Quote:
Originally Posted by TragicSomething
Hi everyone,
I'm currently considering trading in my gas-guzzling, slowly breaking down Pathfinder (I inherited it from my parents, so it was the cheapest option at the time) for something with good fuel economy, since I have a two hour commute every day. I've been primarily looking at the Prius, as I love its efficiency, and I'm actually comfortable in it (I'm 6'1", so most compact cars make me claustrophobic). However I'm also a little concerned about my household losing its only SUV - in other words, no four-wheel drive (our winters generate frequent snowy and icy conditions), no large cargo space (I play bass in a band, and my 90 pound combo won't just fit into any car) - I don't even know how we would go on our frequent mountain biking trips with a Prius (rear rack maybe?). So with that in mind I've also checked out the Ford Escape. Which is OK, but of course it's not quite as good in the fuel economy aspect, and it is a bit pricier.
Has anyone else had to make a similar decision? Thank you for any input.
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I own an '06 Prius. I'm on a road trip now. With the back seats down, I've got luggage for two, camping equipment (a one man, and two man tent, sleeping bags, matresses - cooking equipment, cooler) and I might add a full size touring bike (700 wheels) (wheels and saddle off in a soft case).
I think of getting something larger, but I know me - a larger car means carrying more stuff.
I know what a full size double bass looks like, but I can't visualize it in the Prius. However, You can do what I did - take the largest item you think you need to carry and take that to the Toyota dealer and see if you can chuck it into the hatchback.
You can carry your mtn bike(s) inside also. Try the same approach. Take them down to the dealer to see if they'll fit (stacked?).
Anything outside the Prius is going to blow gas mileage. Toyota's manual warns against carrying bikes in a hitch mount, a possible warranty issue.