Dog-friendly cars

With 20 dogs you might need to retrofit an old school bus!
 
Seriously, my dogs dont' smell doggie.  They get a bath a couple times a year and thats it.  They had one a month or so ago because they DID smell....but the spring melt melted more than the snow and they rolled in melted poop and totally reeked![:'(]
 
One of my boys goes with me every week to visit an assisted living facility, and for his safety he wears an auto safety harness.  This also confines him to one area and minimizes his fur deposits to that area for the most part.  Still, when I come home I put on a pair of rubber kitchen gloves and wipe the interior down with my hands.  Far more effective than a vacume at removing fur.  The leather seats in some of the company cars are far easier to clean, but dogs are gonna shed and the only way to keep yourself clean is be vigilent about cleaning it up everytime they are in the vehicle.

LOL...I don't travel with all 20 dogs at once so I think I will pass on the idea of buying a bus[].  I only take 6 or 7 at the most.  I bathe those dogs every couple of months but I still feel conscious that I "may" smell doggy although nobody has said anything about this and I'm sure that my friends would have no hesitation in saying so but the fact remains that in wet weather it is impossible to have clean clothing for very long if I have to share the car with dogs and wet paws do not make for a welcoming fragrance, lol, not to mention the mess that that would make of the interior of the car.  I really don't fancy the idea of having to clean the car each and every time I go on a long trip considering that I would be feeling tired afterwards anyway but I appreciate your advice just the same Glenmar. 

personally we are looking for a van with fold flat seats (1 very large boy, 6 ft or so standing on hind legs) - also had an econo van suggested by 1 dealer

My car kinda leaks up from the bottom when snow melts, so consequently it already smells like dog (confirmed by my husband "Yup, your new dog will be at home in this car."), so I'm no help []

I have owned 2 explorers so far and they have worked well for carrying my dogs and camping gear, biking gear, etc. I did have a barrier but got rid of it for some stupid reason. With my next SUV (I've decided SUV's are really the only vehicle big enough for my lifestyle) I'll get another barrier.

Have you seen the Honda Element? It starts at about $ 19,000

Here is a blurb about the interior from the Honda website:

And don't worry about dirt, sand, renegade food crumbs or even pet spills. With its black, scratch resistant utility floor and tough water-resistant FCX™ seat fabric, the Element is rugged to use and easy to clean up.

 
 
I seem to remember hearing that you could even hose it out??? The back tailgate opens super wide and it has a top opening part (like a van) and a bottom (like a pickup truck)
 
Here's the homepage:
[linkhttp://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Element]http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Element[/link]
 
Here is a paragraph from a review of it:

Launched as a 2003 model, the Honda Element was originally aimed at young adventurers who need to haul wet or messy gear within the security of an enclosed cargo area. Its durable, quick-clean interior was a big part of its charm, rather than a strippo-model drawback. Low step-in height made loading mountain bikes or surfboards or big dogs easy, and vinyl flooring made it extra dog-friendly. Dark vinyl fenders and heavy cladding made stone chips or brush scrapes a non-issue. But young surfer boys weren't the only ones attracted to the utility and cuteness of the Honda Element. Other folks saw the benefits of roomy box that got good gas mileage and was easy to park.
 

 
Whole review is here:
[linkhttp://www.automotive.com/2007/12/honda/element/reviews/index.html]http://www.automotive.com/2007/12/honda/element/reviews/index.html[/link]
 
There are two models this year---the original element and the SC.
 
Good luck car shopping!

you need a Honda Odyssey, take out most of the seats, put up a metal barrier to keep the dogs out of human section, put down a cargo liner, put in either crates or doggy seatbealts.
as to the "doggy smell", well, my dogs get a bath once a year or sometimes even less often, and they never smell, except when soaking wet, when they smell like a, well, wet dog. I'd suggest changing their diet. Poor quality grain heavy diets tend to make dogs smelly.

I seem to remember hearing that you could even hose it out??? The back tailgate opens super wide and it has a top opening part (like a van) and a

 
yep, while I don't much like the way it looks (I thought volvo's were boxy) it has so many things that makes it a great dogmobile.  Personally, I have a minivan.  I like the newer ones that have space in the floor for the seats to fold into.  (My seats are taking up space in the garage.)  Also leather seats are easier to clean than cloth if you can spend the exta $$.

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

Poor quality grain heavy diets tend to make dogs smelly.

 
That and stinky rivers and lakes!

Oh yeah, but "stinking pond" smell isn't quite the same as "doggy smell".  My car may reek of pond scum, fox poop well ground into dog's necks, and horse poop firmly stuck to my shoes, but not a whiff of "dog".

I have a turbo-diesel pickup. It's a Dodge with the Cummins. I can answer your concerns about them and anything else that you would like to know about them. I'm pretty knowledgeable on the subject.

As far as them being slow to respond, yes sometimes the throttle is a little less responsive then a comparable gas engine. This is due to the turbo. When you push the accelerator, the turbo has to have time to spool up. For it to spool up, it must have exhaust running through it. The time that it takes to do this is called turbo lag. So you have to give it a little throttle to spool it up, then hold on. Once the turbo kicks in, you have more then enough power. Now in todays turbo diesels, the turbo lag is very minimal. Mine takes about 1 second. Minute, but it is noticable. I believe that Ford's new Super Duty has dual turbos, which should cut turbo lag to almost nothing. I'm not a fan of the Ford's engine, but it's is just fine for people who do more road driving than pulling and towing.

As far as them being bad around corners, all trucks are bad around corners. They generally have a higher center of gravity so they have a good bit of body roll. Couple that with the very light weight rear end massive amounts of torque these engines create, and you have to go slow around corners to avoid tipping or losing traction in the rear. Especially with the 4x4's because they tend to sit a little higher in the air. It's not bad and very easy to get used to.

The main problems that I have with my truck are the huge blindspots and it's a PITA to park. You have to park at the back of the parking lots. Do you do more city or highway driving?

Edited to fix my bad typing.

I bought a Saab 9-5 wagon and love it.  The cargo area is large for a wagon and also taller than other wagons which works for us but depending on the size of the dogs wouldn't work for 6-7 of my big guy!

If you want something with er...ummm. "guts" under the hood and lots of room, you may want to look at the Dodge Magnum.  They are a wagon style, but handle better than the boats of old AND you will have plenty of haul a** when the Hemi kicks in!  If you don't want the Hemi, I can guarantee you that the 3.5L that is in the lower end model will give plenty of get up and go.  I have a 3.5L in my current car, a Dodge Intrepid. It regularly leave Beemers sitting at stop lights with well-dressed ladies' and gentlemen's mouths hanging open as we beat them off the line!

One of the idoggers whom I haven't seen around here for quite awhile has an Elemnet.  She has Hannah, who is a BIG girl (Mastiff mix).  She loves her Passport.