I'm often amazed by how many different cars can swallow a mountain bike. Seems like Jacquot can fit one inside just about anything larger than a Smart. Given my less advanced bike assembly skills, I prefer a vehicle that can swallow them whole.
As you can see, our A4 fits that bill. Often criticized for being too small for a wagon, it's still capable of carrying a decent amount of cargo, even if it's all awkward like this bike. Sure, I had to take the front wheel off and use the larger side of 60/40 split rear seat, but I wasn't going far.
I imagine there are plenty of people out there who think they need an SUV to do this kind of chore, but even the diminutive A4 is more than capable of taking care of the job. Gets way better mileage too.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 14,038 miles
westsiderrider says:
04:26 PM, 06/ 1/09
A friend of mine uses her Honda Element to transport bikes. She can store several bikes inside without removing the front wheels. Even with a couple of bikes, there's still room for a third passenger. It's quite impressive although the driving character of the Element prevents me from buying one.
sherief says:
04:49 PM, 06/ 1/09
That's what roof racks (and your Avant's roof rails) are for ;)
uncanny_man says:
05:31 PM, 06/ 1/09
Went on a bike trip with friends, and was able to put 3 mountain bikes (including one with a nonquick-release front wheel) in my jeep along with 3 adults (all buckled in of course). I still believe that SUVs and trucks are still the best when you need to go beyond the normal call of duty.
cruiserhead1 says:
07:46 PM, 06/ 1/09
I can fit my mountain bike in my A4 sedan... but for various reasons I prefer to take the suv. the suv is good to get to the trailhead when the trail is beyond a paved road. There is a bunch of gear and stuff that goes along with bikes... it's never just a bike in there.
I like the wagon's room (hate that space-robbing sloping rear hatch) but if I were using it, it would be a hitch rack.
Roof racks generally suck and the mpg hit is too great... but they look mighty cool so they have high poser quotient.
firstwagon says:
08:39 PM, 06/ 1/09
I can put my bike in the back of my Legacy wagon with wheel on... no problem.
However on the May long weekend, I transported 4 bikes with my Grand Cherokee with no problem.
I just opened the door on my travel trailer, placed them all inside along with all the camping gear for 4 and the hitched it to the back of the Jeep.
I can't do that with the Legacy wagon (or an A4).
SUV's do have a purpose.
blankfocus says:
05:36 AM, 06/ 2/09
plenty of people tow stuff in europe with A4's.
tryan says:
05:59 AM, 06/ 2/09
I love wagons and hatches, they're practical and many of the newer models are actually appealingly styled.
I won't go so far as to say a wagon can replace a mid-size SUV, but for the majority of tasks that everyday people perform in their SUVs, a wagon can just as easily accomplish.
As for towing, I've know a few Cadillacs that can tow more than some current mid-size 'SUVs'. It all depends on the frame or unit-body construction and drivetrain gearing. In the past, I've towed 2000Lbs across the state of NY with a 2001 Nissan Sentra SE 2.0L. Not the sharpest tool for the job, but it was the only method of motivation at my disposal. Both my Passats have had hitches installed, and I'm sure I'll install one on my GTI at some point. As long as you aren't overzealous, you'd be surprised at the rolling load a car can tow, provided you are careful with the distributed tongue weight.
m_thrizzle says:
09:49 AM, 06/ 2/09
One of the reasons I want to get a wagon is to be able to put my mtn bike in the back and get rid of the roof rack. It's noisy and does decrease mpg a bit. Of course, if you need to take 2 bikes, it would be a tougher fit in that A4 Avant.
firstwagon says:
12:02 PM, 06/ 2/09
Sure you can tow with an A4 but that's more of case where you use what you got like tryan mentioned.
In the same way I could drive my Grand Cherokee around the Nuremberg ring. It would do it but we can all agree it's not the best choice.
The Jeeps big 4.0 six has lots of low end torque so I can easily do hwy speeds in top gear... even with the drag of a travel trailer. The suspension is heavy duty so the trailer doesn't shove the car around all the time.
It just works better.
cruiserhead1 says:
12:07 PM, 06/ 2/09
I would not tow a 2000lb trailer with a unibody car. I know you can typically get 1500-2000lb rated tow hitches on any car but I am skeptical of unibodys ability to hold up to this, basically bolting it onto a crush zone.
A real suv will pull 5000-7500lbs easily, safely and has the durability to do it time and again.
There is a right tool for every job. Just as an suv is the wrong tool for some jobs, so the unibody car is not a workhorse nor is it's suspension or body up to the task-and it shouldn't be.
tshoe says:
06:56 AM, 06/ 5/09
I use to fit my mountain bike into my 1998 Integra by turning the front handle bars. Seats were folded and front tire still on, it worked well. My Liberty had a bike rack for the rear door/hatch mounted spare tire. Now I just lay my bike in the back of my Explorer with 3rd row and 1/2 of 2nd row folded. Getting a roof mounted rack isn't worth it unless you bike a lot and are NBA height to get your bike up with ease.