Welcome back, kajero. I'm sorry about your SO.

I can't really help with your question -- I'm driving a 2007 Prius with 126k miles on it and hope to keep driving it for many more miles. And if I had to replace it tomorrow I'd get another Prius. I will say that I can get my bike into the car with both wheels on but prefer to remove the front wheel because it's easier that way. I put it in front wheel first; a friend who drives a VW station wagon finds it easier to put his bike in the car rear wheel first.