2018 Best Car for Bike Owners Megathread
 

The original Best Car for Bike Owners thread was started in March of 2016, almost two years ago.

New year, new models... Lets start fresh.

Keep it bike related. What about the car makes it the best car for bike owners?

I'll start. Honda Element. Hands down. Seats fold up to the side. French doors open wide. Fits a full size Thermarest sleeping pad for camping out at Gravel races. They are in high demand and price is commensurate. My neighbor refers to hers as "my not for sale Honda Element."


-Tim-

How about bike owners with two kids? We need a new car to replace our aging 1999 Honda Civic and are looking for something bigger than our 5-door Subaru Impreza. Suggestions?

Shouldn't you at least pick a model that is being currently manufactured? They seem very utilitarian, why did Honda kill them?

I went with an off-lease Mercedes ML350 (GLE 350 is the current model). Bike fits inside and it's way cooler than a prius, which a bike also fits inside.

Subaru Forester?

I recommend the XT Touring Edition because turbo. ;)


-Tim-

I can lay my large bikes down in my 2017 Forester with the rear seats folded down. No need to remove a wheel. One of the main reasons I bought it. That, the all-wheel drive and the no-haggle, 2% below invoice price I get through work.

Tahoe - take out the 3rd row seat and attach a fork mount. Can carry bike and 4 people comfortably.

Renault Kangoo. Fold one rear seat down and seats 4 plus a bike complete and standing upright.
Fold both rear seats down for more bikes and less people.

Subaru Outbacks are seemingly morphing into minivans, but I'd still vote for one over a Forester. (I'm bummed that they no longer offer any with a manual transmission, though. :()

We had an outback, the cargo space and back seat were not any more spacious than the trunk and back seat of my passat. Great cars though. Almost any car will take a bike with the back wheel off in to the back seat and/or trunk.

Not really seeing the benefit of SUVs and crossovers.

Vans, minivans, honda elements though....

I say get a VW bus. Air-cooled is the best way.

Just about the only car that's actually uglier than the T&C mini van. And the minivan is better at literally everything.

Winner. :thumb:

If you have to transport it outside your car with a rack, there's just too much risk. Especially if you're vacationing

Jeep Wrangler for me. I can hold 2 or 3 in the back, with 2 passengers. and has an attachment for a large external rack.

Minivan is probably the best option for pure volume.

https://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimag...thighyb063.jpg
I have an older Highlander, which was excellent when I was camping all the time with the kids,
but I'm thinking about getting a smaller wagon or even a prius, which would work equally well for cycling.

Subaru Outback. Easily takes a roof rack or a hitch rack, and can swallow a bike whole with the seats folded down. Just too damned practical.

If vans count, maybe trucks too? F150 Supercrew with a bed cap. I've carried four bikes on fork mounts (locked up and out of the weather) myself, three passengers and everyone's luggage for a week long cycle camping tour.

That's the point, not having to take the wheels off especially for bikes with thru axles and disk brakes.

Thru axles require tools and really should be torqued before riding if at all possible. Disk brakes should have a brake block installed whenever the wheel is removed to prevent popping the piston out of the bore if the lever is accidentally pressed. Having to take the wheel off turns a 30 second process into a big rigmarole.

My Forester, or any SUV really, allows the bike to slip inside without having to do any of that.


-Tim-

This makes me love Focus' RAT system all the more. Can you fit in the cargo area with seat up? We couldnt in the outback. Bike fits fine in my trunk without taking wheel off in my Passat if the rear seat is folded down.

Is the Honda Element tall enough to load the bike upright with both wheels on?

We aren't talking about carrying motor bikes, so just about any car will work fine. It just depends on how many bikes, what kind, and how dedicated or utilitarian one wants the vehicle to be.

I may have to take the wheels off, but the wheels have bags and the trunk is carpeted, so the frame doesn't get nicked or anything, and everything gets stowed nicely without any real fuss. At first I was uncertain and a bit clumsy at getting the rear wheel on and off, but now I find it to be a very happy arrangement. Putting the bike(s) in the passenger compartment doesn't seem ideal to me - at least not in a vehicle designed for passenger comfort, with nice carpet, upholstery and trim. I really like my car, and I like that I can easily accommodate the bike in it. I don't want an uglier car just so I can keep the rear wheel on the bike when it's time to go home. ;)

What you want is a high-roof Sprinter. Nothing seems more ideal for carrying bikes - including motos. Just walk right in and park it. :) Thing is, would you want such a vehicle for anything other than carrying bikes?

2017 Subaru impreza 5 door with trailer hitch.

I have been too Outback-focused and really missed just how much cargo space the Forester has, especially the base model. Do you know why the higher spec'ed models lose ~5 ft^3 vs. the base? That extra volume puts it on par with the Outback and for far less money. I'm liking it.

I have a 'fast' turbo car and I don't drive it. I think those days are behind me.

While I disagree on the hassle of removing a thru axle wheel (I find it nearly as fast as a quick release, other than needing to first locate an appropriate hex key for my flush thru axles), I am curious if you manage to fit an assembled bike in the back of a Forester with the seats up. This is a HUGE deal to me because kids = car seats in the back row so even if I am not hauling the kids I need to deal with those seats. Removing and reinstalling those is far more hassle than even taking both wheels off a bike.

My truck will carry just about anything, including a bike in the back. And 5975 pounds more.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/711/2...16648393_h.jpg