any - boot size - the bottle man

My Volvo 850 SE estate has suffered over lockdown and the winter. It's needing new calipers, discs, pads etc.. around £1000. So I've decided to replace it. Which similar car, at under £2000, has the same or greater boot capacity. It must be ULEZ compliant, preferably petrol automatic and capable of carrying about 700Kg?

Is anyone interested in my 850? Good tyres, 6 months MOT, drivable.

any - boot size - badbusdriver

You definitely need a van or pickup!. I'm amazed your 850 isn't completely wrecked if you are carrying 700kg in there!. For the record, max payload for an 850 estate is around 500kg, and while that may take into account a driver of 70 or 80kg, it certainly wouldn't take into account any passengers, they'd come out of that payload. If you were involved in an accident carrying that weight, you would be in a great deal of trouble.

Edited by badbusdriver on 01/05/2021 at 13:21

any - boot size - Engineer Andy

You definitely need a van or pickup!. I'm amazed your 850 isn't completely wrecked if you are carrying 700kg in there!. For the record, max payload for an 850 estate is around 500kg, and while that may take into account a driver of 70 or 80kg, it certainly wouldn't take into account any passengers, they'd come out of that payload. If you were involved in an accident carrying that weight, you would be in a great deal of trouble.

I'd be just as worried about 700kg of stuff possibly acting like a missile during the crash, especially if they had the back seats down to accommodate it all!

I'd suggest they relocate to somewhere without a ULEZ, especially if they are on a budget for the car. They'd save (even now) quite a bit moving out of (presumably) London for a start.

any - boot size - badbusdriver

I'd be just as worried about 700kg of stuff possibly acting like a missile during the crash, especially if they had the back seats down to accommodate it all!

I didn't want to get into how exactly this 700kg load was secured in an estate car, but I had been thinking about it. I have a 400 litre water tank in the back of my Caddy, despite there being a full height bulkhead and two 5 tonne ratchet straps securing the tank, I still worry about what would happen with that in an accident!.

I remember years ago noticing a Daihatsu Hijet van being advertised on Ebay as a 'ready to work' window cleaning vehicle. It had two 210 litre water bowsers, one 'ratchet strapped' to nothing more secure than the backrest of each front seat! (and if you don't know, the seats on a Hijet are pretty flimsy!). I was absolutely horrified, even at 10mph, a collision would have the water bowsers simply carry on forward, straight out of the windscreen, taking the seat and passenger (assuming they weren't crushed against the dashboard) with them!.

any - boot size - Andrew-T

<< I have a 400 litre water tank in the back of my Caddy, despite there being a full height bulkhead and two 5 tonne ratchet straps securing the tank, I still worry about what would happen with that in an accident!. >>

You'd probably get rather wet .... :-)

any - boot size - Falkirk Bairn

Volvo 850

Curb Weight 1521Kgs

GW 2020Kg

Subtract one from the other - maximum load is 500Kg including driver & passengers

If cargo is 700Kg ex driver it is probably 55%plus overloaded - hence Very dangerous

any - boot size - Engineer Andy

I'd be just as worried about 700kg of stuff possibly acting like a missile during the crash, especially if they had the back seats down to accommodate it all!

I didn't want to get into how exactly this 700kg load was secured in an estate car, but I had been thinking about it. I have a 400 litre water tank in the back of my Caddy, despite there being a full height bulkhead and two 5 tonne ratchet straps securing the tank, I still worry about what would happen with that in an accident!.

I remember years ago noticing a Daihatsu Hijet van being advertised on Ebay as a 'ready to work' window cleaning vehicle. It had two 210 litre water bowsers, one 'ratchet strapped' to nothing more secure than the backrest of each front seat! (and if you don't know, the seats on a Hijet are pretty flimsy!). I was absolutely horrified, even at 10mph, a collision would have the water bowsers simply carry on forward, straight out of the windscreen, taking the seat and passenger (assuming they weren't crushed against the dashboard) with them!.

Indeed - that's why I bought my much bigger booted Mazda3 saloon to replace my old Micra - when I went on holiday, I always had to put the back seat down to accommodate everything (luggage plus provisions/utensils, etc [2 weeks self catering], golf bag/clubs and trolley). Much better to have the back seats in the normal position, just in case of an accident (helpful aslo as mine is a saloon and has a fixed 'parcel shelf')!

I never felt comfortable with all that stuff ready and aimed (nice 'ramp' made of the back seats not completely folded down) at my head! :-)

any - boot size - the bottle man

Thanks for that. I maybe overestimated the weight. It's probably nearer 500kg. I've not been able to find a small vehicle to suit that's also ULEZ compliant.?

any - boot size - badbusdriver

Thanks for that. I maybe overestimated the weight. It's probably nearer 500kg. I've not been able to find a small vehicle to suit that's also ULEZ compliant.?

Even at 500kg you'd almost certainly be exceeding the GVW of the car, certainly with a passenger and full tank of fuel.

Maybe if you gave us a bit more info, such as what you are using the car for where you need such a big (for a car) payload capacity, what type of journeys you are doing what your budget is, what else you need the car for (i.e, is ,it also a family car?).

any - boot size - badbusdriver

Maybe if you gave us a bit more info, such as what you are using the car for where you need such a big (for a car) payload capacity, what type of journeys you are doing what your budget is, what else you need the car for (i.e, is ,it also a family car?).

For example, if you have somewhere to charge it and don't cover a lot of miles, used electric Renault Kangoo's can be had under £4k + VAT these days, and have a payload of between 605 and 640kg depending on exact model.

any - boot size - Engineer Andy

Thanks for that. I maybe overestimated the weight. It's probably nearer 500kg. I've not been able to find a small vehicle to suit that's also ULEZ compliant.?

Petrol engined vehicles that are EU4 and diesel cars and vans EU6. Just check on the London ULEZ compliance website for each vehicle. It does mean that you could buy a much older, and thus cheaper petrol-engined car (from the early-mid 2000s) that complies (for the moment - those rules will almost certain change in the future) than a diesel (from the mid-2010s).

Best to get what's suitable for the task that complies. If you can't afford it, then perhaps you need to think about moving/working outside of (presumably) London or finding alternative employment, given the very low price you can afford.

It doesn't give much scope, especially given the load carrying capabilities you need and, if you're using it commercially, reliability.