Molds

Ideally I want to get four people, and four bikes in a car. Maybe wheels can go in a roof box and any naughty people as well!

I started off thinking old Volvo (got max £2k to spend). However, since looking at a few it seems the boot space from back of rear seats to boot lid is not that brilliant. In fact the Mongo looks better in that respect. Someone threw in the Espace wildcard as a good option in between car/van this morning.

So, looking at (thus far): -
Volvo estate.
Mondeo / Scorpio estate
Renault Espace

Anyone got any views/experience, other options I should consider?

TIA

Molds

MarkCSC

4x4 pick up with a crew cab. Bikes can just get bunged in the back and tied down.

Not sure you will get one for £2k though

Cheapest would be something like this fro £3.5k



http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www...00417139792237

ylee coyote

saab 9000 mate...

one in the boot
three on the hatch
I use a rhode gear bike carrier which mounts 3 bikes vertically
real stable does not obscure the rear lights or numberplate

2 g's will get you an early aero with 225 hp and 0-60 in 7 secs...mmmm

keep the top box for the naughty people

dome

Second vote for the Saab, lots of car for the cash.

BrettC

Third vote for the saab!

Make sure it is the CS or CSE rather than the CD.

I've had two full size mountain bikes in the boot plus accesories and the parcal shelf still closes!

I'll have to disagree with ylee about 2gs getting an Aero though! Even the earliest of the aeros with intergalactic miles and a bit tatty are closer to £2500-3000.
Ylee...prove me wrong please!

£2000 will get you a really nice 9000 2.3 Turbo S though. Thats if you can rough it with only 200bhp on tap!

Adam B

My RA works quite nicely

the moose

I've managed to get 4 people + 4 bikes + kit for a week's riding in the Alps into an Escort estate. This entailed some very careful packing, taking off pedals, seats/seatposts and basically nailing the hatch shut!

More sensibly, you'll struggle to do this. Another option is to fit a towbar and a Pendle bike rack. I use one the 3-bike system, stable to 100mph+, and doesn't cost a lot secondhand.

Oh, and just to complete the theme running through the post, I have a 9000 ......

ylee coyote

as with all these things ..
there was lots of aero's going cheap recently ..best one was a white one (really rare ) going for 1300...in a dealer !!

cannot see any decent ones now...

still a 2.3 fpt is still 200 hp....

Molds

Thanks for the feedback. I had got Saab on my shortlist but I really want to get all the kit _in_ the car and not have stuff hanging off the back. It is looking like I will be talked into the Espace... http://www.singletrackworld.com/foru...5481&t=1045481

imlach

Merc E-Class estate. Biggest load lugging 'normal' car you can get. Load area is bigger than a Volvo. You can get a double mattress in the boot no problem with the seats down (and not squashed up, but all laid flat as it would be on a bed).

An Espace may give you more in the way of height, but not length of boot. Anyway, an Espace is French and will break down, whereas the Merc will go on & on...

MarkCSC

You need this




Details here

Hmm not sure why the image won't display

T2000PPP

Get yourself a laguna sport tourer mate 2.2 dci.Sold my subaru for one, great
for the bikes but w@nk at going round corners.

Midmotorsteve

Audi 100 avant, £1000 will buy a fsh car in great condition. I had an 80 avant and two downhill bikes fitted whole, didn't even need to take the wheels off, a 100 has a bit more space as well.

doesn't look as **** as a volvo either, plus as a cyclist...volvo thats going to satan

Molds

Whats the difference between the 100 Estate and the 100 Avant? Not many Avants on the AT. Reckon for £1000 it would come with 250,000miles

14,500rpm

What about a Carlton or Omega estate, they are big and cheap.

juan

Transit

Molds

>>>Ideally I want to get four people, and four bikes in a car.<<<

Criteria is fixed

4 People
4 Bikes
_in_
_car_

14,500rpm

The Transit (or LDV or whatever) Minibus idea on the Singletrack forum seems like the way to go.

Midmotorsteve

same thing, audi call estates avants.

4 people 4 bikes..

crew cab pickup truck, mitsubushi do an ANIMAL stickered one, that fits with mountain biking, trouble is a doubt you'll find a cheap one.

N1 SPAN

U can get 2 bikes and 2 people in my pug. When there are more of us we either
a) take 2 or more cars
b) Stick my car trailer on the back and strap the bikes to it. It will take a dozen bikes if you were that way out!

On a serious note though. I reckon any estate car will struggle to take 4 bikes without them beeing in loads of pieces without seats folded down. There is not a lot wrong with the Espace type things. Try a couple. They can be very car like.

A pal of mine can fit 2 bikes with wheels off in his passat estate therefore leaving seating for 5. I am sure if you pile to the ceiling then you would get more in.

MooseRacer

Why do the bikes have to go in the car? As you've discovered you're really limiting your choices - a 2grand Espace is surely rather a hideous prospect!

Brendan Hughes

Just one thing, you haven't indicated how many times you want to do this or how far you want to drive. Up to 100miles every weekend for the next three years, or one two-week trip around Europe then sell it, or what? Just to give us an idea of comfort, reliability, etc...