What Car?

[welby]

Hi,

Currently using a 7 seater - Vauxhall Zafira SRI (Petrol) to carry all the mobile disco in at the moment, but to be honest the costs of running it as a disco/family car are becoming impractical.

I know probably the best option is a Diesel Van, but as we have another car (2 seater) for our "fun car" so a third vehicle is not currently an option. I also considered a trailer but we have no secure storage for that.

I was wondering what car you are using as "Mobile Disco Transporter" and a "Family Car".

Any sensible suggestions please?

Thank you.

[yourdj]

Any Dielsel estate or people carrier will suffice. You do have the added danger of being crushed if you crash as they have no bulkhead however.

I just bought my girlfriend a Pegeuot 406 estate and its massive!
Bigger than my van infact.

[NKR]

I would not be transporting kit in a car. In a crash at 60 even a mobile phone coming off a parcel shelf could kill you. Never mind a tonne of DJ gear. Get a trailer or a van.

[welby]

I would not be transporting kit in a car. In a crash at 60 even a mobile phone coming off a parcel shelf could kill you. Never mind a tonne of DJ gear. Get a trailer or a van.

Thanks, but a trailer is a no as I have no secure storage and I don't take out a tonne of DJ gear as I work mostly as a small mobile outfit and never stack the car higher than the seats.

Incidently the folded rear seat act as a bulkhead and so long as you don't stack over the seat level it should be relatively safe in my opinion.

I am looking for suggestions for a "suitable car/estate" that can double as a family car

[NKR]

Thanks, but a trailer is a no as I have no secure storage and I don't take out a tonne of DJ gear as I work mostly as a small mobile outfit and never stack the car higher than the seats.

Incidently the folded rear seat act as a bulkhead and so long as you don't stack over the seat level it should be relatively safe in my opinion.

I am looking for suggestions for a "suitable car/estate" that can double as a family car

That isn't a bulhead, but its your call.

[chrisj]

My wife uses a Peugeot 306 estate which has a lot of room with the rear seats down but I never use it for disco. I use a Citroen Relay 1.9d van as it is safer with a bulkhead. Glad of this as I had to brake very hard Friday night as someone came through red lights in front of me and I heard somthing hit the bulkhead.

Get serious and sell this 'but as we have another car (2 seater) for our "fun car"

[mattydinx]

I've got an '08 Volvo V50 1.8 which is more than adequate for my needs.
I get around 35 mpg on average, not the best but what do you expect for a petrol.

The newer VW Bluemotion range are supposed to have great fuel economy.

[Sapphire Disco]

I've looked into this myself and in my opinion the best choices are.

Mondeo or Vectra estate diesel = good MPG parts & servicing & insurance, both plenty of room with seats down Vectra has slightly more room.
As mentioned no bulkhead, I make my own Ultimax stand pieces across the back of the front seats then speakers across the back behind that, not perfect but better than nothing.

[yourdj]

Incidently the folded rear seat act as a bulkhead and so long as you don't stack ov

One word - Projectiles Have a look on youtube at the crash tests. I did a short seminar on it and it was not pretty.
I have a half steel bulkhead but screwed an MDF one in to the ceiling.

I make my own Ultimax stand pieces across the back of the front seats then speakers across the back behind that, not perfect but better than nothing.

Another urban Myth. Seats do not make good barriers - even in a head on at 30 miles an hour. better than nothing.
Your seatbelt and body will make a better barrier

I would personally get an estate and secure an thick MDF (1/2 inch) bulkhead too the chassy, window bits behind your shoulders and roof.

Make a removable one but a fixed one is much better.

[yourdj]

Another urban Myth. Seats do not make good barriers - even in a head on at 30 miles an hour. better than nothing.
Your seatbelt and body will make a better barrier

Top marks for the Zafira/Touran!!! Its quite simply an excellent multi car for gear/kids/dogs/the dump.
I take back my comment too as the seats are proper solid when folded forward I would still put a big thic bit of mdf in there.

I have found that is pretty expensive to run on fuel? My van has the same engine (astra) and its much cheaper.
This is not such a big issue as I make my own desiel. I assume its much heavier??

Look at the astra estate as thats pretty much the same as the van but with seats. Get a diesel too.
I have a 2 litre DT 16 valve.