I went to a local dealer yesterday to have a look at a Yeti and, purely by coincidence, I spotted a lovely Octavia VRs which took my eye.  I am not 'really' looking to change mine as my car, occasionally, needs to be able to lug sizeable loads about so I need something big enough. This also includes swallowing a mobility scooter from time to time that would need to fit in the boot.  It would also need to fit two bikes inside if again only from time to time.

 

Are Octavias' boot openings wide enough for that and does anyone have experience of carrying bikes inside?

 

As far as the scooter is concerned I must admit I am sceptical as am I right in thinking that the Octavia boot has a lip whereby the scooter would effectively drop a couple of inches?

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I regularly carry bikes in back of my VRS estate. I have a variable boot floor which I put on lowest setting. Stand bikes upside down on handlebars, remove front wheel and put in rear wheel first. I drop saddle down on one and I can get a couple of bikes in and still keep the large part of back seat in situ. Or I can lay a bike flat in the back with floor up and seat completely folded. These a full size bikes.

Don't have experiaence of a mobility scooter but the boot is huge and opening pretty good although it does 'pinch' down a little at rear. I would also put something stronger on floor as standard cover doesn't look that strong. VBF is stronger but a cost option and would eliminate the lip/drop down.

16 minutes ago, CJSVRS said:

I regularly carry bikes in back of my VRS estate. I have a variable boot floor which I put on lowest setting. Stand bikes upside down on handlebars, remove front wheel and put in rear wheel first. I drop saddle down on one and I can get a couple of bikes in and still keep the large part of back seat in situ. Or I can lay a bike flat in the back with floor up and seat completely folded. These a full size bikes.

Don't have experiaence of a mobility scooter but the boot is huge and opening pretty good although it does 'pinch' down a little at rear. I would also put something stronger on floor as standard cover doesn't look that strong. VBF is stronger but a cost option and would eliminate the lip/drop down.

 

Thanks that's great.  I am actually looking at the VRs hatch rather than estate but I assume from your comments that, subject to a VBF being installed or retrofitted, there shouldn't be an issue with the bikes?

 

One of my concerns is actually the strength of the floor for the scooter as these things are not light by any means!!  At worst I suppose I could have a template made from wood for the same shape as the floor that could be taken out when not needed.

 

Other than that the Octavia looks a great car and took me by surprise a little when I saw it yesterday.  I currently have a Volvo V40 D4 which tops the VRs performance wise but it's far too small to accommodate either of those things and the Octavia kills it for space.  I was actually considering a towbar on the V40 but that wouldn't deal with the scooter issue.

I think you'd struggle putting a mobility scooter into a hatch. The sill is higher than the boot floor.

 

On the other hand, an estate would eat it - subject to you being able to lift it in and there not being any bits that stick out too much that cannot be folded down. I find a petrol mower to be a hefty lift.

Then there's the Superb Estate removal van to consider 

 

I recently met someone who had a VW Touran fitted with a hoist of some kind to lift a scooter into the boot. I didn't see it, only heard the story.

Even if not getting a vehicle through Motability it is a good idea to talk with the 'Motability specialist' at a dealership who has or should have the training and knowledge of carrying Mobility Scooters and other equipment, fitting lifts for these and other adaptions where required.

Sometime vehicles are even available with lifts still fitted.

I thought the scooters were quite tall? A neighbour used to take his about on a little trailer - though he had an old Mercedes saloon.

 

Octavia has a ridiculously large boot, probably only bettered by the Superb.

 

Good square size and opening, slight lip with couple of inches on the standard floor height.

Just now, WillM82 said:

I thought the scooters were quite tall? A neighbour used to take his about on a little trailer - though he had an old Mercedes saloon.

 

Octavia has a ridiculously large boot, probably only bettered by the Superb.

 

Good square size and opening, slight lip with couple of inches on the standard floor height.

 

They are but most of them fold the seat back and tiller so that reduces the height.  I just need to be sure about the boot lip as that could be a deal breaker - will go and have a look later or tomorrow. Thanks for the responses.