Bike transport - a what car thread for bikers
Discussion
Two parts here, both based on the idea of carrying a decent sized, full suss bike whole (with the wheels detatched) and inside - no racks allowed.
1) If you had the option of any 'interesting' vehicle for bike transport what would it be?
I'm thinking RS4 estate, one of the sultan of Brunei's Ferrari 456 shooting brakes or maybe an Overfinch Range Rover. Something like that
2) Sadly, like most PHers, my budget doesn't stretch to a coach built Ferrari. Can anyone recommend interesting, RWD cars that will swallow a bike for sub £5k (preferably a lot sub!) bit of character is a bonus.
Ideas - e30 325 touring, Scimitar GTE, possibly one of the tardis-like 944's. Scoobie wagons ruled out on insurance cost. A while back there was an Alpina C2 2.7 touring advertised on here and it annoyed me I didn't have the cash to think about it at the time as it would have been perfect - 210 hp, RWD, huge loading area, compact dimensions and a rare 'bespoke' car.
1) If you had the option of any 'interesting' vehicle for bike transport what would it be?
I'm thinking RS4 estate, one of the sultan of Brunei's Ferrari 456 shooting brakes or maybe an Overfinch Range Rover. Something like that
2) Sadly, like most PHers, my budget doesn't stretch to a coach built Ferrari. Can anyone recommend interesting, RWD cars that will swallow a bike for sub £5k (preferably a lot sub!) bit of character is a bonus.
Ideas - e30 325 touring, Scimitar GTE, possibly one of the tardis-like 944's. Scoobie wagons ruled out on insurance cost. A while back there was an Alpina C2 2.7 touring advertised on here and it annoyed me I didn't have the cash to think about it at the time as it would have been perfect - 210 hp, RWD, huge loading area, compact dimensions and a rare 'bespoke' car.
I "can" fit a couple of hardtails easily into my E91 Touring, but the problem is that you now have muddy, oily bikes a few millimetres away from the cream coloured fabric on the roof/doors etc.
Too risky. The only way I would do it is if I could stick the bikes in a heavy duty bag of some sort.
Too risky. The only way I would do it is if I could stick the bikes in a heavy duty bag of some sort.
Chris - what about the (rather rare) E36 328 sport touring?
Or a big old E39 five series, very cool in estate form.
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
Another one could be a C-class estate, but not sure on the driving credentials of this one.
But a point of interest for you - 4 door Saloon cars are perfectly capable of carrying bikes.
For instance, the best way to put them in my 5 door escort, and my mates Bora, is to leave the boot and seat backs intact, and simply slide the bikes onto the back seat.
Have tried this with said Escort and Bora, a 5 door Focus, An Alfa 146 and an MG ZS.
As for my perfect biking car, that would have to be a Van I'm afraid -I've always wanted a van. Something like a caravelle, not too big. 4 big fold down captains chairs in 2 rows of 2, sat nav, toys, cubby holes, bomming sound system etc etc. In the back, a ply lined 'boot', with shadow boards, power and water hook ups, hose, roll out flooring, awning on the side... Mini race transporter. Awesome
Or a big old E39 five series, very cool in estate form.
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
Another one could be a C-class estate, but not sure on the driving credentials of this one.
But a point of interest for you - 4 door Saloon cars are perfectly capable of carrying bikes.
For instance, the best way to put them in my 5 door escort, and my mates Bora, is to leave the boot and seat backs intact, and simply slide the bikes onto the back seat.
Have tried this with said Escort and Bora, a 5 door Focus, An Alfa 146 and an MG ZS.
As for my perfect biking car, that would have to be a Van I'm afraid -I've always wanted a van. Something like a caravelle, not too big. 4 big fold down captains chairs in 2 rows of 2, sat nav, toys, cubby holes, bomming sound system etc etc. In the back, a ply lined 'boot', with shadow boards, power and water hook ups, hose, roll out flooring, awning on the side... Mini race transporter. Awesome
snotrag said:
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
New ones are very nice (IMO), but you have the same problem with oily bikes messing up your cream leather.I have a GTB specifically for carrying bikes, I can fit four in the boot with wheels attached.
If I had the money, RS6, or perhaps some AMG estate (next on my list!)
cottonfoo said:
snotrag said:
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
New ones are very nice (IMO), but you have the same problem with oily bikes messing up your cream leather.I've often thought a 405 Estate with a Mi16 transplant would be a fun bike hack, or an old Audi 100/200T Avant.
Xenocide said:
BOR said:
Too risky. The only way I would do it is if I could stick the bikes in a heavy duty bag of some sort.
Top tip for you here:Goto your local bed shop and get some of the huge bags the matresses get delivered in. They're perfect!
I just made my own, big blue blue builders tarpaulin, bought some of those rivet type eyelets and cut and shaped it to make a 'liner' that fits right into my car, and hooks on at various points (headrests, rear door grab hndles, rear turrets ) and leaves me with a nice big waterproof and mud proof van type opening.
Works great!
snotrag said:
Chris - what about the (rather rare) E36 328 sport touring?
Or a big old E39 five series, very cool in estate form.
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
Another one could be a C-class estate, but not sure on the driving credentials of this one.
But a point of interest for you - 4 door Saloon cars are perfectly capable of carrying bikes.
For instance, the best way to put them in my 5 door escort, and my mates Bora, is to leave the boot and seat backs intact, and simply slide the bikes onto the back seat.
Have tried this with said Escort and Bora, a 5 door Focus, An Alfa 146 and an MG ZS.
I prefer the e30's for looks and character (and price!) but will give some consideration to an e36. The thing is, being a bigger car, you don't need an estate to fit bikes in e36 form - the seats fold flat on the coupe to give a very large (all be it flat) space.Or a big old E39 five series, very cool in estate form.
Legacy is also a good call for big and fast, but a bit grim inside.
Another one could be a C-class estate, but not sure on the driving credentials of this one.
But a point of interest for you - 4 door Saloon cars are perfectly capable of carrying bikes.
For instance, the best way to put them in my 5 door escort, and my mates Bora, is to leave the boot and seat backs intact, and simply slide the bikes onto the back seat.
Have tried this with said Escort and Bora, a 5 door Focus, An Alfa 146 and an MG ZS.
A girl at work has an e39 540 touring - looks good, but a bit big for my liking (the car that is) Same goes for the Mercs, Saabs and to a lesser extent even the Legacy. I'm a fan of nice compact cars - even considered a Lotus Sunbeam for that reason (small - check, RWD - check, hatchback and folding seats - check, price and reliability - ohh) and don't really want to go much bigger than a 3 series.
Interesting that you mentioned a ZS - haven't tried the rear seats, but my bike just about fits in the boot with the seats folded (very narrow apperture between the rear seats and strut brace makes it a pain even when folded) last time we went to Coed Y Brenin, we abandon my ZS at my mates house, because his saxo actually held considerably more kit!! Would donate organs for a RWD version of the Alfa 156, but that saddly hasn't happened yet and not sure about 75/GTV6 levels of reliability and rust proofing!
Did vaguely think about a Landie, but it's got to be an everyday car for reasonably high mileages (if I was gonna run two I could indeed get a £500 van and a caterfield on the side!)
BTW - Xenocide, that mattress idea is superb! Will definitely be remembering that one
Use several large bedsheet at the moment and that seems to do the trick, but a bag would be better, especially if it's free!Will look into the Legacy and 328 touring, but currently I think it's e30 touring or 8 valve 944 at the top of the list!
As for fantasy bike carriage, think it's still one of these.....
ewenm said:
Defender 
I use the Caterham though and can still put the roof up with the bike in place if needed.
I use the Caterham though and can still put the roof up with the bike in place if needed.
What sort of bike do you ride?! Did peer into the back of a caterham last time I saw one with that idea and came to the conclusion there was no way it'd fit with the forks etc still on.Of course, there is always the option of £2000 on a Dutton Phaeton and £1000 on a fiesta van or soemthing!
Chris71 said:
ewenm said:
Defender
I use the Caterham though and can still put the roof up with the bike in place if needed.
I use the Caterham though and can still put the roof up with the bike in place if needed.
What sort of bike do you ride?! Did peer into the back of a caterham last time I saw one with that idea and came to the conclusion there was no way it'd fit with the forks etc still on.Of course, there is always the option of £2000 on a Dutton Phaeton and £1000 on a fiesta van or soemthing!
Ahhhh - seen that before
Sorry, I thought you meant inboard of the roll bar when you said about putting the hood up! Used to get my bike in the back of one of one of these, with the hardtop on.
'fraid for me the galant VR4 is probably much like the scoobies - a little on the large side and liable to attract a silly premium (I was quoted £3000pa for an Impreza turbo 2000 estate last year!)
Sorry, I thought you meant inboard of the roll bar when you said about putting the hood up! Used to get my bike in the back of one of one of these, with the hardtop on.
'fraid for me the galant VR4 is probably much like the scoobies - a little on the large side and liable to attract a silly premium (I was quoted £3000pa for an Impreza turbo 2000 estate last year!)
Chris71 said:
Ahhhh - seen that before
Sorry, I thought you meant inboard of the roll bar when you said about putting the hood up! Used to get my bike in the back of one of one of these, with the hardtop on.
'fraid for me the galant VR4 is probably much like the scoobies - a little on the large side and liable to attract a silly premium (I was quoted £3000pa for an Impreza turbo 2000 estate last year!)
Tis a large car, you'd prolly get 3 or 4 bikes in if packed well enough. I will say however they are way way cheaper to insure than a scooby. I insured mine at 24 full NCB's for £1100 while scooby wagons were coming in at over £2k for me, I don't have it anymore but going on what OC members pay it'd be around £600 now i'm 26.Sorry, I thought you meant inboard of the roll bar when you said about putting the hood up! Used to get my bike in the back of one of one of these, with the hardtop on.
'fraid for me the galant VR4 is probably much like the scoobies - a little on the large side and liable to attract a silly premium (I was quoted £3000pa for an Impreza turbo 2000 estate last year!)
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff