Car choice: A car for a dog-loving family?

Sharon James has £5,000 to spend on a spacious family car that can be used in her dog walking business and family duties

(Vauxhall)

A car for the head

Many would go for a people carrier or SUV as the obvious answer to the multitasker challenge, especially as the seats can all be taken out. However, they can be quite bulky and dreary to drive. By contrast, estate cars are very underrated and excellent value for money and just as practical.

Sharon would get a wonderfully practical vehicle in the shape of a Vauxhall Insignia 2.0SE Ecoflex estate, which is perfect for her family – and it has a large separate boot area that would be perfect for dogs. A 2011 model with 80,000 miles is on offer, price reduced to £4,795.

(Volvo (Volvo)

A car for the heart

Another major downside of going for a people carrier is that the boot area is compromised with the rear seats being used by the James family. With a dog guard installed, the boot area is then designated for loads of luggage or some dogs.

When it comes to estates, the Volvo name is one you can trust. They are stylish and come with long flat load bays.

The V50 is on the compact side for a Volvo. A 2010 Volvo V50 1.6 D with over 100,000 miles on the clock qualifies for £30 road tax and is on sale at £5,295.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@bangernomics.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com