SUV or estate for middle aged giant breed.

[Bs0u416d]

Looking at replacing our current car in the next 12 months. We have a soon to be four year old great dane and I'm wondering if it wont be too long before its less than ideal for him to be hopping in and out of an SUV. Does anyone have a dane or a giant breed and if so, have you gotten on ok with taller cars into middle age? Or perhaps you have had success with a boot ramp?

I got an estate rather than an SUV, my labradors hop in and out at the moment, and I'm going to get a boot ramp for them as time goes on (which might be soon, as older pup is starting to find hopping up onto the couch tricky.

A DNeighbour has 2 Newfoundlands and has a Transit with a ramp. Would a ramp work?

I think a ramp would work, it would probably be worth starting sooner than later. Either way is a compromise but I think if he can get used to a ramp, hed find the height and abilty to stand in an SUV more comfortable than being in an estate.

We have a Rav4 and the threshold at the back isn't that much higher than the estate we had previously. It's lovely and roomy in the boot for our two with plenty of headspace

We have a galaxy as our dog car. It’s perfect with the two back seats down. We still have 5 seats but a massive massive boot. It’s also low enough for them to step into without the hassle of a ramp. We had a disco before that they couldn't get into that without a ramp which was a huge pita! The only SUV we found with a low boot and big space was the Honda CRV but the galaxy despite its ugliness won on practicality!

About 25 years ago we had an Irish Wolfhound. At first we had a Range Rover, but it's really high, so we switched to a Subaru Legacy estate. I think getting in may be less of a problem, but getting out could be very jarring on the shoulders. Our IW had two ops for OCD to which IWs are very vulnerable.

Now I don't have the dog, but I do have a Galaxy - that's a cracking idea, 5 seats, cavernous boot, low rear sill and drives like a car.

Looks like I need a people carrier. But l don't want one 🤣😭

We have an elderly Mercedes estate for our leonberger. The back is fairly low and she can still manage to jump in and out. We had a Newfie before and we found the low boot with no lip made it easier for us to lift her when she couldn't do it herself.

The car is very old now...have no idea whether the newer ones are the same. It is strictly a dogmobile as it is very hairy and nothing seems to remove the smell of dog.

I’ve got a jaguar XF sportbrake with a boot divider. One large Weimaraner can easily fit each side (35kg each). So without the divider a GD would be in clover. No lip to get over. Also the car is bloody fab. Jaguar customer service less so. But I would stick with an estate over an SUV etc.

Great to hear. The xf is on my list of estates. I love the 2024 interior!

On second Ford C-Max. Very low lip and cavernous boot.