Cars................ for fishing

My job entails 60 mile a day round trip.

My car, an avensis has done 160K and is due to go very soon!

I'm considering getting a new shape 2 yr old fiesta (econetic) diesel. Outrageously high mpg, no car tax, but massively limited luggage space.

So will the gear get in? I take (mainly) gear for one and rarely more than roving gear from autumn through to spring.

So, is it a poor choice?

Talk me out of it!

I don't think anybody can tell another what to buy.

I drive a car that suits all my needs which to me the most important one is to allow me the ability to pursue my hobbies. I live in a rural area my nearest shopping area is over a 15mile round trip away and my car is not the most economical in the fuel area. However I balance the needs of the person and all their activities against the need to save fuel costs. Now I could go out and buy a car which is incredibly fuel efficient but if that car does not fulfill all of my needs then there is no point in me even considering it.

I can think of a couple of fuel efficient cars that I personally am quite impressed with but once I balance that against the jobs and or work I require of those cars I find that they are totally incapable of being able to fulfill all of my requirements so they are simply written out of the equation.

You must first list all the things that you require a car to do then get a list of cars that fulfill All of your personal and family requirements then and only then you can choose the most suitable car for yourself from the list of cars that do fit all of your and your families requirements. Perhaps then you can balance economy against say a flash look or a more modern car, whatever a car must fulfill your needs first if your main need is economy then to the cost of that car perhaps you should add the cost of different say fishing rods and consider travelling rods as opposed to 12' Carp rods.

Do you see what I am trying to say albeit rather poorly. Also if you are borrowing the money for a change of car then the costs of that borrowing must also be added in as it is a cost of the car. You may even find that the fuel economy vanishes when loan charges are added in.

Everything is a trade off against something else for example, if you had a family of three strapping young rugby players yourself and your partner to consider you would be unwise to consider say a Fiat 500 just because it is economical, likewise you would be unwise to consider a two seater sports car if you had to get a wheelchair for your partner in a boot that would struggle to get two bags of groceries in.

Before a friend bought his most recent car he took all the gear he wants the car to carry down to the car showroom and tried to put it in the car he failed dismally to his gear in so he did not buy that car as he said to us afterwards I would have had to be bl**dy stupid to buy it as it did not fulfill my needs of a car sure it was cheap to run but I would have had to give up fishing then what would I do spend my time moping and groaning like a kid saying 'I'm bored' then I would get depressed and probably not do my job very well and get fired and be unemployed. He also pointed out that many of the claimed massive mileages some car are alleged to do are a load of advertising rather than everyday use realism.

Naa!!, you dont want wanna them.
Hummels are a lovely motor, very safe

Bluenose said:

So, is it a poor choice?

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Not if you are doing that sort of mileage, no.

My Range Roiver is the perfect car for fishing, takes a mountain of gear, but then at .35p per mile (3 miles to the pound?) you'd not want that for 60 miles a day.

You can always slap a trailer on the back for the extra gear that you might need for a weekend trip . . . . . .

Have a look at the Skoda .I am not sure what the model is ,but if you get the smaller engined one (Diesel of course)they claim something in the region of 75 to the gallon .It is also an estate so should give you a bit of room for your stuff .It is only small not much bigger than a Fiesta so am not sure how much extra room it will give ,however the mpg cannot be sneezed at .

I have a Skoda Octavia Estate1.9tdi (51)130000 miles
On a good run I get 60 plus miles to the gallon, if I gun it late 50's.
Loads of room for all the gear

I seem to recall Clarkey turning up at Blenheim last year in something not much bigger than a Fiesta and he had all his own gear plus a bivvy & bedchair for me in it ! If there's no other passengers even a small car will take a fair bit of gear provided you accept that a lot will be in the cabin not the boot.

The latest Fiesta is actually as big as the older Focuses. It will take all your gear Eddie, but you'll have to put the back seats down.

Personally I'd go for a diesel Skoda Fabia estate. Not much bigger than a Fiesta, loads more luggage space and just as economical. I've got a Skoda Octavia Hatchback with the 6 speed auto box and I get 50 mpg and I'd thouroughly recommend it although I suspect it's a bit bigger than you need.

I'm actually considering a Volkswagen T5 van as it drives pretty much like a car, you can sleep in it and space for gear will never be a problem.

A 2nd hand Honda Jazz with 1.4 engine might do the trick! The back folds down in a jiffy to give all the space you want for tackle.
My wife drives one (a 2009 model) and its been very,very reliable AND it carts loads of stuff around! The model before this one (the first Jazz) is still a recommended buy and always comes with good feedback..

For recommendations try 'Honest John' who runs an excellent column in the saturday Telegraph but he has a website which offers tons of advice on everything cars....He has built a reputation simply because he tells you like it is-no bullsh$t!!

ps If you find a car you like or give him some options he will email you with an opinion on what NOT to buy, what to look out for, and if the price offered is fair for the model....

Spot on that. Thanks everyone!

I can second the Honda Jazz, bought mine new in 2004, now done 85k, never missed a beat. The back folds down flat and carries enough for two anglers that ain't travelling light. When I am on me own (most of the time) I have me barrow made up, me chair (the death star), 50 litre bag, box that fits in the under bag of the barrow, fishing clothing, rod and pole in there.

The two piece rods and the pole have overshoot the passenger seat.

Fuel consumption averages low 40s.

A diesel Renault kangoo will get you 40-50mpg and if you get the window version it will seat 5. Get the trekka version you'll get 4x4 as well. Some cheapies on eBay but I dont know your budget.

Had I an open one I'd get a caddy maxi life 4motion but they are rare and not cheap. Perfect vehicle in many respects though.

I have the Older shape Fiesta and it's fine for fishing.

This week I loaded an Indugence bedchair, A Prestege Barrow with Barrow bag, 4 rod Quiver containg all the rods, landing net, sod pod, 60inch umbrella, Overwrap, Ground sheet, two sleeping bags, cooking gear, waterproofs, 1 sets of dry cloths, 5lt Cool Box (with the bait), carp bag, chest waders + Kitchen sink !!

It all goes in an 02 Fiesta ?

Bob

Kitchen sink?

Mixer taps or seperate hot and cold?

I'm with mr Bonney on this one. My old 1.9L octavia tdi was wonderfully ecconomical with lots of space and a really nice smooth drive. I once traveled from Hull to torquay using just over half a tank of fuel in this vehicle. The best thing about the octavia for me was the safety. I could clearly and quickly see all around with very little in the way of a blind spot and it had the acceleration to get me quickly out of 'trouble'.

I recently changed to a renault kangoo van because a lot of my trips are long distance ones and it enables me to 'overnight' in the back, I'm not happy with the fuel consumption. Even at 50mph I struggle to get 45mpg. As you might expect for a van it drives 'heavy'. Yes it serves my purpose but I'd have the octavia back in a second and (having owned lots of vehicles) without even considering any other option.

Hotel van de combo...... Vauxhall combo van.....

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:28 ----------

chav professor said:

Hotel van de combo...... Vauxhall combo van.....

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Forgive me for re posting - but pure transport heaven!!!!!!! sadly not smoking no more..... How will I cope without the Cutters Choice 'Baccy'....... Its the little things............

My van loks just like that cp. My missus refers to it as the skip on wheels.

Still it has its advantages. Being only a two seater I no longer have to take the mother in law shopping with us!

This could be the vehicle for all fishermen in the uk with the bonus its just what every fuel conscious angler needs and the wife will find parking much easier and most likely she wont even dent your bumpers.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704696

http://chiefsworld.activeboard.com/...gs-you-didnt-know-marauder-armoured-vehicle-/

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marauder_%28vehicle%29"]Marauder (vehicle) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/FileSC0429.JPG" class="image"><img alt="DSC0429.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/DSC0429.JPG/300px-DSC0429.JPG"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/d/db/DSC0429.JPG/300px-DSC0429.JPG[/ame]

..........

Thanks lads.

Harvey, I've considered a berlingo, the newer shaper is a tad too much ££££££ at this point sadly.

Toady, that's my 'lottery win' vehicle right there!