[craig melvin]

My wife, who does the carpet cleaning has had a vauxhall vivaro sportive, then dropped down to a kangoo which has been fine for carrying around the portable and associated gear.

Does anyone use as a big estate car?if so what ?

at least the kids can sit in the back when not working.

all the best

Craig

[Anthony Rowan]

Ive a guy by me who uses a small trailer on the back of his car and looks a right T I T.

Think a few on here use an estate car and can comment.

[Carpet Dawg]

You will maybe be able to get the absalout basics in to a car (a small porty) and a couple of buckets, a broom, hoses, wand and some chems. But its will be a struggle and alot of hassle. You'll soon throw in the towel and want a van. IMO


Tony

[Joe H]

The problem with using an estate car is load security.
If you in a smash and the load (machine and tools or even just one item) the consequences can be bad.
You would need a strong barrier seperating front seats from load area.
Same applies to a van obviously.

[andi wilson]

Why not just get a Vivaro crewcab?? The best of both worlds. Great family wagon, plus professional works vehicle..

[Linds Russell]

I used a Vectra Estate for my first 7 months in business. It wasn't ideal but everything fitted in with the back seats folded down split, so I could still take a passenger in the back. My wand and pile brushes and my old Hydro 2000 (Truvox president) fitted in well. A van is always going to be the best idea as I was self concious of looking like a bottom of the scale carpet cleaner.

[markpowell]

I use my People carrier if my van is ever off road for repairs and its a nightmare, Van everytime.
Mark

[richy27]

simple answer is it does not give off the right impression.  bit like a builder riding to work on a horse . 

[Andy Hogarth]

I started with my trusty speedster, few chems and a sebo duo from the back of a renault scenic, at the time I used to think it was the job you did not the van you pulled up in and to be be fair I have loads of customers today from back then, but I'd never go back to it. Park the van in a prime spot and it pays for itself in advertising in no time.

I've got a pic somewhere of it all strategically placed and no 5 litre bottles to be seen, just 1 litre ones I had to keep refilling. luckily the seats came out so it was not far off the size of a very small van but I never felt it gave the right impression, however I couldn't afford a van at the time and it did the job.

Was a proper pain when we wanted to use the car for a day trip and I had to haul everything out lol

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Been cleaning today at a house where the gardener was also working. All his kit was piled in the back of his estate car!

The gardener's car...............a 3 litre X-Type Jag

Rog

[clinton]

Roger near us

Did use my car rather than my van to take my buffer and a few bits when i had to clean an office a while a few year ago and it all just fitted in ..

[derek west]

push bike with a kids trailer unit on the back, thats all ya need, ask J.

[steve cardy]

Ah!! brings me back to the good old days. use to have a mini took the front passenger seat out popped my hydromist in.All the rest of the kit on back seat.Didnt look very professional but what do you want for £7.00 a room.

[M.Acorn]

Started with an old Ford Sierra diesel estate,blacked out the rear windows,got all my gear in,and used it for about 5 months,until a numpty pulled out of a side st into me,good news was the insurance payout went on the astra van.
Have used my Scirocco twice,had to take out passenger seat,and also used my wife's mk2 golf,which everything fitted in fine.
But was glad to get a van...Not sure what your insurance company would think,using a car for business use,could invalidate your insurance ....

I made sure I removed the sign writing on the back of the estate,and emptied all my stuff out,when the insurance bloke came to asses it had to put the seats back in too