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| Title: | Bicycling |
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun |
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER |
|
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3214 |
| Total number of notes: | 31946 |
2251.0. "a car to fit the bike" by GOLF::OSBORN (Sally's VAXNotes Vanity Plate) Tue Apr 21 1992 22:07
Am I considering buying a car which won't hold my bike?
It's time for me to buy a new automotive vehicle, one that has manual
transmission, no air conditioning, more than four doors, and neither a
notchback nor a convertible body style. I want a something with folding
back seat(s), so that I can carry my bike OR four people OR fourteen copy
paper boxes OR four sewing machines with 83 kimonos.
I've done the literature search and am currently considering the following
hatchbacks, wagons, and vans, listed in vague order of increasing price:
Geo Metro, Ford Escort, Ford Escort, Dodge Shadow, Mercury Tracer,
Toyota Corolla, VW Golf, Plymouth Sundance, Eagle Summit,
Plymouth Colt Vista, Mitsubishi Expo, Subaru Legacy, Dodge Caravan,
Plymouth Voyager, Mitsubishi Expo, Ford Aerostar, Jeep Cherokee,
Chevy S10 Blazer, Toyota Previa, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Does your bike NOT fit into one of these considered cars?
Do you have another vehicle to add to the list of possibilities?
Thanks,
Sally whose current car is an '83 diesel VW Rabbit,
a slow and steady car which matches her biking speed.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2251.1 | GRAND CARAVANS FIT TANDEMS | AKOCOA::FULLER | | Wed Apr 22 1992 09:41 | 4 |
| We bought a Grand Caravan to hold the tandem. With the rear seat out,
bike rolls right in with the front wheel off.
steve
|
| 2251.2 | two many choices | NOVA::FISHER | Rdb/VMS Dinosaur | Wed Apr 22 1992 11:04 | 10 |
| I've carried many bikes in my Voyager. With both back seats out
I could roll the tandem right up between the two front seats.
With the seats in I can put a bike behind the back seat and another
infront of the middle seat with the front wheel off. Or
I could remove both seats and tie a pair of bikes against one wall
and carry a lot of gear too. In the usual configuration, I
have the back seat out and 1 or 2 bikes in its place, and
sometimes one in front of the middle seat.
ed
|
| 2251.3 | Mini van = Best choice | NEMAIL::DELORIEA | I've got better things to do. | Wed Apr 22 1992 11:16 | 21 |
| Sally,
The mini van is the way to go. I personally like the
Toyota Previa. Its back seats fold and then flip up to
the side wall to allow for a larger cargo area. It's very
easy to do. Not like removing a seat.
I think it's also the best riding mini-van and it's the
only mini-van that meets the Passenger *Car* Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
Now if I could only afford one.
I used to have a 78 VW Micro-Bus and now have a four
door car. Boy do I miss that VW. It had lots of room and
character.
Once you have a mini-van you'll never be able to be without
one again. They are so multi purpose.
Tom
|
| 2251.4 | VW Golf | ODIXIE::RRODRIGUEZ | I think I know a short-cut | Mon Apr 27 1992 11:02 | 8 |
| I have a Thule rack on my '86 VW Golf. I have a 60CM frame and
can fit it in the hatch without folding the rear seat down. That
is nice for me since I often ride after work and prefer not to
leave it vulnerable to rain/theft. I use the rack for a short drive.
2
r
|
| 2251.5 | Suburban | SSDEVO::EDMONDS | Diane | Tue Apr 28 1992 15:19 | 9 |
| I'm only half joking in suggesting:
You should add the Chevy Suburban to your list!
It can hold a tandem + 4 passengers + 2 other bikes, or it can hold
5 passengers + 5 bikes, or 3 passengers + 3 bikes + enough camping gear
to survive for a year... you get the picture.
- Diane
|
| 2251.6 | Taurus/Sable | PHONE::MURRAY | Tom, Telecom AD and Arch, 264-3339 | Thu Apr 30 1992 11:51 | 18 |
| Re .0
If you're allowing something as large as a mini-van, look at
a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable wagon. Drives like a car, new
ones come with airbag, used ones are relatively cheap. And
they're relatively reliable. (Not as good as Japanese, but
better than Chrysler stuff.)
I drive a Taurus sedan, and fit my bike in the trunk with
both wheels off. It's nicely out of sight this way. With
vertical rear dropouts, put the chain on the smallest cog and
the rear wheel can be taken off and installed without touching
the chain. But this is not an easy exercise if the dropouts open
forward.
Taurus/Sable wagon seats fold down; the sedan's don't.
Happy trails, Tom
|
| 2251.7 | Ford Escort Wagon | GOLF::OSBORN | Sally's VAXNotes Vanity Plate | Thu Apr 30 1992 12:20 | 14 |
| Thanks for your helpful comments, including some MAIL from
reading Noters.
I'm sure glad buying a bike doesn't involve the deception and
sleaze I encountered in the car business! I'm also glad to have
found two dealers with consumer-friendly live-ware with whom I
felt at ease.
I've chosen a Ford Escort wagon. Many of the vans and most of
the wagons weren't readily available with manual transmissions
and without air conditioning. (There is already a big van in the
family.) I'll pickup my car the day I return from TOSRV.
Sally
|