Help needed on new car

phoenix7_2

forgotmyname wrote: »

Keep the current Meriva?

I do love the current Meriva but they have changed the way the seats move in the back. Instead of just sliding up against the front ones they now fold into the floor. As mentioned in my original post, this means I cannot put a dog guard against the back seats and just slide the whole system up to make more room. I cannot put dog guard against the front seats as my seat is pulled up and my husband's seat is way back. That's the only reason I would change, so I could get the dog guard in again

FreddieFrugal

RavingMad wrote: »

The Scenic is roughly the same size according to the internet. Ours is the Grand Scenic which has a larger boot but everything else should be the same

As a car comparison, the scenic is, in fact, quite considerably larger than a Meriva, a mini MPV. 8cm wider, nearly mondeo width, and quite a bit longer too.

The width could be the main issue, particularly as OP didn't want a car larger than Meriva. Makes parking trickier.

FreddieFrugal

Do you need a different dog guard?

http://www.dogguardsrus.co.uk/Custom-Made-Dog-Guard-for-Vauxhall-Meriva-2010--on

Would this not work alright? Or is it specifically that you need the extra space given by being able to slide the seats forward

phoenix7_2

thank you IanRi but I have 2 rescue greyhounds and the boot area of the Meriva is not large enough. That's why I need something of the same size but with the ability to keep dog guard on the back seats but slide them right up to front seats when necessary to make room for them

FreddieFrugal

I can't think of any cars of similar size to Meriva with sliding seats that could be highly recommended, without going a bit larger, like Ford C-max size.

Nissan note seats slide, but the car is smaller, you'd have to look to see if there'd be enough space.

A small estate like Skoda Fabia Estate might be a good way to go, the seats don't slide, but if you're attaching the dog guard to the rear headrests and keeping the seats down (which i think is what you're doing) then in an estate you should have decent room without needing to slide the seats because of the longer boot.

Estate cars, being based on hatchbacks but longer are generally speaking much better thought of in terms of driving than MPV style cars. They're always higher rated by reviewers at least.

phoenix7_2

thanks IanRi. I did want to attach dog guard to rear seats & keep it there but on the old style meriva & zafir the squab of the rear seat folded up (like a cinema seat) and then the whole thing would slide forward. They changed that layout in the new ones unfortunately and it does seem that no other manufacturer does them. I had a look at the B max & Cmax but their eta fold up from underneath and leave huge bolts protruding which would be dangerous in a crash fro any dogs in the back (and couldn't fit dog guard anyway)

FreddieFrugal

phoenix7 wrote: »

on the old style meriva & zafir the squab of the rear seat folded up (like a cinema seat) and then the whole thing would slide forward.

Ah I get you now! All becomes clear.

Indeed I've never seen such a system. I know Honda do cinema style seat fold up, but they don't slide.

Options then are either big estate car or larger mpv with a big enough boot with seats slid forward.

Or go for an old Meriva. Old isn't necessarily bad, the cars condition and how well it's been looked after are more important than age and 5 is by no means ancient

Or maybe there is some special dog guard solution out there that would solve problem.

loskie

A fabia estate may not be tall enough inside for greyhounds.
As said before look at the Yeti or Roomster which is better value.

sheramber

Citreon Picasso?

phoenix7_2

will take a look, thank you