Calling All (Large) Dog Owners

[kjaba]

(Large dogs, that is; size of dog's owners unlimited.)

Just as I was 99.9 % sure that my next dogmobile would be a Honda Element I discovered that Honda Fits had something called "Magic Seats" that sank down into the floor and provided a flat surface much lower to the ground than most cars offer (even slightly lower than the floor of the Element).

Suddenly discovering a car that costs 25% less than an Element and goes 40% further on a gallon of gas and has enough room for at least one very large dog set my heart aflutter. Trouble is, I have two dogs, both Newfoundlands (think black Saint Bernards) and though one is just a pup, it won't be long before she'll be a pup no longer.

So the question immediately arose: do any of you Honda Fit owners put your car in the "Utility" mode and cart around a couple of very large dogs on occasion? I'm not thinking in terms of cross-country trips, just short jaunts to the vets or nearby parks and the like. I should also state that, like other giant breeds, Newfies shed and slobber to a fare-thee-well.

What would be your advice? Go with the jazzy little Fit or opt for the extra 30 cubic feet of space of an Element? Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. (By the way, my present dogmobile is a '95 Ford Windstar with the middle seat removed and is likely reaching the end of its useful life.) Thanks a lot.

[SpoonSportFit]

i say go for the fit if that is what you want, i have a saint bernard/border collie mix and i believe he would fit fine and after test driving one and seeing how much room i believe it was plenty, on the honda sight they have an alpaca in tall mode haha.(just re-read post) about the slober and fur, they have mats to cover the floor and such, but with the element you can spray out the inside in one of the models

[SD_MR_FIT]

i own a german shepherd, american eskimo, ones 60lbs and ones getting to be 100 soon.
they both fit in my back seat, the love the utility mode, because its flat....but they really love the seats.


im not going to lie i love the element sc.
i would say if you have the money go with that....

but if you want better gas mileage, less hp and a "cute" car haha...
get the fit.

[FITrunner]

Two words....

DOG HAIR!

Dunno about you guys but the fabric of the Fit seats are dog hair magents.

My dog loves the seats but I hate having to pick his hair out. need to get some covers...

[SD_MR_FIT]

both of my dogs dont really shed. so i actually dont have a problem with that.

[PwRmAd]

Visit Dog Cars :: Home they rank cars based on how well they are suited for dogs. The element is the #1 dog car over all, but the fit is the best small dog car. they also have reviews and user comments!

[FITs2aT]

I too had a Windstar (98) that I purchased when I got my 90lb (now) labrador. (and 2 kids - the Grand am with only 1 back seat wouldn't cut it with 2 young ones and a big dog)
With the Windstar I could take him any distance with the back seat folder down (or not) but mostly folded as this gave him more room.
I now take him in my Fit but I full covered the backs of the seats and the floor. I have posted pics previously
I forget how to link - I hope this works. If not see "not impressed by car mats or look at my recent posts)
not impressed by the all weather fit floor mats??
I am a fanatic about hair and he is a blonde lab too.

I had a St. Bernard many years ago and if you are only taking them on very short jaunts - they should be fine.
They have quite the claws thought and I would do something like I did to protect the rear end of the car.

When I got my Fit, I was concerned about the space for my dog but i figured he is in is about 1% of the time and he can make do for the 10 minutes to the river. I did take him on a five hour trip with the seats down but loaded with luggage and stopped for lots of stretches and he was fine.

Good luck. I would go for the Fit. Gas savings and fab car.

[billmus86]

dog hair is killer..

my dog has short coarse hair and she rubs it into the fabric!
its never coming out lol
i wonder what the elements fab feels like..?

[cavie187]

My Min-Pin fits fine, but i guess that doesn't really matter.

There is a LOT of room in the fit. I was genuinely surprised, however, If you are an owner that transports their dogs in a traveling cage/kennel of some kind you may want to go with the Element. The extra room may be useful then.

[ellenoc]

My first requirement in a car is that the back seats go down and the floor is flat - because of my dogs. My last car was a Subaru Impreza wagon because 10 years ago it was the only car that I could afford that met that requirement. When I needed to replace it last fall, I was delighted to find several cars that met my needs, but the Fit was the only one I fell in love with. Basically, I never have the back seats up. I have the back floor covered first with a foam pad and then a rug and it stays that way. I have Rottweilers and three of them can ride back there easily for short trips. Usually only the one I show goes with me and she and all her equipment fit back there easily. It does mean scrubbing up dog drool regularly, particularly off the windows.

The only problem of any sort I have with the Fit is the seat upholstery and even without dog hair it would be a problem for me and my country life. I got seat covers for the front.

[junior40er]

I have a big golden retriever and he loves riding in the fit. I just fold the seats up and I'm good to go.

[Steeldog]

My last trip to the vet, I took my dog in the "Tall" mode and let her sit / stand in the back floor. She's not HUGE but she is 60 lbs, and there was lots of room for her, and no dog hair on the seats. Two big dogs, maybe, but not for more than 10 or 15 miles at a time I would guess.

[Agrippa369]

i hauled my mutt (55lbs) and my cousins bull mastif (165lbs) in short mode and they were fine for the 20mile ride they both chilled out and no complaints