Vechicles Suitable for upright basses

46nelsonkay · #1 08-19-2009, 12:55 PM

Hey Yall. I am currently in the market for a new car. One of my biggest requirements is that it can carry my Kay M-1 3/4 size bass. and a small 12" speaker cabinet. Any suggestions?

I am currently driving a 2001 Honda civic ex and I can get my bass inside it, just barely and without any room to spare and it is very precarious.

My next requirement is that it be fuel efficient.

Thanks so much!

sevenyearsdown · #2 08-19-2009, 01:00 PM

I drive a Kia Sportage 4-cyl model. It can fit my 3/4 plus sone other stuff. It's not the biggest for SUV's, but the MPG is pretty solid.

Jonyak · #3 08-19-2009, 01:33 PM

my elantra is pretty good...

and I get almost 700km to a tank of gas..

Roger Harper · #4 08-19-2009, 01:57 PM

'07 Prius - Upton bass, music stand, bass stand, guitar, and 2 small amps with room to spare. 48MPG.

Roger

standupright · #5 08-19-2009, 02:02 PM

i drive this and can fit my DB, stool, amp, slab and a passenger very comfortably. gets about 30 mpg. all requirements when i bought it. i actually drove the car with the salesman to my house and loaded it with my gear to make sure. the look on his face was priceless. but hey, he sold a car.

chevy hhr

Jesse Rosenburg · #6 08-19-2009, 02:02 PM

Love my VW GTI. Always partial to hatchbacks with fold down seats. About 35 mpg on the highway, although almost as good stop and go.

Now they're importing TDIs, and those diesels get greater mileage. Not a choice when I bought.

And they've reinvented the Rabbit.

longfinger · #7 08-19-2009, 02:26 PM

Most 5 door hatchbacks will do the job with a rear seat folded down, and perhaps the front passenger seat pushed forward, even the smaller looking ones. The key is the hatchback.

peterpalmieri · #8 08-19-2009, 02:28 PM

I hate to be the pain that says it. But there is another thread that's pages and pages long that hashed this out already. A quick search should answer all your questions.

topper · #9 08-19-2009, 02:33 PM

I have a LITTLE subaru impreza hatchback. It's not the bigger Outback. I can fit my upright, an avatar 112 cabinet, a back pack with my head and other gear and still have room for a passenger up front and I have room to spare. My Impreza averages about 30mpg.

The headstock of the bass has to sit up on my armrest, but it's really not uncomfortable in any way.

I'm constantly amazed at how much I can pack in this little car.

spaceboy · #10 08-19-2009, 07:16 PM

Back in the '70's I hauled my upright around in a Porsche 914 with the top off. I used to turn heads driving through town.

D McCartney · #11 08-19-2009, 11:16 PM

My Toyota Tacoma is a perfect fit for my bass, amp and ice chest.

Square Bear · #12 08-19-2009, 11:26 PM

I used to drive a little honda CRX 2-seater that would miraculously fit all my gear and a passenger. I carpooled to a gig with a cellist/cello once in that little car. I really think the hatchback vehicles are the way to go if you're looking for haul-ability and good gas mileage. I'm also in the market for a new car and will be buying a subaru legacy wagon.

ASBass · #13 08-20-2009, 06:29 AM

Honda Fit.
Fits bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin, cooler, 2 people and lots more.
36mpg.
Love it!

HoodBass12 · #14 08-20-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 46nelsonkay

Hey Yall. I am currently in the market for a new car. One of my biggest requirements is that it can carry my Kay M-1 3/4 size bass. and a small 12" speaker cabinet. Any suggestions?

I am currently driving a 2001 Honda civic ex and I can get my bass inside it, just barely and without any room to spare and it is very precarious.

My next requirement is that it be fuel efficient.

Thanks so much!

I transport my instrument in a 2009 honda Crv, LET ME JUST SAY.. it is the safest vehicle i've ever driven in.

When I was in a terrible car accident (Launched a guard rail and flipped on my side for 150 feet) on my way to a recording session with my bass in the back both the bass and I endured minimal damage. I was unscathed and the bass merely needed a patch in the back. great car, plenty of room, cheap(ish)

Earl · #15 08-20-2009, 07:54 AM

2004 Scion XB. I can get the bass, amp and two other passengers in there comfortably. I have also gotten the bass, a full drumset and me and the drummer in it. Decent MPG. The new Scions are shaped differently so I'm not sure about that.

MoEllis · #16 08-20-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D McCartney

My Toyota Tacoma is a perfect fit for my bass, amp and ice chest.

I assume your bed is covered... Do you ever worry about the elements (temp, humidity etc.) mess with your bass?

Square Bear · #17 08-20-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoodBass12

I transport my instrument in a 2009 honda Crv, LET ME JUST SAY.. it is the safest vehicle i've ever driven in.

When I was in a terrible car accident (Launched a guard rail and flipped on my side for 150 feet) on my way to a recording session with my bass in the back both the bass and I endured minimal damage. I was unscathed and the bass merely needed a patch in the back. great car, plenty of room, cheap(ish)

glad to hear you were safe (and your bass!). i often worry about spending so much time in the car on the way to gigs.

MoEllis · #18 08-20-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

i drive this and can fit my DB, stool, amp, slab and a passenger very comfortably. gets about 30 mpg. all requirements when i bought it. i actually drove the car with the salesman to my house and loaded it with my gear to make sure. the look on his face was priceless. but hey, he sold a car.

chevy hhr

X2!! I got the same thing and fit 2 4x10s, 2 electrics, upright, stands for all, and passenger, and still have room to spare!

RustyAxe · #19 08-20-2009, 08:57 AM

Just about any vehicle shaped like a shoebox with wheels will do. My own is a 2005 Honda Element. Lots of room for the bass, and a ton of other crap. All wheel drive means I'll make it to that low paying gig through a February blizzard (that a good thing?). About 22 mpg in mixed highway/city driving. Honda reliability. Works for me.

Eilif · #20 08-20-2009, 09:05 AM

I fit my 3/4 in my camry just fine. I lay back the front passenger seat so that when laid on the seat on it's side, the headstock angles up and above the rear seats. I put the bass in with the bridge facing meThen I buckle the bass in with the lap belt going under the bass and the shoulder strap going over. Whatever amp I bring goes in the trunk, and I still have plenty of room for one (or two if they squeeze) passengers in the back. I'm a pretty dramatic driver and tend to take my turns pretty quickly, but since I've started buckling the bass in I've never had it fall over on me.

The key rule for fitting a bass into a small car is:
As long as the distance from the glove compartment to the midpoint of the rear window is longer than your bass-in-case, you can fit an upright in almost any car.

My next car will hopefully be a prius, which should also have no problem fitting my bass + passengers. I will be downgrading from an 8x10 to a 4x10 for my electric rig though.