Scorer75

My new car arrives at my office today!!!!

I_bRAD

Nice!

Check out this stuff to finish it off...

https://www.topfiveracks.com/

Basscycle

Don't know about being the best car but I can throw my bike in the back or slap my rack in the trailer hitch if I need to carry more than one. Honda has an in-bed bike rack but I've got a hard cover tonneau, it'd be too much of a pain to take it on and off every time I want to use it. As it sits, my bike fits nicely under the tonneau.

rpc180

I got my car before I started cycling, now Serena is a 2003 Mazda 3 that only comes out on weekends; mostly to drive to a ride start - sometimes to get groceries Her rear seats are permanently folded to fit the bike (and she's fit 2 inside, on several occasions). She's totally jealous of the Cannondale that puts on more miles per month than she does.

SesameCrunch

Good call on the Outback wagon! It's been a real reliable car for us for the last 85,000 miles. Out of our 3 cars, it's the one I prefer to take when I'm biking.

The car that doesn't work for cycling is the '94 Jaguar XJS, my other baby...

bitterken

Hmm...bunch of nice cars out there...

For me, I have an '03 Civic sedan with a Yakima roof rack setup. Last weekend I had my Merlin and a buddy's IF on there and more then doubled the value of the car... :-)

cuda2k

2003 GMC Sierra reg cab, short bed truck. Only thing I'd change is maybe an extended cab for more space behind the seats to store gear heading out to rides. Got the SLE trim, 4.8L V8.

enamore22

My Element meets all those requirements!



I really need to get a good pic with my bike loaded in there...

voltman

I thought the Element had poor fuel efficiency?

nocondorfx

my 2 cars:
great gas mileage, not much room for my bike


great room for bikes, not so much gas mileage

JayC

Trailer hitch and Yakima rack.. works great.

anonymouse99

My neighbor's got a Honda Element. That is the car you want. Very utilitarian. The same bracket that the removable rear seats attach to allow for a fork cradle, so two bikes can comfortably stand in the back of the vehicle, just as if they were strapped to a roof rack. Despite that, he's got the roof rack so none of the seating is sacrificed.

GuitarWizard

When I SAG'ed out of the century a couple weekends ago, I got to spend about an hour or so in one of those Honda Elements. I thought it was a really neat vehicle - NEVER would've considered one before that day, but now they have piqued my interest a bit. It's a great vehicle for someone with hobbies, as long as you don't have to carry people.

I have a 2004.5 VW Jetta GLI w/ the 1.8T (with Revo software), 6 speed manual, stock GLI Recaro seats, stock 18" BBS wheels w/ Goodyear F1's, stock Votex body kit, black magic pearl metallic paint, etc. I just fold the rear seats down and throw the bike and gear in....works great. Very fun car to drive.

I also have an 04 Ford Escape Limited, which I basically gave to my girlfriend.

There's also a '97 Jetta Trek sitting in my driveway, that's seen better days. Need to get rid of that thing at some point.

Scorer75

Noooooooo........ Not another toy that needs accessories.

I really don't plan to modify it much and I plan to use the Thule rack that I've been using on my wife's Explorer to transport the bike. Either that or put it in the back.

I'm pobably going to keep the Jeep mostly stock and then in 2 or 3 years get a new one to modify.

CanyonChaser

we have an 03 Subaru. Love the car, AWD rocks - I only wish it had more power. If we would have just waited a bit longer.... The super turbo (or is it supercharged) outback wagons have to be about the most versatle and most fun car on the road right now. Plus Click 'N Clack still say the Subaru is the most reliable car on the market. Whats not to love?

dp

7.rider

I also used to drive an '04 TL and loved it. However, after having it a year, I Had a hard time finding a roof rack, hitch, etc. that I liked. I waited a year because I wanted to wait for the paint to harden - When I bought a new car in 1999, I was told the paint needs a year to harden on a new car. I Did not know if this was true until I saw a friend's car who had removed the moon roof visor he had installed when he bought the car. Sure enough there was a slight groove/indentation in the paint where the visor had been.

Anyway, ended up getting rid of the TL and getting an '05 MDX. Best thing I ever did! Although, it does not meet your mileage criteria, I am getting about 20-21 mph with 75% highway and 25% stop and go (all stop and go stinks, about 15 or so). I got the hitch installed and bought a Yakima KingPin 4 hitch bike mount. I can carry very comfortably 4 people, their bikes and plenty of gear with the third row seating folded down.

drdhsimon

2006 Acura MDX....lousy gas mileage, but fold the seats down and my bike fits without taking either wheel off. Otherwise it can seat 7, has AWD, and is pretty fun to drive

BrianJ1888

that Element reminds me of my dad's new FJ Cruiser. Not so great on the mileage, but great for carrying bikes.

Stallion

If I take the front wheel off and fold the hatch seats down, I can fit my bike and a couple sets of wheels

Psydotek

Maybe not the best car for cyclists, but i love my car. (i got it before my bike)

2003 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan

It's my daily driver and road rally machine.

No bike rack (no plans for one either), my bike fits in the back seat no problem when i'm running around to triathlons.

I've had it for 4 years and i'm nearly at 100k miles and it's never given me problems. It's well taken care of (not pampered/spoiled though) and mild-moderately modified (engine is stock, suspension/lighting is not). Not the fastest in a straight line, but that doesn't bother me. It's been modded to be fun to drive and fast around corners, espically at night.

However, i think if/when i buy a new car in afew years, i'd get a Forester STi. It should be avaliable in the US by then (well, i'm hoping it'll be avaliable). Big hatch, lots of cargo room, and plenty of power.

More pics here: https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1025302

enamore22

19 city / 24 hwy... exactly what the original poster wanted.

DocRay

19 city in yor dreams, that's EPA, which has nothing to do with reality.

A local Elite class racer from Toronto shows up to our races in a SMART turbodeisel car, bike in trunk, with girlfriend.
~60 real mpg.

imageWIS

Her in SoFLA, on Sunday mornings you see a lot of nondescript white vans parked along A1A (the FL equivalent of the PCH), and they are all used to transport bikes.

Jon.

I_bRAD

Pfft.

If you're gonna drive that you might as well just ride your bike.

voltman

Why?