what vehicle to transport bikes (INSIDE)

[caligurl]

ok.... what vehicles do you have (or recommend) that transport the bike INSIDE the vehicle!

and why do you like it (or not like it)

i already know about the element (but if you want to add why you like/dislike it comments.. that's cool!) and neither hubby nor i are mini van kinda folks! :D

soooooo what do you recommend? suggest? loath?

[mary9761]

My son HAS transported my bike a couple times in their Buick Rendevous, but it was a pain in the arse.. Had to move seats/collapse or something like that.:(

[caligurl]

lol... should add that it should be somewhat easy to put them in.. AND allow for space for a bag full of helmets, cycling shoes, etc.. a change of clothes..... (and my shopping packages for post-ride shopping shops! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: )

and must hold 2 road bikes (or 2 mountain bikes.. although not nearly as often as the road bikes)

[jobob]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4602

[Pedal Wench]

While most folks will recommend big SUV-type things, I gotta stick up for my little Acura Integra hatchback two-door. I live alone, drive alone most of the time, so I leave the back seats down all the time. I just remove the front wheel, put the back wheel into the hatch, roll it back as I lift the fork in, lay it down, put front wheel behind my seat or just in the remaining space in my car, and off i go. Tons of room for bags of gear/shoes/helmets/groceries, whatever.
I was pleasantly surprised that when my boyfriend left a bike up here that we could also put TWO bikes in. My frames (being smaller, but still a 50cm) would fit, upright, behind the seats. Again, take off the front wheel, fold the seats up and roll the back wheel in until it hits the other door. Turn fork, slide in front wheel, push seats back, and put the other (bigger) bike in the hatch section. I hate the thought of using racks - dirt, rain, theft, overhead crashes, rear-end crashes, etc. that I wouldn't do it any other way.

While it sounds complicated, it takes me literally 10 seconds to get my bike in or out. MUCH less time than folks with racks.

[bouncybouncy]

My SO & I are looking into Subarus (merely cause he hates trucks, we just moved to the mountains from Florida and he is not familiar with driving in winter conditions...all wheel drive....and it is the TEAM car...haha)
We did look seriously at the Ford Escape....I have not done a whole lot of research into this just kinda lookin for the future...and we bought a house with our "car" money :p
I do know however it has accessories that are bike friendly...a rear mount for those trips you do not need them inside and fork mounts inside (so your bike would sit backwards right inside the rear hatch and it also had wheel rack for the front wheel)

[profàvélo]

We love my husband's Forester. It gets decent gas mileage despite being 4-wheel drive all the time (around 28 mpg, I think). We did buy Thule racks for the top, the kind where you take the front wheel off and can lock the fork to the rack. I'm nearly 5'6", and I can barely get my bike on and off the top. I know that one bike fits easily inside the back if you put the seats down (which is easy to do), but I'm not sure we've tried to put two in there. It's a great car, though. I don't like that ours is manual transmission--I'm a terrible stick-shift driver--but I can manage it, thanks to the anti-roll feature. :p It certainly drives like a car, rather than a truck.

[bcipam]

A great little vehicle for bikes was the Ford Explorer - Sport model. It was long and tall enough to easier carry 4 bikes inside (with the front wheel removed )and 2 passengers (or 3 bikes and 3 passengers). Unfortunately Ford stopped making the Sport in favor of the Escape which is too small to properly carry bikes. The 4 door Explorer is still boxy and tall enough to carry 4 bikes (although if the bikes are big (say 57cm or larger) you might have to remove the seat post). Everything else sucks. I know I have been looking for a replacement of my 1997 Explorer Sport but nothing comes close. And I refuse to drive a van of any sort just because.

[bouncybouncy]

OH yeah...it comes as a hybrid too...I know you have dogs so the exterior rack is good for those trips with the kids and the interior for those longer treks...

[carback]

I have a Subaru Imprezza Brighton (an older version of the Outback) and am able to fit 2 bikes (road or mountain work equally well) in it with the back seats folded down. Front wheels come off, throw a blanket in between them so there's no rubbing and voila. Can still hold a passenger, plus a TON of gear (including the front wheels :) ). I'm pretty certain that if push came to shove, I could throw a 3rd bike in there; although there wouldn't be room for a 3rd person (unless I strap them to the roof?) Friends are always amazed by the amount of space inside these cars.

It takes me mere seconds to flip off the front wheel & load the bike(s) in.

I used to have a VW Golf (which was a lemon of a car but I digress) and it didn't have nearly the room of a Subaru (and I"m not talking about the Legacy-sized Subarus - I mean its cheaper, smaller cousin)

[Dirt Girl]

We have a Toyota RAV4. I usually leave one of the back seats out all the time giving me the option to use the inside of the car for my bike which fits in without removing the front wheel. With both seats out we can get both bikes in though my husband's bike needs the wheel off. Plenty of room for gear. The only thing I don't like about the car is that when we use the rack on the back we're unable to open the back door, so access to gear must be through the side doors.

[wavedancer]

In my Passat wagon I can carry my bike inside with the front wheel on. If we are carrying two bikes, wheels come off and pad in between them. I also have a rack on the roof and we often carry one bike in and one on top. Lots of room for gear, too.

[Grog]

What about the Mazda 5 and the Toyota Matrix?

They're bigger on the inside than the outside, take very little gas, many nice perks.

[LBTC]

We had a Toyota Sienna van. Loved the features and size, but it was the most expensive lemon we've ever had.

We now have a Mazda 6 sport wagon. It will easily take one bike in the bike, laying down, with the back seats down and all the wheels on it. We haven't tried two bikes inside yet, as we have the roof rack and so far have been lucky enough to have had no incidents. It is, however, too high for my 5' 1 1/2" height to get the bikes myself, so if I'm on my own, it's in the back. I bet two bikes without front wheels would work....possibly even standing up!

We LOVE the Mazda! It is so much like a sports car, the leather interior and heated front seats are great! It's been totally reliable, the fit and finish is really good, and the gas mileage is okay. The space in that baby is fabulous, too!

In the van, we could have passengers and many bikes inside....and that's about all we miss, that and the All Wheel Drive. The next version of the 6 wagon will be a bit bigger (I think wider and longer) and will have 4WD. I think that's next year.

The Element did not seem to suit us well - we always seem to be carting around 3 friends when we are out of town, and it only allowed 2! And we've gotten used to some luxuries....like leather....

DH is pretty interested in the Honda Ridgeline....if my new job comes with a hefty pay raise (unlikely) or we win the lottery.... I think they're ugly, but they sure would suit the way we pack stuff....

Happy shopping!

~T~

[DirtDiva]

Heck, I used to be able to get my bike, wheels on and all, into my friend's '84 Ford Laser without any trouble. It's surprising what you can do if you try. I should think most hatches and wagons would fit two people, two bikes and assorted gear as long as the front wheels come off first. (Mind you, this is said from the perspective of someone with a squitty little 15.5" frame.)

[betagirl]

My b/f has a honda CRV, and if you put the back seat down you can lay your bike in on its side without taking the front wheel off. Though he's not real happy with me for getting chain grease on the ceiling. :D :D :D I put a towel over my chain now so I don't get grounded from using the car.

[tulip]

Honda Fit will come out in April. I'm really excited to check them out. They have the "magic seats" that disappear for cargo area. And it's a Honda, so it's got to be great. Toyota Matrix is also on my list. My 14-year old Honda Accord will not last too much longer, I'm afraid, so I'm on the lookout for a replacement for when the time comes.

[KSH]

ok.... what vehicles do you have (or recommend) that transport the bike INSIDE the vehicle!

and why do you like it (or not like it)

i already know about the element (but if you want to add why you like/dislike it comments.. that's cool!) and neither hubby nor i are mini van kinda folks! :D

soooooo what do you recommend? suggest? loath?

Are you wanting to put 1 or 2 bikes insides the car?

If it's just 1... I haul mine around in the trunk (with the seats down) of my Accord Coupe.

Honestly, if you want to put just 1 bike inside the vehicle... there are tons of cars and station wagon type vehicles that you can put the bike in the back of.

[Trek420]

Don't tell my '99 Olds Alero that I'm looking at other cars. She's been hit 3 times and even though my body shop has surgicly removed the magnet and target she obviously had on her rear...I'm thinking new or certified-used car-smell soon.

No one's mentioned the PT cruiser, plenty of room in the back.

[Duck on Wheels]

In Norway we drive a VW Caravelle, long version. Loooooads of space! We can put 4 bikes in there, upright. We can sleep in there cattycorner. We can wax skis in there. Only problem is that it's a bit of a lift to get things up to floor level. My son uses a ramp to get his scooter in. But it wasn't my choice to buy such a big car. The gas mileage isn't too bad, but still. Now that the kids are grown and out of the nest I'll vote for a smaller car next time. Something with flexible seating/hauling space but not too big, and maybe a hybrid ...?
While here in the States I drive a Hyundai Accent. Tiny car, great mileage, and believe it or not, I can get one bike in horizontally when I put the back seat down, but it does take some wriggling and tweaking to get everything turned and angled so it fits. Luckily I don't have to do it often, and have only once had to get two bikes in there. As I recall, that job did burn a few calories. Managed not to damage the bikes, tho. :)

[caligurl]

Are you wanting to put 1 or 2 bikes insides the car?

If it's just 1... I haul mine around in the trunk (with the seats down) of my Accord Coupe.

Honestly, if you want to put just 1 bike inside the vehicle... there are tons of cars and station wagon type vehicles that you can put the bike in the back of.

2 bikes! i have an accord.. and yep... fits any of the bikes (well.. not sure about the mountain bikes) but we use it when only need to take one bike! just have to take the front wheel of, usually!

we spent the day (and last night and thursday night) looking at vehicles...

got it narrowed down to a couple that we like!

[Grog]

No one's mentioned the PT cruiser, plenty of room in the back.

Disclosure: The PT Cruiser: you're in the "love it" or "hate it" party. I'm in the "hate it".

I drove this car twice for going someplace far and I was really unimpressed about how it's built (I'm 5'4" and I felt that I didn't have a good all around view) but I was really surprised with how little space there actually was to put cargo in it. I think there's more space in the little Honda Civic I drive currently... Everything just felt akward to me in that car! I can't see how I would fit a bike, except probably on the back seat (vertical).

Any first-hand experience on this? (I'm only curious, NO plan to buy one!!!)

[caligurl]

lol.... i told my hubby that you gals had also suggested a pt cruiser and he said... very emphatically.. "i'm NOT giving up my truck for a pt cruiser!" :eek:

in our looknig... we pretty much ended up in the "cute-ute" category....

we liked the x-terra a lot.. VERY functional without being so sparse like the element (we both like to have some niceties in our vehicles.. and there is NOTHING plushy or cushy at all in the element!) whereas the x-terra, while being VERY functional... still doesn't make you feel like your in a cheap/no-frills car up front... it's more like a truck.. not car plush... but nice.. HOWEVER.. the gas mileage really sux! it gets worse gas mileage than his truck does! so we discounted that one!

i LOVE the nissan murano! what a nice and PLUSH vehicle! AND.. it has navi factory installed! leather.... heated seats..... dual climate... *sigh*... well.. basically everything my car has.. but room for 2 bikes in the back! however... hubby isn't ready to trade in my car to get it.. which is really what we would have to do.. otherwise we'd have 2 huge car payments instead of one large and one medium to small (truck is paid off.. so when we sell or trade it in... it will be money off the top... my car would be a wash.. probably just get what we still owe) also.. it had fair to mediocre gas mileage...

then there was the hyundai tuscon... another functional vehicle (rubber in the rear instead of carpet... plenty big enough for two bikes... VERY affordable... even in the limited with leather and heated seats... handled well in the test drive... pretty nice vehicle for the price! however hubby felt the fit and finish looked cheap and the stereo sucked! (so would immediately be an extra expense to put in a new after market stereo)...

then there was the toyota rav4... newly restyled this year... and GORGEOUS! we test drove the 4 cylinder (V6 not out til feb or march) and it had PEP! smooth ride (sport version)... fit and finish was nice... appears to have plenty of room in the rear for the bikes (via measurements.. we didn't take the bikes with us).... we both just think this is a fun and functional vehicle.... so it will probably be the rav4! the only problem is... as i already mentioned.. v6's not out yet (but gives us time to try to sell the truck instead of the headache of a trade i) and toyota is horrible with options.. there are things we want.. but if they don't make one that way (which they often don't.. even if available)... then we are settling.... :mad: heck... i told him if we ended up with the rav4.. i'd drive that back and forth to work and shopping... rather than my car.. cuz it gets GREAT gas mileage! lol! even though my car is plushier!

we'll buy a garmin street pilot to have gps since none of the vehicles we looked at had it except for the murano (which i'd still like to have! lol!)

so... that is what our research has netted us! once we get closer (when the v6's start coming in.. we'll take the bikes down and make sure they fit!)

[tatormc]

caligurl, it's funny that you mention the 2006 Toyota RAV4 as that is what hubby and I are wanting. We went car shopping over Christmas and the RAV was not even something that crossed our minds. But then the nice salesman pointed out the RAV has been redesigned for 2006 and it's now 14 inches longer. We really liked all the features and that cool little storage place in the back under the floor cover is perfect for helmets and shoes and such. We haven't tried putting the bikes in there yet but should work as we had a Jeep Cherokee that we kinda put the bikes in diagonal. Anyhow we are also waiting for the V6 model to come out. I've never had anything but a 4 cylinder and I'm ready for some power. Well happy car shopping and I'll post once we make our final decision and bring a car home in a month or so.

[caligurl]

aren't the new rav4's awesome!!!

we just can't decide:

sport no leather, NO HEATED SEATS :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad: , no dual climate! better ride (so i've read in reviews), larger wheels/tires... mica color (forget the proper name)

or

limited: leather with HEATED SEATS! :D :cool: :rolleyes: , dual climate, mushy ride (according to reviews i've read), smaller wheels/tires.. can't get mica (but can get the milky white.. that sounds pretty..)

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ya... i THINK i'd be happy with 4 cylinder.. but as soon as we tried to climb the hill to get home.. and bogged down.. i'd be ticked we didn't get the V6! so we are waiting *sigh*... i'm not a patient, good waiting person!

OH! check this out! in canada you can get a special bike rack!

http://www.toyota.ca/NWS/english/custom/c950012e.html (AND NAVIGATION!)

[Kathi]

Have you looked at the CRVI I bought one in Oct. Consumer reports says its as roomy inside as many midsized suv's.

2 bikes (road and mtn) fit inside standing up with the front wheels turned sideways. No need too remove front wheels.

I got the Ex with more options than the Rav4 and I didn't have to pay for them! I don't have heated seats but I believe they come on the LX.

If you do any tailgating or picnicing the floor in the back comes out and makes into a table. Also, there is space under the floor, sort of a wheel well without the wheel. It's good for storing valuables or items that you don't want damaged. The salesman said you could put ice in it to keep drinks cold for a tailgating parties!:p

In the front, instead of a console there is a little table that drops down. I'm small enough that I can get into the back by dropping the table. Handy for rainy days when your jacket is in the back. Also, for removing ski boots in the back and then popping into the front to drive. Less tracking of snow in the car.

Power on mtn passes is very good and mileage is around 23-25mpg. Visibility is great, I don't have any posts blocking my view.

I haven't seen the redesigned Rav4 but I checked out an 04. I thought the CRV was more functional and roomy. The Rav4 felt more like a car whereas the CRV was more like an SUV but smaller.

We have a Honda Civic and driving the CRV feels similiar to the Civic.

I wanted a manual but Consumer Reports rated the gas mileage slightly higher on the automatic. Even though it was a slight difference, over time if gas prices stay high the manual cost more.

The Rav4 is Consumer Reports top rated small SUV so you can't go wrong if you chose it.

Kathi

[MM_QFC!]

I have a RAV4 and love it; it's fun to drive and has plenty of room for my bike, gear and that of friends too. The back seats are easy to either fold over or take out completely, if needed.
I've also spotted all of the positive reviews of the new 06 model too though, and am interested to check it out, as mine is a 2001 and I've put plenty of mileage on it, so I'm thinking of replacing it soon. I've never had any mechanical issues or otherwise with it either; seems like all goes well with regular oil changes and maintenance, as it keeps humming along.
I use a spare tire bike rack, and it's great that it can be locked to the car as well as being able to lock my bike onto the rack itself. When I had a trunk rack on my previous car, it always made me a little nervous to leave it unattended too long, as someone could just lift the rack off and steal it all - whew!

I use the rack (and lock) whenever I'm just driving to my start point and back home. If I stop anywhere either before (mall or other errands) or after (post-ride carbo-loading happens lots, ladies!) though, I usually put my precious bike inside, so that it isn't a visual temptation for someone to take it. It's easy to slide it in on it's side, with or w/o taking the front wheel off. And I just fold one seatback over and rest the rear wheel and derailleur, etc. on a pad and sometimes throw a cover over the bike too, even though the rear windows are tinted (which helps when I want to make the back a mini changing room too).
I've heard too many horror stories about stolen bikes; most recently, a friend told me that a few women went for post-ride coffee at another's home and one rider parked her car in the driveway with her bike locked to the roof rack, which was also locked to the car. You guessed it: the bike was stolen (they just cut the fork and took off), so it made me more alarmed and aware.
As for the RAV4 though, it seems to have the endorsement of my riding buddies too, as they usually opt to use my car for carpooling and have remarked on how much room it has as well as comfort in transport.
Just my $.02.
Mary