What car?

carbonmanx
carbonmanx Posts: 53
edited April 2012 in The bottom bracket
Odd topic I know but as I'm commuting more and more I'm thinking of selling my van vw t5.
But whilst I don't use it enough to justify it now, it's well handy for transporting my bike around and I love the ease of just chucking the bike in the back.

What cars do you lot find good enough to transport your bike around without much hassle?
Do most people go with racks or is an estate ith a large boot a good option?

Just polling opinions really.. Cheers
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Comments

  • nevman
    nevman Posts: 1,611
    Cars.Tumbleweed.....
    Whats the solution? Just pedal faster you baby.

    Summer B,man Team Carbon LE#222
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  • mar_k
    mar_k Posts: 323
    I have a mk4 golf gti and my Cube mtb happily goes in the back with the seats folded down
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    you could get a Ford Escort or a Seat Leon - they are both cars.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    I have a very old Mercedes coupe with a big boot, and a new-to-me-but-still-old Citroën xantia hatchback. Surprisingly, though bikes fit in the back of the Citroën with only the front wheel off when the seats are folded down, I still find it easier and neater to fit bikes (2, easily) in the Merc boot (and the seat post off mine), despite taking both wheels off. They are invisible to onlookers and leave the seats untouched.

    Neither is ideal, obviously, but it shows how surprisingly adaptable some unexpected cars might be. I'm sure there are other tardises..!
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    what about a Vauxhall Vectra? That's a car.
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    What about a Vectron Mission? That's a car. At least I think it is...hold on, I'll just look it up.
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    This is not a car, but it is rather fun:

    badger-3.jpg
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    whatever happened to Duncan Norvelle eh?

    duncan-norvelle-large1.jpg
  • Vesterberg
    Vesterberg Posts: 330
    sorry, strayed off topic a bit there.

    A Saab 9-3?
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    See here from ummmmmm page 2 - viewtopic.php?f=30005&t=12847475
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • p9uma
    p9uma Posts: 565
    Vesterberg wrote:
    whatever happened to Duncan Norvelle eh?

    duncan-norvelle-large1.jpg


    Somebody chased him.
    Trek Madone 3.5
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  • byke68
    byke68 Posts: 1,070
    Vesterberg wrote:
    sorry, strayed off topic a bit there.

    A Saab 9-3?

    Off topic, sorry but this one is for Mr Vesterberg - Whats with using the cover of BACK IN THE DHSS as your avatar?

    Right, carry on with the thread.........................
    Cannondale Trail 6 - crap brakes!
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  • Wow lol some funny posts!
    No wait its the other way round...
    Simple question, lots of unhelpful answers... Thanks!
    Guess you are better than me, my bad.....
    To those with helpful posts, thanks :-)
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    carbonmanx wrote:
    Wow lol some funny posts!
    No wait its the other way round...
    Simple question, lots of unhelpful answers... Thanks!
    Guess you are better than me, my bad.....
    To those with helpful posts, thanks :-)

    :( I thought mine was both funny and helpful tbh.
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • carbonmanx
    carbonmanx Posts: 53
    edited April 2012
    I did say thanks to those helpful posts... :-)
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    :D :P
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 51,195
    edited April 2012
    Build your own:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPoalMEr ... detailpage

    The one in the line up has a roof rack version for putting your bike on
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    I drive an Alfa 156 sportwagon -> looks like this but in silver static.jpg

    I'm not really recommending it (because its an Alfa.. and therefore it goes wrong).. but I am recommending something this kind of size because its not too big... but big enough for a bike if you fold the rear seats down and take the front wheel off.


    although if you do go for an alfa.. you can pick them up for silly money as they depreciate so quickly!
  • A favourite in my neck of the woods are thing like Berlingos (=pope mobiles). Stick your bikes in without taking wheels off or faffing around. You can even get special in-vehicle stands so that your pride and joy can be stood safe and sound. Moot point whether this is a car or a van. Serious answer though :D
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 51,195
    A favourite in my neck of the woods are thing like Berlingos (=pope mobiles). Stick your bikes in without taking wheels off or faffing around. You can even get special in-vehicle stands so that your pride and joy can be stood safe and sound. Moot point whether this is a car or a van. Serious answer though :D

    yep, you can get one of them through 'Mobility' and DLA if you stand in the middle of the road and get run over. though You might not need the bike anymore. :shock:

    (not personal - no offence meant) :D
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • I like the idea of those in vehicle stands I've seen them advertised...
    Has anyone used them? Are they worth it? I'd probably leave the bike in the car most of the time. So that would be quite useful....
    Was sort of pondering an estate, passat, a4, 5 series but nothing too expensive otherwise it sort of defeats the objective! :-)
  • p9uma
    p9uma Posts: 565
    Well, to answer the question properly, I have Mini Cooper Clubman with the OEM roof rack and cycle holders. They work brilliantly and you can lock them. Takes less than a minute load up two bikes. Drove to south of France with two bikes on a year or to back with no problem at all.

    Depends on what sort of money you want to spend on a vehicle I suppose.
    Trek Madone 3.5
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    1970 Dawes Kingpin
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    I used to have a Bedford Rascal with a wooden bike rack in the back, start button and racing seats.

    What a machine.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • I'm thinking keeping the bike inside would be preferable, save the load / unload hassle.
    As for spend 2-3k?
    Thanks for the comments so far :-)
  • TOM14S
    TOM14S Posts: 100
    You don't HAVE to go estate / large car, ) like the guy with the golf eariler I have no issues with bmw 3series coupe... fold rear seats down, front wheel off and slides straight in. easy and takes seconds. I think the folding rear seats is an optional extra, as are cup holders and pretty much everything else in BMW's... :roll: Bike is much better inside the car, doesn't get road grime on it and I don't have to worry about it being nicked although i do also lock the bike to the inside of the boot. and I have had two MTB's in it at the same time.
  • garrynolan
    garrynolan Posts: 560
    I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso (diesel 7-seater and up to 60mpg if not in a hurry on longish trips) and it's great. Being a bit of a short-arse I can get my bike in upright with just the middle seat down. Had 2 bikes in last Saturday, no wheels off and 2 passengers. Not sure if it's in your price range but woth a look? Good luck.
    Visit Ireland - all of it! Cycle in Dublin and know fear!!
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  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    I agree with the coment about an Alfa 156 Sportwagon. Can't say estate car, trades decriptions and all that. I can get my bikes in the back with the seats folded. I enjoy driving it and they're a third of the price of the equivalent Audi/BMW/VW/Whathaveyou. So you can buy a whole spare car in case anything goes wrong and still be quids in.
  • andy46
    andy46 Posts: 1,666
    I drive a Hyundai Getz :oops: and use a Saris Bones rack, but if I fold the seats down and take both wheels out I can get the bike in the car. It's surprising what you can fit in some cars but for my car I use the rack every time now.
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    2014 Specialized Allez Sport
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Land Rover Series IIA with a horse box that's had the horse evicted, and replace all equine stuff with a turbo so that you can be driven to events doing your warm-up en route.
  • nevman
    nevman Posts: 1,611
    CiB,I think I was following you on the A38 the other day-thats a hell of a ponytail youve got there.
    Whats the solution? Just pedal faster you baby.

    Summer B,man Team Carbon LE#222
    Winter Alan Top Cross
    All rounder Spec. Allez.