what vehicle to transport bikes (INSIDE)

[Grog]

No one's mentioned the PT cruiser, plenty of room in the back.

Disclosure: The PT Cruiser: you're in the "love it" or "hate it" party. I'm in the "hate it".

I drove this car twice for going someplace far and I was really unimpressed about how it's built (I'm 5'4" and I felt that I didn't have a good all around view) but I was really surprised with how little space there actually was to put cargo in it. I think there's more space in the little Honda Civic I drive currently... Everything just felt akward to me in that car! I can't see how I would fit a bike, except probably on the back seat (vertical).

Any first-hand experience on this? (I'm only curious, NO plan to buy one!!!)

[caligurl]

lol.... i told my hubby that you gals had also suggested a pt cruiser and he said... very emphatically.. "i'm NOT giving up my truck for a pt cruiser!"

in our looknig... we pretty much ended up in the "cute-ute" category....

we liked the x-terra a lot.. VERY functional without being so sparse like the element (we both like to have some niceties in our vehicles.. and there is NOTHING plushy or cushy at all in the element!) whereas the x-terra, while being VERY functional... still doesn't make you feel like your in a cheap/no-frills car up front... it's more like a truck.. not car plush... but nice.. HOWEVER.. the gas mileage really sux! it gets worse gas mileage than his truck does! so we discounted that one!

i LOVE the nissan murano! what a nice and PLUSH vehicle! AND.. it has navi factory installed! leather.... heated seats..... dual climate... *sigh*... well.. basically everything my car has.. but room for 2 bikes in the back! however... hubby isn't ready to trade in my car to get it.. which is really what we would have to do.. otherwise we'd have 2 huge car payments instead of one large and one medium to small (truck is paid off.. so when we sell or trade it in... it will be money off the top... my car would be a wash.. probably just get what we still owe) also.. it had fair to mediocre gas mileage...

then there was the hyundai tuscon... another functional vehicle (rubber in the rear instead of carpet... plenty big enough for two bikes... VERY affordable... even in the limited with leather and heated seats... handled well in the test drive... pretty nice vehicle for the price! however hubby felt the fit and finish looked cheap and the stereo sucked! (so would immediately be an extra expense to put in a new after market stereo)...

then there was the toyota rav4... newly restyled this year... and GORGEOUS! we test drove the 4 cylinder (V6 not out til feb or march) and it had PEP! smooth ride (sport version)... fit and finish was nice... appears to have plenty of room in the rear for the bikes (via measurements.. we didn't take the bikes with us).... we both just think this is a fun and functional vehicle.... so it will probably be the rav4! the only problem is... as i already mentioned.. v6's not out yet (but gives us time to try to sell the truck instead of the headache of a trade i) and toyota is horrible with options.. there are things we want.. but if they don't make one that way (which they often don't.. even if available)... then we are settling.... heck... i told him if we ended up with the rav4.. i'd drive that back and forth to work and shopping... rather than my car.. cuz it gets GREAT gas mileage! lol! even though my car is plushier!

we'll buy a garmin street pilot to have gps since none of the vehicles we looked at had it except for the murano (which i'd still like to have! lol!)

so... that is what our research has netted us! once we get closer (when the v6's start coming in.. we'll take the bikes down and make sure they fit!)

[tatormc]

caligurl, it's funny that you mention the 2006 Toyota RAV4 as that is what hubby and I are wanting. We went car shopping over Christmas and the RAV was not even something that crossed our minds. But then the nice salesman pointed out the RAV has been redesigned for 2006 and it's now 14 inches longer. We really liked all the features and that cool little storage place in the back under the floor cover is perfect for helmets and shoes and such. We haven't tried putting the bikes in there yet but should work as we had a Jeep Cherokee that we kinda put the bikes in diagonal. Anyhow we are also waiting for the V6 model to come out. I've never had anything but a 4 cylinder and I'm ready for some power. Well happy car shopping and I'll post once we make our final decision and bring a car home in a month or so.

[caligurl]

aren't the new rav4's awesome!!!

we just can't decide:

sport no leather, NO HEATED SEATS , no dual climate! better ride (so i've read in reviews), larger wheels/tires... mica color (forget the proper name)

or

limited: leather with HEATED SEATS! , dual climate, mushy ride (according to reviews i've read), smaller wheels/tires.. can't get mica (but can get the milky white.. that sounds pretty..)

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ya... i THINK i'd be happy with 4 cylinder.. but as soon as we tried to climb the hill to get home.. and bogged down.. i'd be ticked we didn't get the V6! so we are waiting *sigh*... i'm not a patient, good waiting person!

OH! check this out! in canada you can get a special bike rack!

http://www.toyota.ca/NWS/english/custom/c950012e.html (AND NAVIGATION!)

[Kathi]

Have you looked at the CRVI I bought one in Oct. Consumer reports says its as roomy inside as many midsized suv's.

2 bikes (road and mtn) fit inside standing up with the front wheels turned sideways. No need too remove front wheels.

I got the Ex with more options than the Rav4 and I didn't have to pay for them! I don't have heated seats but I believe they come on the LX.

If you do any tailgating or picnicing the floor in the back comes out and makes into a table. Also, there is space under the floor, sort of a wheel well without the wheel. It's good for storing valuables or items that you don't want damaged. The salesman said you could put ice in it to keep drinks cold for a tailgating parties!

In the front, instead of a console there is a little table that drops down. I'm small enough that I can get into the back by dropping the table. Handy for rainy days when your jacket is in the back. Also, for removing ski boots in the back and then popping into the front to drive. Less tracking of snow in the car.

Power on mtn passes is very good and mileage is around 23-25mpg. Visibility is great, I don't have any posts blocking my view.

I haven't seen the redesigned Rav4 but I checked out an 04. I thought the CRV was more functional and roomy. The Rav4 felt more like a car whereas the CRV was more like an SUV but smaller.

We have a Honda Civic and driving the CRV feels similiar to the Civic.

I wanted a manual but Consumer Reports rated the gas mileage slightly higher on the automatic. Even though it was a slight difference, over time if gas prices stay high the manual cost more.

The Rav4 is Consumer Reports top rated small SUV so you can't go wrong if you chose it.

Kathi

[MM_QFC!]

I have a RAV4 and love it; it's fun to drive and has plenty of room for my bike, gear and that of friends too. The back seats are easy to either fold over or take out completely, if needed.
I've also spotted all of the positive reviews of the new 06 model too though, and am interested to check it out, as mine is a 2001 and I've put plenty of mileage on it, so I'm thinking of replacing it soon. I've never had any mechanical issues or otherwise with it either; seems like all goes well with regular oil changes and maintenance, as it keeps humming along.
I use a spare tire bike rack, and it's great that it can be locked to the car as well as being able to lock my bike onto the rack itself. When I had a trunk rack on my previous car, it always made me a little nervous to leave it unattended too long, as someone could just lift the rack off and steal it all - whew!

I use the rack (and lock) whenever I'm just driving to my start point and back home. If I stop anywhere either before (mall or other errands) or after (post-ride carbo-loading happens lots, ladies!) though, I usually put my precious bike inside, so that it isn't a visual temptation for someone to take it. It's easy to slide it in on it's side, with or w/o taking the front wheel off. And I just fold one seatback over and rest the rear wheel and derailleur, etc. on a pad and sometimes throw a cover over the bike too, even though the rear windows are tinted (which helps when I want to make the back a mini changing room too).
I've heard too many horror stories about stolen bikes; most recently, a friend told me that a few women went for post-ride coffee at another's home and one rider parked her car in the driveway with her bike locked to the roof rack, which was also locked to the car. You guessed it: the bike was stolen (they just cut the fork and took off), so it made me more alarmed and aware.
As for the RAV4 though, it seems to have the endorsement of my riding buddies too, as they usually opt to use my car for carpooling and have remarked on how much room it has as well as comfort in transport.
Just my $.02.
Mary