Is your car any good for fitting bikes and 'stuff' in?

[byegad]

My Toyota Auris was only bought after the salesman let me try my largest trike in the back. With the rear seats flat it just rolls in.

 

[biggs682]

Ford C-max - the mini-MPV version of the Focus. We've just upgraded our 2003 model to a 2010 model.

another vote for the c max from here we replaced our picyourass with it . whilst its not so big inside i have had 3 x road bikes in with fr wheels off and room for 3 people .
i hate to say it but about a Volvo estate or a Honda crv ?

 

[Sara_H]

My OH has a Honda CRV. We could probably live in there if need be.

 

[solitaire]

I can get my bike in (just) if I take the front wheel off!!

 

[arch684]

Many years ago I bought a 12 seat mini bus,removed 8 of the seats and fitted a cooker and sink from a caravan.It used to take a pram bikes all the camping gear and 3 kids.Sold it after the kids were growing up and did'ent want to go camping

 

[DCLane]

don't suppose you have a link for the boot bike rack ?? I have a convertible and can't have a tow bar and found nothing suitable so far for transporting bikes.

It's a Saris Bones 2. Check their website for fitting guides for your car

 

[Kestevan]

C4 Picasso here. Excellent car/van when it works..... but tbh the build quality is a bit pants and I wouldn't rush to buy another.

I'd be looking at a Skoda Octavia estate as mentioned upthread.

If I was feeling a bit adventurous I'd also consider an older Merc estate, a highish mileage C or perhaps E class estate will be around 2.5K and will have pretty much bulletproof mechanicals - if you can find one that's been well looked after.

 

[bianchi1]

My VW transporter combi does the job nicely. I used to own a skoda estate but found that 2 children, bikes, camping stuff etc was just too much. Long trips to France were an uncomfortable ordeal.

The van, with it's easily removable extra seats, means I can take spare bikes if I want, all in comfort. Due to its hight, the van also counts as a car on ferries, fits in all car parks, does not cost extra on the toll roads and I don't have to get vouchers to go to the local tip! It's extra seats also means it counts as a car for insurance purposes.

The only downside is that other transporter users think I have joined some sort of club...and I get more waves and thumbs up than when I'm cycling.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Im not a fan of bikes in cars..we do the rear rack option.

 

[Globalti]

Passat estate here - one or two bikes can be laid flat in the back with the seats folded. Two bikes with wheels removed can be hidden in the boot with the seats up and the blind closed. We've actually had 2 adults + 2 kids + 4 bikes in the car on a couple of occasions using the 2/3 part of the rear seat for the kids.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd go for the SAAB 9-5 (ex mechanic at a SAAB main dealer so I'm a tad biased) they are not as idiosyncratic as the earlier ones where things were always done a bit different to other makes (including fitting the same engine as a Triumph Dolomite........backwards with the clutch at the front on the early 99) so servicing is OK for mere mortals but there are a few specialist workshops around (My ex service manager set one up in Leicester when Status Garages closed down) and parts are still available. They are also capable of incredible mileage before major mechanical problems (provided they are serviced regularly a car with 150,000 miles on the clock should run/drive perfectly and we used to service a 99 turbo owned by the sales manager of a trans-European company that was used on the continent a lot that was still going strong at 300,000 miles but that did a lot of Autobahn high speed journeys)

 

[glasgowcyclist]

The car which most impressed me with its carrying ability was known in our house as the Tardis, and you'll see why. This tiny Daewoo Matiz would take me and two mates, our three MTBs and clothing, backpacks, tools etc., everything for a long day out in the hills, all inside the car.

I remember pulling up at the car park in Aberfoyle filled with like-minded cyclists getting ready beside their cars. I could see them point and snigger as we parked amongst them then, gradually, as they watched us getting out and assembling our bikes, their jaws dropped lower.. and lower..

In the end they were asking how much it cost and was it reliable.

Okay, it couldn't pull the skin off a custard with its three cylinder, 899cc petrol engine, but it was comfy, had aircon, electric windows, alloys and did 65mpg. And it only cost me £5500 new in 1999.

That was a great wee car.

GC

 

[hopless500]

It's a Saris Bones 2. Check their website for fitting guides for your car

Thanks

 

[shouldbeinbed]

qashqai +2 here. its got plenty of room but a few invasive lumps and bumps that you have to negotiate a full bike over to get it comfy. I've had 3 and kit with room to spare laid down in the back of it with the rear seats down. suits a large family and big dogs nicely.

 

[screenman]

Take the middle back seat out of the Picasso and you can get a bike straight down the middle, without taking anything off. Been driving a Passat 2.0 Diesel estate for the last 4 years, nice car but I miss the carrying capability of the old Picasso.

Seat Exeo Diesel estate will be my next buy I would imagine, not many people know about them and they come up cheaper than anything from the rest of the VAG group. I would expect to pay about £8,000 or less in the trade for a 2011 with 60,000 miles on.