A car that fits this bill?

[indysteel]

Wow! These were quick responses! Thanks for the info

Indy-"great" is 35+ mpg, and "fit" is 2 bikes (front wheels off is fine) upright if possible.

I think you can fit two bikes upright in the Honda Fit. I assume it meets your mileage expectation, but I have no idea how it drives in the snow. Knott's suggestion for the Impreza is a good one. A lot of people on roadbikereview's forums have them (or another Subura model). It's seems to be the cyclist's car of choice.

[Chicken Little]

4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma pickup with a cab. I think that is as close as you can get. The mileage thing is very limiting. I would make a compromise all the way down to 25 mpg city.

If you bought two Dahon folders, you can get all that in my Yaris.

[Biciclista]

depending on the bikes, a Honda fit works too. my husband has aerobars and long fenders so we can't do it with his bike. My car will always just have one bike in it, but i've seen a photo of someone's fit with two bikes (front wheels off) sitting happily inside of it.
can't help you with the snow.

[Blueberry]

depending on the bikes, a Honda fit works too. my husband has aerobars and long fenders so we can't do it with his bike. My car will always just have one bike in it, but i've seen a photo of someone's fit with two bikes (front wheels off) sitting happily inside of it.
can't help you with the snow.

Interesting re: large frames w/extra stuff!

One of the SAGs at a local ride was a fit. No idea how she did it - but she had 3 bikes and 3 people in there. When I saw it, there were 2 fork mounted bikes in the rear and plenty o' extra space.

[GLC1968]

Depending on how tall you guys are, you can put bikes upright in the Matrix. Mine fits fine, my DH's has to have the seat post either lowered or removed. If neither of you are tall, then they'd fit no problem.

VW TDI wagon might be an option too. 5-cyl but gets ~40 mpg diesel. Lots of room in back but I don't know about the upright bike thing or not. Most VW's do pretty well in the snow, so I can't imagine that the sport wagon would be any different.

I like the Subaru's but they really need to work on their gas mileage. We considered an Outback but found the MPG really disappointing and removed it from our list.

[Blueberry]

VW TDI wagon might be an option too. 5-cyl but gets ~40 mpg diesel. Lots of room in back but I don't know about the upright bike thing or not. Most VW's do pretty well in the snow, so I can't imagine that the sport wagon would be any different.

Does well in the snow that I had to test it in (which in my area isn't much). Does get 38-40 mpg (at least with the manual transmission). Don't think you could stand bikes up, though - it's somewhat shorter inside than the fit.

[jennyrc]

Subaru Forester...I lay down my seat and my bike fits without removing the wheel. For two bikes I imagine you'd have to remove at least one bike's wheel, but they would definitely fit. All Wheel drive so does great on the snow (trust me, I live in Alaska)

[KnottedYet]

I like the Subaru's but they really need to work on their gas mileage. We considered an Outback but found the MPG really disappointing and removed it from our list.

That's why I stuck with the Impreza base rather than the Legacy base.

The Legacy (and outback Legacy) don't get nearly the good mileage of the Impreza (Impreza, older Forester)

I'm pretty happy with my 32-36 mpg.

This is my 3rd Subie. My last one was a Legacy, with mileage in the low 20's. Not so good.

[Becky]

I like the Subaru's but they really need to work on their gas mileage. We considered an Outback but found the MPG really disappointing and removed it from our list.

My Outback's listed mileage is pretty dismal. Its actual mileage, given the size of the car, its hauling capacity and its AWD, is pretty decent.

[Irulan]

you don't really say **how** you want to put two bikes in. Laying on top of each other, fork mounts...?

[ASammy1]

you don't really say **how** you want to put two bikes in. Laying on top of each other, fork mounts...?

Actually, I did... See post #8 in this thread on the first page. "Indy-"great" is 35+ mpg, and "fit" is 2 bikes (front wheels off is fine) upright if possible."


Wow... So many opinions on this subject. You all have given me a lot to think about. Thank you!!!!

[eofelis]

My Outback's listed mileage is pretty dismal. Its actual mileage, given the size of the car, its hauling capacity and its AWD, is pretty decent.

My Outback is a 2001 model, manual transmission. I get 30 on the highway with it. I got 33 once from Flagstaff to Phoenix, all downhill!

[OakLeaf]

AWD is a gas hog, no question, but you've got to compare apples to apples. The Subarus get better mileage than any other AWD vehicles out there, maybe some of the hybrids excepted. I loved both of mine, and if I still had to drive in snow with any regularity, I'd have another. I think my sister still has my old '98, not sure how many miles must be on it by now, but she's got a good mechanic who keeps it on the road.

My last 'Ru was an '03 and at that time, the Legacy (Outback) and Impreza (Outback Sport) had the same spec fuel economy (mid-20s, which is what we got in practice. Living in the country probably gets the worst fuel economy of any type of driving. Accelerate to highway speed, drive up and down steep hills for 2-3 miles, stop at stop sign, repeat). There didn't seem to be any point to go with the smaller vehicle! I know later Outbacks are much taller, which probably affects the fuel economy.

[maillotpois]

I think you can fit two bikes upright in the Honda Fit. I assume it meets your mileage expectation, but I have no idea how it drives in the snow.

2 bikes with front wheels off in the Fit no problem. One bike with all wheels ON also no problem.

A friend took her Fit over some snowy passes this winter with no problem.

I usually average 35 mph+ on the Fit, depending on the amount of city traffic I am in.