Car or van that can take a complete road bike

[TheFungle]

A combination of wanting to keep the miles of my GR86 and the arrival of two new dogs means I've been considering some sort of small van or equivalent.

Being able to get a 56cm bike with geometry suitable for someone who is 186cm in the back is also very important to me as it will unlock the ability to half ride/half drive on my commute and TBH, I can't be doing with the arsing about with various racks.

Budget is modest at £2k-ish and car based is preferable for the better tax rates.

Drawn to most of the Fiat variants and whilst I like the look of the Qubo, I'm not sure it will take the bike whole.



Berlingo Multispace is bigger but perhaps less charming and still not convinced it will take a bike whole.



Pics most welcome for this thread.

[donaircooleone]

Most mid sized estates will get one in with the seats folded down (including my 308SW and either of my road bikes).

[TheFungle]

donaircooleone said:

Most mid sized estates will get one in with the seats folded down (including my 308SW and either of my road bikes).

Thanks but my current preference is for a more van-esque vehicle.

Mostly for reasons of 'want' rather than not being able to fulfil the brief!

[ian in lancs]

X3 X4 will swallow a 58cm road bike wheels on. Astra, focus, golf etal front wheel off

[Simon_GH]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502018...

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

[SoliD]

Friend uses her Skoda Yeti for CX racing, has the 2 bikes standing up in the back with spare wheels and all the kit!

[Skodillac]

Mk9 Honda Civic has a clever feature for this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67bwZ7dHxbc

[PistonBroker]

Skodillac said:

Mk9 Honda Civic has a clever feature for this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67bwZ7dHxbc

I've got a Civic Tourer and it's never occurred to me to put a bike in like that!

'Tis a useful feature mind.

[Skodillac]

PistonBroker said:

Skodillac said:

Mk9 Honda Civic has a clever feature for this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67bwZ7dHxbc

I've got a Civic Tourer and it's never occurred to me to put a bike in like that!

'Tis a useful feature mind.

I had a Civic Tourer, it did occur to me, and it worked!

[jackthelad1984]

A few years back I briefly had a Seat Alhambra (same as ford galaxy or vw sharan) as a cheap stopgap car. With the rear seats removed and one or two of the middle row seats out it easily took 3 or 4 mountain bikes stood up plus passengers. Was great for the dogs and moving house, if it didnt have a overheating issue I probably would have kept it as a cheap bike/dog car. The only annoying thing was storing the seats whilst out of the car, I generally only ever had one or two of the middle row in so the rest were stored in the garage.

[dan98]

Well, my old Mk2 Golf Gti would swallow a full size bike with the seats down...front wheel turned at 90 degrees down behind the front seats.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't do the same on most current hatchbacks, especially as they're much larger these days.

[SoliD]

As an addition to my earlier post I got a Mk4 Mondeo 8 years ago, and it's been great. I usually have the Towbar mount on the back as I either take my multiple CX bikes plus the dog plus wheels and water and kit, or shove the MTB/TT/Road bike inside if I only need one, but it has swallowed 3 before with the front wheels off and the single seat in the back up.

If it ever dies I would be looking for another estate as although a van is great for my CX and all that entails, having the Mondeo is so much better for the other 350 days of the year!

[JulianHJ]

My mk3 Focus Estate takes my 56cm bike with ease (wheels on) with the seats down.

[FakeConcern]

Both my Volvo C30 and my wife's Modus will take a road bike in the back if the rear seats are folded. I mean it will go in without removing the front wheel.

[paulrockliffe]

I know you don't want to mess about with racks, but I have a Yakima tow-bar rack and it's probably about 20 seconds to put it on, put the bike on and go. It's quicker than putting the bike in the car, with needing to fold seats etc, and I have a Zafira Tourer, so I'm not short of space.

[moonigan]

I was going to suggest a yeti but someone beat me to it. I’d look at fitting a fork mount in the rear so you can secure the bike with the seats down.

[defblade]

dan98 said:

Well, my old Mk2 Golf Gti would swallow a full size bike with the seats down...front wheel turned at 90 degrees down behind the front seats.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't do the same on most current hatchbacks, especially as they're much larger these days.

My Skoda Rapid Spaceback does that, you don't even have to slide the front wheel down the gap (60cm bike frame, 193cm rider/driver). It's not a big car. I'd guess the Roomster would be worth a look, too.

[NumBMW]

Mk2 Transit connect works great for this. LWB hold 2 or 3 full bikes with split seat down.
They are a good drive too.

[JQ]

dan98 said:

Well, my old Mk2 Golf Gti would swallow a full size bike with the seats down...front wheel turned at 90 degrees down behind the front seats.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't do the same on most current hatchbacks, especially as they're much larger these days.

Absolutely - my 56cm road bike would fit in my R53 Mini hatch JCW.

[corroded]

Yeti is great and very van-like with the seats out. But not sure you’ll get much for £2k. A friend has a Roomster, which is ugly as hell but cheaper than a Yeti.