Tall + big dog = which hatchback...?

aroominyork

My wife has long described herself as a petrol head so I showed her the last two messages. She feels I have sullied her reputation (luckily it is my birthday so she cannot be angry) and would like the forum to know - presumably in case it bumps into her in the supermarket - that she knows the Skoda is basically a rebadged VW, but she does not like VWs which she thinks are (my words) all fur coat and no knickers. And she does not like Audis either.

Grumpy_chap

aroominyork said:

My wife has long described herself as a petrol head so I showed her the last two messages. She feels I have sullied her reputation (luckily it is my birthday so she cannot be angry) and would like the forum to know - presumably in case it bumps into her in the supermarket - that she knows the Skoda is basically a rebadged VW, but she does not like VWs which she thinks are (my words) all fur coat and no knickers. And she does not like Audis either.

If this were me, I'd buy my wife whichever car has her greeting me when I get back home from work dressed as the OP's wife perceives VW

aroominyork

Okay wife jumping in now to prevent more maligning. The ridiculous metaphor my husband used is the opposite of what I think. I find the VW suspension hard and not a fan of its handling. Obviously Tiguan design particularly interior is plasticky and  boring and appreciate the Skoda has resolved some of these issues. For the record not a fan of VW or Audi SUVs. I appreciate the need for an SUV given extremely large dog so understand that compromise though wouldn't be my choice of vehicle if I had my rathers. Also Skoda design aesthetically very unpleasing to my eye. 

aroominyork

I got a lovely pair of bone conducting headphones for my birthday. Willing to exchange for marriage counselling.

Herzlos

aroominyork said:

OAlso Skoda design aesthetically very unpleasing to my eye. 

I find this an interesting because with most of the line up I reckon you could take the Skoda badges off and no-one who wasn't familiar with the car would guess it wasn't an Audi/BMW/VW.  I'm sure I'd seen an expirement run when the Superb was new and no-one believed it was a Skoda.

ontheroad1970

aroominyork said:

Okay wife jumping in now to prevent more maligning. The ridiculous metaphor my husband used is the opposite of what I think. I find the VW suspension hard and not a fan of its handling. Obviously Tiguan design particularly interior is plasticky and  boring and appreciate the Skoda has resolved some of these issues. For the record not a fan of VW or Audi SUVs. I appreciate the need for an SUV given extremely large dog so understand that compromise though wouldn't be my choice of vehicle if I had my rathers. Also Skoda design aesthetically very unpleasing to my eye. 

If you think the suspension on a VW is harsh, you will hate the BMW, especially if it is a MSPort badged one.  For big dogs estates are far more practical than SUVs.  When the air suspension on the BMW fails (and it will), it will be a very expensive job.  

For our large white german shepherd's final trip to the vet, I had to put him in the back seat of a salloon, as we couldn't get him in the back of our BMW x5.  He had terminal bone cancer and was 6.  It was very hard work to get him into the X5 even when he was fit and well, even though it had a split tailgate which I don't think the X1 has.  The X1's boot isn't very big at all.  SUVs are only suitable for younger dogs that can jump in of their own accord.  when they get older, fatter and heavier, you will struggle even with a ramp, and who wants to drag a ramp around all the time?

What you need is a big estate that the dog can just trot into.  The best one is the Skoda Superb, to be honest and it cancome with different suspension settings to make it more comfortable.  The BMW estate will be firmer ride, unless you spring a lot of money for an adaptive suspension system (and I do mean a LOT of money), will have a much smaller boot, and the price will be massively more expensive.  You can usually get a top of the range Skoda for the same price if not less than a poverty spec BMW.

caprikid1

ontheroad1970 said:

caprikid1 said:

A friend of mine has a ST Bernard and always uses Ford C-Max's

ST -line trim?

Can't be many people running that Combo !

Murphybear

Flight3287462 said:

caprikid1 said:

A friend of mine has a ST Bernard and always uses Ford C-Max's

Some of us have standards

What’s wrong with a St Bernard 

mobileron

Easier to get rid of the dog,second thought get red of the wife and ask the dog if he likes a Skoda.
Problem solved.

aroominyork

Well, we ended up getting another Mercedes B Class. A good deal on a very nice car, jumping from the first to third generation. The only problem (now that GSD is risky getting used to the slightly smaller boot...) is that when the wind howls it sets off the motion sensor alarm. We live on the coast at the top of an 80' cliff so this has happened a couple of times including tonight. I doubt this is a fault so my question is whether a qualified mechanic would be able to make it a little less sensitive?