One more new car poll (Page 2)

So what I'm gathering is that the one Veyron-owning triathlete out there has skewed the salary numbers.  The rest of us actually only average $20k a year once you remove him from the group.

Nah, I just got a smokin deal on a lease.

Hey it ain't sad if it WORKS!!!  What's sad is how small vans are somehow frowned upon in US vs popularity in Europe (e.g. VW bus & its modern successors).  IMHO- no better wheels for hauling lots of gear with pretty decent fuel efficiency and better-than-sedan ground clearance.  I cannot understand why manufacturers don't market these vehicles to active athlete crowd.

I have a Chrysler & the true 2-row fold flat seating (Stow n Go) is incredibly versatile.  Cargo space (140+cu ft) rivals (or exceeds) full-size SUV's with smoother ride & better mpg (honest 24-25mpg @ 65).  With simple DIY inside rack (fork-mounts on a 4'-wide board) I can easily fit 4 bikes (2 road+ 2MTB) with full gear for a week-long bike outing for DW & I.  At destination the seats fold up for taking the gang out for dinner, and then fold flat for sleeping on air mattress. Only limitations are that towing capacity is less than big SUV and 2nd row seats are smallish for adults on long hauls. 

Because no matter how well they work, chicks just don't dig em  If only Porsche made a minivan!

Unimog all the way. Who cares what color it comes in, as long as it has both the front and rear hydraulic packages. Wish I had one of those when I was a kid baling hay.

Really, any SUV (or crossover SUV) will meet all of your needs. Just depends on how many options you want and what pleases your eye the most.

I recently bought a Mazda CX-7 (Grand Touring package with the Turbo Engine) and love it. It's sporty but will hold 5 adults if need be. Usually I put the seats down and can fit 2 bikes in on their side, plus all gear I need to. I'm taking it to Louisville tomorrow actually, with 2 adults, 2 tri bikes, and enough gear for 2 people's Ironman races.

I have a Ford Transit that I have been driving for my business for the last two years.  I love it and it has plenty of room for everythng you are talking about.  I get lots of attention on the road, which is great for business, but I am convinced most people are just laughing at the van.  My 4 year old calls it "daddy's silly little van." 

My wife drives a Subaru Outback which really is the perfect marriage of luxury/price/roominess/practicality to me.  I love it. 

I didn't vote cause I feel like I can't get it to 1 option.  For me I would probably go with the Mazdaspeed 3, I leased a 2007 when they came out and it was a great fun car.  I can't handle the sh*t eating grin the new ones have though.

Of the other options I think a Subaru is a good choice, the Forester will give you some more interior space and handle the off roading well, get the GT and you'll have a pretty fun car.

Voted for a new one; Mini Countryman All4

AWD but only fit 4 adults. With a roof rack, a thule or yakima box on top, you shuold be all set.

Cheers!

I just bought a 2011 Nissan Rogue SL AWD.

Meets all your criteria (I'm pretty sure it can fit 4 golf bags +4 adults although my sister went with the Rav4 for that very reason).

My criteria:

• Must fit bike w/out removing front wheel
• AWD (nothing off road - just getting up to Tahoe for skiing)
• Decent gas mileage since I commute 60 miles a day
• Niceish interior (leather, sunroof, nice stereo)
• compact enough to get into my very narrow parking space

The choices are pretty dismal in the compact SUV category (which is pretty  much what you are limited to if you hope to see MPH in the high 20s).  Went with the Nissan because I have had great luck with Nissan engines (traded in an Infiniti G20t with 176k - my second G20).  Some people are not a fan of the CVT but it performs fine so far.  The Rogue ticked off the most boxes and at $26k fully loaded it was far below the Outback in terms of $$$.

It's only been a few months but so far I'm happy (25-26MPG), very comfortable on a 6hr road trip (front and back seats), and I like playing with all the toys (bluetooth, USB port for I-pod, navagation)

Over ski season I rented a Ford Escape, Mazda cx7(?), GMC Terrain, and Honda CRV.  I like the Rogue much better than any of the rentals. 

I was --><-- this close to buying a CX-7 just two weeks ago. Love that car, but I would have had to get something along the lines of the Grand Touring like you did. Sadly, I was trying to stay under $25k, so no dice.

I ended up buying a slightly used 2010 VW Tiguan with only 8900 miles and love it.

PGA_Mike, you need to measure the cargo space of your choices to see if 4 sets of clubs can fit without putting the seats down. I think that will be the determining factor for you. From what I saw when I was looking (Nissan Murano, Madza CX-7, Kia Sportage, my VW, etc), most are NOT build for golfing without dropping the seats. 

Love my RAV 4, consider it the perfect triathlon car, seats 5, gas mileage in the mid-20s with my heavy foot, still <$25K I believe. Mines over four years old and runs like brand new.

Bike fits neatly in the back without removing the front wheel and just putting the smaller part of the back seat down:

(RAV Bike.JPG)

This is what I have (although mine's a 2010 and not fully loaded.)  I think it fits all of your criteria except that I'm not sure it would fit the 4 golf bags with 4 adults in the car.  I'd suggest testing that aspect.  After a reset a year ago I have averaged 25.4 mpg including a lot of stop and go mountain winter driving.  It has never let me down in the snow (probably 30 or so mountain snow trips so far) and I find it quite comfortable.  I was tied between it and the Mazda CX-7 but Nissan offered the better financing at the time so I went with it. 

Not to mention a vehicle designed for the "active lifestyle" with half a$$'d "AWD" and ghetto-worthy ground clearance.

Would have loved one, but I don't think the warranty covers dropped oil pans and fuel tanks.

Also, would throw the Hyundai Elantra Touring into the mix.  80+ cubic feet of interior space, IIRC.  Have hauled 3 guys, 3 flatwater kayaks, fishing and backwoods gear at once with racks and still got 25mpg in the hills.

Even with racks, I average 30mpg in my daily commute.  Can easily carry 4 people and 4 bikes with racks, and you can make the golf club thing happen with a Rocket Box or similar.  

Other than that, buy something reasonable, put a small hitch on it, and rent a uhaul trailer for your golf trips.  Don't buy a car based on something you do once a year.

I voted for the Veyron because it is BAD A!

But, I would go with a Honda Pilot. Available 3rd row seating. Plenty of room for bikes and clubs. Good mileage, sweet ride, capable off-road. Nice car in general.

In 5 years when my wife's car dies and if we decide we want kids, we will be looking at Honda Pilots.

Get the a Subaru and don't look back!

I have an 05 Forester with 125,000 miles on it with absolutely no problems... change the fluids on schedule and you can have the car for years and years.  The new Foresters are a little big for my tastes but might work for you otherwise look at the Outback.  I wish they had a little better gas mileage but any AWD system is going to hurt mileage.  I will say I have never slid on snow in my car unless I really wanted to, the AWD is great. Their boxer engine is very easy to work on if you are so inclined (I changed my timing belt per schedule at 105k miles in about 3 hours in my garage). 

I love the built in roof rack system. Some SUVs are a PITA to get a bike off a roof rack, and it is not a problem with my Forester.