Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 12:21
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop

I currently run an 04 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0l CDi which I've owned from new. I do not need 4WD and the boot is now too high for one of my dogs to jump into. I will have a very limited budget c.£1500 so accept that I am looking at older vehicles. I need a reliable estate capable of travelling in excess of 400 miles per week in term time, comfortable interior and space in the boot with rear seats remaining upright for 2 greyhounds to travel in comfort-occasional journeys to Cumbria, Cormwall and Yorkshire likely. It has been suggested that a VW Passat would be worth considering and I like the idea of a Citroen C5 as you can lower the suspension to make access easier for the dogs!

Any relevant suggestions welcome.

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 12:45
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Ethan Edwards

Have you tried getting the Greys to use one of those dog ramps? Admittedly our two hated it (as they got older I ended up lifting them in and out of our Xtrail) but you might be lucky.

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 13:13
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - veryoldbear

If you really mean £1500 that's a very big ask. Volvo V70, Saab 9-5? A Citroen C5 of that vintage may not be the last word in reliability.

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 17:30
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Happy Blue!

Sounds like a job for a diesel Berlingo

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 17:35
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - veryoldbear

A Berlingo sounds quite a good idea. Not great on image but 100% practical.

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Thu 20 Sep 2012 23:56
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Avant

Very practical but is it big enough? I'd probably look first a a Mondeo estate, but check that there isn't too high a loading lip at the back (this knocks out the Octavia but possibly not the Passat). Volvo V70 is a good idea but you'd get a newer Mondeo for your budget.

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Fri 21 Sep 2012 19:52
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - a900ss
I know it won't be the first car on everyone's list but take a look at a diesel 307 estate. 60mpg is possible if driven gently and the boot is HUGE.

Importantly the tailgate is vertical allowing dog cages.

If we go anywhere with our dog, we take the wife's 307 rather than my 2012 5 series estate because the Peugeot has a more useful carrying capacity.

Good luck.

Edited by a900ss on 21/09/2012 at 19:53

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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:25
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop
I'm going to add these to my list as I've recently passed a few when driving and thought they looked quite spacious. Vertical tailgate is a bonus and better for tall dogs!
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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:23
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop
The Mondeo is definitely a contender although now have some smaller vehicles to consider. Hubby drives a new one but it's not available when he's working so need a second vehicle. I'd ruled out Volvos as being too costly-shame as I know they last forever.
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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:19
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop
Thank you-I'm not too bothered about image-practicality and running costs are more important to me-and the dogs aren't that fussed!!!
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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:17
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop
Thank you-I will check this out
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Mon 1 Oct 2012 23:31
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop

Had a look at one of these and the boot is huge-plenty of room for the dogs. Air con seems to be an optional extra on older models and this would be needed on long journeys in summer. I have been advised that the 1.9 diesel engine on the older models is the one to go for although have read conflicting reviews. Compared this with the Peugeot Partner and they are very similar but to me the Citroen has the edge (probably a girl thing!!) Fiat Doblo and Renault Kangoo may fit the bill too but there seem to be a lot of reviews which suggest lots tend to go wrong with these. Again, any feedback welcome.

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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:16
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop

I know it's not a lot of money-I may have a little more to add depending on what I can get for the Hyundai but probably no more than £2k so thought best to be pessimstic in this respect. I thought Volvo and Saabs would be expensive for parts and have a regular mechanic who works on a lot of C5s for his customers-a £400 one has just made it to the south of France with no issues, but appreciate their reputation.

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Tue 25 Sep 2012 19:12
Hyundai Santa Fe - Replacement estate car with space for 2 greyhounds - Princess Snowdrop

Thank you. We have thought about a ramp but the issue is also with the present car being costly to run-might be something I have to think about anyway as they get older as I cannot lift the larger of the two easily!

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