I have a BMW X3 (bought it used, my Dad was a BMW guy and trained me to be a German car snob) and I hate it. I have a Yakima roof rack on top and can put the hitch rack on the back to hold up to 5 bikes (if the 5th is the little bike for the 9 yr old). I also thought it would hold a mastiff. It doesn't.

When my son starts driving next year, I am going to get rid of the BMW and get him a used Toyota pickup. I like pickups for kids because he cannot carry around the entire neighborhood in it....and get myself the 4 runner.

BTW, I know a HOT guy that drives an Element. I can't get my head around the fact that it looks like a toaster. But he can fit the bikes for half the department in it, so none of us can jack with him.