Harumph

Pickup truck, nuff said. (They still make cars?)

Tycho Brahe 

How do you stop methheads from going into the back of your truck and taking your bike?

Harumph

Easy, pad locks. I have a bike carrier for the bed of the truck that incorporates an option for pad locks. If I'm carrying just one bike the back seats fold up and I place my bike in the back of the cab. Don't even need to take the front wheel off. Seriously, the way trucks come equipped today I don't know why anyone would own a car.

beechnutC23

Here's what I mean, loaded up the road bike for a ride today:

WhyFi

I guess I'll have to retry it, then! Thanks!

beechnutC23

Two words: "fuel" and "economy". My Golf Sportwagen averages 30-33 mpg, my wife's FWD Sportwagen does even better, around 38-40 mpg. Last tank of gas I bought, was at 1.29 per litre or nearly $5 per gallon. Plus trucks are just way more expensive to buy, my wagen was $28k. Try finding a truck in Canada for that. Being retired, pennies must be counted.

Harumph

Excellent reason. Here gasoline is running about $2.32 a gallon however I'm achieving close to 26 mpg in my F-150 with the 2.7 L Ecoboost with more than enough power. I did however pay considerably more than 28k for the vehicle.

beechnutC23

That's actually excellent fuel economy for a pick-up truck with that much power.

TimothyH

Ecoboost is pretty amazing technology.

I read somewhere that Ford is selling Fusions with 1 liter Ecoboost engines in Europe.

Harumph

Actually Ford is currently selling many of their vehicles with the ecoboost engines. It's nothing new, just twin turbos and fuel injection.

redfooj

Ford offers 8 motors in the Mondeo (=Fusion) here. Excluding the hybrid. the 1.0L is one.

Cant imagine that 125hp thing pushing a car that large.

In the Fiesta theyre introducing a 3 cylinder

merlinextraligh

Since this thread started, I've traded the Cayenne for a Macan Turbo.

It's a simply amazing vehicle. It's got enough room to haul 5 adults, 4 comfortably. You can fit 2 bikes inside, or carry bikes with a hitch or roof rack.

The performance, for an SUV is simply amazing; it handles more like a sports car than an SUV; lateral grip is fantastic (i've recorded 1.3g lateral acceleration, accelerates like a scaled cat (zero to 60 sub 4 seconds, pulling 1g), and gets good gas mileage (low 20's driven hard, high 20's not spooling up the turbo).

If you want a practical vehicle that can both haul and haul ass, you cant beat a Macan.

I autocrossed it this last weekend, beat all the caymens and Boxsters, and all but one 911.

fietsbob

RE "best"

Maybe you can get on a list to buy one of those Skoda Team support cars with their roof racks on them
from the Pro Teams When they retire/replace them ...

noglider 

A couple of years ago, my wife got a 2004 Element. We often have one or both of the rear seats out, and when one is in, it is often folded up and out of the way. We toss our bikes in the back. She uses it a lot for hauling construction materials. It's working out fairly well, but it's needed a lot of repairs because it's gone so many miles. I think it has about 258,000 miles on it. The engine and transmission are still running great, though the car is loud. It also has an uncomfortable ride, but overall, it's working out well. She wanted it as her construction vehicle, but her little Civic got totaled in a collision, so the Element is her only car. (I don't have a car.)

I imagine the similar cars in production are nicer and have nicer rides. But I don't know of any whose side doors open in the same way.

Bandera

Note to self: Do not buy used car from @merlinextraligh.

-Bandera

tomato coupe

You must have been the better driver, because a 911 or Cayman in the hands of a talented driver will outperform a Macan.

Karman321

anyone ever try and put a road bike inside of the newer mazda miatas? the 2016 and after model? I have a size 54 frame, was wondering if i took the wheels off and the fork off could i fit it in the trunk? in the car? thanks

thehammerdog

Mercedes E class wagon with all wheel drive
😮

redfooj

that's never going to work. get a hitch or a trunk mounted rack - though these will scratch, even the saris bones

redfooj

poor handling, poor ride quality, poor comfort, poor maneuverability, poor driving pleasure.

they're great when one needs to pick things up, though.

Karman321

Even with just the frame? I’ll have to try it, perhaps in the passenger seat? I have yet to purchase the car but have been lusting after it since it released

redfooj

I had a s2000 which had similar or better capacity.

It carried some wild stuff in the passenger seat, sticking up and out of the cabin ...but a bike...absolutely no way no how

Karman321

Thanks for first hand experience, I’m looking to just squeeze the bare frame in there. I guess I’ll have to try since every frame is different

loxx0050

You know there is no shame in putting a hitch rack on there (or if you have a hard top Sea Sucker rack?). I saw a guy one with a hitch rack on a Porsche 911 Carrera. I was impressed.

Karman321

I know I just like the bike to be inside the car if possible. I don’t think it is though. Probably a long shot here with all the minivans and pickups but, Anyone have the Nd Miata?