Shiba or Nihonken Friendly Cars
We have a 08 Honda Civic and a 04 Nissan Sentra. Both of them do a pretty good job of moving Katsu and her stuff around. The Sentra feels alot smaller than the Civic, and Katsu seems to like riding in the Civic better. I definitely want more room in the future, and I'm looking into getting rid of the Nissan in favor of a wagon like the Hyundai Elantra Touring or Toyota Matrix or a small SUV like the RAV4, CR-V, new Tucson, or Equinox.
What kind of cars do you guys have to move your dogs around town? Are they dog friendly? What do you like and dislike about them? If you could buy another car with your dogs in mind, what would it be?
What kind of cars do you guys have to move your dogs around town? Are they dog friendly? What do you like and dislike about them? If you could buy another car with your dogs in mind, what would it be?
Comments
If I had to buy another car with my pups as the primary consideration it would probably be a Forrester or an Outback. If only they drove like my Volvo.....
I once read a website that reviews Dog Cars...it's www.dogcars.com
The front passenager seat can turn into a table. The back seats fold down, great to put smaller crates on top without damaging the actual seats. And the backseat compartments are excellent for storage (as well as underneath the seats Truck Steering
Lynx loves it
Passenager Seat
Great place to hang out
It turns into a table (possiblity for yet another crate if necessary)!
It's a kit's playground
Back Seats
Excellent for napping after a long day (w/sheet cover)
This is how it normally looks
Fold-down back seats
I guess I could have left both sides down for a photo, but for some reason...I decided to do them individually. It still gives a pretty good idea though.
For smaller crates (200 and under w/o damage), can fit 2 medium crates (200); even more for the smaller crates
Truck Bed
Rear travel for older pups, adult canines and equipment: Fits up to 4 large crates (400) or 2 extra-large crates (500) & 2 large crates (400)
I have it set up for 2 dogs. I add the 3rd crate (400/large) when required (I keep it secure in the house because it's a "nice" crate that I spent a $100 on) or I'll just toss 1 of the dogs inside the truck (backseat), always event/weather pending.
It's compact on the inside and keeps things neat...the outside is excellent for big loads. I wish I had some more space on the inside though. My next viehicle (sp?) will most likely be some kind of van with removable/foldable seats & thus TONS more space on the inside.
Keep in mind, it's just me! At least for the most part, sometimes I'll have another person with me (i.e. Georgie <-- but if need be he can just drive his car - a 99 Acura ["Honda"] Integra). So it's "perfect" since I only take up the drivers seat -smiles-.
Let's see...I can take 4 dogs in the bed of the truck and about 3 dogs inside the truck. So that totals for 7 dogs that I can travel with <i>in crates. If I leave dogs "loose" inside the truck...I can take 4 dogs comfortably, so that'd be 8 dogs. If I have puppies or small enough dogs in a large enough crate, I could "double" up, lol. I can take an "endless" amount of cats at all one time.
See...when looking for a "dog friendly" viehicle, you look for something that can take the most amount of dogs at one time comfortably. PLUS equipment, lol. I know some people have to worry about extra humans as well.
I would like to invest into an RV of some sort though in the distant future. Right now, my Truck serves all my needs for the humans, the animals and transportation of many other things (i.e. furniture, other large household items/equipment and so forth).
I'm pretty happy with my Tacoma.
For smaller trips (to daycare, on post, or just an hr or so), we take my 08 Audi A4 - typical sedan. Pretty roomy back seat but nothing like the pick-up.
In the [very distant] future, I would like to get a small SUV or crossover to fit both pups and carseats!
I have an 06 Honda Civic that works most of the time for getting the pups where we want to go... However, I am looking at buying a new Toyota Tacoma for our off-roading adventures. My poor little Civic is starting to get a little beat up (mostly from trying to get to distant trail heads for biking and hiking).
Now, my favorite car I have owned is my 2001 Audi TT Quattro Roadster...not so dog friendly, but fast and fun
never having driven one myself it might be odd that I suggest it. Look at it this way. Fold Down stadium seating, with a big hatch in the back of the SUV.
Big plus is that the inside of the car can be hosed down. pup get's sick? pull the seats(really easy) and hose it out.... seems about as animal friendly as it get's.
I think the Rav4 hybrid is still in testing in Japan
The Toyota Matrix's plastic back and fold-flat passenger seats appealed to me a while ago. Not quite sure how I feel about the redesign though. They made it sporty and it looks less utilitarian.
Jesse
Im not terrible in winter driving, not like some of these idiots I see stuck on the roads, but I am still new to driving in snow, so I just wanted to be safe
They did make the Matrix more "sporty" looking, but I find the features and the interior to be the same as the 2005 model.
My car has about 205,000 miles, I think. Still works just fine.
It has a dog ramp stored in the back bumper area which easily slides out, a custom 'safe' dog bed in the back/trunk area, a spill resistant water bowl built in, and custom (and heavy duty) upholstery and floor mats. Plus all of the original awesomeness of an Element. Katsu would be the perfect little princess back there!
I would have one already, but It's not in my budget. I'm currently driving a champagne coloured '95(?) Saturn Station Wagon. It gets Mylo and I to and from... But I'd TOTALLY rather have an Element.
Oh.. p.s. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/automobiles/autoshow/NY-ELEMENT.html
We're currently car shopping since a Nissan 240 is NOT a family car. Once Micah hits 22lbs that car is useless since we can't stick a bigger carseat in it, our powwow gear does not fit (especially if it's a camp out powwow), not to mention no room for animals.
The Element is cool, but make sure you check it out. It's practical but impractical at the same time. They have all that space, but make you work to get back there. If you could open the suicide doors without opening the front that's be a plus. We sat in one the other day and the blindspots are worse than my old 240sx's. I think when the dog friendly one comes I'll have Dawn swipe a Honda leash and collar from her job, she works at a car dealership.
We'll have to take a closer look at a Matrix. I saw that Pam (Hachi's person) had one at the meetup, but I didn't ask her about it. But right now the Hyundai Elantra Touring tops our list. Lot's of space, not that expensive, great fuel economy, good looks, and a crazy warranty. If only it was AWD. It doesn't snow that much on LI, but having AWD would make me feel like Colin Mcrae.
I want a Toyota Tundra eventually.