapped.
ThePinkOne
Posts: 246
Joined: 12 Jul 2007, 9:21pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by ThePinkOne »

Indeed, vans have come on a long way in comfort and driveability. Some of the smaller Transit Custom vans are quite tasty- including alloys, air-con, decent seats. Although you may be stuck with a passenger bench seat unless it's VW-derived- there's a lot of after-market stuff to do up VW vans however maintenance is usually pricey as they are a favourite for a camper conversion. I've seen pics of some very nicely modded Transit Custom vans too mind you.

Insurance can be an issue, but there is a place you can get specialist insurance for custom vans, I moved to them and saved a couple of hundred quid a year (I have a customised Movano). Fuel consumption and handling can also be surprisingly good and many vans (even larger ones) have a relatively low driving position and also a low floor into the loading area. Honest John Van section has quite a lot about van layouts and so on and as for modding, that's a long rabbithole with much on interweb.

TPO
peetee
Posts: 4292
Joined: 4 May 2010, 10:20pm
Location: Upon a lumpy, scarred granite massif.

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by peetee »

Ride-sleep-repeat wrote: 11 May 2021, 2:36pm Back in 2011 I got:-
3 Mountain bikes,camping gear for 3 adults and the 3 adults in a Vauxhall Vectra estate!
Was for a 3 day trip to Loch Lomond.The car was pretty much packed out!
In the mid nineties I could get two mountain bikes and one road bike in my ten year old VW Polo. My brothers ‘larger’ VW Golf could only manage two bikes.
The older I get the more I’m inclined to act my shoe size, not my age.
Oldjohnw
Posts: 7764
Joined: 16 Oct 2018, 4:23am
Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Oldjohnw »

peetee wrote: 19 May 2021, 7:37am
Ride-sleep-repeat wrote: 11 May 2021, 2:36pm Back in 2011 I got:-
3 Mountain bikes,camping gear for 3 adults and the 3 adults in a Vauxhall Vectra estate!
Was for a 3 day trip to Loch Lomond.The car was pretty much packed out!
In the mid nineties I could get two mountain bikes and one road bike in my ten year old VW Polo. My brothers ‘larger’ VW Golf could only manage two bikes.
And today’s polo is bigger than yesterday’s golf. But not necessarily with more space.
John
rogerzilla
Posts: 2887
Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by rogerzilla »

I once got an undismantled On-One Inbred with full length mudguards into a hired Corsa, but it wasn't pretty.
Jamesh
Posts: 2963
Joined: 2 Jan 2017, 5:56pm

Re: Length of car luggage space

Post by Jamesh »

ThePinkOne wrote: 18 May 2021, 6:10pm Indeed, vans have come on a long way in comfort and driveability. Some of the smaller Transit Custom vans are quite tasty- including alloys, air-con, decent seats. Although you may be stuck with a passenger bench seat unless it's VW-derived- there's a lot of after-market stuff to do up VW vans however maintenance is usually pricey as they are a favourite for a camper conversion. I've seen pics of some very nicely modded Transit Custom vans too mind you.

Insurance can be an issue, but there is a place you can get specialist insurance for custom vans, I moved to them and saved a couple of hundred quid a year (I have a customised Movano). Fuel consumption and handling can also be surprisingly good and many vans (even larger ones) have a relatively low driving position and also a low floor into the loading area. Honest John Van section has quite a lot about van layouts and so on and as for modding, that's a long rabbithole with much on interweb.

TPO
I had a movano camper but the engine blew and the replacement wasn't much better so now have a ford transit lwb. Really car like to drive.

Converting to a multi use camper / van / kombi.

Wife has caravelle which is the gold standard for small vans too nice for me with all the stuff I chuck in it!!!

Cheers James
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