Toyota Highlander for bikes?

[laughlaugh18]

Anyone out there drive a Highlander? I'm considering the Highlander Hybrid, and would appreciate any input on how it is for loading/carrying bikes, especially for a shorty.

I haven't shopped for a car in 13 years, but some things never change - car shopping is absolutely the pits

[deidre]

I haven't shopped for a car in 12.5 years and am now shopping for not 1 but probably 2 cars since both cars are 12.5 years old (1 is out of commission completely). I was just telling my sister that I am usually not excited about buying a new car (well, since it is inevitable, I am starting to get a little excited now ).

Sorry, I don't have any input on a Highlander though.

[biking4health]

My DH drives a 2004 Highlander. It's not a hybrid though. We just started biking after a long hiatus so we don't have a rack yet. I have put my bike in the back and there's plenty of room, but I can't get it in there myself. I'm 5'4" and there's no way I can "heft" it in there alone since it sits a bit high for me.

As far as the Highlander we love it. This is our 4th Toyota and love the product. It's very comfortable to drive and ride in. We just returned from a road trip of 1600 miles.

We talked to a guy when we were in Northern MN who just bought a Hybrid and had driven it from Virginia. He loved it and said the mileage on the highway was in the low 30's, not at good around town.

Carol

[Bikingmomof3]

Since buying a new car was not an option we had to find a solution with our cars. It turned out my minivan carries all 5 bikes nicely. I had a hitch installed and then added a Thule carrier. All 5 of us can easily get the bikes on and off-which is a huge plus, considering I am not tall.

Sorry, I do not know much about the hybrid.

[farrellcollie]

I looked at highlanders (last yr) before buying a volkswagon wagon - (I was looking to haul dogs - not bikes and highlander had a gap when the seats were down that a dog could fall into and hurt leg) - it appeared as though a bike would fit nicely. I carry a little ladder (god I must look like such a dork) to reach my roof rack. It is much easier with road bike (light bike) than with 35+ hybrid. If I was looking now I would consider mazda mpv small van for bikes and dogs.

[dachshund]

I've been looking into either the Highlander or the Prius. The Prius is a hatchback, and should fit at least one bike. I wouldn't consider anything other than a hybrid, though, even though it limits the choices.

[Trek420]

we had a thread here about bike hauling vehicles that I may be re-visiting soon:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=subaru

[cooper]

We use a Highlander(2004) to haul around 2 bikes on top - could also easily fit them in the back......love the Highlander and loading the bikes is a snap. Would highly recommend it!

[Seabiscuit]

My BF just got a Camry Hybrid and had a hitch installed. I kid you not, he is getting 39-40 mpg. We carry two bikes on the hitch.

[laughlaugh18]

My BF just got a Camry Hybrid and had a hitch installed. I kid you not, he is getting 39-40 mpg. We carry two bikes on the hitch.

Are you able to get anything, even a bike tire, in that tiny, tiny trunk? The Camry hybrid would be great - I know I could get my bike in the back seat, but the trunk really is a concern for me.

As for the Honda Element, sorry folks, it's just not for me. My niece and I call it the Tupperware car; we figure it must make the Tupperware "burp" noise each time a car door closes!

[Aggie_Ama]

We test drove an Element and I really liked it, but the clamshell design baffled me. I know I would be confused by my own doors! I liked the Xb, too. It is weird but I don't mind having a funky car, I had a bright yellow New Beetle as a lease through college. This was when they were just getting popular and it got a lot of looks at my Agriculture university.

I now have a Dodge Caliber and the Thule Speedway 2 works perfectly on it. We had it for my old Saturn Vue and I was so happy it works on the Caliber.

I HATED the interior bike rack on my Vue. The bikes made noise wobbling around, you have to drop tall seats and road bikes don't sit right in there. We got it free from the dealer, but it wasn't worth the hassle. Neither was the Saturn though! It was in the shop 11 times in 18 months and none of it was routine maintenance. I was happy to find out the dealer I got my Caliber at would pay me only $400 less than what I owed. I took the slight upside down note and ran far away from the Vue. <<End of rant>>

[KnottedYet]

Ahhhh, the "Saturn Pattern"