Spec me a paddle-wagon

frying_pan_cat

frying_pan_cat

frying_pan_cat

Associate
Joined
6 Nov 2006
Posts
722
Location
Devon
Hi guys,

I don't venture into motors all that often, but I need some help choosing a new car. My fiesta has been reliable, but I'm now in need of upgrading it to a car with a bit more space and, more importantly, one that is able to carry 4 kayaks on the roof (roughly 75kg to 100kg in total), so I'm after a car with roof bars and an engine that gives a bit more grunt than my 1.3l fiesta. The car will be used mainly for travelling between Exeter and the river Dart (roughly 30 miles) once a week so I'm after a petrol car.

Ideally it should be around the same to insure as my fiesta, although I can probably stretch a bit on my insurance budget.

The budget for the car is £2500-£3000, although the closer to the bottom end of that the better.

I was thinking of a ford focus estate, although the roof loading is only rated at 75kg which is at the bottom end of what I'm after.

I'm wondering what you guys would suggest which would fit my budget?

Thanks
 
An Astra van wouldn't be any good as the kayaks are up to 8 foot 10 inches so wouldn't fit in the back so the extra space would be better used for seats.

The 100kg limit on the mondeo would be OK as the heaviest boats are about 23kg which would put me on the limit but I don't need to carry 4 of them. I reckon I wouldn't need to carry more than 90kg plus racks
 
Would a conventional car plus a trailer not make more sense? Just thinking about chucking 4 20-23kg lumps onto the roof after being out really. Otherwise the mondeo is one of the cheapes suitable vehicles you're likely to find I would think
 
I think I'm right in thinking that in order to tow a trailer I would need to pass an additional driving test? I think that's more hassle than it's worth and I would also need to find somewhere to store the trailer when I wasn't using it.

It looks like a mondeo would be the way to go then. What sort of things do I need to look at when buying a second hand mondeo? Are there any major issues that I should be aware of?
 
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