On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 16:41:21 GMT, Lobster
wrote:

Kat wrote:

Thanks for the unput. Driving with the back door of an estate open
enable you to carry longer objects only. Driving with a hatchback's
hatch open will enable you to carry longer *and* taller objacts in
some cases. See what I'm saying?

Another point to consider which I don't think anyone's mentioned yet -
think about whether you want an estate/hatchback with/without a rear lip
on the tailgate. If you have one, there's the advantage that your boot
contents stay reasonably together and don't fall out every time you
open the tailgate; but it also means you have to lift heavy objects
(like bags of sand or plaster) over the lip each time. A big
consideration if you're worried about your back, as you say. I think
most if not all hatchbacks will have the lip (is that the right word??!)

We have one car with a flat tailgate, one with a 12" lip - give me the
flat one anytime.

David

Thanks for the input. A "lip" certainly has its advantages. When I had
a hatchback I sometimes carried large objects with the hatch open. The
lip preventsed all my little bits of shopping and other junk spilling
out. Of course, it would be quite easy to make an artificial "lip" out
of plywood or something. Then, if you have a lipless car, you have the
advantage of choosing whether to drive with or without the lip in
place. On thing I like about hatchbacks is is that if you do drive
with the hatch open (to acommodate a large object), the open door
doesn't increase the overal length of the vehicle. Whereas an open
estate car tailgate usually sticks out beyond the normal length of the
car. Admittedly, though, the internal carrying space in an estate is
usually longer than a hatchback. The ideal car, in my mind, would be
one with a long gently-sloping hatch that would open to an almost
vertical position. You could then carry tall objects sticking upwards
out of the hatch opening, as well as protruding backwards to the rear
if necessary. What's more, when the hatch is shut, it would be more
streamlined than most cars. I saw such a car just the other day, but
couldn't see the make or model from where I was sitting.

K