What do you drive to transport multiple bikes/gear?

[ny biker]

Good Question! Our Prius gets 53mpg on the freeway, without bikes. However, with the bikes on the back (low hitch carrier, the most fuel efficient way) it goes down to high 40s. Still good MPG, but the bikes do take a bite.

Yes, I find that with my Prius, even under "bad" conditions I still get higher gas mileage than other vehicles and it does everything I need it to do. I can easily fit 2 bikes inside, and have hauled lots of other stuff in it too. I didn't suggest it here because I didn't think it would work in the OP's case.

I had to drive a Matix for a few weeks over the summer and it killed me to have to fill the tank so much more often than my car. I also preferred the way my car drives (quieter, etc.).

[ACG]

Just a suggestion: I measured my bike in all different directions. Then I went to the car show. I live in Pasadena, so I went to the big one in Los Angeles. It was quite the site, a woman with a measuring tape climbing in and out of station wagons, SUV's and sedans. Yes I even climbed in a few trunks. I also had the specs and measurements of car racks, both roof racks and sedan racks. I looked at the most expensive to the least expensive. Because it is a car show, you don't have the sales person following you around. And you can pull the phamplets and get other vital information without much contact frome the dealers.

My favorites: FJ Cruiser, 4 Runner, the Element.

In the end I bought a Lexus GX mid size SUV, it fits 2 bikes in the back, has a barn door. I never have to take a tire off my bike just slides right in, I only have to fold up one seat.

Good Luck

[Fredwina]

You could take the bike and assorted parphenlia along with you to the car dealership. it does help weed out the less-helpful sales staff

[ny biker]

You could take the bike and assorted parphenlia along with you to the car dealership. it does help weed out the less-helpful sales staff

I brought my bike with me to the car dealer but by looking at the car I could tell that it would fit without having to try it. I know a guy who always brings his golf clubs when he buys a car so he can make sure there's plenty of room in the trunk for them.

[SheFly]

I brought my bike with me to the car dealer but by looking at the car I could tell that it would fit without having to try it. I know a guy who always brings his golf clubs when he buys a car so he can make sure there's plenty of room in the trunk for them.

We did this too. Test drove the van, then told the salesman that we needed to come back with our tandem to make sure it would go inside, and that it was a deal breaker if it wouldn't! We can get two tandems inside, as it turns out.

SheFly

[Pedal Wench]

I did the shopping for my BF's PT Cruiser - he lives in another state, and our local dealer had an amazing price. So, I take his bike and mine to the dealership and make the poor salesman remove the backseats, leave them on the curb while I put the bikes in and took a bunch of pictures.

That guy earned his commission that day.

[lo123]

We did this too. Test drove the van, then told the salesman that we needed to come back with our tandem to make sure it would go inside, and that it was a deal breaker if it wouldn't! We can get two tandems inside, as it turns out.

SheFly

We test drove to our house to put the bikes in luckily we live close the dealership.

FWIW, I have a 2009 Escape. It will hold my 54cm and my husband's 58cm 'cross bikes inside with the back seats down. We can't bring ourselves to put both carbon road bikes inside together though. Don't want to scratch up the pain
We have a Yakima rack that goes on the back, though I'd eventually like to get a hitch mount rack.