Hi, long time lurker and in a real bind for advice. I've been all over the forum reading the different threads on boot sizes but need some advice. 

 

I have a baby on the way and I also have 2 big golden retrievers. We are considering changing both our cars (520D and Santa FE) with the aim being that one car and take dogs OR baby and equipment, while the other can do dogs and baby stuff. We would want a boot divider for the dogs. 

My question is basically whether you think that the estate would be able to cater for this? I won't be going every single day with the whole gang so if the dogs are a little bit tight in there for short distances every now and again then it won't be a problem. 

 

My second query then (which is based on the result of the first) is that if the estate doesn't cater for everything then am I better just to get a regular hatchback? With the parcel tray removed then will the hatchback be able to fulfill the baby OR dogs criteria and fit the two dogs in there?

 

I would like to get L&K in both instances but maybe might go for the TSI in the hatchback scenario and sneak in a little remap.. :-) Really pulling my hair out on this as don't know anyone with either car to go and throw the dogs in and see how it looks. Any help is seriously appreciated.

Welcome Conor,

 

I think you’d be okay with two dogs in the estate boot but you’ll then be left with putting all the baby stuff on the back seat/rear footwells. So depends on what you think that amounts to. Do you have a local baby stuff shop that would let you see just how much space get taken up by a newborn pram etc. And possibly travel cot if visiting relatives etc. If you can get it into the back of your 520D then you’ll be fine with the Superb. 

I have ordered an estate because I have one child one dog and another child on the way. I think if I can't fit the dog, pram and other stuff in the boot of the estate then I need to buy a van!! 

Conor are you in Limerick?

Thanks all. Ya Mark, I certainly am. You from the vicinity? 

 

We have 

37 minutes ago, Chrisis said:

I have ordered an estate because I have one child one dog and another child on the way. I think if I can't fit the dog, pram and other stuff in the boot of the estate then I need to buy a van!! 

 

Did you do any testing on this one or just making an educated guess as to what you'll need? Plan B is an S-Max for the wife but rather avoid having to trade the Santa Fe against this if possible. 

5 minutes ago, Conorlimerick said:

Thanks all. Ya Mark, I certainly am. You from the vicinity? 

 

In Kildimo, have a combi, maybe we can arrange a meeting if you want to check the boot space.

7 minutes ago, Markbro said:

 

In Kildimo, have a combi, maybe we can arrange a meeting if you want to check the boot space.

 

Hi Mark. That'd be great, appreciate that. I've been out with the measuring tape on the other boots trying to get a feel for it so seeing it in person should answer the question for me. 

 

Let me know when suits you and I'll pm my eircode

Cool. I'm free any evening that suits and in Ardnacrusha so not far away. You around tomorrow?

 

I'm around all day or evening around 6:30?

1 minute ago, Markbro said:

I'm around all day or evening around 6:30?

 That works, thanks. That should give a good indication of whether the pooches will fit or not. 

 

I think the two dogs will fit in the estate boot quite comfortably. I wouldn't dream of trying to cram two retrievers in the boot of the hatch though....

8 hours ago, Conorlimerick said:

Thanks all. Ya Mark, I certainly am. You from the vicinity? 

 

We have 

 

Did you do any testing on this one or just making an educated guess as to what you'll need? Plan B is an S-Max for the wife but rather avoid having to trade the Santa Fe against this if possible. 

No to be honest I didn't, just looking at different boot sizes and deciding we didn't want something like a santa Fe or kodiaq because the wife would struggle to lift the pram that high. I had been looking at one of the boot dividers for the dog but thinking I am going to put his cage in instead now to keep him separate. 

14 hours ago, CheshireBumpkin said:

I think the two dogs will fit in the estate boot quite comfortably. I wouldn't dream of trying to cram two retrievers in the boot of the hatch though....

 

Ya I was wondering about this. With the parcel tray removed so their heads have somewhere to actually go but I guess this is the feedback I was looking for. 

 

6 hours ago, Chrisis said:

No to be honest I didn't, just looking at different boot sizes and deciding we didn't want something like a santa Fe or kodiaq because the wife would struggle to lift the pram that high. I had been looking at one of the boot dividers for the dog but thinking I am going to put his cage in instead now to keep him separate. 

 

Hadn't thought about the wife and the height of the santa Fe actually. We got the buggy the other day and I was surprised at how big that thing was, even folded up. I'm pretty sure we bought one of the super fold up ones as well so was a little bit surprised by this. 

Cage is a good idea but I think if I do that then I won't have space for anything else in there. My rationale is that with the dividers in at least I can fill to the roof on the side of the divider that is free. 

 

If you had a crate then one dog in a hatch isn't a problem.  I wouldn't advise two dogs in the hatch though, you'd definitely need the estate. 

 

We have a soft, collapsible crate that we have for our 25KG Vizsla and it fit's perfectly in the area directly behind the seats (we have a hatch).  It actually looks like a custom fit as it extends to inline with the bottom edge of the rear glass, so the boot hatch closes without hitting the crate (just).  This leaves us with some additional load space but it wouldn't be good enough to accommodate a buggy, that's for sure. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have 2 Weimaraners (quite large dogs) and when we go to dog shows we have loads to take with us.  (We show our dogs.) With the dogs in the boot everything fits on the back seat and there is room for an adult too.  I think you will have loads of room in the Superb estate and your dogs will be very comfortable IMHO.  Either get a cage (but unless a bespoke one) that will limit the dog space or get a dog guard at least.  

23 minutes ago, MChris said:

I have 2 Weimaraners (quite large dogs) and when we go to dog shows we have loads to take with us.  (We show our dogs.) With the dogs in the boot everything fits on the back seat and there is room for an adult too.  I think you will have loads of room in the Superb estate and your dogs will be very comfortable IMHO.  Either get a cage (but unless a bespoke one) that will limit the dog space or get a dog guard at least.  

Is it the estate that you have currently? I think a Travall divider maybe might work best for us as a cage for 2 large dogs would take up the entire boot I think?

30 minutes ago, Conorlimerick said:

Is it the estate that you have currently? I think a Travall divider maybe might work best for us as a cage for 2 large dogs would take up the entire boot I think?

 

Yeah, I have largest Variocage that will fit in the Superb estate, and the with the divider in place you could only really get 2 medium sized dogs in it. And it takes up the entire boot. A divider without cage will give you most space but bear in mind your dogs will need to be trained to wait at the back of the boot while the electric lid closes. It absolutely terrifies me - I had to buy the cage when a young, unpredictable dog came along and I couldn't be sure she wouldn't try to escape while the boot was closing...

Hi Conorlimerick.  Yes.  I have an estate.  The dog guard I have is a Travall.   https://www.travall.co.uk/skoda/superb-estate-2015--/travall-dog-guard-tdg1495

 

If you order one from Skoda as I did they use this company so you might as well go direct.  It is a good solid dog guard and when fitted correctly does not rattle.  Removed in minutes.

9 hours ago, CheshireBumpkin said:

 

Yeah, I have largest Variocage that will fit in the Superb estate, and the with the divider in place you could only really get 2 medium sized dogs in it. And it takes up the entire boot. A divider without cage will give you most space but bear in mind your dogs will need to be trained to wait at the back of the boot while the electric lid closes. It absolutely terrifies me - I had to buy the cage when a young, unpredictable dog came along and I couldn't be sure she wouldn't try to escape while the boot was closing...

 

Good point on the power boot. It's always a worry  when closing the boot on the Santa Fe but they're relatively calm. I might try and further restrain them while in there as well maybe. 

 

14 minutes ago, MChris said:

Hi Conorlimerick.  Yes.  I have an estate.  The dog guard I have is a Travall.   https://www.travall.co.uk/skoda/superb-estate-2015--/travall-dog-guard-tdg1495

 

If you order one from Skoda as I did they use this company so you might as well go direct.  It is a good solid dog guard and when fitted correctly does not rattle.  Removed in minutes.

 

Just ordered one for the jeep so I'll see how it works out, good to hear it doesn't rattle. That was my main concern. 

On 18/06/2019 at 19:43, Ivan8192 said:

Welcome Conor,

 

I think you’d be okay with two dogs in the estate boot but you’ll then be left with putting all the baby stuff on the back seat/rear footwells. So depends on what you think that amounts to. Do you have a local baby stuff shop that would let you see just how much space get taken up by a newborn pram etc. And possibly travel cot if visiting relatives etc. If you can get it into the back of your 520D then you’ll be fine with the Superb. 

@Conorlimerick the superb has oodles of rear leg room so plenty of gear can go in the area in front of baby seat. If you really have to move stuff, roof box. 

 

So a superb estate will work well. 

Going to France next week in the Superb Estate with:

 

0 dogs

1 wife

3 children aged 10, 7 and 4.  All with great legroom

A boot packed to the rafters including 3 x kids scooters

A roofbox packed like sardines

And possibly a bike on a carrier.

 

The real reason I bought a Superb really, no other car in it's price bracket comes close to it for space.

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Conorlimerick said:

 

Good point on the power boot. It's always a worry  when closing the boot on the Santa Fe but they're relatively calm. I might try and further restrain them while in there as well maybe. 

 

 

Just ordered one for the jeep so I'll see how it works out, good to hear it doesn't rattle. That was my main concern. 

 

 

I'd actually forgotten that I still have a Travall dog guard sitting in my store that I replaced with the Variocage when the new dog came along. If you were in the UK I'd have been happy to sell it to you, but I thinking the shipping cost to Ireland would be prohibitive...

 

It was good and secure - only replaced with the cage for the 'young dog trying to escape while the boot closes' reason described earlier! 😁

 

I'm tempted to buy a rear guard.  The reason being I am always fearful that if either due to accidentally pressing the boot open button from inside  when stationary in a traffic queue or encountering  a read end shunt causing the boot to open, the dogs may escape with terrible consequences.  The problem is they are expensive and have to be screwed into the pillars either side of the boot.  Do any dog owners on here have a solution that does not require making holes in my beloved Superb estate?

3 hours ago, MChris said:

I'm tempted to buy a rear guard.  The reason being I am always fearful that if either due to accidentally pressing the boot open button from inside  when stationary in a traffic queue or encountering  a read end shunt causing the boot to open, the dogs may escape with terrible consequences.  The problem is they are expensive and have to be screwed into the pillars either side of the boot.  Do any dog owners on here have a solution that does not require making holes in my beloved Superb estate?

 

Sadly no - I looked into this in detail before I had to go for the cage, but I couldn't find a solution that didn't require drilling or wasn't generally unusable. The only thing that came close was from the same people that made the Variocage I now have - it doesn't need drilling, but in my eyes it's vastly over-engineered and ugly, and has two long metal bars that run along the floor and generally get in the way. I decided the cage itself was better.

 

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