The Practical Vehicle Thread

[Drago]

Show us your practical car.

To qualify it must be capable of transporting a family of 4 or more, able to transport a chest of drawers to the tip, and comfortably designed so that anyone over the age of 30 doesn't suffer aching hips just looking at it.

I am the final arbiter!

So show us your loverly, wonderful, practical sensiblehess.

 

[CXRAndy]

My most practical vehicle

 

[Brandane]

I'm not an American Redneck with a need to transport dead animal carcasses. I also like to be able to travel further than the length of the vehicle on a gallon of petrol, and be able to park it anywhere without attracting any unwanted attention. It also ticks each category as required by the OP, and is reasonable to insure. And can carry a bike in the back with seats folded down (surely should have been a requirement in the OP?). Not mine, but stock pic of same model Suzuki SX4 S-Cross....

 

[CXRAndy]

Guess we all have to live within our means

I'm not an American Redneck with a need to transport dead animal carcasses. I also like to be able to travel further than the length of the vehicle on a gallon of petrol, and be able to park it anywhere without attracting any unwanted attention. It also ticks each category as required by the OP, and is reasonable to insure. And can carry a bike in the back with seats folded down (surely should have been a requirement in the OP?). Not mine, but stock pic of same model Suzuki SX4 S-Cross....

View attachment 799344

 

[Drago]

Guess we all have to live within our means

Hence the pickup?

 

[DCLane]

This (stock image but son no. 2's / was mine is the same) - a Peugeot Partner/Rifter / Citroen Berlingo / Vauxhall equivalent:

Cheap to buy, run, maintain and insure.

5 seats. Can roll a bike in upright with just one seat down. Massive interior space, lots of storage areas. With roof bars it's even more practical.

 

[CXRAndy]

Hence the pickup?

When I bought it, seats 5 people comfortably, carries all I want in either luggage or materials, bikes etc.

No different to a big SUV half the price

You did ask for practical, not economical

 

[Alex321]

My main car is a Vauxhall Insignia Diesel estate 2015.
Stock Photo, same colour as mine.

Gets 50mpg on a run, high 40's local driving. Can easily carry a chest of drawers, or even larger, could probably fit a medium sized chest of drawers even with the rear seats up and in use. Have driven to Scotland (from South Wales) or the reverse, and reached the end of the journey not feeling stiff.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I present for your enjoyment and relaxation the only important view of our 2009 Galaxy 1.8 diesel.

140,000 miles, passed its MOT yesterday.

Capable of carrying a family of five, tandem and five individual bikes to the Alps and back. Several times.

50-60mpg on the motorway (not with five bikes on mind), handles like an overfilled bathtub and accelerates like a relaxed sloth.

Special features include, but are by no means limited to: a couple of bulb holders needing replacement, recirc valve warning light on, drivers side wing mirror fixed with araldite, various bits of loose trim rattle like a ska band on coke, heated windscreen bollixed, air con bollixed, and more!!

Open to offers.

 

[Drago]

Seats the family, dogs and a crap load of luggage with room to spare. Is super comfy. If the queue for the tip is lengthy I can make a cup of tea, and it's it's really long I can roll out the bed and kip the night whule kept toasty and warm by the Webasto heater. And it even does mid 40s MPG.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

My Kodiaq

Does all I want it to

It's even got reasonably sensible '55' profile tyres, on 18" rims
That said, I'd prefer 16" wheels, with a '65'(?) profile

 

[Drago]

My Kodiaq

Does all I want it to
View attachment 799350

Practical with a garnish of practical!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Practical with a garnish of practical!

Even to the point of providing 2 umbrellas

Although, it’d be more practical (to me anyway) with a more Yeti styled back end

As seen here

 

[Vapin' Joe]

My 08 reg Polo. It can seat five, albeit in an intimate fashion, and it can easily transport a chest of drawers to the tip - after a bit of customisation with a lump hammer that is.

 

[Sharky]

This was really a practical car ...

Photo is not mine, but mine was identical. Started off being my firm's car, then six months later, was made redundant and had the chance to buy it for £7k.

Had it from 1990 to 2002, did over 200k miles, had eight seats, and with the seats down could take my bike without taking any wheels off. Got us to France, Italy, Spain and loads of holidays with the kids.

Really missed it when I traded it in for a Zafira, but too many things started to go wrong on it.