Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.
Older used DogMobile needed for coot and aging dog

Hi, I need a new USED DOGMOBILE, a small wagon or hatch, maybe an older Forester, Outback, Mazda5 or MPV, HHR, Caliber, Rondo, Vibe, Volvo or Focus. For me the chauffeur (68 with a spine fracture) I need something short in length for the driveway but a couple of inches higher off the street than the usual, and with a tall seat-to-roof entry/exit. I know the Rondo fits me great. But one problem. My boss (dog) Willie is smallish, 40lbs and knee-high. He's about 9 yrs now and starting to have a problem jumping from the ground up onto any seat bottom. I have to assume any rear wagon bed is pretty high for him, higher than the foot-wells. People suggest a dog ramp or even a box/crate. They'd be ok at home but a problem out in the world. He and I go out in the car about 20 times a week. So for the next couple of years I'd rather keep him jumping. I've never been able to coax him into jumping up to a foot-well space, usually pretty cramped. If he sees a seat he goes for it. But maybe if I pushed the front passenger seat ALL the way forward and the rear seat as far back as it can go?
Alternately, if the foot-well would still be too narrow, since I rarely have any humans in the second row, I'm wondering about cars with fully split rear seats (like 60/40, not Captains) that fold up leaving a large foot-well for his entry and exit. Or if not the fold-up kind, maybe removing the narrower side of the split rear seat so Willie can just jump up to that foot-well and then proceed up to the passenger side rear seat. I don't need the seating for people.
Finally, Willie requires that I have a power window control for his up/down rear window. No thank you to the Honda Element or old minivans with the pop-out rear windows.
Alternately, if the foot-well would still be too narrow, since I rarely have any humans in the second row, I'm wondering about cars with fully split rear seats (like 60/40, not Captains) that fold up leaving a large foot-well for his entry and exit. Or if not the fold-up kind, maybe removing the narrower side of the split rear seat so Willie can just jump up to that foot-well and then proceed up to the passenger side rear seat. I don't need the seating for people.
Finally, Willie requires that I have a power window control for his up/down rear window. No thank you to the Honda Element or old minivans with the pop-out rear windows.
Tagged:
0
Comments
Edmunds.com Names Ten Vehicles as Top Dogs for Pet Safety
There's lots of dog links here but they are scattered all over.
And that's the trouble with Subarus - they hold their value pretty well. I've always liked Vibes/Matrixes so maybe hunt for one of those. You could even rig up a ramp going into the hatch so your puppy could scamper up and you wouldn't have to try to lift him.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
What about my original questions about foot-wells and fold-down or removable 60/40 rear seats?
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT