Have you already got your camping gear? If so this might rule what you buy carwise. If not wait till you have your car. There is lots of camping gear you can buy that would fit in a smaller car. You would have to plan your purchases more and your packing.
Thankyou everyone for the great advice. Last night I had almost come to the conclusion that I would have to forget about ever going camping again and be more practical about my everyday needs but all these suggestions are giving me plenty to ponder over, and where there's a will, there's a way, even if I have to compromise here and there. I can't quote everyone but I will at least take the following on board...
Hatchback may well be the way to go...the need for having the seats fold is very important, but I don't necessarily need a huge vehicle for that.
Skoda's often come up as good buys when I've been browsing the sites, so will look into them in more detail...not seen one like on the link given, strange looking vehicle..bit of a cross between a car and van!
Belingo's I assumed would be hefty on insurance but I will check them too, esp the older ones.
Ford Fiesta,VW Polo or Golf - I've always classed them as small cars but I quite liked a car that passed earlier and was surprised to see it was a Fiesta as it was larger than I thought that make was....I think I've got a bad case of car snobbery or car ignorance at least!
Have I got lots of camping gear? Yes - lots, in fact about 5 or 6 tents, tables, chairs, chemical toilet, storage units etc etc. We racked up a lot over the last 16 years, used to have a roofbox back a long time ago but then moved on to a trailer. That is the thing too, I know I will have to scale down as not sure I want to use the trailer myself, then it escalates into buying a car that will pull the trailer, having towbar fitted etc and I don't want to go that far ahead with my thinking....but even though there would now only be myself and daughter, there are things that I will want to take, like chairs, tables, windshield etc that will still take up room...but I'm sure that I could find a happy medium somewhere and a roofbox is def a good idea!
Sounds like you've got a lot of good ideas, and as you say, where there is a will and all that....
Even if you have to scale down your kit a bit, the most important thing is to enjoy your camping experiences for the future, I am sure that you'll find the right car for you
Jane.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
Got into a bit off money and bought a Honda jazz ( don't need it for camping as partner got a pick up truck) but the seats on mine folds both ways, but mine lies all the way down so you have a flat boot. The insurance and tax is not bad either
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Topic: Car for camping advice
