I'm going to the San Diego Auto Show today (woohoo!) with an eye towards finding a good vehicle to support my biking habit. This may be the year I turn over my 8 year old Avalon to my second daughter when she's licensed so that's as good excuse as any to get a new vehicle.
Now, cars have almost no appeal to me anymore except as a means of getting from here to there. I've been through the fancy car stage long ago with a neat little BMW 325 and a Mazda RX-7. Since then, it's all about reliability and dependability. Not that the Avalon doesn't have some creature comforts, but for the most part, all of that is wasted on me.
I nearly pulled the trigger on a Honda Element a while back, and even was impressed with a Honda Fit, of all things, which has an amazing amount of interior space to hold a bike or other stuff.
Anyway, I'll be looking for a vehicle which makes it easy to store a bike inside without taking off the wheel, has an interior that's easy to clean, gets reasonable mileage, and I can reasonably keep for the next 7-8 years. I might use it to get a mountain bike up into the, well, mountains and do some light camping from it as well. (It doesn't have to be a 4x4 however.)
I also like to bring home the occasional treasure from a garage sale (things that aren't even bikes!).
So...any suggestions of what to look at?
LastPlace
12-26-07, 10:45 AM
DG,
I have several coworkers that drive the Honda Fit and all are impressed with the interior volume but were surprised that the mileage is not better than it is. Since I'm not at work I can't recall the numbers but all three mentioned it.
I have two other coworkers who have the element and love it, but I don't recall what they said about mileage.
In my perfect world I would have a 2006 Honda CRV. It looks like you can put a bike in there with the front wheel on......but I'm not sure.....and has Honda reliability.
Good luck.
howsteepisit
12-26-07, 11:08 AM
Take a look at the Honda Element, although I usually take off my front wheel just to make packing easier. Its a great car for outdoor activities, all wheel drive, and rather than carpet its a waterproof liner, so you can wash the interior out.
It works for me and my slovenly lifestyle.
CrossChain
12-26-07, 11:19 AM
FWIW, I love my Subaru Forester on all counts. 46,000 miles so far. She and I have done many fire-roads up in the Sierra. We've swerved at the last second to avoid a few accidents and stayed stable and safe. They are very popular up in the nearby mountains for use in snow & mud. I have a rack on top, but more often just put down the back seat and toss in a bike. (I do have to remove the front wheel unless I want to much more carefully place it in. Wheel removal is simply easier. Relatively inexpensive than other, similar vehicles although not so unique in design to be a "box" for carrying things. But, works for me.
Retro Grouch
12-26-07, 11:24 AM
Take a look at the Honda Element,
I bought an Element this summer. It's long enough on the inside to hold my tandem and short enough on the outside to comfortably fit in my garage. I'm liking it a lot.
BILLYPATT
12-26-07, 11:28 AM
I'd second the recomendation on the Subaru Forester. I love mine. All wheel drive, great for mud and snow. Affordable. I lay down the back seat and put the bilke in with front tire in place. I also use a roof rack for times when i carry passengers and it is not too high to work with - I use a single step to load the bikes.
late
12-26-07, 11:39 AM
I have a 96 Avalon. In a couple years I'll have to ditch it. But as long
as the rate of repair isn't too bad, I don't feel any pressing need to change.
Get her a used Forester :)
swan652
12-26-07, 11:40 AM
I'd go for a Jeep (maybe a Rubicon) with a bike rack. You can toss your garage sale stuff in the backseat and they're great for getting around in the snow in San Di.......never mind.
Digital Gee
12-26-07, 11:57 AM
FWIW, I love my Subaru Forester on all counts. 46,000 miles so far. She and I have done many fire-roads up in the Sierra. We've swerved at the last second to avoid a few accidents and stayed stable and safe. They are very popular up in the nearby mountains for use in snow & mud. I have a rack on top, but more often just put down the back seat and toss in a bike. (I do have to remove the front wheel unless I want to much more carefully place it in. Wheel removal is simply easier. Relatively inexpensive than other, similar vehicles although not so unique in design to be a "box" for carrying things. But, works for me.
I've admired the Forester for some time now. I think it's attractive and practical. And Suburu enjoys a good reputation. What kind of mileage are you getting?
CrossChain
12-26-07, 12:21 PM
I've admired the Forester for some time now. I think it's attractive and practical. And Suburu enjoys a good reputation. What kind of mileage are you getting?
Not remarkable. Perhaps 23/24 around town. 26/27 cruising. My friends joke it's a "teacher car"....practical, value for the price, dependable, functional-- and oddly "cute". A smart pair of brown shoes.
I test road the turbo model....whoa! Hold on to the wheel and your gasoline credit card and enjoy the g-forces reconstituting your innards. Settled for the standard 4 banger/manual transmission which has proven just fine. The hill-holder clutch works great.
Digital Gee
12-26-07, 12:49 PM
Not remarkable. Perhaps 23/24 around town. 26/27 cruising. My friends joke it's a "teacher car"....practical, value for the price, dependable, functional-- and oddly "cute". A smart pair of brown shoes.
I test road the turbo model....whoa! Hold on to the wheel and your gasoline credit card and enjoy the g-forces reconstituting your innards. Settled for the standard 4 banger/manual transmission which has proven just fine. The hill-holder clutch works great.
Well, that beats my Avalon, which seems to get about 20 mph no matter what. Mostly freeway, I guess.
jab1362
12-26-07, 12:54 PM
+1 on the CRV I have a 2001 with 165,000 miles on it and it drives like the day we brought it home from the dealer. AWD 23 mpg the best car i've owned in the last 20 years.
Tom Bombadil
12-26-07, 12:58 PM
Toyota RAV4 is also very good in this category. Many people get 23-24 city, 29-30 highway. Slightly larger interior than the CR-V and Forester. The mileage penalty with the V-6 is only 1 mpg lower than the 4 cyl.
Another Subaru option is their Outback wagon. Larger than the Forester, a bit quieter & smoother ride, 4-wheel drive, and about the same gas mileage. Both of these are a bit pokey with the standard 2.5L engine and automatic transmission. Subaru has never made a good auto tranny. They are reliable, but slow to shift. Most cars are about 0.8 seconds slower on their 0-60 times with an auto, Subaru's are twice that.
I've test driven Subaru's with both manual and automatic, it is hard to believe it is the same engine as the performance is so different.
The Honda Fit is a well-made car. My neighbor has one and is getting 32/33 city and high 30's highway. Here the difference between the auto and manual is very slight.
The CR-V has amazing reliability. It is so well made for its price range that I don't know how Honda does it.
Marrock
12-26-07, 01:00 PM
The girlfriend and I have been discussing getting a car next year since her office is moving quite some way away and to get there by 9am on a bus would mean she has to be out there at the bus stop by about 6am.
I'm seriously thinking of getting something diesel powered so I can make my own fuel for it...
Tom Bombadil
12-26-07, 01:08 PM
I sure wish these companies offered some of their turbo-diesel engine options here in the USA. Some have great engines in their European models. Honda has a 2.2L turbo-diesel Accord that gets over 50mpg on the highway. If they offered this engine in their USA CR-V, it would be #1 on my list.
Even Chrysler is doing the same thing. Their new vehicle that replaces their Pacifica line in 2009 is going to be offered in Europe with a turbo-diesel and a 6-spd DSG tranny. Both are wonderful. But they won't be on the models sold in the States.
BCIpam
12-26-07, 01:28 PM
I have a 10 year old (with 140K miles on it) Ford Explorer 2 dr. 2 X 4 Sport. It has been the perfect bike hauling vehicle. I so want something new but haven't yet found anything that comes close. It's either too big or the rear box is too small for bikes. I'm starting to realize my only alternative is =gulp= a mini van or a small SUV and I add a bike trac like the Thule Sports Rac. For around town stuff don't mind putting the bikes on back but on trips I like to have them inside. I can lay one bike in but try to put in two no go.
DG can't wait to hear about what you see and what's out there. I am desperately seeking something that works! I like Hondas but have looked at the Ridgeline, CRV and Pilot. Yeah, I like trucks - what of it!
Look at the Suzuki SX4. No REALLY! You might not be able to fit your bike inside, but it's got a sturdy roof rack that a Yakima or Thule would mount right up too. It's very high on my list to replace or supplement my Jeep.
Chris
Jet Travis
12-26-07, 02:55 PM
Think small, dg. You can put a bike in the back of a Honda Civic by simply removing the front wheel (of the bike, not the Honda) and folding the seats down. The whole operation takes maybe 15 seconds. You'll get great reliability and excellent gas mileage--and if you think gas prices are high now, wait a year or two.
Tom Bombadil
12-26-07, 03:12 PM
Another one worth taking a look at, if you deal with being a mini-van owner, is the Mazda5. It's a Mazda3 hatchback that has been expanded a few inches into a mini-mini-van. Very nice utility. Decent gas mileage. Lots of space in it. Even fun to drive - got a bit of the Mazda Zoom Zoom in it.
And then there is the Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe. Reliable, good mileage, good utility.
Shifty
12-26-07, 03:23 PM
RAV-4 or Honda CRV The RAV 4 comes with either 4 cyl or V-6, both get excellent mileage.
maddmaxx
12-26-07, 03:30 PM
I sure wish these companies offered some of their turbo-diesel engine options here in the USA. Some have great engines in their European models. Honda has a 2.2L turbo-diesel Accord that gets over 50mpg on the highway. If they offered this engine in their USA CR-V, it would be #1 on my list.
Even Chrysler is doing the same thing. Their new vehicle that replaces their Pacifica line in 2009 is going to be offered in Europe with a turbo-diesel and a 6-spd DSG tranny. Both are wonderful. But they won't be on the models sold in the States.
I saw an article a while back that stated that something in the California automobile law was going to prevent Euro style Turbo-diesel from being used over here.
BillK
12-26-07, 03:39 PM
So...any suggestions of what to look at?
I could make a cute quip about "girls, of course", but this isn't Foo. :rolleyes:
Back in '04 when I was in the market I focused on three 4-wheel small SUVs: the Honda CR-V, the Subaru Forester, and the Toyota RAV4. All achieved good crash tests, got decent gas mileage, had good reputations and were very highly rated by Consumer's Report. I settled on the CR-V for three reasons: a) I like sitting up high (the Forester is not as "upright", more like a car), b) it had better back seat leg-room (important for a 6' 3" son, and one of shortfalls of the Forester at the time), and c) it was less costly than the RAV4.
I've now driven it ~65K miles and love it. My bike rack permanently hangs off the outside rear tire, which means it automatically swings with the door. The only complaint I have is that my bike won't fit inside unless I lower one or both of the back seat sections, preferably after I take the front wheel off.
For better or worse, however, Honda has moved the spare tire inside, so you're probably back to using a hitch mounted rack...trying to wrestle it inside...or going with a roof mounted rack (here the Forester would have the edge as the top is lower to ground, making it an easier manuever). If I were doing it again (now), I'd be tempted to go with the Honda Element. I haven't driven it, but I suspect my bike would slip easily inside.
BillK
Paydirt
12-26-07, 03:42 PM
Don't forget about the Toyota Prius. The back seat folds down in a snap and my road bike fits in with the back wheel on with no problem. I get between 45 and 55 mpg. Better in the city.
John E
12-26-07, 04:27 PM
Our 2001 VW Passat variant / estate / station wagon performs admirably as a bicycle transporter and in numerous other roles. I can put two bikes on the roof rack and five people inside, or two bikes and two people inside.
Unfortunately, I am extremely displeased with the ugly and gimmicky (electronic parking brake, anyone?) 2006 makeover of what had been an unusually attractive, well-designed, extensively imitated car based on the Audi A4 platform. The new Passat is an overgrown Jetta, in more ways than one. At this point, we plan and hope to keep driving our Passat another 8 to 10 years, but if we have to replace it any sooner, the Audi A4 and Subaru Legacy wagons continue to look like good successor candidates. I note with disappointment that another alternative, the Ford Focus wagon, just got discontinued.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I really like European sports wagons instead of SUVs, minivans, or even crossovers.
BCIpam
12-26-07, 04:31 PM
Don't forget about the Toyota Prius. The back seat folds down in a snap and my road bike fits in with the back wheel on with no problem. I get between 45 and 55 mpg. Better in the city.
Not a Pruis fan for many reasons. I just think the car is not that great of a value. There are regular cars, that don't have a battery that will wear out and need to be replaced that gets as good of mileage.
Also as to the Element, looked at it. For this old body it was probably the most uncomfortable thing I have ever driven and it didn't have all that much room inside although I could pull one bike through without taking off a wheel or the the seat.
Sadly just the way cars are designed anymore, it's hard to find one that you don't have to take everything off the bike to pull it in the back. I realize I can lay one down sideways, but I generally travel with friends and need to take 2 or 3 bikes. In my Explorer I take take 3 people and 3 bikes (just need to take off the front wheel) and all the gear. I need something to replace that car...
Tom Bombadil
12-26-07, 04:38 PM
The little Audi A3 wagon with the 2.0L Turbo and DSG tranny is a very nice driving vehicle, albeit a bit small. If I were buying right now, that would be way up on my list. Great handling, good performance, good quality, with some utility.
My '97 Acura Integra hatchback 5-spd provides me with much of this for a very low price. Hatch easily swallows a bike, even my recumbent. Gets 35 mpg on the highway and is fun to drive. It's really a great weekend cycling vehicle.
A small BMW wagon would be fun too.
The CR-V and RAV4 have the high riding positions, good road clearance, and good cargo space, but are no where near as fun to drive. Still there is a lot to be said for their utility and reliability.
Paydirt
12-26-07, 07:00 PM
Not a Pruis fan for many reasons. I just think the car is not that great of a value. There are regular cars, that don't have a battery that will wear out and need to be replaced that gets as good of mileage.
Sorry, but you can't name a car that gets within 10 mpg in the city that a Prius gets (55 mpg or more). As for the battery giving out, another myth that somebody came up with. They've been around since 98 and many have more than 250K on them. At over 3 bucks a gallon, in three years you have it paid for in fuel savings if you drive 35k a year like I do.
Have you ever even driven a Prius? Don't throw out false BS and judgment until you have.
shmulb
12-26-07, 07:55 PM
Honda Element could have been made for cyclists. I've had 3 people and 3 bikes inside mine. The seats fold out of the way in about 30secs or you can completely remove them in about 1 minute. The rubber floor wont damage the bikes or get damaged by them, and it's easy to clean. You can also get an internal bike rack.
Oh and it's fun to drive and it will never be confused with anything else.
rae
12-26-07, 08:03 PM
Think we could start a petition to bring back the Dodge Vista wagon ? Although now I would like better MPG than that got. I am tired of trying to finesse things into my Protege ( yeah, I do tag sales too)
Tom Bombadil
12-26-07, 08:10 PM
If you liked the Dodge Colt Vista, then you should like the Mazda5 mini-mini-van. The Mazda5 is similar, but better in almost every way. Although the Mazda doesn't attempt to squeeze in the 3rd row seating, which was ridiculously tight in the Vista.
The Vista was one of the slowest cars ever made. It took over 15 seconds to do a 0-60. Passing someone at interstate speeds was almost impossible. But it did have a lot of cargo space for its size.
BluesDawg
12-26-07, 08:33 PM
Honda Element could have been made for cyclists. I've had 3 people and 3 bikes inside mine. The seats fold out of the way in about 30secs or you can completely remove them in about 1 minute. The rubber floor wont damage the bikes or get damaged by them, and it's easy to clean. You can also get an internal bike rack.
Oh and it's fun to drive and it will never be confused with anything else.
+1 for the Element. I have a few cycling friends who have them and they are just so good for hauling bikes and people around. We even pulled a small trailer behind one to haul 4 people, our bikes and camping gear across the state for a week on BRAG a few years ago. One thing I really like about the Element is that you can clean the interior with a water hose. Than can be a very good thing if you do a lot of mountain biking. :D
cccorlew
12-26-07, 08:41 PM
My friend has an Element and loves it. I sw one with truckbed type fork mounts installed inside. Way cool!
I have an Subaru Outback. I could put one bike inside, I have put two in, but it takes blankets. I use my Yakima and am happy with the bikes on top.
I love this car. Great in snow, +25 mpg, usually higher. I can't say enough good about Subaru.
solveg
12-26-07, 08:55 PM
I have an outback, too. I loved it until I had a lot of issues with it at 100k miles. I was expecting it to go trouble free much longer. I also have a Honda Odyssey, and it's great for road trips, but I drive my Subaru around town and in snow. 27 mpg still at 120k. I have a Saris rack on the back. I want a trailer hitch rack, but I haul a trailer around a lot.
That's my biggest issue with the outback... it only hauls 2000 lbs unless you get the bigger engine. I don't think the Forrester is any better. The odyssey can haul 3500 lbs.
BluesDawg
12-26-07, 08:58 PM
I'm still happy with my Chrysler PT Cruiser as a bike hauling vehicle. With one of the split rear seats removed I carry a bike upright with the front wheel removed and the fork attached to a mount at the rear by the hatch. I can easily carry 2 bikes this way and have, in a pinch carried 3 bikes and 3 people inside.
Road Fan
12-26-07, 09:11 PM
Don't forget about the Toyota Prius. The back seat folds down in a snap and my road bike fits in with the back wheel on with no problem. I get between 45 and 55 mpg. Better in the city.
We have a Prius, and for one bike it works great to lie it down inside. For two bikes, it gets hard to lift to insert and to remove, and it's hard to intall two bikes without them tangling and getting scratched.
So far my Allen rear racks cause abrasion on the spoiler, and the bikes on the back reduce the gas mileage. Same result on our BMW 328, and on our former Saab wagon.
I can get one bike with wheels removed in the back seat of my BMW. I don't know what I want to do to haul two or three bikes inside, but I really want them to be upright and separated.
Road Fan
Road Fan
12-26-07, 09:21 PM
Sorry, but you can't name a car that gets within 10 mpg in the city that a Prius gets (55 mpg or more). As for the battery giving out, another myth that somebody came up with. They've been around since 98 and many have more than 250K on them. At over 3 bucks a gallon, in three years you have it paid for in fuel savings if you drive 35k a year like I do.
Have you ever even driven a Prius? Don't throw out false BS and judgment until you have.
I do have a Prius and I agree with you about the battery. Plus I am a power systems engineer with a lot of long-live battery-based experience, and as far as I can see Toyota is doing what is necessary to make batteries last. And Toyota has a beefed up battery warrantee. But, my wife and I DO NOT get the kind of mileage you are talking about, probably we have heavy feet. Especially since I can get better results than her on the same routes.
Road Fan
Digital Gee
12-26-07, 09:23 PM
I'm back from the car show. Here's one car I probably can eliminate from the list, because I'm not sure whether it would be better to mount a bike on top or on a hitch mount.
Digital Gee
12-26-07, 09:27 PM
And I don't think this one would get me the mileage I'd like...
Rosso Corsa
12-26-07, 09:35 PM
I add another vote for Toyota Rav4. With it most recent redesign it became much larger than it once was, and now a third row of seating is an option - a testament to its size. The V6 (whose fuel economy was outlined earlier) is quite the rocket, and it would definitely be reliable.
But then again, you can hose out an element...
guybierhaus
12-26-07, 10:32 PM
I'm 6', 231 pounds. I didn't sit in one, but felt Rav4 was too small, like wise the Scion Xb. I went with the Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe, the Vibe actually. But cars share the reliable Toyota drive train. I wanted a Toyota engine as oil filter is easier to get to for service. Matrix is built in US, Pontiac in Canada. I have to turn front wheel sideways and bike fits in with wheel on. I have the basic model 126 HP with auto trans. Get a constant 28 mpg and on a 300 plus mile trip to Virginia got 33 mpg. I suppose if I wasn't maintaining 75 mph on I-80, I may have done better. Bought used with 37k miles. Put 17k on it with no problems. If packing 2 bikes, I did remove front wheel so first bike would lay flater. Put a heavy moving blanket on top and laid in a second bike. Wife's Trek Lime weighs a ton, so have also rigged for a hitch rack. Simple after market hitch from ebay bolts to existing holes. So now carry two bikes outside. If just me bike still goes inside. Note the Toyota Matrix is more popular and will cost you more.
Shifty
12-26-07, 10:47 PM
I have a Honda Pilot, and can fit four road bikes inside with the rear seat folded. I have four fork mounts and the bikes are upright with front wheels off. Two bike face forward and two aft. I also have three mounts on the roof rack, that is where the bikes ride most of the time. On longer trips with two riders, the bikes fit nicely inside, with plenty of room for gear and luggage between the bikes. Great car, very comfortable, quiet, powerful V-6, but not the kind of mileage that the RAV 4 gets.
Look at the new Highlander too, sweet package!
jhglaw
12-26-07, 10:56 PM
I bought a 2008 VW GTI. I can easily put one road bike in the back without taking off a wheel. I got a 6 speed stick, 2 door w fancy rubber floor mats and no other options that listed for $23x. It is a blast to drive. It is rated at 21/29. I can get 25 around town and 28 on the highway at 80 mph.
skiph
12-26-07, 11:34 PM
If you liked the Dodge Colt Vista, then you should like the Mazda5 mini-mini-van. The Mazda5 is similar, but better in almost every way. Although the Mazda doesn't attempt to squeeze in the 3rd row seating, which was ridiculously tight in the Vista.
The Vista was one of the slowest cars ever made. It took over 15 seconds to do a 0-60. Passing someone at interstate speeds was almost impossible. But it did have a lot of cargo space for its size.
Tom:
Need to correct you on a couple of things...and add a few comments.
1. The Mazda 5 does have a 3rd row seat...small, but can hold 2 kids or small adults. Of course, with the 3rd row up, you can get about 4 grocery bags in the space that's left behind the back seat.
2. I still have (am the original owner of) a 1992 Dodge Colt Vista, a re-badged Mitsubishi Expo LRV. Dodge did not market the larger Mitsubishi Expo, the 4 door, "extended" version of the LRV. The Vista/LRV is a 3 door (1 sliding door on the passenger side) 5 passenger hatchback wagon. The LRV was also marketed by Eagle (remember them?) as the Eagle Summit wagon.
I looked at all the different models marketed by both car companies in late 1991 before I bought mine. I still have the brochures from all 3 companies, holding them in my hands right now.
My Colt with a 2.4 liter, 5 speed manual, is NOT the slowest car ever made. It goes as fast as I want (75 on the freeway if I don't watch it), and has been great in the snow (it's only the 2 wheel drive one, too) when I have gone skiing. I have no problem passing anybody going up hills, and have never used chains or studded snow tires. But then, I was a ski bum in a previous life...VW bug, VW Rabbit, tens of thousands of miles a winter. Pretty hard to stop either of those in the snow.
I was all over the Mazda 5 before it even hit the dealerships and was about to buy one when they had a recall in the fall of 2005. By the time they got the problem taken care of, I gave up on it as I really didn't NEED a new car. There were also some problems, utility wise with the Mazda...a bike would not fit in it standing up if I recall, not tall enough (I took extensive interior measurements of it). The roof rack situation was sketchy, although the posters in various Mazda 5 forums overcame most of those. They were also 'banned' from having a trailer hitch, but a number of posters got hitches anyway to tow very small trailers or, mainly, to attach a hitch mounted bike rack.
Since I didn't buy a new car (just a few thou over 100K on the Colt in 16 years), I've put more miles on my bikes since July of 2006 than I have on my car, another reason for not really needing a new car. I just started spending money on bikes and schwag, nothing on the car.
I confess I am still looking for a car of some kind, but so far have found nothing as good as the old 92 Colt Vista (from time to time, I also haul a 19' fiberglass rowing shell around on a roof rack). I use a bike rack mounted on the hatch back, and at times do put 1 bike inside, but have to fold up the rear seat and remove the front wheel and attach the fork to one of these mounted on a 1x6 inside the car:
I'd like to take a look at the newest Scion XB, but it's about 80 miles to the nearest dealer. One of my friends' wife has an early Element. I was not impressed by it back then, but haven't looked at newer ones. Something about having the back seats folded up against the windows didn't appeal to me. I just checked their web site and they still fold the seats up, blocking the rear side windows.
So for now, it's still the Dodge/Mitsubishi.....and bikes.
Tom Bombadil
12-27-07, 12:29 AM
I owned a '89 Dodge Colt Vista with an automatic. Worst car I've ever owned, edging out a 1980 Ford Fairmont for that honor. With the auto it was turtle slow. It was famous for having a flawed carburetor which would flood at a moment's notice. You could have it fixed with new parts and if you were lucky, it would be 2 or 3 more years until you needed them again. There were so many failures that Chrysler ran out of the parts.
I timed mine doing 0-60 and it took 15.7 seconds. A 4-banger Toyota Corolla does it in less than 10. It had a 2.0L 96hp engine that was way underpowered for the weight of the vehicle (>3000 pounds).
After a long series of repairs, I eventually gave it to my auto mechanic for free one day. Signed the title and handed it over. I think it was about 9 years old at the time.
I loved the interior layout, like a small mini-van. And visibility was excellent.
I'd forgotten the Mazda5 had 3rd row seats. I thought it was too bad that it did, because if it didn't it would have more cargo area, even when they are folded down. Not surprised that it can't hold an upright bike. Hard to find any compact car that will.
kakman
12-27-07, 12:33 AM
I test road the turbo model....whoa! Hold on to the wheel and your gasoline credit card and enjoy the g-forces reconstituting your innards.
I have the turbo - ultimate family car - room for the kids, 4WD, easy to drive, pretty cheap to run and 0-60mph in 6.4 secs. What more could you want?
/k
skiph
12-27-07, 01:00 AM
I owned a '89 Dodge Colt Vista with an automatic. Worst car I've ever owned, edging out a 1980 Ford Fairmont for that honor. With the auto it was turtle slow. It was famous for having a flawed carburetor which would flood at a moment's notice. You could have it fixed with new parts and if you were lucky, it would be 2 or 3 more years until you needed them again. There were so many failures that Chrysler ran out of the parts.
I timed mine doing 0-60 and it took 15.7 seconds. A 4-banger Toyota Corolla does it in less than 10. It had a 2.0L 96hp engine that was way underpowered for the weight of the vehicle (>3000 pounds).
After a long series of repairs, I eventually gave it to my auto mechanic for free one day. Signed the title and handed it over. I think it was about 9 years old at the time.
I loved the interior layout, like a small mini-van. And visibility was excellent.
I'd forgotten the Mazda5 had 3rd row seats. I thought it was too bad that it did, because if it didn't it would have more cargo area, even when they are folded down. Not surprised that it can't hold an upright bike. Hard to find any compact car that will.
Ah...you had an OLD Vista...the 92 was a brand new model that year, a total make-over. Fuel-injection, no carb. They looked like this, the smaller one:
(Sorry for the small pictures....stolen from a web site).
If you look closely at the smaller one, you can see the progenitor of the Crysler PT Crusier.....
charles vail
12-27-07, 01:58 AM
I'm going to the San Diego Auto Show today (woohoo!) with an eye towards finding a good vehicle to support my biking habit. This may be the year I turn over my 8 year old Avalon to my second daughter when she's licensed so that's as good excuse as any to get a new vehicle.
Now, cars have almost no appeal to me anymore except as a means of getting from here to there. I've been through the fancy car stage long ago with a neat little BMW 325 and a Mazda RX-7. Since then, it's all about reliability and dependability. Not that the Avalon doesn't have some creature comforts, but for the most part, all of that is wasted on me.
I nearly pulled the trigger on a Honda Element a while back, and even was impressed with a Honda Fit, of all things, which has an amazing amount of interior space to hold a bike or other stuff.
Anyway, I'll be looking for a vehicle which makes it easy to store a bike inside without taking off the wheel, has an interior that's easy to clean, gets reasonable mileage, and I can reasonably keep for the next 7-8 years. I might use it to get a mountain bike up into the, well, mountains and do some light camping from it as well. (It doesn't have to be a 4x4 however.)
I also like to bring home the occasional treasure from a garage sale (things that aren't even bikes!).
So...any suggestions of what to look at?
That sounds like a small truck with a canopy!
Aside from that, any old auto will do if you ride a Bike Friday or have S&S couplers put on a steel framed bicycle. You could even pack a BF on a motorcycle.
Maybe a small trailer would be better for rummage sale items in addition to hauling your bike/bikes.
I drive a rebuilt 1981 Isuzu Diesel car with 200,000+ miles on it and I get 30 mpg city or highway. I have to take off the front wheel of a bike to get it inside so I just ride my bike everywhere instead. If I'm going too far to a local group ride I use either a 93 Taurus wagon or a 92 Astro van. Both suck gas like theres no tomorrow so I feel guilty using them to go on a bike ride. Thats about like taking your horse for a ride in a $60,000 pickup and trailer. It kind of defeats the purpose of the horse and seems kind of pointless.
WHOOOSSHHH...
12-27-07, 03:08 AM
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k277/883elder/006.jpg
The one right along side my bike would be perfect. At 11 mpg it's just right!!;)
shmulb
12-27-07, 05:06 AM
One thing I really like about the Element is that you can clean the interior with a water hose. Than can be a very good thing if you do a lot of mountain biking. :D
This is a myth that the dealer warns you about when he hands you the keys. They are easy to clean but hosing them down will do damage !