OH & I are going to France in a few weeks and are considering taking my small Toyota Aygo (same as Citroen C1 and peugot 107) instead of Vauxhall Zafira (family car - all the rest of the family away with other parents).
Has anyone any experience of packing a very small car, I figured the tent (Outwell Nevada M) will go on back seat as it's too big for the boot and cool box behind the drivers seat. I obviously need to do a dummy run but any tips/hints/advice etc would be really welcome.
All I can say is definitely try dummy packing the car at least a few days before you go. The more you do this ahead of time the better as you will be able to see how much space you actually have.
Concentrate on the absolute essentials, Tent, something to sleep on and if you plan to cook something to cook and eat with.
If you are off to France then won't you need plenty of extra space in the car for all the French goodies (OK wine!) Personally I'd take the Zafira for that reason alone but also because it's much nicer to drive a large car with a heavy load than a small car that is overladen.
Debbie
The two of us went to France for 2 weeks last year in a Peugeot 206 so a little bigger. And we had a small roofbox for a bit extra space.
However, we have a Trout Lake 4 and canopy so that took up the entire boot and a 5 day coolbox that wouldn't fit behind the seat so took up at least a third of the back seats and we never pack anything about seat hight so we can see out of all the windows.
I reckon it would be doable but imagine you will have some fun practising
You will be amazed at how much you can get into a car.
Weirdly just for fun, this morning I tried to fit my Trout Lake bags into the boot of my Mercedes SLK. HUGE bags, TINY BOOT. Not only did they go in, the boot separator also closed so I could still have the roof down too!
Anyway, I agree with mcguire - practice, practice, practice!
pack small sized bags of stuff and single items in obscure places,you would be amazed what u can shift packing like that around big stuff and back of seats and with spare wheel etc
Thanks all, I think I will try a dummy run next weekend and make my mind up then, I'm not even sure the cool box will go behind the seat yet! I'm also going to do a cost comparison - Zaffira is diesel, Aygo Petrol and v good mpg but guess that would go down somewhat with everything in! Debbied - I never considered "goodies" although we usually only bring a few bottles of goodies back but in a tightly packed car even that may not be possible so will factor in goody space when practising!
I think the decision has been made......we're going in the big one! Unleaded seems to cost the same in France as here in the UK but diesel is approx 22p per litre cheaper. After lots of brain ache, maths not being my strongest subject, we have worked out we would save a maximum of £40 taking the Aygo (based on 2000 miles as we usually end up near the Med). £40 is a saving but OH thinks it's worth paying the premium for comfort and space (and speed no doubt!!). So no dummy run required and plenty of room for goodies. Thanks for your comments.
OH is right - the little car is designed as a city runabout; whereas the Zafira will be much better for the distances you're talking about.
I remember holidays as a small child in a cramped motor (Ford 8; then A35 van) with bags around the ears and knees under the chin; I would never repeat the experience if there was an alternative!
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I remember holidays as a small child in a cramped motor (Ford 8; then A35 van) with bags around the ears and knees under the chin; I would never repeat the experience if there was an alternative!
Sounds like us when we go camping now! As the kids have got bigger we can no longer put the tent under their feet like we could when they were tiny.
We have just done 4 days camping with me, hubby and little girl in my Grande Punto - it was packed to the gunnels. We also had a roof box filled with stove, chairs, bed mats, waterproofs and windbreak (ours is a long thin ski box). The tent ended up on the back seat next to our daughter and the cool box behind the passenger seat which left hubby with very little leg room. Had to have the cool box in the car as there is no leisure socket in the boot.
On hindsight I wish we had taken our Peugeot 307sw just so we had a bit of extra space and wouldnt have been so cramped.
Most times I camp in France, the decision on what car to take is made for me as it is at the Le Mans 24hour race.
I am one of many asked by Corvette Racing to bring a car and take sick French kids for laps around the Le Mans race circuit just before the race on Saturday, so I have to take the Corvette rather than the (preferred camper) Rav4 or the wife's (not much better than the Vette) Cooper S.
Therefore there is a compromise to make in order to brighten these kids lives - of course it is just for them, personally I hate driving fast on racetracks .
So, the 6 man tent, footprint and carpet is out and the 3 man is in. Camping kitchens, tables, wardrobes etc stay home - basically I go backpacking style with a few extra clothes for track and functions.
If it wasn't for the space needed for "local produce" collected to bring home, I reckon I could get the 6 man tent in, and quite a bit of the other stuff too. The Vette is actually quite roomy, but perhaps not quite so economical as an Aygo.
------------- The drinking will continue till the economy improves
107.7 The Bone rocks my tent (earphones after 10pm)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Packing an Aygo/C1 car...possible?
Personally I'd take the Zafira for that reason alone but also because it's much nicer to drive a large car with a heavy load than a small car that is overladen.
