Best smaller Cars for Tri Gear and Bike rack setup

I'd go with a Subaru, especially being in a state that gets lots of snow. I drive an outback and my wife has an outback sport (06). For a smaller car the outback sport may be better, but I don't like the newer models - you could look for a low mileage 06 or 07. There's actually quite a bit of interrior room with the seats down and bike racks on the roof.

Scion

I'm in love with our Matrix! lots of room. great on gas. fun to drive!
Good luck!

My Hyundai Accent is the best vehicle I've ever owned...period!

Cars are an emotional purchase.  They each have their own style and stigma associated with them.  You gotta' find one that works for you.  I like Subie's as was mentioned above- especially for the winter.  A hatchback is handy. 

you can put a rack on any car.  have fun car shopping!

Subarus are great cars.  A Honda Element is nice, especially when you can put your bike inside the vehicle.  In reality any car can work for tri if you put a bike rack on the back or roof.  Do you have any other requirements for the car?

We are just looking for something sporty and smaller.  We are city dwellers with a ridiculously small parking space in a garage.  

 Must be able to have a rack on top or behind.  Wife is only 5' 0" so roof tops can be a hassle.

What type of roof racks or hitch rack combo do you use?

OK- I've done some thinking for you and have two suggestions:

Mini Cooper
Volvo C30


Both are small, fun to drive, functional, and are probably the only two reasonably priced upscale anc cool small hatchbacks.  The Mini Cooper is almost 20 inches shorter- so if parking in tight spots is your priority go with the mini.  The C30 has a cool style (it was in the movie Twighlight, so every teenage girl will check you out to see if you're a vampire), looks great with a roof rack- which will be easy to reach for a short person, can seat 4 comfortably, and has fold down seats and more room in the back.  Both cars handle very well.  The mini will get better mileage.

Both vehicles will be getting design refreshes this fall for their 2011 models, so any 2010's still on the lot should be a steal.

Mini Cooper, seriously!!  I had an aftermarket trailer hitch installed (1.25") and have a hitch mount rack, easy for me to load and unload, I love it!!  I don't think this hitch will work with the S model though, just the Cooper.

I have a 2010 Honda Fit Sport and love it. Can park it in any space and bike rack on the back is great or the seats lay all the way flat in the back and pop off the front wheels and there is more than enough room for two bikes.

Honda fit looks like it fits the bill.

Wife owns a new Outback and I own a new Legacy and love them, were a family of 4 though. Look into the hatchback Impreza if you want AWD.

Mazda 3 hatch is another that is similar to the Impreza w/o AWD.

VW Golf

Matrix

Check edmunds.com and do a comparisons of these cars for specs.

Goodluck!

Thanks for the suggestions!

I am starting to get a pretty good list of cars to check out soon.

ANyone know if the trailer hitches void warranty or has anyone come across this?

I want to say no because many car manufacturers will offer hitches as an add on.

I'm not a believer that a special purpose vehicle is needed to be a triathlete. All you really need is a place for your bike, a trunk or hatch, and a sense of organization and you're golden.

I added a hitch on my Saab 9-3 Convertible and I carry my bike around on that often enough.

My wife and I love her new Audi A3 TDI. Roomy for 4, can fit 5, and capable of long distance road trips if you add a cargo box on top. Trust me, we just finished a 7000 mile trip from Seattle to IMLP and back (via Chicago, DC, and Denver). Most of the way we had 4 people in the car.

Something this size is great as an urban vehicle. You don't really need a lot of room inside the vehicle unless you want to put the bike inside it.

Adding a rooftop bike carrier was easy. It's hard to get a hitch for it though - nothing from Audi, aftermarket products exist but require a fairly lengthy (meaning expensive) install plus cutting of the rear bumper fascia.

Adding aftermarket accessories like a hitch doesn't void your warranty, but such accessories (permanently mounted, vehicle modification required) are frequently prohibited by a lease. They don't want you doing something to decrease the value of the vehicle when you hand it back.

Edited by brucemorgan 2010-08-05 11:48 PM

oooh.  Audi A3 TDI- I like that suggestion a lot.
Could also go with the lower priced/spec'ed Jetta or Jetta Sportwagen TDI

Smart car!




Seriously though, I used to have one in the UK, there is a 2 bike rack for it that fits the hard top and the cabrio.
Fit that baby in any parking space