 Poster: A snowHead
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We're organising our hire car and want to avoid hiring a ski rack. I don't own any of the of the cars on the hire car sites. So, given that there are 3 of us going skiing with one snowboard wheeled bag, a set of skis, two sets of boots plus luggage and beer, would any of the following cars fit everything/body comfortably?
1. Ford Focus
2. Volkswagen Golf
3. Opel Astra
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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All of the above in an estate version might .
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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All 3 borderline, I guess. Certainly a squeeze with 3.
I have a Seat Leon Mk1 (effectively same as Golf) and my 181cm skis only just fit in diagonally, with split fold down (the 2 seat part). And then only with tips in LH rear corner, and tails wedged between the flipped up seat bottom and the RH rear passenger door. Might be able to get them down the middle (might investigate that this weekend).
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nick-o, Stick all the skis etc in the front passenger seat/well area and put the passengers in the back seats.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nick-o, The Astra (estate)worked for me last year , 180cm ski bag + luggage and three skiers , it had a spilt rear seat , a must !!
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 we have a twingo and fit 3 of us plus a board and 2 sets of skis regularly . . .although you do have to be willing to slot them through to the front seats!
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I've hired both the Focus and the Golf. Split folding back seat are absolutely essential for any chance of fitting the skis and boards. Even then, it depends on the length of the skis, as mentioned by others.
Once the skis fit. The rest should be easy.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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deerman, what length of skis will fit? I hav no idea really but would've thought only board or short skis would fit 
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Nick-o, having been sent on many airport staff pickups by HR monkeys with not enough room in their tiny brains for the idea that staff working in resort might bring ski/board gear with them, I would say not. Certainly not comfortably, at any rate. The estate versions will, though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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BMW X5 up to 160 pre 06 180 post
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Nick-o, one problem you could encounter is that having done your research and reserved the right car, you won't get it. Happened to us once, where the problem was a collapsible wheelchair, which would have gone in the car we'd ordered, with a split back seat..... exceptionally annoying. Eventually got it in, but everyone was uncomfortable as a result. Would hiring a rack be so terrible? If you plan to actually use the car to travel to ski, it's much better not to have wet and possibly muddy gear in the car with you.
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| Quote: |
where the problem was a collapsible wheelchair,
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They have wheels - surely a tow rope would have sorted that out 
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You know it makes sense.
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had 2 of us with skis, boots and luggage in a toyota yaris from Barcelona airport to Andorra several years back so can't see any reason why you wouldn't get it into any of them to be honest...just need to be creative with the loading and wouldnt probably rank as the most comfortable trip i'm sure but do-able non the less 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We got 3 adults an 8 yo, a 165 snowboard bag some all mountain skis and poles plus luggage from Inverness to Avimore in a focus a couple years back. Wasn't too much of a squeeze.
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Poster: A snowHead
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3 people in a golf-sized hatchback or estate should be OK. Don't think for a minute that a car hire company will have the car you ask for anyway...  You should get a a car in the class you ask for, but if you request a golf you could easily get a focus or similar instead. If you end up with a saloon (unlikely I think), then you may need to put skis on the front passenger seat (tip the seat back and feed them in through the back window) and out 2 people in the back - this is actually works quite well so you could consider it in a hatchback if you find it hard to get skis in the back.
We've booked an estate for 4 of us... I suspect that isn't going to be a comfortable trip unless we go for ski racks. I don't trust those magnetic ones, but having said that they haven't failed me yet and I've used them a few times.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Tried it in a Golf and yes they did fit.... but not overly safely so sold the car!
Now use an A6 and have no problems.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Ford Focus for 2 people was fine with skis up to 210cm (cross-country), you can get an idea here of how squashed it was:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/27073_353906641330_626371330_4108410_4604073_n.jpg
Bear in mind that that picture doesn't include all our other stuff like clothes, and is missing at least one pair of skis, since they were in the shop getting tele bindings put on em!
Basically if your 3rd person isn't too claustrophobic and you don't mind driving without a rear view mirror, it'll probably work OK!
Disclaimer: I remember this car being a Ford Focus but it may not be exactly that.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have an Audi A3 - basically a Golf under a different guise and I really struggle to fit more than two people plus skis! To be fair, I'm tall and my longest skis are 188cm... So I'd be careful of the Golf if I were you.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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ap96, you've got loads of room in there - it's just not stacked properly!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've had 2 snowboards, a pair of 190 skis and luggage for 3 for a weekend in my Polo so if you can't get kit in those you're not trying hard enough 
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A Skoda Octavia Estate has special slot in the rear esp. designed for skis (you can use it for other things, but it's designed for skis! and you can even get a special bag to protect them when they are packed using it.
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I am in the process of booking a hire car for 4 adults for late Jan. Is it not easier simply to book a small car and a ski rack as an add-on (20 euros or so) unless ski racks only allow 1-2 sets of skis?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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From what I've seen, most hire racks are not even as robust as these from Bartletts:
They normally only support up to 2 pairs of skis OR 1 snowboard. And don't even bother to try to hire two pairs of racks - in my experience you are unlikely to get them. That's why I've given up and bought a Handirack.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 3-01-12 14:44; edited 1 time in total
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The ski rack has the added advantage of no dirty/wet skis in car. However you would not leave un-attended
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Don't know about those listed but kit for me and 3 kids (7, 12 and 16) fit in my Saab 93 estate.
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| Quote: |
The ski rack has the added advantage of no dirty/wet skis in car.
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but the disadvantage of increasing fuel consumption.... 
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FAQ.jpg)
you just have to finger out how to pack it all in 