What've You Had in Yours?

[white exec]

Must admit to a load-lugging defeat with our XM hatch, back in year 2000.
On honeymoon around the Italian Lakes, we stumbled across a tile/ceramic warehouse near Lake Orta, and as we were in the middle of renovating a hallway and a couple of bathrooms back in the UK, we got smitten with some Italian tiles.
Spent quite some time choosing what we liked, phone calls to our son in UK to confirm m², and got everything priced up. AOK, so far...
It then dawned on me that the weight could be considerable, and I was amazed that the owner's daughter managed to calculate it within a few minutes: 800kg .
We didn't make the purchase, but it was an interesting shopping expedition!

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Oooh, that's a bit of a disappointment, always thought the Accord looked like a really decent sized Estate.
Never seen inside one though hence my ignorance til now of the facts.

My 405 takes Mum's old style "DMA" Wheelchair complete 'On End', but for its Foot-Rests on one side of the car with the forward and rear parcel Shelf lugs swapped for a pair of bolts with a large washer & locknut on each end & a Bungee.

Its a boon when you've got other luggage, not having to lay it down taking up the whole Boot.

We started off with a lightweight modern one, but I suggested one of these, with its pneumatic rear tyres would be more comfortable and that's proved very much the case.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... mrc&uact=8

Chris: I used to work for a Tiling Company many moons ago. Our then recent Bedford CF2 would only take as many packs of 6" square floor tiles as would fit in just one layer over the load area.

[Timmo]

Pops is Fiercely independent so a small rear wheeled chair is a definite no, he has a std folding quickie chair, up until recently had no aids on the car at all to help him drive, but after much badgering from me and an incident were he drove home from france with a ferry trip etc with a Broken right hip, doing from the port in plymouth back to st. Austell with his foot on the accelerator and the handbrake as a brake - dont ask!! He has had hand controls fitted and now transfers into the car, dissembles the chair and puts it all on the passenger footwell and seat, ots a lovely car, well spec'd, but 3in the back is a struggle woth an adult, 12year old dauggter and 8yr old daughter you are squashed right in!

[Stickyfinger]

All light weights, try cast iron radiators

[Peter.N.]

I had an early BMW 5 series estate and it had no room in it at all, even the dog couldn't stand up straight.

Peter

[Zelandeth]

The issue of size in modern estates was a big plus for my getting the van. Especially as the prices of the nice old Merc and Volvo ones have gone stupid.

I've been pulled by the police once so far in the Lada because they thought it was overloaded because the body roll sees the outboard mud flap nearly touch the ground. Nothing on board but me and a full tank of fuel...if I'd got four people on board the flap would definitely be dragging! They just do that!

Have to admit, I'd still like a Volvo...Early 240 (before the interior facelift) preferably, in denim blue with a brown velour interior. I'd not be picky though.

The Activa will be getting loaded up quite a bit soon as I've a lot of stuff that needs to go to the tip and they get upset if you take a van in (even a camper!) so that will be happening soon. Suitably carefully to make sure the interior doesn't get bashed or filthy unduly of course as she's more cherished classic than workhorse these days.

[JohnD]

Most worrying load I've had in my C5 estate is 200 Redland concrete roof tiles. I needed around 120 to do a project at home and getting a small quantity would have cost around £60 collected. I saw an advert on ebay for 200 left over from a re-roofing job. I bid and got them for £22 but they were 35 miles away. I was worried about the weight so I borrowed a tile to weigh. One tile was 1.35Kgs. So I was happy.

[Peter.N.]

I used to carry a lot of ex Granada TV's from all over the country and got stopped by the police several times but they were OK when I showed them the receipts. Got stopped on the M5 once in light rain, they looked at the paperwork and sent me on my way but obviously didn't notice I had no drivers side wiper, the arm had detached itself and flung across the motorway just before they stopped me.

Peter.

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

....from the port in plymouth back to st. Austell with his foot on the accelerator and the handbrake as a brake

OMG that is definitely not one to recommend. He sounds like a right Character! I hope I'll be similarly independent, spirited and still motoring abroad at his age. Good on him! I take it he only told after he'd got safely home.

Hmm, so the two Estates that both looked reasonably sized (from the outside) Peter, I was both mistaken about, not that I’d ever want to own a modern BMW. Accord maybe... I’ll remember that next time I’m getting all Anglo-Saxon under the car and wondering ‘where do you draw the line’.

Were TV’s generally nicked back in the day when they required a fit man to lift em? I bet your average House Burglar was as fit as the Bin Men back then! Must've been one of the priciest items in the house.

I do like your taste in Estates Zel, shame prices have gone silly and inevitably good useable cars will be sitting in someone’s garage as merely an investment. Is the ride quality in the Lada on a par with the Body Roll? Last time I went to the tip they charged me £1 or so for a bag of wood, its classed as DIY Waste apparently.

[GiveMeABreak]

I usually have these in mine - and don't I know it afterwards

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

on the subject of McD's, did you see this?

[GiveMeABreak]

Well I guess even robbers need to eat, but they just don’t like paying for it!

[Peter.N.]

Puxa

The BMW estate looks big from the outside as you say but it has a very high floor level, certainly wasn't much good for carrying the TVs. The engine was nice, straight six diesel but I only managed 47 mpg to Scotland driving very gently, the XM's would do nearer 55 mpg. The seats were uncomfortable too. The ride wasn't bad but they had sensible tyres on them in those days.

Peter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

not much to say about Peugeot-ism of late, but with house move in full swing, this is novel.

One car, two double wardrobes. His & Hers Pine. Seems Pine's very out of fashion of late, with prices accordingly rock bottom; but we like it, so all good! Gallon & a half of fuel, pleasant round trip and an 8oz steak for a fiver to finish the day (Hungry Horse Tues' deal)! Trailer is un-hitched, at the Pub for tea.

House move most definitely not welcome, but I've got a Driveway; wahey!

[van ordinaire]

Once bought a 2m metal uplighter back from France - in a BMW 323i cabrio; oh, there were 2 of us in the car!

Obviously, it wasn't the weight that presented the challenge.