Kia Soul. Honda Fit & bikes

[nscrbug]

OH...I just LOVE it!!!! And I SO dig that "Alien" color too! Congrats!!!!

[zoom-zoom]

That is flippin' CUTE! And I love that there are still cars around with manual transmissions. DH and I are both loathe to have any more auto-magics in our driveway after replacing a transmission on a car years ago. We've never replaced a single clutch and we drive our cars pretty much from cradle-to-grave.

[grey]

I second that - it's a real relief to me to know I can still get a manual tranny. I just... don't like automatics, and that alone narrows my choices when the Heep dies. Like ZoomZoom, we keep our cars cradle to grave (though we have had to replace a clutch or two).

Your Kia is PRETTY! And I adore the color *wonders what the Heep would look like in a similar color*

[Biciclista]

congrats on your new car!

[ehirsch83]

Congrats!!

You just went through what I am about to start but I have pretty much settled on the Kia Soul based on the value of what you get, mpg, warranty,etc.

The dear SO has a 1997 subaru legagy wagon that is getting ready to bite the dust and right now we travel to farther away races in my 05 vw golf(which now needs the interior redone).

We have been looking for something to replace the subaru with that we can pack full of bikes and other things to travel to races or take the dogs to the dog park,etc.

I have followed this and am so excited you got one! We are hoping to be looking into one in the next few months ( the SO is looking for a new job, so trying to wait until that occurs).

more photos more photos

[Catrin]

more photos more photos

Here is a full frontal - shocking, I know, but this is an adult forum after all Hitch is getting installed tomorrow for the rack I will add a picture complete with bikes when I can get one. I think her name is "The Alien Bike Transporter" at least for now!

[colorisnt]

OMG. So cute! Congrats on the new Soul!

I love mine and hopefully you will love yours, too.

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[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

[surgtech1956]

Catrin, congratulations on the new ride. I love that green color. I will probably be getting a Soul as my next vehicle.

[blue_angel]

I have a 2008 Fit and routinely fit two bikes in the back (removing the front wheel only of bike #2). I haven't bothered buying a bike rack, because I rarely have more than 2 people plus bikes inside. The Fit gets good mileage and has excellent storage capacity. I still don't love it as much as I loved my 2001 Subaru Forester.

[Irulan]

I have a 2009 Fit and the only thing I do not like about it is the road noise I hear on the highway. Not much sound insulation and hard tires (both contribute to the good gas mileage). When the tires need replacing, I'll get softer ones. I'm ok with losing a couple miles per gallon to be able to hear the radio or cd player without having to turn the volume way up.

Test drive both vehicles, in city streets and highway if you can do both. Might also be good to take a blanket you don't mind getting dirty, and take your bike with you. Make sure the bike fits before you buy the car.

Have fun!
Edna

the road noise is exactly why I didn't buy one. I wanted "nicely equipped" as in leather, power etc and the FIT screamed "just got out of college" to me.