Mine isn't noisy either, unless you are referring to my kids having the music up too loud.![]()
In the Element, with both seats down in their passenger position, you can fit two bikes (front wheels removed) crossways in the back. You have to put the bars on opposite ends. Mountain bikes are harder, but they can be done, too, and you can't put anyone in the back seats unless they don't mind riding ramrod straight up.
With one seat folded up and one seat in the passenger position, you can put at least two bikes with front wheels on beside the seat. With that seat removed, you can put three (but not my husband's, without the front wheel off).
When I haul my bike to my weekly group rides, I usually just fold the rear driver's side seat up, roll my bike in and bungee it to the the carabiner that holds the seat up (as depicted above). Right now that seat is just out, because there are only 3 of us, and I rarely need the 4th one.
ETA: I don't bother strapping down like in the picture above. I just put a bungee around the top tube, and attach to the thing that holds the seat up. The bike usually raises up on its rear wheel a little depending on the bungee that's available, then it's just safely hanging there.
Karen
Last edited by Tuckervill; 05-16-2008 at 10:51 AM.
The bungee trick works for 2 bikes - more than that, and it gets a little...challenging
CA
Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...
My Fit is a little over a year old and it is awesome and it is good for two bikes in the back. I take the front wheels off and put my large bike on the side with the shortest person in front. I have traveled many miles with one other person two bikes and bags. My sister bought a Civic at about the time I bought my Fit and she gets pretty good gas milage on the freeway. I think she would buy a Fit if she could re-think her choices. The Fit holds so much more than a Civic. I used to have an Element and it worked great I wanted better gas milage. Either way all three will last a long time.
A Fit is definitely what you call "basic transportation".
I never ever drove one, because when I was looking for one, they were new and hard to find. The only one I even saw in person was sold to someone else and waiting to be delivered. I didn't even get to sit in it.
Karen
I have a Yaris hatchback which I love:
-will never take another road trip in it--fwy noise is crazy obnoxious over long distance.
neut: two doors not four, but not a problem for us
haven't kept track of mileage, but this means it isn't bugging me, so it must be ok.
+ lots of room to carry stuff inside
+ Hollywood Rack is great for the tandem on the back
+ Very high cute factor
+ Easy to park!
+ Fits into small condo garage with bikes, and mountains of other carp in there.
I just heard on the radio that the "vintage" (excuse moi a vintage?? what does that make me??) civic cvcc and other 4 cylinder engine cars are going up in prices from $1,000 to two, three, four and even six thousand dollars.
Oh my
When we test drove the fit, my hubby and I had to raise our voices significantly to have a conversation in the front seat, sitting right next to each other, on the freeway, As in , practically shouting at each other.
This was a real disappointment to us. It pretty much killed the sale. The available trim levels were just not what we were looking for.