The Ultimate Challenge

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

So I'm in the market for a car, having been sixteen for a few months now, and I'm trying to line everything up so that I can get a job and then a car in succession. It's hard work just finding a job, but I've got some leads and hopefully that'll work out.

So, looking to the future, I'm thinking about vehicles--What's fuel-efficient, what's safe, what's reasonably price and what's something I'm going to actually want to drive?

One of my solutions to this was this sweet babe.
A '73 Beetle. Good on gas, solid car, V-Dub reliability and something I want to drive. And for $6,000. I thought I was in the clear on this deal, until I thought to myself: "How am I going to fit the bass and my amp in there?"

So, this is a plea to any former or current Beetle owners--Can you fit your bass in the Bug? I've heard of ways to fit a bass into pretty much any car with roughly six feet of space, by laying down the passenger seat and putting the bass in it as if it were a human. Does this work with a Beetle, and if so, does that leave any room to fit an amplifier?

My other option is A Scion XB. It's a wagon, with lots of space, great gas mileage, MP3, all the bells and whistles I could want. I've always been big on history, so perhaps it's not the nostalgic Beetle I wanted, but it's a good buy, if not on the expensive side. As a side discussion to the Ultimate Beetle Challenge, does anybody own a Scion XB here? Is it worth the buy, and how does it fair for a bassist?

Also, in conclusion, are there any other cars you find work well for a bassist's needs?

[Jason Sypher]

The rear seat should fold down allowing you to put the body of the bass there, bridge up of course, and the neck straight up through the middle of the two front seats...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vie...178266&start=0

[Eric Hochberg]

I had a '67 Beetle. The first time I put my standard 3/4 size bass in it, I popped the windshield... From then on, I took out the endpin and it fit. I don't recommend this car though as it was VERY tight, unless you have a small bass. That said, most any car will work, wagon, SUV style are easiest.

[Dave Irwin]

In your situation, I would look for better reliability than a VW since you're not gonna have a lot of bread for repairs. I would look into a Mazda Protege hatchback or something like that. Basically Honda reliability with sportier handling and a more affordable price.

A Subaru could be really good too.

I have a medium sized SUV for the family car that I usually take the bass in and an old Miata for fun. I was just looking into a Mini-Cooper to maybe replace the Miata since I could take my bass to gigs in it but the cheapest I've seen locally is 9k. And again, the reliability and maintenance cost wouldn't match the Mazda.

Good luck,
Dave

[Jason Sypher]

I didn't look at the car... I agree, for 6K you can get a lot more car these days than a VW. Subaru Forester, Volvo wagon, Honda wagon, Ford... There's a lot of car out there for 6k if you look.

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

The rear seat should fold down allowing you to put the body of the bass there, bridge up of course, and the neck straight up through the middle of the two front seats...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vie...178266&start=0

I thought it would. My mom keeps crowing at me that it won't fit--on top of that, she doesn't like old cars and wants me to get some gas-guzzling SUV or my sister's broken Ford Escape that gets something like 10 MPG.

Thanks for the link.

Originally Posted by Dave Irwin

In your situation, I would look for better reliability than a VW since you're not gonna have a lot of bread for repairs. I would look into a Mazda 3 hatchback or something like that. Basically Honda reliability with sportier handling and a more affordable price.

A Subaru could be really good too.

I have a medium sized SUV for the family car that I usually take the bass in and an old Miata for fun. I was just looking into a Mini-Cooper to maybe replace the Miata since I could take my bass to gigs in it but the cheapest I've seen locally is 9k. And again, the reliability and maintenance cost wouldn't match the Mazda.

Good luck,
Dave

I know. I was looking at the Subarus and found a few Foresters in the paper. They were priced well, something like $5,600, and I've a few friends who say they're good cars.

I would really like to drive something I want to drive though. I know it seems childish and even bordering on bratty, but I figure we spend a ton of our lives putting around in cars and before I get something that just covers the necessities and gets me from A to B, I'd like to try to get something I take pride in driving.

My dad's got some friends who work in used car auctions as well--I've got a list of cars I'd like if he could find them for a good price, including the Scion Xb, the Beetle, the Fox, El Camino, the Aztec and Cobalt. The Scion and Beetle are my favorites of that list, though, and since we've only really just started looking at cars, I thought I'd see if I could get the ones I want the most first. I've got my eye on the Subarus as alternatives, if I can't find anything on my list for a good price, though.

Another option for me is to get a job now, get my mom or sister to drive me to work and work up the difference between the ceiling price my dad's willing to commit to a car and the actual cost of the car. They're also looking for paperboys in the area--pick-up is at 3:00 AM--but that pays something like $700 a month. I figure I could work that job for three months or so in the summer.


Come six months from now, I'll be able to actually drive the car and should have been able to pony up the difference in that time. After that, I've still got to pay tax and titles, as well as the insurance of the car. This would only be in the case of the Scion, so far, as it's the most expensive but also the best buy I've found yet.

[Jason Sypher]

Well, I wouldn't pay more than 3K for a beetle unless it was a 1963 and totally restored. Subaru's are not the hippest looking cars that's for sure (I've got one) but they're pretty reliable and when those snow storms hit this winter I never got stuck and never missed a gig. Those Scion's are cool, I like them.

[LeslieD]

I had a Subaru Forester for 8 years (an automatic) and it was perfect for hauling basses (I could fit 2) and other equipment. On the down side, the car doesn't get great gas mileage, it eats brakes, and I had significant problems with the engine and transmission even before 60,000 miles (even though I was diligent with all recommended oil changes and other inspections/service). I hope my car was just a lemon, but I don't recommend purchasing a used Forester without a thorough independent inspection of the engine and transmission.

Jason recommended a used Honda wagon, and I agree that that would be a great car (IF you can find one--they haven't made them for years, not counting the pricey new Crosstour).

I loved the Honda Fit, but a bass doesn't really fit all that great in it (there just isn't much room between the front seats for the neck of the bass).

Good luck!

[MK1]

I have an 03 Civic Si ( this car should be in your price range and they are a ton of fun to drive) and my bass fits in it no problem. The Civic is also super reliable, I have 105,000mi on mine and I have not had to make a single engine repair yet I also have an 08 VW Rabbit again my bass fits in this with no troubles at all. IMO hatchbacks are perfect for bassists who don't want to spend a small fortune on gas.

[Chris Symer]

Had a '67 VW bug and the same experience as Eric, popped the windshield once putting the bass in wrong. Eventually took both the back seat and the passenger seat out and had a one seater gigging bug.
I bought a new Scion xb in 2008 that I have put over 100,000 miles on so far and is running great. Overall it's a great car and carries the bass pretty easily, although the scroll does stick out between the two front seats just a bit. I've got four other musician friends (three of them bass players) with the older model xb and they are all happy as well. Admittedly it's a small sample group but the 5 of us think the Scion is a good car.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by ThumpPlunkJunk

So I'm in the market for a car, having been sixteen for a few months now, and I'm trying to line everything up so that I can get a job and then a car in succession. It's hard work just finding a job, but I've got some leads and hopefully that'll work out.

So, looking to the future, I'm thinking about vehicles--What's fuel-efficient, what's safe, what's reasonably price and what's something I'm going to actually want to drive?

One of my solutions to this was this sweet babe.
A '73 Beetle. Good on gas, solid car, V-Dub reliability and something I want to drive. And for $6,000. I thought I was in the clear on this deal, until I thought to myself: "How am I going to fit the bass and my amp in there?"

So, this is a plea to any former or current Beetle owners--Can you fit your bass in the Bug? I've heard of ways to fit a bass into pretty much any car with roughly six feet of space, by laying down the passenger seat and putting the bass in it as if it were a human. Does this work with a Beetle, and if so, does that leave any room to fit an amplifier?

My other option is A Scion XB. It's a wagon, with lots of space, great gas mileage, MP3, all the bells and whistles I could want. I've always been big on history, so perhaps it's not the nostalgic Beetle I wanted, but it's a good buy, if not on the expensive side. As a side discussion to the Ultimate Beetle Challenge, does anybody own a Scion XB here? Is it worth the buy, and how does it fair for a bassist?

Also, in conclusion, are there any other cars you find work well for a bassist's needs?

Kitty King drove her DB around BC for many years in a Beetle with the front passenger seat removed. It kinda limits your dating possibilities though...

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Well, I wouldn't pay more than 3K for a beetle unless it was a 1963 and totally restored. Subaru's are not the hippest looking cars that's for sure (I've got one) but they're pretty reliable and when those snow storms hit this winter I never got stuck and never missed a gig. Those Scion's are cool, I like them.

A Beetle like this?

I thought fully restored, with 300 miles on it, that it would be way out of my price-range. At least, that was my logic.

I would really love to drive a Scion, honestly. About as much as a Beetle. But if you say a Beetle's worth $3,000 and I could find one for that price, that may be the better deal in the end. Especially considering $3,000 is books and personal effects in college two years from now. I'd like to see if I can get into Johns Hopkins as well, and I can already feel the money being squeezed out of my pleather, receipt-filled wallet...

[Jason Sypher]

http://bit.ly/emO4yk #ebaymobile

[LouisF]

Find one of these! Mine is a 1989, has 220+ thousand miles on it, the rear drops down for the perfect bass haven. Gets 30+ mpg, and costs @$2K -- you can use the other $4K to get yourself a really great bow (which is what I did).

Mom will kill me!

Louis

[ole Jason]

That's a decent deal on the Scion if it has relatively low miles. The XB is one of the few non-luxury cars that really doesn't depreciate very much. It's not uncommon to see an '06 still sell for more than $10k.

[Cirk]

I have an Xb. So far, I love it, and it has a ton of room inside. It's a Camry drivetrain with a small van body on it. Mileage is excellent, but get the K&N air filter to maximize.

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Originally Posted by Cirk

I have an Xb. So far, I love it, and it has a ton of room inside. It's a Camry drivetrain with a small van body on it. Mileage is excellent, but get the K&N air filter to maximize.

Sounds like a good vehicle, to me.

It's just going to be hard finding one that's priced well, but I've got six months or so to look around for one.

[bassist1962]

I currently own a Volvo V70. The back seat is a split fold down, and I just had my bass, and five passengers in the vehicle this morning. One had to sit in the very rear unbuckled, but everyone made the trip intact.

[Ike Harris]

Originally Posted by bassist1962

I currently own a Volvo V70. The back seat is a split fold down, and I just had my bass, and five passengers in the vehicle this morning. One had to sit in the very rear unbuckled, but everyone made the trip intact.

If you're over the cuteness factor, I've been a Volvo owner for years. The wagons look kind of medium size but they're cavernous inside. My last purchase was about '02 when I wanted the latest model rear wheel drive and found a '96 960 online. I could probably fit at least 3 basses in there if needed, including amps, stands, etc. They're built like tanks, are pretty trouble free and have ok mileage; peace of mind is worth a lot to me.

Ike

[PocketGroove82]

lol..i thought this thread was about the book