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!

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! )

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
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. 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.)