Best Doodle Car?

[Sheila]

Here is an odd question, but I need to get a new car and am also waiting for the arrival of my new fantastic Standard English Goldendoodle (YAY!!).  So here is my question - what kind of car is working or not for a dog that size?  Do I need a small SUV (I am thinking for his crate?) or just a roomy hatchback?  Any help would be appreciated. Thanks doodle community!!

[Stella]

Oohhh, I'd love to have a 4runner - not in the budget right now though.  Although, if if lasts 15 years I guess that is good value for money!

[Caleb Chun]

yea it's an awesome car for sure :) it was my brother's car before mine and it's been through 10 family road trip vacations, countless trips up and down the mtns, some off roading trips(back when I was in HS haha), and who knows what else... I'd recommend the 4runner to anyone looking for a reliable car :)

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

I drive a Honda Element! Got it specifically for the doodle! Love that car! May not be a lot to look at but very dog friendly!

[Chelsie]

I recently got a new CR-V and I love it! However, I will say, we are thinking of adding children to the mix and I am not sure the CR-V could do both dogs and kids. I take my nephew around a lot and with his car seat in the back, Sam in the cargo area, there is very little room for much else with regards to kid gear or suitcases. I also prefer to have Sam tethered in a seatbelt and that wouldn't work with a baby seat in the car. So, I am on the hunt for something a little bigger!

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

We have a Volvo XC60, a Madza CX5 and three doodles.  We don't crate them but they use doggie seat belts.   When our son left for college, we downsized SUVs but still wanted plenty of room for the doodles.  I would not want to drive from GA to CA with them in either vehicle but for around town and the short trips we take with them, it's perfect.

[Heather]

I have "2" large Goldendoodles and we just went from a crossover to a New Honda Pilot. We needed more room. Better to have extra space than Not Enough, in my Opinion!!! Honda makes a rubber mat for the back which is Awesome!!! We are very pleased with it.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Honda odyssey! I have two kids and two doodles and wouldn't drive anything else. I rarely have my family of four plus the dogs at the same time but when we've road tripped (4 hours max) I wouldn't want anything else because our luggage wouldn't have fit. I like my van for my Craigslist buys too (ha) but its also great when its just me and the dogs too because I can fasten them on the seats but have also put the seats down (easily) and drove them home muddy from the dog park. Like Laurie said, the sliding remote controlled side doors are perfect too. I've thought of downsizing to the CRV but I wonder where we'd all fit with luggage...

[Heather]

Julie we got a Thule for our new SUV. You could get one for the CRV. When it's the whole family (I have two Boys) and the Doodles I use it. It holds All our stuff and the Doodles have the whole back to themselves. It's nice to travel with No luggage in the vehicle!!!

[Phyllis Kandul]

i am very partial to my convertible, Toyota Celica. my 2 doodles Sam & Eloise love it. they are belted but they can still move around. Sam sits in the back where he can prop on the console. and Eloise sits like a lady in the front seat. But they just sit and look around like they are enjoying the scenery

 

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I bought a Prius V which is roomy enough to hold 2 standard doodles and a very fat beagle plus I get 50 MPG.  So it is great for hauling the dogs and also every day city computes.

[Kate C Pappas]

Please everyone, don't let your Doodles ride in your cars unharnessed/untethered. They are like anything un-seat belted and can and will fly through a windshield in a crash.
Last summer I totaled my HUGE Ecalade and the police had to pry open the doors to get me and little Yindi out. They were blown away seeing that she was safely harnessed and tethered as they said they'd never seen a dog harnessed etc. They said she absolutely would have gone flying through the windshield.
My girls have never ridden in a vehicle unrestrained. It only takes once. Even a secured crate allows them to bounce around inside. After a lot of research I came up with what I think is the best one out there. I've never seen anything so well made; it's like a parachute harness.
http://usak9outfitters.com/CH.htm

My second favorite and what I used before I discovered the Champion is the Ruff Rider
http://www.ruffrider.com/

They used to come with a choice of real sheepskin lining and I still have one somewhere I want to sell but who knows where it is. lol

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Sheila, we posed this question a while ago and got some great responses. I did a survey and added up the suggestions so you can see which cars were the most recommended. Do a forum search. Hope you can find it. I have a hard time doing a search on my iPad. Probably just me.
I have a Lexus SUV , It wasn't necessarily a doodle mobile as it was just on my bucket list to have one someday. The configuration of seats is great and they have room to sit or lay down on back seat. However as lovely as the leather seats are, my doodles have punctured 3 holes in the seat and side door panel that will make the resale value go down considerably. And I don't know if it can be fixed. So I probably wouldn't suggest leather. Good luck.