Need a new bike rack (car)...suggestions needed (Page 2)

Check out the Scion Xb.  I just got one three weeks ago.  Great vehicle for all my tri stuff.  Bike will either fit between the front and rear seats, or I can lay the rear seats flat and and slide it in that way.  Great gas mileage (30mpg+) plus you can't beat the price and you can pimp it out how ever you want.

Plus it's so ugly, it's cool

Chris

ok, so I test drove the Element and Liberty yesterday. I am not any closer to deciding on a vehicle and think the deciding factor will be price. Some people say "it's like a house, you'll know the right one when you see it" but I only have about 2 days to decide! Is this the best way to decide on a major purchase? I really don't think I'm confortable with that.

Don't know what to do...sigh...

Well, it is a big chunk of change, but not a house-sized chunk of change. And it's a commitment, but not a house-sized commitment. It is just a bike rack (it's not like you're deciding on a bike in two days...that would be crazy). It's just a means for hauling your self and your crap around. Either one'll accomplish the job just fine.

How about a pro-con list? Or just go with your gut. What's your gut saying, Haley?

Well here's my list. It revolves mostly around my bike and price and how nice I want to go. Mileage is about the same..

Element                                                 Liberty
Bigger                                                   Smaller
bare bones (really)                                 nice and comfy
built in bike carrier                                 have to get a bike rack
seats are very versatile                           standard (and nice) suv features (seats only fold down)
4-cyl, felt a little weak                            V-6 (what I'm used to, all my cars have been v-6 or 8)
couple thousand cheaper

So my big dilema is am I obsessed enough with my bike and tri crap to buy a bare bones, vinyl floor car? The Element is not as comfortable as the Liberty. A big part of me is leaning toward the Liberty b/c its more conventional (I guess I'm not as "out there" as I thought) but I think its only because I'm out of my comfort zone. I think they'll both get another look, but it might come down to what I get a better deal on. I think I can get a really nice Liberty for a lot less than dealer prices because they are more common than the Elements.

So my mom just emailed me "Element can grow on you, you can be messy anyway, so you might like that its bare and washable on the inside. But OOOOHHHHH....you know you still like the mini cooper!!!! Great gas milegae, you'll be cute with your bike on it..."

DAMN!!! Shes not into the Liberty, she says its too conventional for me. I need bigger or smaller.

max - 2005-09-20 10:14 AM Have you driven the Liberty? My son took one for a test drive a couple years ago and he said the vibration nearly drove him to the brink of insanity. One of the worst handling vehicles he ever tried. But then he settled for a PT Cruiser, which to my mind looks like an ambulance from the back!

I drove the Liberty yesterday too. It handled great--that might have been a first year bug or something. I do NOT like the PT Cruiser. A friend had one, she hated it, POS.

Welshy, you're right. Back to the drawing board! Hope you like riding in a MINI!!!!!

Big Red will fit in anything, I jsut have to deal with a rack.

Denise2003 - 2005-09-20 10:21 AM Comet, your mom is COOL! Does she tri?

Shes thinking about it!! She dabbles in running, has been for years, and is totally jealous of my new hobby. She is scared of the bike (we come from a swimming and running focused family) because I suck on the bike so she might too. Anyway, Noot (my mom) is cool, is right most of the time, and why should I settle for something I dont really want just for practicality? Big Red will look good on top of something sporty...

TriComet - 2005-09-20 11:17 AM

Denise2003 - 2005-09-20 10:21 AM Comet, your mom is COOL! Does she tri?

why should I settle for something I dont really want just for practicality? Big Red will look good on top of something sporty...

Exactly! Do it! Do it! Let me live my mini-dream vicariously through you!