What is the perfect bike hauling vehicle?

[jobob]

I remember why I didn't consider the Element. Consumer Report said that "outward visibility is compromised by the large roof pillars". I didn't want anything blocking my visibility.

I saw that too, and I mentioned it to my husband. Thing is, we're used to driving the small truck with the cab shell, which also compromises outward visibility, a lot! So, in the truck we rely more on the side-view mirrors than we would with a regular passenger car. Same with the Element. It's not the same as a passenger car, so you need to rely more on the side-view mirrors. CR rightly cautioned potential buyers about it in the event they were more used to the visibilty that passenger cars provide, and might not be comfortable with relying more on the mirrors. I suppose a lot of SUVs don't have this issue, since they're built more like passenger cars than is the Element. But bottom line, that was no biggie for us.

jobob, I have hauled my bike to Louisiana, Texas, and other Southern states and to Oregon, Montana, and Canada just strapped down. Everything did just fine.

Oh, I have no doubts, but you know men, they can't leave well enough alone

What color did you get? What color interior?

The gray with dark gray trim. We would have also gone for the green, but the gray was available, and we like that a bit more anyhow. We think it looks classy, in a cute sort of way ...

I've had many tell me the Element is ugly. Never heard spiffy.

Well, Lee and I think it's adorable. But we have kind of offbeat tastes. Lee's always ooh-ing and ahh-ing old Volkswagen minibusses, and if it weren't for the upkeep, we would probably have one of those. He considers the Element sort of a modern-day version of the minibus.

I can see how the Element would put some people off ... but then again, I think some of the SUVs out there are uuuugly as sin, so there you have it

If you consider the Element, I would recommend the stick. You have better control over the power band. I found the automatic to be just a little too mushy for my tastes.

Did you get the 2-wheel or the 4WD version? We got the 2 WD version, since we don't go offroad or seek out snow, and it saved us a couple of thou.

[Surlygirl]

I have the Honda Pilot and we put two skewer attachments on the back of the middle seats and when folded down we take the front wheels off the bikes and attach them to the mounts. When we take the whole family (5) we put our new trailer hitch mount yakima rack on. I absolutely love the Pilot but it was pricey.

[pkq]

jobob, I got the AWD because it snows where I live. It handles great in the snow. It handled great in about 8" of snow on the ground and still coming down, colder than the North pole, and night time. I was real impressed.

My tastes are kinda' off beat, too. I'm used to hearing people tell me that I am "different."

One thing I am considering is getting a cargo box for the top. With camping and biking gear, the interior can get a little cramped. Their is a owner's club with good ideas, if you are interested.

I read the visibility thing, too, but it's only been a problem once or twice in about 40,000 miles.

You'll love the Element!

[carback]

Sounds like most people are suggesting an SUV.

As I am not a fan of SUVs for many reasons, I'm going to play devil's advocate and recommend a Subaru. I drive a Subaru Outback with AWD. I have easily fit 2 bikes inside, plus gear. I"m sure a 3rd would fit if it needed to (granted, there'd only be room for 2 people).

With AWD and winter tires, I have all the traction and control I need and want (and I live & drive in the mountains. A lot). I also don't have a horrendous gas bill nor the guilt associated with gas guzzling. (I am now getting off my soapbox).

[wabisabi]

I agree about the Subaru; it is hard to beat in the mountains and snow, and I can easily load my 17' sea kayak on top by myself, and it holds the bike, wheels on and all! The parking lots here are full of them.

[Geonz]

Welp, I can get two bikes in my Mazda Protege 5 hatchback. Probably a little too "downscale," though :-)

[RoadRaven]

We are trying to find the right size trailor...

A vehicle will not do the job.

We have to be able carry 8 bikes - some with aerobars on...

[bcipam]

I have been seriously trying to find a vehicle to replace my old, worn out 1997 Ford Explorer Sport which was the perfect bike hauling vehicle. It's smaller than the 4 size Explorer so saves gas and is easier to park but big enough and boxy enough to haul bikes (with the front wheels off and if the bike is too tall, the seatpost).

Now, all the SUV have been turned into what I call "Mommy vehicles." Kids are an issue not ultility. Lots of little extras little side cup holders and storage bins makes it difficult to get a bike in plus the box size has gotten smaller so hard to get a bigger bike in without laying it on the side. I don't want a gigundo SUV but looks like I may have to buy a mini-van (Gosh forbid!!!) so I can get my bike (and my friends bikes) inside the vehicle.

Let me know what you find but word of caution - take measurements to make sure the bikes will fit (especially your husbands) and better yet - take your bike and try and fit it in. My friend just purchased a new, high priced SUV and is very disappointed to discover even her little girly bike does not fit. They have to get a bike rack (The Thule Sport Rack is pretty good).

[tatormc]

Thanks to everyone for all the great info! We haven't done any actual car shopping yet (too cold) but when we do we'll take our bikes to the dealership to make sure they will fit. We're also trying to decide if we are really ready for a car payment as both vehicles are paid off. I'll let you know once we find something and if anyone is aware of any of vehicle please post!

[Irulan]

Sounds like most people are suggesting an SUV.

As I am not a fan of SUVs for many reasons, I'm going to play devil's advocate and recommend a Subaru. I drive a Subaru Outback with AWD. I have easily fit 2 bikes inside, plus gear. I"m sure a 3rd would fit if it needed to (granted, there'd only be room for 2 people).

With AWD and winter tires, I have all the traction and control I need and want (and I live & drive in the mountains. A lot). I also don't have a horrendous gas bill nor the guilt associated with gas guzzling. (I am now getting off my soapbox).

A Honda Element is not a typical SUV, it's a smaller, new generation version of one. I don't know about you, but to me when somenone says SUV I think Durango, Landcruiser, Navigator, Expedition, Hummers, or any of the other behemoths out there that are really just station wagons on steriods. And you are absolutely right, very few people need vehicles like that. The benefits of 4WD over AWD are mythical at best.

As for subs - I own one, ('95 leagcy that gets 30 mpg hiway) and we were looked into purchasing another.You can't beat them for sticking to the road in all conditions. The new ones don't really qualify as economical on gas. When we were looking we were really dissapointed in the mileage ratings for them. According to the www.fueleconomy.gov, the combined ( hiway, city) mpg for an '05 outback is only 22.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

compared to something like a Durango, combined mileage listed as 15, that's an improvement, but still not fuel efficient.

Here are the top ten most efficienet SUV type vehicles according to Edmunds -
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/...5/article.html

If I have my way, our next car is going to be something like a honda civic or hybrid with a rack on top.

[veekcee]

We bought a Honda Element a couple of months ago and love it! Easily fit 3 bikes in with the seats folded up. Looks wise, it is growing on me, but boy it sure is fun to drive. I don't find a problem with the the larger pillars and find visibility to be pretty good. The lack of visibility with the seats folded up takes some getting used to.

We had a Subaru Outback and loved it, too. It always made me nervous having our bikes hanging off of the back. With the Element, don't have to worry about a hitch malfunction or leaving the bikes unattended on the back of the car.

[SadieKate]

I love Subarus. We've had 3, but even a Forester won't take my husband's bike upright inside without changing the seat height every time. Stacking bikes is just a no-no. Sooner or later, spokes, derailleurs, cables or the paint will be damaged. When the cost of a good wheelset is as much or more than some entire bikes, you don't allow the weight of one to rest on the other. Padding helps, but sooner or later . . . .

Not sure about the new Saab/Subaru SUV though. Anyone have experience with it?

We've met tall guys who could get long travel FS mtbikes in an Element. They raved about the mileage and handling. Yes, they're kind of funky looking, but in a functionally spiffy sort of way. I like cars that look like they can do something other than haul you to the nearest nail salon.

[Cari]

If I have my way, our next car is going to be something like a honda civic or hybrid with a rack on top.

I have a Honda Civic Coupe and my mountain bike easily fits in the back. I take off the front wheel just to make it easier for me to get it in there. Both rear seats fold down, if you need extra room. But yeah, I only use it if I'm only carrying one bike.

A friend of mine had an Element and he *loved* it. It's quirky but cool -- his friend called it "the fish tank". In addition to fitting bikes easily with just one of the rear seats down, I liked that the floors have a thick rubber cover instead of rugs, so when the car gets muddy and gross, you can just hose it off. Plus you can do lots of neat things with the seats.

I love the feeling of driving a small car that I can park anywhere. I also like having a proper trunk that I can lock. My friend got a $7,000 DH bike stolen from the inside of his car -- ouch. In the Civic, you need the car key to fold down the rear seats, and the lever inside that opens the trunk can be locked.

But if I were to buy a bike-specific car or SUV, I guess I'd go with the Honda Element or with a Subaru Forester. The Forester looks very cool and the interiors are sweet. I think you can also get it with a special liner to put in the back over the rug-like cover, so the fabric doesn't get full of mud and bike grease.

[SalsaMTB]

If you can get past the uncool image of a minivan, I highly recommend it. DH and I just got a Nissan Quest and love it. The toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are also worth checking out, the Quest has the most unique styling. We got it only because of our bikes, we're 25 and don't plan on having children for at least 4 years. Yep, we're personally trying to break the soccer mom image. It is great for bikes though. Many of the SUVs will fit two bikes if you take the front wheel off. Surprisingly many of the smaller-medium SUV couldn't fit two bikes w/o taking the front wheel off. We didn't want to take the wheels off, so we opted for the van for the gas mileage.

Here is a pic of our van loaded up with two bikes and our equipment. There is plenty of room left: