Originally Posted by PaulRivers

Does your back seat fold forward and create a pass-through between the trunk and the backseat? If so, you can probably fit your bike into the car just by taking off the front wheel, then putting the rest of the bike in the trunk (with part through the pass-through). I know it might sound like work, but it's not nearly as much work as removing the rear wheel, and believe me - it's no more work than putting on and off a trunk rack (I also own a bones 3 rack for times I need to carry more than 1 bike). (I assume your front wheel has a quick-release)

If you can get the bike in and out of the car easily, it's a waaaaaaay better solution than any rack. The bike isn't hanging off the car as an obvious theft magnet, you don't have to worry about it falling off the car if you forget to cinch down the straps or something or there's huge winds, it doesn't block your view out the back, etc. On a minor note it doesn't reduce your gas mileage either, but that's probably not a big deal.

I have a Saris Bones 3, and I'm pleased with it, but it's annoying to take on and off the car with all the straps. It probably is the cheapest option, though.

Roof racks are the most expensive option, and I disagree with the other poster about their safey - I have yet to know someone personally who has had a bike destroyed in a car accident, but I've know at least 2 people who have pulled into their garage stuff on their rack. You just have to do it once to destroy you entire bike. I guess there's workarounds, like putting your garage door open in your car in a different place to remind yourself you have bikes on the top, I'm just saying - that's my view of it.

The absolute most convenient thing to do, if you can't fit the bike in the car, is to use a hitch rack. You have to get a hitch installed, though - price-wise it's probably somewhere between the trunk rack and the roof rack (hitch and install is like $150 at uhaul, a good rack is like $200-$250).

Seriously, though - I bought a new car this year and I absolutely refused to even look at anything that didn't have a fold-down rear seat so I could fit my bike (with the front wheel off) in the trunk. It's sooooooo much easier than *any* of the rack options. The front wheel on your bike should have a quick release - it's way faster than any of the other options.