Which SUV to buy

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Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

I have been dreaming recently of buying a used SUV that would easily fit 2-3 bikes standing up so that I can Escape from NYC this summer on the weekends. Obviously it would have to fit the three people and their gear. I would also go for two bike two people. I have heard that many cannot fit a bike standing up.

I would prefer high convenience ie. not taking wheels off and not strapping onto the roof. Any ideas guys and gals on which SUV to buy?

Anonymous's picture
Robert Shay (not verified)
"Any vehicle with a 2"" hitch receptical"

I've used a 4 bike hitch rack for the past 5 years on jeep grand cherokees. Works great. You'll find that you will need the internal space for gear and people. Bikes outside and out of the way.

Given that gas is $3/gallon, you may want to find a fuel efficient vehicle. Or, instead of motor vehicle, train out and back from NYC for your rides. The terrain outside of NYC in this part of the country is outstanding in every direction.

Sample hitch:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23008&subcategory_ID...

Anonymous's picture
"Chainwheel" (not verified)
UAV
Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
None

If you want 3-4 passengers, you will need to remove at least the front wheel of each bike to fit them in sideways. Trunk space will be fully consumed by the bikes. You can remove/fold down seats, but depending on the cabin height of the SUV, you may still need to remove the wheel(s) or the seatpost.

Your best bet is a trunk rack for your bike, a van or folding bikes.

Anonymous's picture
Carol Wood (not verified)
Escalade or Suburban

The bigger the better!

Then you can pick up a half-dozen NYCCers and drive them across the GWB on weekend rides, so they don't have to walk up the stairs on the north path.

Anonymous's picture
Dennis Wiener (not verified)
Another Vote for a Hitch Rack

Only don't be cheap like me, and get one that folds up so you don't have to remove it. Much easier than loading bikes onto a high roof. You might still want to remove the front wheels if your trying to get 4 bikes onto it. Now if I only I could find a hitch rack for my kayaks.....

Anonymous's picture
rjb (not verified)

please do not buy an SUV. aside from the poor gas mileage/environmental issues, they are not safer than other vehicles, there really is not much more room inside when compared to one of the new hatchback cars (don't know what they're called now - i'm sure there's a new name), and there is no need for 4 wheel drive anyway (expensive to maintain, and costs extra $$ due to gas mileage). don't buy into the hype. if you really need 3 bikes + 3 people, buy some kind of van.

Anonymous's picture
Natalia Lincoln (not verified)
you don't need an SUV for that!

"I own a Toyota Scion xA and a three-bike rack. Then, I can fit myself and three other passengers inside. No disassembly of bikes required, and you won't kill people because you can't see them out of your high windows. Furthermore, you'll be able to afford the gas to actually get out of NYC. Seriously, don't buy an SUV. They're bad news."

Anonymous's picture
tld (not verified)
"get a Hummer (a pink one) w/ a"" pimp my ride "" sign (nm)"
Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
Pink, feeeeehhh...try Gucci

"

This hard to miss, pimp-mobile belongs to someone who lives in my neighborhood. Rumor is the owner is the co-founder of Ecko Unlimited clothing co."

Anonymous's picture
roadrash (not verified)
SUV?

I think you should be banned from the club.

Anonymous's picture
April (not verified)

A van.

Anonymous's picture
Maggie Clarke (not verified)
Answer: Save the environment

Don't buy an SUV. It guzzles gas like no tomorrow, and makes the roads more unsafe for bike riders. It encourages the car industry to make more SUVs. YOu can get 3 bikes on smaller cars, save money, our limited natural resources, and the environment. Isn't that better?

Anonymous's picture
Dennis Wiener (not verified)

Or get one of these when they become available.

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

Anonymous's picture
brian (not verified)
suv

subaru legacy or outback station wagon with roof rack.
All the space without really bad (or really great) gas mileage and it has awd. And you could lay down two bikes in the trunk with the front wheels removed.

Anonymous's picture
Cantankerous Old Man (not verified)

Ha, this is funny. I bet you're a hard core Democrat and blame W for all the world's environmental problems because we all know, YOU aren't guilty in the very least.

Good luck finding 6,000 lbs of steel to *conveniently* carry around all your stuff

Anonymous's picture
ack (not verified)
This is an April Fools joke, right? (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Marcia (not verified)
why not a roof rack?

Yakima roof rack works well.....you can add a foil along the front to deflect wind resistance. With a low-profile car it's really quite easy to use.

Anonymous's picture
PLee (not verified)
R-Class Diesel

Mercedes R-Class Diesel has seats for six full-sized adults and plenty of space with the rear seats folded. 50 mpg highway. AWD available.

Anonymous's picture
Christian Edstrom (not verified)

The Mercedes R-Class is also, without question, the single ugliest vehicle in the world. The fact that it was penned by the same hand that drew the CLS boggles the mind.

Anonymous's picture
PLee (not verified)
LOL

To each their own, obviously!

I think the CLS is the ugliest car in the Mercedes lineup - that high beltline, small windows look just doesn't do it for me. On the other hand, I think the R-Class is the best designed vehicle in its class.

Ah, well, that's what makes the world so interesting!

Anonymous's picture
rjb (not verified)

they're both freakin ugly - don't even look german any more; just boiled down cr@p for the american market. that's what happens when you partner chrysler with mercedes - oh, the horror!

Anonymous's picture
Bill Vojtech (not verified)

Hummer with a full gun rack.

cycling trips