[p1tse]

do you find the boot practical in size, shape, space etc.?

[Bungle009]

compared to a saloon/coupe, its very practical.

[Em135eye]

It's the height that's the handy bit.

Also a bit off to stick a dog in a saloon/coupe!

Not the biggest of estates (previous mk5 Astra estate was a lot bigger) but it's still a useful load space and the folding seats make is more versatile.

[chris330D]

Obviously it is no the biggest estate you can buy but we are a family of four and it works fine. I use a roofbox about once or twice a year e.g. going away at Xmas and can then take everything we want including the dog!

[Cafe.Racer]

I find it's good. It's a big hatchback rather than an Estate. I certainly couldn't live with a saloon.

I can fit my kite buggy and all my kites in the back fairly easily. In fact, I've had two kite buggies in the back with enough kites and four people in the car.

One thing I do find is that the boot floor is not flat, I presume because of the rear axle, which can make big square boxes/crates awkward.

I find taking the load cover off completely makes a massive difference.

You can get quite a lot of stuff under the floor, and in the left hand wheel arch if you stick your arm in through the first aid hole.

Loading the boot so far, then closing it and loading the rest through the rear hatch window works.

Admittedly, we have a roof box and a trailer as well...

[m@rk]

I found a couple of HUGE wheeled duffel bags in the Samsonite Outlet shop in Swindon a couple of years ago. Being soft I can fill them and then squeeze them in to the boot before packing loads of other stuff around them.

We have had 3 adults and a 6 year old to southern France with a week worth of clothes and still been able to pull the cover over. Of course the extra height meant we had loads of room for the duty free on the way back.

Originally Posted by Cafe.Racer

One thing I do find is that the boot floor is not flat, I presume because of the rear axle, which can make big square boxes/crates awkward.

Really?

Mine is totally flat

[Cafe.Racer]

It's not, go and have another look. Between the rear suspension turrets I mean.

[F31-340i]

For loads the E91 is pretty good - miles more practical than coupe or saloon.

The main limitation for me is people based - a squeeze for anymore than 2 in the back as the 3er is quite narrow.

5er & X5 much better in this respect - jump in the back next time your in the dealer - or jump in the front with your better half and play 'bang elbows' - this test exposes the size of the 3er.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by m@rk

We have had 3 adults and a 6 year old to southern France with a week worth of clothes and still been able to pull the cover over. Of course the extra height meant we had loads of room for the duty free on the way back.

Really? do you wear the same clothes all week then?

This was 2 + 1 child for a long weekend in wales!! (and half the rear seat was full of stuff too!)

[Arch Stanton]

i've had a full height fridge/freezer in mine, was a bit tight though. Couldnt have had a front seat passenger but it went in :-)

We have a rottie and a german shepherd dog and they looka bit squashed in the back.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Really? do you wear the same clothes all week then?

This was 2 + 1 child for a long weekend in wales!! (and half the rear seat was full of stuff too!)

Ah

But I spot a pram in there.

At that age, even a transit van isn't big enough with prams, walkers, nappies (packs and packs of the things) and so on.

Sam is now 8 so his luggage needs are much much less than when he was still in a pram.

Having said that, the right luggage makes a huge difference to how much you can get in. Maybe it's down to me playing Tetris a lot when younger but that photo just screams inefficient use of space to me.

Originally Posted by Cafe.Racer

It's not, go and have another look. Between the rear suspension turrets I mean.

Yes it's flat.

From the seat back to the tailgate, the floor is 100% flat.

If I drop the seats down, then they slope upwards slightly as you move forwards in the car but only at a slight angle.

Not my car but mine looks just like the picture below (but without the Alpina badge)

Very flat

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

For loads the E91 is pretty good - miles more practical than coupe or saloon.

The main limitation for me is people based - a squeeze for anymore than 2 in the back as the 3er is quite narrow.

5er & X5 much better in this respect - jump in the back next time your in the dealer - or jump in the front with your better half and play 'bang elbows' - this test exposes the size of the 3er.

When I bought the E91 I did look at the 5.

But when we put Sam (who would have been 5 at the time) in the back, he just looked so lost back there on his own. That is what persuaded me that a 5 was just too big for what I needed.

As mentioned, we did 3 adult and Sam to France and it was fine but the car was without doubt full by the time we had picked up some wine at Calais.

This year we did the same trip with just the 3 of us (2 adults and Sam) and the car was just right.

[Cafe.Racer]

I must admit the back seat is narrow.

When I had all the back out of mine to fit the towing bracket - there is loads of wasted space behind the trim pieces. Probably sound deadening.

The boot floor on my two E91's has not been flat, not going to argue about it, though (although I did think about getting a straight edge out...)

[p1tse]

do like the e91 sport but don't think it's going to be overly different to boot space on the vw golf and rear seats look lower, tighter possibly>?

[vblanche]

if you can afford a 5serie, go for a 5serie, much more space...even if a 3serie touring is already decent space, I have to admit that I would have gone for a 5serie except that I could not afford a 5serie-based alpina...

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by p1tse

do like the e91 sport but don't think it's going to be overly different to boot space on the vw golf and rear seats look lower, tighter possibly>?

I'd expect an E91 to be noticably bigger than a golf (normal 5dr?) - especially the boot.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by m@rk

I found a couple of HUGE wheeled duffel bags in the Samsonite Outlet shop in Swindon a couple of years ago. Being soft I can fill them and then squeeze them in to the boot before packing loads of other stuff around them.

We have had 3 adults and a 6 year old to southern France with a week worth of clothes and still been able to pull the cover over. Of course the extra height meant we had loads of room for the duty free on the way back.




Really?

Mine is totally flat

I did the same only with 3 adults a 12 year old and a 6 year old.............in a 335i saloon - things were a bit tight but do able. There is plenty of room in these cars.

[Em135eye]

I have had loads of Golfs. The boot in the E91 is way bigger.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

I have had loads of Golfs. The boot in the E91 is way bigger.

Not if it's a Golf estate.

[Em135eye]

That's not a real Golf.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by ss134

I did the same only with 3 adults a 12 year old and a 6 year old.............in a 335i saloon - things were a bit tight but do able. There is plenty of room in these cars.

I think it's all wholley depended upon how much the missus packs .

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

I think it's all wholley depended upon how much the missus packs .

ABSOLUTELY!

Thats the critical factor, nothing to do with boot size.

You know those air hostess trolley bag things? My missus has one of those just for her makeup and hair stuff.

Let alone the 75 litre rucksack full of shoes etc and giant holdall with 15 outfits in for a weekend.

If we bought a luton van it'd still be full.