are there really no vehicles out there that carry bikes nicely AND get better than 25 mpg???? (that's pathetic!)
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are there really no vehicles out there that carry bikes nicely AND get better than 25 mpg???? (that's pathetic!)
There was a review of the Honda Fit in Car & Driver recently. Photogs were in or around a velodrome (!) I think, and one of the pix showed a road bike, front wheel removed, tucked neatly in the back of that tiny little car. For a little car, reviews have indicated it has a surprising amount of storage. I sat in one at the D.C. Car Show last month. It's a very cool little car, and gets great gas mileage.
I love my Mini Cooper S - two bike racks on top (fork mount) and the minimum MPG we get with short distance city driving & bikes on top is 25. They recently released the Clubman which is a touch longer - and if it weren't for the mullet paint job I'd be all over that!
yeah, that clubman is cute, but $25,000 for a LITTLE car???
I have a hyundai accent that fits one bike with the car's back seats folded down. I also have a rack for it that holds two bikes.
We also spent a fair bit of time with the Minis at the DC Car show.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nokomis
DH joneses for a Cooper S in the worst way. :rolleyes:
The Clubman looks really cool.
What makes its paint job a "mullet"??
I don't know, i thought the paint was nice. on that Clubman
I probably will NOT buy a new car. The Honda Fit seems nice, but it's rather new.
I just remember how thrilling it was to ROLL our bikes into the Honda ELement we test drove last fall, but the gas mileage is TERRIBLE.
Confession: Raleighdon has a custom bike which is really obnoxious to take the front wheel off of.
Bike racks seriously change gas mileage.
My Honda Civic Coupe gets 30-35mpg and can take a bike in the trunk and as many as will fit on whatever rack's installed. And it was cheap :D
My wrecked car is a 1991 honda civic. I love honda civics. But you can't roll a bike into a honda Civic. :(
I don't know how the paint was in the car show - but when you order, you have to get a contrasting roof - and the contrast color extends down the back pillars. The online description even details this as 'Business in the front, party in the back' which I believe is the definition of Mullet :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Regina
I'm sure there are other options out there - but I love my Mini & can't imagine driving anything else.
I've seen that paint job before and mullet is an apt description.
Who thinks this stuff up? The same guy who designed the Pontiac Aztec :D
The Honda website shows the Fit with a bike in the back seat with the wheel on (a mountain bike). But that had to be a KID'S bike. My bike would not fit across there, I am certain. I sat in one again last week while I was waiting for my oil change in the E. It's a tiny car and my husband would not fit in the passenger seat.
A roadie friend of mine rolls his bike into the back seat of his Accord, without taking the wheel off. I wouldn't want grease on my seats, though. (I didn't notice any on his, btw.) Accords don't get GREAT gas mileage, though, just so-so.
I am having pump shock every time I fill up my Element, since my diesel Beetle got 40 mpg easy. But I couldn't get a bike in it, in any way.
I'm buying back my son's '96 Civic 4-door 5-speed for my 14 yo to drive eventually. You can bet I'll be driving that 38 mpg puppy around when I don't have any big loads to haul! Maybe a bike will roll in the back seat like the Accord?
Karen
I'm guessing you don't want a mini-van? I get not bad mileage and can carry all the bikes I want when the back seat is out.
OH! Now it's showing the Fit with a full size bike and the wheel off! Somebody caught them!
http://automobiles.honda.com/fit/interior-photos.aspx
Karen
My not-mom van (Toyota Sienna) will roll two tandems inside, and currently has a lifetime average (it's one year old) of 24.5 mph. I typically get 27-28 on it in the summer months.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
I have to say, this is the BEST bike car I have ever had!
SheFly
mine does, but it is over 10 years old...
I drive a silly little 1997 ford escort station wagon. I get around 28mpg, more if i turn off the ac, and I just have to fold down my back seats and I can get 2 bikes in, one with wheels. or I can slide one across the back seats if I take off the front wheel.
How about a wagon like the Subaru or VW Passat? Fold down the back seat and one bike can lay in the back without removing any wheels, probably 2 bikes if you put a blanket between them and laid one on top of the other. My Passat gets 26-32 mpg.
I think the operative word here is bikeS. Lots of cars, including my 46 mpg Prius, will carry one bike in the cargo space, without even taking the front wheel off. Put another bike on, and that's when you start to have trouble. And of course the smaller car, the bigger the hit it takes in gas mileage when you start hanging bikes off the outside of it.
The Prius would take two bikes one on top of the other as well, but nothing else would fit in the cargo space then.
My son has a 2001 Hyundai Accent. It gets like 30-40 mpg and with the back down, you can easily fit a bike or 2 in there (it's a hatch back). He had to rescue my other son all the time when he would get flats and be unprepared when he first started riding. Hyundai is a very nice company that treats its customers well, even if the car they have is a cheaper one.
I guess I'm pragmatic about gas prices. We still pay way less than in other countries. My car gets 19-25 mpg and I'm fine with it. I just don't drive much, except to go to work and most errands are done on the way home. My husband has an SUV (don't shoot me) that we love. It's one of the ones you all make fun of, so I won't say which one. But, we can carry 4 bikes and our canoe (with a bike rack). We also do all of the pick up and delivery of home improvement stuff ourselves. Both of our cars are all wheel drive, which I would not be without here; wouldn't be able to get up our street without it. We want to keep the SUV forever, but not drive it so much, so my husband got a 2 seat sporty car to drive when it's not snowing or we're not out doing some sports stuff. It gets much better mileage and looks cool.
what about that ugly SCION? Anyone have one of those?
(I'll check out the passat, thanks)
Well, I have an Element, and it is true that it does not get great mileage. Better than what I was driving before, though. And, since I travel and camp alone, I like being inside the rig. Also, in this climate of rain, it is nice to camp in the rain and be really snug inside, without all the soggy-tent-drying, etc. This thing is great in the snow, too, and with the space inside, I have found myself enjoying just going up for a day in the snow, knowing I can hang out in the back and warm up with full headroom, computer jack in the back, etc.
The bike and I can both "sleep" inside...and the bike fits great without taking any wheels off, and no need to lay it down, etc. And, I can sleep stretched full out with room to spare for myself, bike, and stuff, and still have room on top for kayak (which is part of the plan for this summer).
Since I do travel alone, and since that has sometimes made me use hotels more than I would like, I will save more than $400 on hotel costs this summer on one already-planned trip alone. And, for instance, tonight I am going camping to get out of town and relax, and with the forecast for rain, I don't know if I would bother if I was tent camping. But, definitely cheaper than renting a cabin on the coast for the night, for instance.
So, of course it all depends on the mix of attributes one wants/needs. I know you made this thread about mileage...just thought I'd chime in with some of the mitigating factors for my car choice.
Shoebox on wheels.
The Fit will carry your alpaca...
Thanks Starfish, I am appreciating all comments; that's why i started this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfish
I used to have a MINI (don't even ask about it:mad:) but I now have the Mazda3 5 door. Perfect size. I can fit 2 bikes inside the car and still have a passenger up front. On the highway I easily get 30mpg, maybe more. Nice pick-up and handling, too.
If you don't mind folding down the back seat (and stacking for more than one bike) our Pontiac Vibe gets 30+. We have a hitch rack for when we want to take more than one bike because I'm not that thrilled stacking or using all the cargo area for bikes on longer trips. It's definitely a love or hate car though! We have one in a screaming orange color and LOVE it!
Starfish - How tall are you? I like the Element but I'm wondering if, at 5'10", I can fit into one for sleeping.
I have a Dodge Caliber and with the hatch rack it gets right around 25 mpg. Not a bad little car and cheap. Mine was loaded up for about $18k brand new and now the 2007s are technically 2 years old since they came out in April 2006. I can fit my bike in the back with the seats down and the wheel remove but not DH's. He is 6'2" so his frame is rather large. With 42k on the car my only complaint is it is a little loud. Otherwise it runs like a champ.
Our friend had a Scion, the first ones and he claimed to get 38 mpg. I test drove one and didn't mind it but wasn't in love.
I guess it's all in our definition of good gas mileage. I traded in a truck on my Element. Had to fork mount bikes in the bed of the truck, still could only carry 3 people at the most (using the incredibly cramped and uncomfortable jump seat), and got a whopping 15 - 18 mpg.
My Element (2006 model bought used) gets 28 local and over 30 traveling. I can't complain. Roll in two bikes, bungee each to one of the "oh s**t" handles, throw in the rest of the gear and take off. I love it love it love it.
I seriously considered the Honda Fit because it's quite large inside. And it's a Honda, which means reliable, reliable, reliable. The mileage is quite good, although not as good as the same car gets in Japan, for some reason (hot topic on the Honda Fit forums).
I love my VW Rabbit, but I wish it came in a diesel. Diesels get much better mileage than gas cars, and there are several biodiesel stations in my area. My Rabbit carries one bike, wheel off, with the seats folded down. I have a rear rack for when I need to carry more bikes. I chose the Rabbit because it had extras like seat heaters and blinkers on the side mirrors, and it's just damn fun to drive (5 speed, yeah). And it's cute, and relatively inexpensive at $17k.
Toyota Matrix was also on my list--lots of room, Toyota reliability, good mileage, good price.
For a pricier vehicle, the Volvo XC-70 is awfully nice. It gets about 25-27 mph
I'm 5'6". You might try asking over at http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/index.php .There are a lot of guys on that forum who love to sleep in their Elements, and I have to believe that some of them are at least 5'10".Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen
IFJane - How do you get 28-30 on your Element???:eek::eek::eek:
Mine has *never* seen more than 21. I still love it (and the ability to fit the bikes in is great... but the gas mileage sucks! Mine's a 2005 5 speed.
CA
My son just bought a brand new Scion Xb, yesterday. They have changed the body style and now it looks more like a PT Cruiser. I find it more attractive. I'd bet it's not as roomy as it was when it was a toaster. When I get to see inside it, I'll evaluate it for bikiness. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
Karen
A twin size Coleman air mattress will fit in the back, if you push the seats all the way up. My 5'6" son and I sleep in the back of our Element together, but not with the air mattress, because it causes lumps in the wrong places.Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen
Speaking of air mattresses--I saw some in the outdoor store that are designed for pick-up beds. I haven't found one for the Element, yet, but if I do I'll be buying one!
http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Tru...r_mattress.htm
Karen
Thanks, I'll check out the link.Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfish
I'm reading this thread with interest, as DH & I both have big, honkin' long wheel base recumbents. Wheels on, think 6 feet or more long.
So far, the easiest way to transport the bikes is by simply riding them places, but time becomes a factor - like for out of state rides.
I'm sure a solution will come to me eventually...
Hmmmmmm.Quote:
Originally Posted by MomOnBike
Don't think the Honda Fit will work for you! :cool:
How 'bout a long-bed pickup with a cap? Won't get 25 mpg, but you could opt for a diesel.
I was thinking along the same lines. I have an '06 Caravan short-wheel-base. It gets ~23-24mpg avg city, and I can stuff 3 bikes inside (without touching) and 3 on the roof. Drives like a sports car and hauls like a truck.Quote:
Originally Posted by kelownagirl
CA -- I noticed we got MUCH better gas mileage in my Element down in Florida (vacationing), because it's flat. I couldn't believe it. Instead of ~300 miles on a tank of gas, we were getting like 350 to 375. So terrain can make a difference. I have the '04 automatic.Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
I think even here in NC I get more like 23-25 mph, tho, so I am surprised you get even lower in a manual. Most of my driving is on the highway to and from work, tho, so that helps. Not much stop-start driving. Do you have a roof rack? That will hurt you. We have one, but only install it when we need to haul kayaks. Most of the time, greenie's sleek on top. :D
Emily
Ditto! My tri-bike van (toyota sienna) will roll 3 bikes in and carry 3 people with tri gear. All inside and comfy, no wheels removed. this is with three of the van seats removed. Pretty much standard operating procedure for my van. What it lacks in style it makes up for in practical. Now if it just had 4 wheel drive. I've never tracked the mileage on it. Mr. guesses 20 to 25 mpg.Quote:
Originally Posted by SheFly
I am eagerly awaiting the US arrival of the Subaru diesel.
That's about the only thing I'd be willing to trade in my Impreza for. I have a picture of the diesel engine hanging at my desk at work. (right next to the pics of two of my bikes)