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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Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
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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
http://www.scehardt.com

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.

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

"B a r r y" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

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

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
http://www.newyorker.com/online/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.

--
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.

A good uewd toyota truck is the ultimate.

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
http://www.newyorker.com/online/content/?040112on_onlineonly01 for starters.

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:
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=8b4b7de4.0308221729.2431b13d%40posting.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" <[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".

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:
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=8b4b7de4.0308221729.2431b13d%40posting.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.

--
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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.

--
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.

"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