What do you haul your bikes on?

[sundial]

I have a Honda Element and if it's just me and my bike, I hang the seat out of the way and put my bike in the cargo area. If hubby is joining me for a ride, I put on the Thule hitch mount rack to carry our bikes.

[singletrackmind]

18/26 vs 14/20 mpg if you don't have roof racks. Assuming the 2008 CTS reviews are pretty good on both. GM is doing better in long term reliability and some are even showing up as used car best bets (though I don't believe either of these are one of those). The sedan would prolly be a more reasonable car for driving clients around in, the Tahoe would prolly work better for hauling stuff inside such as bikes, signage and whatnot.

There's several good car sites, I'd check out edmunds.com, kbb.com, carsurvey.org, maybe fueleconomy.gov to get as much info as possible, including looking at older models with the same engine to find out about potential problems or excessive maintenance/repair/reliability issues.

I drive a 4runner. Excellent reliability, not too hard to repair when stuff does come up, I'm expecting to go at least 300,000 miles, poor mileage (18), too small a gas tank, half-decent off-road capability. Carries everything from kids to garden equipment to bikes. If it weren't for the off-road part a wagon would suit me as well.

[MomOnBike]

I know what not to get. Anything like our Neon with the rear spoiler. Bleh. We can't fit a bike rack on the thing 'cause of the spoiler. (and that's just one reason that I hate the car...)

My other problem is that DH & I ride honkin' big recumbents, just about the size of a tandem apiece, with those big comfy seat backs and my fairing that act like sails. Not something I want on top of the Neon.

What I'm thinking of doing, therefore, is putting a trailer hitch on the Neon and renting the smallest U-Haul Trailer for those times we need to take our bikes longer distances than we wish to ride. Bikes are covered and out of the way, gas mileage suffers, but not on a permanant basis, and the trailer Goes Away when we are done. No storage headaches.

Something to consider. It might just free up your car considerations a bit.

[KnottedYet]

Wow! The trailer is a great idea! Don't have to worry about the bikes getting stolen or nastied up!

And those trailers aren't too expensive, and oh so convenient!

[uforgot]

I have a Neon and I had a hitch installed on it. Yes, it can be done. I made them promise not to laugh before I told them what I wanted. I have a Thule hitch rack. It locks down over the bikes so they are also safe.

[OakLeaf]

Anyone have a Prius?

Part of what I love about the car is that one bike goes in the back, easily, with the front wheel on and everything.

But when we fly south for the winter, I don't think there's going to be room inside for the bike *plus* all our stuff. I've driven 1000 miles in a small car with a roof rack before, and don't care to repeat the experience. But I've also been warned about putting a bike on a rear rack when there's salt and cinder on the roads. One guy I know says he's wrapped his entire bike, rack and all in packing plastic. Okay... but for a two-day trip, where I'd have to take the bike off for the night, there's probably as much petroleum in a second round of plastic wrap as I would've used to just drive a freakin' Suburban with the bike inside That stuff is not reusable. Plus, what a PITA.

I'm half thinking about shipping the bike. I'd have to get a case of course. What do you guys think about that? How much of a pain is it to disassemble/reassemble for shipping if I don't have a workstand on either end of the trip?

[Hub]

I have an Escalade, the same size as the Tahoe you're considering & you can load bikes inside or install a hitch mount rack easily. The CTS is hot, fast, and good looking, but you will have to modify either some type of rack to fit the pointed trunk lid OR modify your poor baby Cadillac to install a hitch for a rack. The Tahoe is a more practical choice- I love my SUV- I like sitting a little taller than most, the gound clearance and roominess. Since an 07 CTS has an insurance symbol of 19, you'll probably prefer the insurance premium on the Tahoe.- your more 'full figured' clients will also find it easier to get in and out of the Tahoe.

Happy shopping

Pat

[Tuckervill]

I have a Honda Element and if it's just me and my bike, I hang the seat out of the way and put my bike in the cargo area. If hubby is joining me for a ride, I put on the Thule hitch mount rack to carry our bikes.

Yep, if it's just two bikes, the seats go up (or out on long trips, like to Maine last month), and then the bikes get bungied around the top tube up to the handle above the door. My bike rolls right in, but the boy's bike has to lean over a little.

Karen