Best Car for Biking
11-23-12, 09:05 AM
#101
Semper Fi
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John,
I really like that set up, when you first showed a pic it and yours seem very well done. it reminds me of the "Custom Vans" we had in the 70's and adapted to holding our dirt bikes and gear/spares. Those were neat set ups but not gas friendly at all, big V-8's and really wide 60 series tyres on Cragar 5 spoke rims aren't real gas savers. I want a Skoda wagon as available in Europe and Australia, with a Yakima or Thule roof rack and I could set up the interior myself.
Bill
I really like that set up, when you first showed a pic it and yours seem very well done. it reminds me of the "Custom Vans" we had in the 70's and adapted to holding our dirt bikes and gear/spares. Those were neat set ups but not gas friendly at all, big V-8's and really wide 60 series tyres on Cragar 5 spoke rims aren't real gas savers. I want a Skoda wagon as available in Europe and Australia, with a Yakima or Thule roof rack and I could set up the interior myself.
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
11-23-12, 09:30 AM
#102
Don from Austin Texas
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I currently have a Dodge Quad Pick Up. I like the PU for biking because I have a cover for the bed and I can put my bike in the bed and go.
I am thinking about getting a car maybe some kind of cross over vehicle. I would like a car that I can put the bike in the rear with my gear. I don't care if I have to take off the front tire.
I don't want to have to use a bike rake all of the time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
buddy
I am thinking about getting a car maybe some kind of cross over vehicle. I would like a car that I can put the bike in the rear with my gear. I don't care if I have to take off the front tire.
I don't want to have to use a bike rake all of the time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
buddy
Already upgraded the factory sound system!
Don in Austin
11-23-12, 09:40 AM
#103
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isn't this a bit of a stretch? what if they break into my house and get my car and my bikes? point is, a glass car window is not very secure. and car prowls are much more likely than car theft at a trail head, unless you got a 1976 Toyota that can be started with a screwdriver ...
11-23-12, 10:01 AM
#104
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We used to use our Ford Escape. Put the wife's trike in the back and my bike on a rack. Taded the wifes jeeps for a new Dodge Caravan and now both her trike and my bike fit in the back. I built a rack to hold my bike upright. PLenty of room for stowing everything we need for a trip (Just went to Moab) with all the rear seas stowed down. If we are riding with friends and take one vehicle, the last set of seats go down, the trike in the back and the other 3 bikes on a rack in the rear.
11-23-12, 02:18 PM
#105
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May I suggest a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI. Great car, lots of room. I have had 6 bikes on the roof (custom rack from a friend @ Team Radio Shack) and all the gear for 6 with food and clothes, and I still got 30 MPG over 300 miles. I can fit 2 bikes in the back with the wheels on . 
11-23-12, 07:42 PM
#106
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I think the post is looking for cars where the bike fits well in the interior rather than outside.
11-24-12, 09:05 AM
#107
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My Toyota Rav4 can fit two bikes in the back with all wheels on. My very small road bike can stand straight up. My spouse's is taller and has to lean. But no wheels need to be removed provided you drop the back seats down. I don't think our back seats have been upright in a year. 
My jetta TDI can fit any of our bikes in the trunk with the back seat down but you have to take off the front wheel. But I usually toss my road bike in the back seat with the front wheel off. This is my bike garage in the winter when traveling by motorhome. As we travel south there will be two road bikes broken down in the Jetta and two hybrids on the rack on the back.
My jetta TDI can fit any of our bikes in the trunk with the back seat down but you have to take off the front wheel. But I usually toss my road bike in the back seat with the front wheel off. This is my bike garage in the winter when traveling by motorhome. As we travel south there will be two road bikes broken down in the Jetta and two hybrids on the rack on the back.
11-24-12, 09:12 AM
#108
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I've been using a Toyota Prius gen 2 exactly that way for 'bout 5 years now. Next for the fam is a Prius V, which is somewhat bigger inside and out. And still gets 40+ mpg!
11-24-12, 09:26 AM
#109
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Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
11-24-12, 09:43 AM
#110
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In my old, '96, Camry, my bike can fit with the front wheel off if the seats are folded down--with both wheels removed, the bike fits with the seats up.
11-24-12, 01:04 PM
#111
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Prius' are best for biking - either put your bike in the trunk with the front wheel off or get a hitch or use a hitch rack as I do, and of course enjoy the great gas mileage (I'm always amazed at all the SUV's parked at bike events, not good drivers and not especially comfortable, either). Actually the best ever bike car ever was a 1984 Civic wagon, or shuttle as known in other locales. It took me and my bike (and others') for over 150k miles before it was retired, with very little maintenance.
I believe a larger cargo version of the Prius is about to come to market in the US.
I believe a larger cargo version of the Prius is about to come to market in the US.
11-24-12, 05:45 PM
#112
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I'm assuming that you guys that are carrying your bikes in the back of hatchback automobiles and small crossovers are only carrying one bike and lying it down. What do you do if you have to carry more than one bike? Do you stack them on top of one another? Just curious as I don't see how some of the cars mentioned can haul more than one bike any other way.
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11-24-12, 05:51 PM
#113
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isn't this a bit of a stretch? what if they break into my house and get my car and my bikes? point is, a glass car window is not very secure. and car prowls are much more likely than car theft at a trail head, unless you got a 1976 Toyota that can be started with a screwdriver ...
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Fred "The Real Fred"
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11-24-12, 05:59 PM
#114
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Back seat can hold a complete bike after removing the bottom cushion.
Holds two bikes by removing the front wheels.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
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11-24-12, 06:40 PM
#118
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I have 140K miles on my Prius 2G and it's hauled my bike around inside many of those miles. I also have a receiver hitch on the rear that has a rack that will carry 3 bikes. It's been great.
11-25-12, 08:20 AM
#119
feros ferio
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The A4 Avant was on my short shopping list, but it just got discontinued in the US. The Golf-based ("Jetta") Sportwagen will disappear when the current stock has sold, since Europe already has a new Golf. I hope VW/Audi realizes just how big a hole they are leaving in their product line. My vote for best-ever car is still our 2001 Passat wagon.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-25-12, 08:23 AM
#120
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I told my friends that if a Prius wagon ever came out, I would buy one. Now I may have to do that ...
I do wish the Prius V came w/ a secure factory-installed longitudinal roof rail system like my Passat wagon's.
I do wish the Prius V came w/ a secure factory-installed longitudinal roof rail system like my Passat wagon's.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-25-12, 08:26 AM
#121
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Unfortunately, roof rail systems introduce more drag and reduce avg mpg. The Prius is touted as a high mileage per gallon vehicle and introducing more drag would be counter productive.
11-25-12, 08:36 AM
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I'm assuming that you guys that are carrying your bikes in the back of hatchback automobiles and small crossovers are only carrying one bike and lying it down. What do you do if you have to carry more than one bike? Do you stack them on top of one another? Just curious as I don't see how some of the cars mentioned can haul more than one bike any other way.
Last edited by Looigi; 11-25-12 at 08:39 AM.
11-25-12, 08:43 AM
#123
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I'm assuming that you guys that are carrying your bikes in the back of hatchback automobiles and small crossovers are only carrying one bike and lying it down. What do you do if you have to carry more than one bike? Do you stack them on top of one another? Just curious as I don't see how some of the cars mentioned can haul more than one bike any other way.
A friend used to put 4 or even 5 bikes in his Suburban with furniture pads betweenn them.
11-25-12, 03:09 PM
#125
Dave Ferris
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I have a 2012 Prius and before I put wider handle bars (lbs recommendation for safer descent down steep mountain fireroads) on the Ellsworth, I could get either bike in there. Now it's more difficult without taking the front wheel off the Ellsworth...it will fit but I have to really futz with it. The Litespeed still fits fine without taking the wheel off.
I bought one of those Thule racks for the back of the Prius that fits two bikes. We also have a 2002 VW Passat wagon that the mountain fits a little better in.
I bought one of those Thule racks for the back of the Prius that fits two bikes. We also have a 2002 VW Passat wagon that the mountain fits a little better in.
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