Kia Soul. Honda Fit & bikes

[VeganBikeChick]

Congrats! We just added a Suby Forester to the family to replace the truck we totaled in March. We were both super bummed we couldn't find a manual in town. I LOVE driving a manual transmission and miss it dearly (haven't had one in since 2004). My big argument for a small SUV over a car was to be able to put my bike in the back. I saw a Soul this morning and thought of you, ironically it was that color which is sooooo cool.

How do you like your Forester? I just bought one, manual trans too, and it's coming at the end of the month. I feel like a kid before Christmas, all ants in my pants and can't wait for it to get here. It's like the end of the month is never coming!

[Catrin]

The manual transmission shifts very nicely, it is actually smoother than my Lancer was! They have done something that I've not seen before though. Reverse is at the upper left, and there is a ring on the shifter that I have to engage to be able to get in, or out, of reverse. It is very easy and not awkward at all. Apparently other companies are moving to this as well for several reasons.

[Aggie_Ama]

How do you like your Forester? I just bought one, manual trans too, and it's coming at the end of the month. I feel like a kid before Christmas, all ants in my pants and can't wait for it to get here. It's like the end of the month is never coming!

We got it Saturday so we love it! They are really quiet and ride really smooth, lots of bells and whistles for the price (we got the Premium but not turbo). Taking it on a long road trip starting today. I am not crazy about the quality of the radio sound and the steering wheel controls aren't as easy to use as my Dodge Caliber but those are minor. We LOVE that it has practically zero blind spots.

The manual transmission shifts very nicely, it is actually smoother than my Lancer was! They have done something that I've not seen before though. Reverse is at the upper left, and there is a ring on the shifter that I have to engage to be able to get in, or out, of reverse. It is very easy and not awkward at all. Apparently other companies are moving to this as well for several reasons.

My 2001 VW Beetle I leased through college was kind of like that. You pushed down and up on the shift to engage reverse and also upper left of first gear instead of below fifth gear like every other manual I had driven. I remember on the test drive I had my parents with me so the salesman just let us go, we had to get out and ask how to put it in reverse.

[Catrin]

As you can tell from this photo, The Alien Bike Transport is now complete and waiting for Saturday for the first inaugural trip