What small - mid size car is friendly to transporting gear?

[jsh008]

I need a new car and I drive 30k miles a year just for work, so I need something on the smaller side to get better gas mileage. Are there any small or medium cars out there that I could get a 4x10 in the trunk or hatchback?

[viper4000]

I had a late 90's cavalier (approx low 30 MPG) that I could put a 2X15, 2 basses, pedal board in the back seat and rack in the trunk. I currently drive a Mercury Sable (25 MPG) and can get 2 410's, 2 basses, pedal board in the back seat and rack in the front passenger. On a 4 door car, I would say most openings are wide enough for a 410.

[Phalex]

I understand the Mini-Cooper is quite amazing in it's load hauling capabilities. The new larger one may be just the ticket for me in the future.

[bassbully]

I use an 06 Scion XA cant get much smaller and it gets great mileage, drives and handles great and holds quite a bit of gear with the back laid flat.

[edmidlifecrisis]

Have a look at vw jetta clean diesel wagon. 40mpg 50 state legal.

[Tunaman]

I have a Honda Fit & its awesome for bringing gear. It has magic seats that fold up so you have floor to roof room. 35 MPGs average. I brought myself, 2 people & all my gear to a gig, people were amazed.
If you look at the cubic feet of its comparable to a toyota matrix. You could probably stand up a 610 in it

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I understand the Mini-Cooper is quite amazing in it's load hauling capabilities. The new larger one may be just the ticket for me in the future.

The older model is kind of like my Scion in shape etc. You move the front seats up lay the back flat. I have put in the bands two mains cabs for the PA, head 2 stands my bass,gig bag,stand,and a 2x10 fender combo with no issues at all..roomy.

[Downunderwonder]

I've got an old Nissan 1.6L station wagon. Pretty much any Jap liftback or wagon will take a 4x10 with a back seat down. If I really want I can put my 15" on the front seat and it's not undriveable.

Doing 30K miles I'd be looking into the driving comfort first and then making sure gear fits.

[edmidlifecrisis]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I understand the Mini-Cooper is quite amazing in it's load hauling capabilities. The new larger one may be just the ticket for me in the future.

Guy in our bluegrass class brings a banjo and kay upright every week in a Mini. Amazing. Must bend space and reality inside!

[Lazarus.Bird]

I drive a Mazda 3 Hatchback and I can find my two 212s, my hard case, my SVT-CL and all my other junk and still have room for someone in the passenger seat.

[iamlowsound]

Either a Kia Forte or a Mazda 3 would fit your criteria. My girlfriend has a forte and we have fit her keyboard, a small PA, my 2x10, 1x15, my rack, two basses and several drum toms into it while still having room for the two of us.

lowsound

[brickerenator]

A Subaru hatch?

Wish I had one.

[pstyle]

My vote also goes to Mazda3. Either the old body style or the new. They're very sporty and super fun to drive as well very practical. Has to be a stick-shift tho!

[ErikP.Bass]

+ 1 on the Honda Fit, I'd add Sport too. The features you get for the $$$ and the versatility of the cargo area (lookup magic seat) are excellent. I moved our band to a new practice space in two trips. Also the gas mileage is great, I once got 45 mpg on a trip to PA all highway.

[Richland123]

[Miskatonic]

My dad used to drive a Honda Civic hatchback and could fit his electric, his upright, amp and cab, as well as the drummers kit with no problems and it got great gas mileage.

[Grygore]

I've got an '08 Kia Spectra 5. Has a hatchback and the rear seats fold down so it's like a mini-wagon when I need it to be. Much easier to get my cab into it than a pickup truck because it's a lot lower. Good gas mileage and all that...

Carries all my gear easily. I have even packed it with my guitarist's 4x10 as well as mine at the same time no problem.

[Tunaman]

Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta, Mazda 3 Hatch, Scion Xd... all of these

[WoodyG3]

'05 Scion xB. Back seats down and you have more room than many larger footprint vehicles. I get an average of 34 mpg. The newer xB models have a laregr engine and the milage isn't quite as good, I've heard.

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

I drive a Mazda 3 Hatchback and I can find my two 212s, my hard case, my SVT-CL and all my other junk and still have room for someone in the passenger seat.

+1 for the Mazda3. Great car, fun to drive (with the manual trans) and swallows gear.