Vehicle Question

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:29:38 GMT, "HardwareLust" <[email hidden]>

may have said:

Any specific recommendations as to an appropriate vehicle
that would make carrying multiple bicycles easy? Van?
Station wagon? I realize a full size van, SUV, or truck
would probably be the best convenience-wise, but I'm not
keen on buying some big road hog with poor gas mileage.
But, it would be nice to have the ability to carry bikes
inside the vehicle, and still have room for 3 or 4.

I don't know if it would suit you, but at one place where I
ride on occasion, a guy with a Honda Element pulled four
bikes out of the back. He had apparently rigged his own rack
in it, with the bikes vertical, front wheels removed.

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO calls
them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

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Werehatrack said:

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO
calls them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

To me they look like something out of the "Adolph [censored]
School of Car Design"!

Bill "ideal for SS'es?" S.

"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This might be a slightly strange request, but I'm in the
market for a used car/truck/SUV, and considering my two
primary uses are driving to work,

and

Quoted message said:

driving to rides or races, I'm wondering what would be a
good choice for carrying bicycles and passengers?

I'm currently driving a Miata, while a wonderful car, but
isn't the most useful of vehicles, especially for carrying
bicycles around. Quite often there's three or four of us
that go, and I can obviously only carry two.

Any specific recommendations as to an appropriate vehicle
that would make carrying multiple bicycles easy? Van?
Station wagon? I realize a full size van, SUV, or truck
would probably be the best convenience-wise, but

I'm

Quoted message said:

not keen on buying some big road hog with poor gas
mileage. But, it would be nice to have the ability to
carry bikes inside the vehicle, and still have room
for 3 or 4.

Just looking for ideas.

Thanks,
H.

If you are comfortable driving a minivan, I think they are
an excellent choice for carrying capacity without doing too
badly on the gas mileage.

I have a '98 Chrysler Town&Country that I'm happy with and
it fits 4 people and 4 bikes easily with the back seat
removed. It will also hold 4 by 8 feet sheets of plywood /
building material if you're into the do it yourself
projects. Most SUVs can't do that.

As far as picking one, any of Chrysler's full-length
minivans will do what I just described (Dodge Caravan,
Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Town&Country). However, if you
are looking to get a nice one with the large size engine,
3-zone climate control, leather, etc. I would suggest
looking at the Town&Country model for a used one since they
come standard with most of the nice features. Finally, I
would suggest looking at the eBay listings in your area for
the best price, but make sure to test drive the vehicle
before you bid on it!

OTOH, I have also used a trailer hitch-mounted bike carrier
that can carry 4 bikes and would work on almost any vehicle,
if you don't mind having your bikes out in the weather.

--
Scott Ehardt scehardt.comscehardt.comOpen ↗

Werehatrack said:

I don't know if it would suit you, but at one place where
I ride on occasion, a guy with a Honda Element pulled four
bikes out of the back. He had apparently rigged his own
rack in it, with the bikes vertical, front wheels removed.

That's impressive -- but were the rear seats in place?

Matt O.

Werehatrack said:

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO
calls them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

To me they look like something out of the "Adolph [censored]
School of Car Design"!

Bill "ideal for SS'es?" S.

{Sorry if you get twice; my server never showed it.}

Werehatrack said:

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:29:38 GMT, "HardwareLust"
<[email hidden]> may have said:

I don't know if it would suit you, but at one place where
I ride on occasion, a guy with a Honda Element pulled four
bikes out of the back. He had apparently rigged his own
rack in it, with the bikes vertical, front wheels removed.

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO
calls them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

That is a great suggestion, and I have considered one.
However the price of used ones with the features I want
(the big sunroof in the back) are a stretch for my budget.
Around here, I'm seeing $18k and (way) up for decent used
EX's. If I could find a nice one for less that $15k, I'd
probably go for it.

True about the styling as well. My SO thinks they are "butt
ugly". But, they drive nice, and the styling grows on you
after awhile.

Scott Ehardt said:

If you are comfortable driving a minivan, I think they are
an excellent choice for carrying capacity without doing
too badly on the gas mileage.

That was actually my first choice. A nice minivan with the
captain's chairs in the back as well. But, my SO *hates* the
idea of a van with a passion. Unfortunately, I have to take
her opinion into account since she'll be driving it part of
the time, and riding with me the rest of the time. Minivans
also have the benefit of being extremely cheap, as they have
virtually no resale value due to the SUV boom.

Quoted message said:

OTOH, I have also used a trailer hitch-mounted bike
carrier that can carry 4 bikes and would work on almost
any vehicle, if you don't mind having your bikes out in
the weather.

Yeah, I hear you. I used to do that with my Toyota I had
years back, and I do it now with my Saris Bones on the back
of my Miata. I wanted to come up with a vehicle that a) I'm
not *forced* to do this with, and b) have the option to
carry them inside if I dont' want to put them on the top. It
rains a lot here, plus they're just more secure if they are
inside than hanging off the back.

"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

But, it would be nice to have the ability to carry bikes
inside the vehicle, and still have room for 3 or 4.

Bikes inside the vehicle plus room for 3 or 4 -- I think
you're into at least a mini-van or something full-sized.

If you want to carry the bikes on the roof -- or inside if
it's just 2 of you -- then a good choice is a station
wagon. I like the Subaru's -- I've had good like in the 4
I've owned.

Scott Ehardt said:

"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This might be a slightly strange request, but I'm in the
market for a used car/truck/SUV, and considering my two
primary uses are driving to work,

and

Quoted message said:

driving to rides or races, I'm wondering what would be a
good choice for carrying bicycles and passengers?

Quoted message said:

If you are comfortable driving a minivan, I think they are
an excellent choice for carrying capacity without doing
too badly on the gas mileage.

Vans also have lower center of gravities than SUVs, which
are prone to rollovers. See newyorker.comonlineOpen ↗
/content/?040112on_onlineonly01 for starters.

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:29:38 GMT, "HardwareLust" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

This might be a slightly strange request, but I'm in the
market for a used car/truck/SUV, and considering my two
primary uses are driving to work, and driving to rides or
races, I'm wondering what would be a good choice for
carrying bicycles and passengers?

Check out a Subaru Outback, with either a hitch or roof rack
for the bikes.

I carry four guys, gear, and four bikes rather
comfortably in mine.

Barry

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 16:26:04 -0700, Jay Hill <[email hidden]> may

have said:

Vans also have lower center of gravities than SUVs, which
are prone to rollovers. See newyorker.comonlinOpen ↗
e/content/?040112on_onlineonly01 for starters.

And they usually get better mileage than an SUV with similar
interior space. Come ot think of it, the only SUV with
interior space similar to my SO's Grand Caravan would be
something the size of a Suburban. And the Chrysler minivans
are front wheel drive, which has some definite advantages in
certain circumstances.

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Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
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"B a r r y" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

HardwareLust said:

This might be a slightly strange request, but I'm in the
market for a

used

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

car/truck/SUV, and considering my two primary uses are
driving to work,

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

driving to rides or races, I'm wondering what would be a
good choice for carrying bicycles and passengers?

Check out a Subaru Outback, with either a hitch or roof
rack for the bikes.

I carry four guys, gear, and four bikes rather comfortably
in mine.

Barry

That's what I was gonna say. My Outback is the best car I've
ever owned, and it feels like I've had one of everything.
Plus, the OP is looking for used, and Subarus tend to last
forever. That, and your typical Subaru driver won't abuse
the car or fail to maintain it.

Grab an Outback.

Chris

A good uewd toyota truck is the ultimate.

Werehatrack said:

I don't know if it would suit you, but at one place where
I ride on occasion, a guy with a Honda Element pulled four
bikes out of the back. He had apparently rigged his own
rack in it, with the bikes vertical, front wheels removed.

One caveat about that vehicle is that its max payload weight
rating is only 675 lbs. Meaning my brother and I (for
instance) would overload it without any bikes, beer, or
companions along for the ride. So much for the "utility" in
"sport-utility"!

I suppose if you only tote carbon-scandium racing bikes, it
would be A-OK. ;D

Quoted message said:

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO
calls them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

Age-regressive minds think alike, evidently: groups.-groups.-Open ↗
google.com/groups?selm=8b4b7de4.0308221729.2431b13d%40posti-
ng.google.com

Chalo Colina

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:29:38 GMT, "HardwareLust"

may have said:

Any specific recommendations as to an appropriate vehicle
that would make carrying multiple bicycles easy? Van?
Station wagon? I realize a full size van, SUV, or truck
would probably be the best convenience-wise, but I'm not
keen on buying some big road hog with poor gas mileage.
But, it would be nice to have the ability to carry bikes
inside the vehicle, and still have room for 3 or 4.

I don't know if it would suit you, but at one place where
I ride on occasion, a guy with a Honda Element pulled four
bikes out of the back. He had apparently rigged his own
rack in it, with the bikes vertical, front wheels removed.

Not everyone likes the Element's looks, though. My SO
calls them "inflatable Hummer pool toys".

The only vehicle uglier than the Element is the Scion. I
think the designers at Honda and Toyota were competing for
worst design ever award.

- rick

On 20 Apr 2004 16:38:41 -0700, [email hidden] (Chalo) may

have said:

Age-regressive minds think alike, evidently: groups-groups-Open ↗
.google.com/groups?selm=8b4b7de4.0308221729.2431b13d%40pos-
ting.google.com

Actually, I think she stole it from you indirectly; I told
her about it when you posted that, and she found it
hilarious.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On 20 Apr 2004 16:49:15 -0700, [email hidden] (Rick Warner)

may have said:

The only vehicle uglier than the Element is the Scion. I
think the designers at Honda and Toyota were competing for
worst design ever award.

As fas as appearance goes, positions one and two are taken
by the Aztek. The worst that any other vehicle can place at
this point is third in that category.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 18:38:21 -0400, "Chris"

may have said:

My Outback is the best car I've ever owned, and it feels
like I've had one of everything. Plus, the OP is looking
for used, and Subarus tend to last forever. That, and your
typical Subaru driver won't abuse the car or fail to
maintain it.

Grab an Outback.

If you can. Subaru owners also tend not to sell or trade
until the car's used *up*. According to one of the guys I
know there, at one dealership nearby, the average age of a
Subaru that's being replaced is 9 years.

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Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
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"Chalo" wrote

Quoted message said:

One caveat about that vehicle is that its max payload
weight rating is only 675 lbs. Meaning my brother and I
(for instance) would overload it without any bikes, beer,
or companions along for the ride. So much for the
"utility" in "sport-utility"!

I suppose if you only tote carbon-scandium racing bikes,
it would be A-OK. ;D

Chalo Colina

That's interesting. The payload weight rating on my '95
Civic hatchback is 850 lbs. Guess I'll hang onto it for
another 160K, instead of upgrading to to a sport
"utility" vehicle.
--
mark