This is how most people load a bike into a sedan. I'm not most people...
As much as I like the Altima's pass through, this just isn't the most efficient way to load a bike into a four-door. After years of performing this task, I've resorted to the far less conventional back-seat load. See below.
It might seem counterintuitive at first, but after removing the front wheel (which must be done using either location), the back seat load is far quicker and easier on the back. There's no hefting the bike over the bumper while turning it 90 degrees to the planet in an effort to jam it into the trunk laterally. Instead, with the cranks clocked appropriately, it simply slides in and touches the car in five locations: the bottom bracket and fork rest on the seat (which is protected with a towel), the rear tire rests on the B pillar and floor and the handlebar touches the seatback. Simple in and out. Nothing gets torn up on the car or the bike. Much better than passing through.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 22,214 miles
7driver says:
12:47 PM, 02/11/08
That's well and fine when conditions permit. However, it's hard to get the bike in when there's other cars parked on either side of you or the rear doors don't open as wide as the Altima's.
azggjones1 says:
12:50 PM, 02/11/08
1. After the ride very dirty bike will get interior very dirty.
2. Very quick stops will send handle bars into back of head.
3. Have 03 Altima and have experience in all of the above.
opfreak says:
01:22 PM, 02/11/08
that pass through seems thiny. My sunfires seems bigger.
kevlang says:
01:55 PM, 02/11/08
loading a bike that way is easy with the Fit - just flip up the rear seat bottoms. smaller bikes you don't even need to remove the wheels.
banhugh says:
02:42 PM, 02/11/08
After scratching the back side of the armrest trying to put my road bike in the back seats like photo 2 and the bumper trying to put the bike in the trunk like in photo one, I am now looking for a hitch and bike rack as compared to a roof rack (I might scratch the roof too).
langjie says:
03:29 PM, 02/11/08
I don't have a bike yet, but I bought 2 32" LCD's yesterday. I had to stuff them into the backseat since my trunk is too small (hybrid) and no fold down seats. It just fit 2 of the huge boxes. Thank god for the rear view camera though!
firstwagon says:
05:01 PM, 02/11/08
Amusing the hoops you have to go through with a sedan. I put my bike and both my kids bikes (wheels on) in my Legacy wagon last weekend without a scratch.
I've never go back to a sedan (maybe a hatchback or minivan though).