# I Have a Dog Walking Business in SF. All stop/start driving, with big hills too! What's best car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330 "2013-02-13T06:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/1 "2013-02-13T06:56:06Z")
I’m driving a 2002 Mazda MPV, horrible mileage, about 12 with the kind of driving I do. I go a few blocks up a steep hill, stop go get the dog in the house, put it in the van, and repeat this up and down, in and out the rest of the day. I make about 40 of these kinds of stops each day, but only do about 20 miles total. I also drive 20 miles freeway on my commute. The gas is killing me. I want a different car. Most of the dogs I take care of are small, they sit in the back of the van. I know dog walkers who use station wagons, even honda fits. I can fit 8 small dogs in the back of a fit. But it is a little small, so I was thinking something more like the NIssan Cube. But the mileage isn’t too good for what I read. My other concern is that I get in and out of the car so many times a day, I like to sit high so that I avoid lots of wear and tear on my knees/back with the in and out, up and down. Thanks for the ideas in advance! shrimp ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/2 "2013-02-13T07:42:38Z")
Chevrolet HHR. Not made any more but my sister has one; she likes it for ease of entry and exit. ---
**Author:** ![chunkyazian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@chunkyazian](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chunkyazian)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/3 "2013-02-13T07:45:20Z")
a Prius c or a jetta sportwagen tdi ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/4 "2013-02-13T08:02:59Z")
How about using a dog powered cart, like a dog sled but on wheels. Cheap on gas - The dogs get a work out. Everyone’s happy. ---
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/5 "2013-02-13T20:26:32Z")
You are correct sir, Actually, in the 80’s there used to be a guy with a team of huskies hooked up to a covered wagon who drove down Valencia St. In SF Mission District (hipster central nowadays). I guess with the little guys, I could sit in a red wagon, and they could pull me. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/6 "2013-02-13T20:40:57Z")
What’s your budget? ---
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/7 "2013-02-13T20:48:36Z")
7k ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/8 "2013-02-13T20:55:21Z")
Although a hybrid doesn’t actually make sense for a lot of people, it sounds like one would be perfect for your type of driving. ---
**Author:** ![bscar2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar2/32/2468_2.png) [@bscar2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar2)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/9 "2013-02-14T03:30:39Z")
If you could get new, I’d say you’d be perfect for the new Ford C-Max, but at 7k… Could you write the vehicle off as a business expense on your taxes? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/10 "2013-02-14T06:02:11Z")
How much do you want to spend? An electric car might work for you. You can go up to 40 miles before the gas engine kicks in on a Chevy Volt. A 2013 Nissan Leaf S will cost $28,800 MSRP and has a range of up to 80 miles. But you have to have a way to charge it at home. The same goes for the Volt. The vot is almost $40,000 and has unlimited range. I think you will get a big tax break with either. ---
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/11 "2013-02-14T06:44:21Z")
I would love to get an all electric, but am an apt dweller, and no parking space. I’d get one in a NY second if I had the means to charge it. ---
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/12 "2013-02-14T06:45:20Z")
I test drove the C-Max and that would be perfect. Perfect size, perfect height, nice drive. just can’t spend the dough ---
**Author:** ![mecChancleta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@mecChancleta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mecChancleta)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/13 "2013-02-14T08:13:29Z")
For your budget i would get a 2003-2007 Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Cole\_s\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Cole\_s\_Law](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cole_s_Law)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/14 "2013-02-14T08:15:06Z")
You would be perfect for a hybrid or electric, but at 7k that’s out of your budget. Might I make a suggestion? Since you’re getting such lousy gas mileage (12 mpg) now, anything would result in significant savings for you. Suppose you spend $1000/year on gas. If you find a car that gets 24 mpg in the city, that’ll cut your bill in half, to $500. Going all out for a hybrid at near 50 mpg would cut that bill to $250-a big improvement, but not as big a difference as just getting to something in the mid-20’s mpg. You should be able to find something in decent shape for 7k that gets around 24 mpg. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/15 "2013-02-14T08:16:05Z")
Used Ford Escape hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/16 "2013-02-14T21:36:04Z")
Used Honda Element, the best vehicle for dogs ---
**Author:** ![bscar2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar2/32/2468_2.png) [@bscar2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar2)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/17 "2013-02-15T03:24:58Z")
> I test drove the C-Max and that would be perfect. Perfect size, perfect height, nice drive. just can't spend the dough Which is why I asked if you could write the expense off on your taxes. If you could, talk to a tax adviser and see what they say. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/18 "2013-02-15T07:35:14Z")
A tax write off is only good if income is high enough. No way to get from $7k to $35k just with tax deductions. ---
**Author:** ![shrimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shrimp](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shrimp)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/19 "2013-02-15T07:59:11Z")
I had looked at the Matrix/Vibe as an option. I think the seats are a little too low for me. Getting in and out of the car about 40x a day really takes a toll on the body. If I sit just a little higher up, I can sort of slide right out and gently hoist myself back in rather than all the bending and crouching. It is important. I don’t want to save money on a vehicle only to give it to a chiropractor! I hadn’t thought of a used ford escape. I’ll check into that one too. I sure did like the c-max! Go check it out if you haven’t yet. Nice. Thanks once again for all the insightful input. It really helps to get opinions. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330/20 "2013-02-15T20:44:38Z")
A 2009 Escape with the 2.5L 4-cyl get 22 MPG in the city. The hybrid, which also uses a 2.5L, gets 34 MPG in the city. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-dog-walking-business-in-sf-all-stop-start-driving-with-big-hills-too-whats-best-car/77330.md?page=2)