[Will Hunt]

May potentially be able to buy one of these as a first car. Has anybody any experience of getting pads in the boot? The car is in London so having a good look around it before buying could be impractical.

[tomtom]

slackers has a Jazz iirc.. Non?

[slackline]

slackers has a Jazz iirc.. Non?

Yep I do.

Small size podsacs lays down in boot fine with some space round the edges (I keep a rope in the gap).

Moon Saturn fits in only with the single rear seat dropped down (slotted in vertically when folded).

Drop both seats down and you can have a Podsac in the boot then two Moon Saturns (vertical) and a Moon Warrior.  There might be better configurations though.

[sidewinder]

Buy it, Honda Jazz=Tardis without folding the seats down I can get large alpkit mat, snap calzone and small alpkit mat in the boot.  Also mine ('03) (which I have put 60k miles on (36k-96k), my dads and my brothers (we are basically now a honda jazz fanclub) have been super reliable, plus they have generally been owned by oaps who have taken really good care of them.
Als as slackline has sort of alluded to they have a great split seat folding down system which is both easy to operate and also gives you a flat transition from boot to folded seat.

[tomtom]

My folks have a jazz (2nd one) and every time they get it serviced the garage try's to buy it off them :D there's a lot of demand for them apparently..

[Sasquatch]

I've got the American version (Honda Fit), and have managed 3 people and 6 pads and kit before, 2 XL and 4 large pads.  I've also manages 3 pads, a bike, and two dogs.  2 people and 8 pads.  And the best ever, 2 people, 2 bikes, 3 pads, and 2 dogs  

Everyone jokes about my "clown car".  It's like a circus clown car where you start seeing the clowns come out and they just keep coming out and coming out and coming out, except its pads and gear  instead.

Downside is definite LOW clearance.   

[Paul B]

I've got the American version (Honda Fit)

I was amazed to see one of these at the CA, Needles. I was feeling quite smug turning up and noticing everyone else had 4x4s (high clearance too) and I'd driven our 2WD auto family wagon up there, and then I saw a fit (he had lost a lot of body trim on the journey mind you).

[Will Hunt]

plus they have generally been owned by oaps who have taken really good care of them.

Thats really useful as it's exactly the situation I'm looking at. Elderly member of extended family has only done about 30k in the 10 years she's had the motor. Does anybody know what one might be expected to pay for such a vehicle? When I asked whether mates rates would be available the answer was "the price will be the price but it will be a fair one"!

Thanks for the beta everyone, sounds very promising!

[Sasquatch]

I've got the American version (Honda Fit)

I was amazed to see one of these at the CA, Needles. I was feeling quite smug turning up and noticing everyone else had 4x4s (high clearance too) and I'd driven our 2WD auto family wagon up there, and then I saw a fit (he had lost a lot of body trim on the journey mind you).

It's remarkable where you can take a car if you don't mind some minor body damage.  My main home crag is 4mi up an old mining road.  I know MANY people who've ripped out oilpans on trucks and SUV's on the road, and yet have a friend who drives a ford escort up there 2-3 times a week every summer.  The one thing they don't deal with is mud....

[tomtom]

plus they have generally been owned by oaps who have taken really good care of them.

Thats really useful as it's exactly the situation I'm looking at. Elderly member of extended family has only done about 30k in the 10 years she's had the motor. Does anybody know what one might be expected to pay for such a vehicle? When I asked whether mates rates would be available the answer was "the price will be the price but it will be a fair one"!

Thanks for the beta everyone, sounds very promising!

Go on Autotrader - look what they're going for in that year/config etc..