Good Cars for Bikes

**tangentgirl** · 03-01-2010, 11:08 AM

I'm starting to think about getting a new car, doing initial research right now. I usually like very small cars - I really like the Mazda 3 and the Mini Cooper S- but as I loaded two bikes in and out of the back of my little Hyundai Accent this morning, I thought, heck, maybe I should start thinking bigger.

Anyone have a car or suv or truck that works awesome with bike transport? Bonus points for good gas mileage!

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 11:13 AM

I just got a honda FIT. it is great for my bike, but not so great for my husband's long bike with aerobars. Gas mileage is excellent.

**Blueberry** · 03-01-2010, 11:17 AM

I have a honda element and love it. But the gas mileage isn't great. However, the bonus is that 3 bikes + luggage fit inside - without removing any wheels.

If I were starting from scratch - I'd get a fit with a roof rack or (more likely) a hitch rack.

**zoom-zoom** · 03-01-2010, 11:18 AM

I LOVE my Mazda 3s hatchback! Hubby and I can get both of our bikes in there pretty easily...mine only needs the front wheel removed. Of course, this means no backseat passenger (DS is 9), so we're considering our rack options. There are a few racks that will work well with the Mazda, from what I have been told. We may consider one that mounts to a trailer hitch, as well.

DH currently drives an older 626 and when that dies will almost certainly go for a Honda Fit (his previous car was an '89 Civic Si hatchback). The useable space in that thing when the back seats are down is unreal. Way bigger than what my 3 offers, and with a smaller vehicle. Honda did good.

The Mini Cooper is cool, but friends have one and it feels very small...not a lot of cargo room.

**TsPoet** · 03-01-2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

The Mini Cooper is cool, but friends have one and it feels very small...not a lot of cargo room.

Check out a MINI Cooper Clubman. I traded my cooper in on a clubbie and Love it! I get 32 mph around town (turbo), I can put a DF bike in the back with the front wheel off (but not my recumbent). An adult can, in a pinch, climb in back using the extra side door.
Not really the answer for the OP, though.

**zoom-zoom** · 03-01-2010, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by TsPoet

Check out a MINI Cooper Clubman. I traded my cooper in on a clubbie and Love it! I get 32 mph around town (turbo), I can put a DF bike in the back with the front wheel off (but not my recumbent). An adult can, in a pinch, climb in back using the extra side door.
Not really the answer for the OP, though.

Yeah, the Clubman is really cool. We were ogling that at a recent auto-show.

**tangentgirl** · 03-01-2010, 11:55 AM

How long does it take to get trailer/roof racks situated on cars and then to get the cars onto the racks? Is it a one person operation? A long time ago I had a trunk rack and it was a pain in the <body part> to get on and off the car, to get the bikes on it, etc. Then I'd always be worried about the bikes or rack falling off. Granted, it was a pos rack that I borrowed (stole) from my mom, who probably got it at the Wal-mart, so perhaps there are better experiences out there.

Are there locking racks, so that if you stop for donuts you don't have to keep one eye on the car?

And, the Fit, you say? Hmm.

**Blueberry** · 03-01-2010, 12:00 PM

Yep - there are roof racks and hitch racks that lock. My Yak roof rack locks to the roof of the car, and then each fork mount locks. I've only ever left bikes on it overnight at my dad's house (in the middle of nowhere), but I don't worry about stopping to eat. My hitch rack has a cable lock. I worry a little more about that one - but still it's OK for stopping to eat.

That *is* the nice thing about the Element - at the MS ride and other similar events - just wheel the bikes inside and lock the car. Pretty cool.

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 12:04 PM

of course if you are the least bit forgetful, be careful with a roof rack. I have heard many horror stories about expensive bikes being smashed by going under things that were TOO LOW...(drive throughs, garages)

**tulip** · 03-01-2010, 12:09 PM

Roof racks stay on the car. You don't take it off once it's on there, unlike a trunk rack.

Hitch racks typically stay on, too, although I understand they are fairly easy to remove.

Right now I can fit my regular bike inside my VW Rabbit with the front wheel off and the back seats down. I can fit my Bike Friday in the way back of my Rabbit without messing with the seats.

In fact, it would be a whole lot cheaper to get a really nice folding bike instead of a new car...something you might want to think about.

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by tulip

In fact, it would be a whole lot cheaper to get a really nice folding bike instead of a new car...something you might want to think about.

+++++ Good idea.

**tangentgirl** · 03-01-2010, 12:22 PM

Ha. I'm not thinking of getting a new car because of the bike issue. (And it's fine for one bike - two starts getting tricky.) It's just something I want to consider for if/when I do get a new car. The car I'm driving now is kind of on its last legs. If anything more than a couple hundred bucks goes wrong, it's bye bye Hyundai.

**ny biker** · 03-01-2010, 12:31 PM

I can easily fit 2 bikes inside my Prius. The rear seats fold flat. I take the front wheels off for easier manuevering, but I think they would fit with the wheels on also.

I average 50 mpg in warm weather, 38 or so in winter even though most of my winter driving consists of 4 miles or less (too short for the engine to warm up).

**Pedal Wench** · 03-01-2010, 01:04 PM

Toyota Rav4 with a truck bed mount just laying inside. Front wheel off, bike rolls into back of SUV, fork secured on the mount, life is good. It's inside, so protected from weather, thieves, rear bumper accidents and garage mishaps. (Have you ever looked at how many cars have dents in their rear bumpers? I do not want my bike to be a bumper!)
It's this, but it's just sitting loose in the very back of the SUV - I can slide it back to leave room for my aerobar bikes. Bike Rack on truck, I put mine inside

I've had 4 bikes in the car with both back seats down plus camping gear, three with room for one passenger in the (split) back seat.

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

It's inside, so protected from weather, thieves, rear bumper accidents and garage mishaps. (Have you ever looked at how many cars have dents in their rear bumpers? I do not want my bike to be a bumper!)
It's this, but it's just sitting loose in the very back of the SUV - I can slide it back to leave room for my aerobar bikes. Bike Rack on truck, I put mine inside

I witnessed two cyclists backing their motor vehicles into each other last year in a popular trail head park in Seattle. A few bikes got smushed...

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