Do you drive a Subarau Forester or Ford Escape?

[IFjane]

subliminal message.....Honda Element......Honda Element........

[tulip]

My stepmother recently bought a new Outback to replace her old one that had gotten totaled in a wreck. We drove the Forester but found the Outback to be much more comfortable.

Can't comment on the Escape. I drive a VW Rabbit, but then, I'm partial to small cars.

[mkidd]

We had 2 Outbacks at one point and found they were much roomier and handled very well in the snow--and better than Forresters as well.

But we also has small issues mechanical with both. Overall we were disapointed given how much we had heard people go on about the longevity or reliability. I can't say I'd be looking to buy another.

[auntiebobo]

Love my '05 Forester. I can get my bike in the back no problem but do have a nice hitch mount rack that moves out of the way when I need to transport more than one bike. (The heated leather seats are fabulous!)

Before the Forester I had a '98 CRV that was also great. The nice thing about the CRV is the spare tire on the back and you can get a spare tire mount rack for those - less hassle and cheaper than a hitch mount, if you don't need to transport multiple bikes very often.

Have fun! A new car whatever you end up with is always exciting!

[elk]

my 02 Forester is my favorite car ever... but I would never buy a Ford...so can;t compare.

we also have a Honda Element...we can easily fit our 2 bikes in the back on those great rubber floors.

ANother one to think about is the Rav4 by Toyota...

[crazycanuck]

RAV4 I'm not going to post what my other half and many others think about that vehicle

We've decided the next time we speak to a dealer about a vehicle, (our bike is coming along and it's the first thing we'll measure) the bike has to fit in the back laying down..

Vroom

[elk]

well jeepers....we had one before the Element and it was incredibly reliable and deceivingly roomy...

[7rider]

Well, we all have our biases - unfounded or not. DH won't ever consider a Toyota and I won't ever get a GM. Fortunately [sic] there are a zillion other options out there to consider.
I think if you are buying a vehicle that will need to carry bicycles, then you should by all means bring your bikes with you and try loading them.

[emily_in_nc]

We've decided the next time we speak to a dealer about a vehicle, (our bike is coming along and it's the first thing we'll measure) the bike has to fit in the back laying down..

We were able to fit two road bikes lying down in the back of our '01 Forester, but they had to be stacked atop one another (use an old quilt or cardboard in between). But, that was ALL that would fit. With both bikes back there, it was very hard to take much else (like on a trip), not to mention a pet carrying case, a large cooler, etc. etc. Thus, the Element.

Emily

[crazycanuck]

Weelll..guess what i just figured out.. The Honda element isn't sold in Australia www.honda.com.au

There's a rather nice looking HOnda CRV though..

I'm def not going to stack our bikes on top of eachother. Ian would give me a look if i even suggested it!

[KnottedYet]

I took my dog with me when we went test driving for our first new car.

If he didn't fit happily, I didn't consider the car. The dealerships were surprisingly cool about it. Guess I wasn't the first to bring something along that just *had* to fit in the new car.

(ended up getting Subaru #3... had a 1986, a 1996, and my first brand new car a 2005) My Imp holds one bike in the back with the seat down and the front wheel off. I suppose I could stack one bike on top of another, but I have a Thule rack for when I want to carry more than one.