Car Choice: Is a Ford or a Volvo the best car for dogs?
Rachael Jarvis has an unusual request: she has £4,500 to spend on a spacious family car for London that may also be used in a dog walking business
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Practicality trumps everything here, so for this week only we’ll park the “Car for the Heart” option and offer a choice between two similar estates. And no, neither is a Rover...
A Car for the Head (1)
I think that London is a distraction. The size of the car does not matter that much, in itself: it is really the size or availability of the space to park it which is the defining restriction. I think that the estate car is very underrated and still represents excellent value for money, despite the popularity of “cross overs” and SUVs. So if parking space is no object, logically the Ford Mondeo is an excellent choice. Rachael would get a wonderfully practical vehicle which is perfect for her family and it has a large separate boot area that would be perfect for dogs. A 2009 1.8 TDCi Zetec Mondeo Estate would be within budget.
A Car for the Head (2)
Perhaps the more logical choice for London, as anywhere if parking is going to be such an issue, would be a compact MPV. The problem can be that the boot area in these designs is compromised, as, if the rear seats are being also used, the boot space is much more restricted. If not, then the rear bench can be pushed forwards, and the boot area is then available for luggage or dogs. Given that, I think that is safer and more practical to stick with an estate model, and the Volvo name is a reassuring brand. Volvo make the best estates with long flat load bays. A 2010 V50 1.6 which would even manage a useful 40mph around London should also be around £4,500.
If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@bangernomics.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments