Bass amp and vehicle question

[buzzbass]

Seats 8, hauls family, gear, and just plain hauls! Decent mpg for a 13.5 sec car too!

2 pa spkrs & stands, pa head, 2 basses, full drum kit, and my cabs... though I haven't used these two together in a few years (typically a 1x15, with or without a 1x12 on top these days...).

that thing runs 13.5s !?!?!?

produce a time slip or I call BS

 

[cavemusic]

I've been using a Toyota Matrix for a year now. With the rear seats folded down, it's got a flat cargo area, and you can fit a ridiculous amount of gear in there. The fuel efficiency is great. I think it's likely the best cargo space/fuel efficiency combination.

 

[mikeswals]

that thing runs 13.5s !?!?!?

produce a time slip or I call BS

Not too shabby for a shaggin' wagon.

I've got a time slip that shows my full sized 98 Dodge cummins diesel 4x4 (okay with twin turbos) ran a 13.99. Then they booted me off the track because I didn't have a helmet.
That was 150hp ago....I wonder what it would run now, besides probably scattering the tranny or transfer case.
Oh and it's is my gig rig too!

 

[Munjibunga]

that thing runs 13.5s !?!?!?

produce a time slip or I call BS

I didn't want to put it so bluntly. I just want to see the engine.

 

[buzzbass]

Not too shabby for a shaggin' wagon.

I've got a time slip that shows my full sized 98 Dodge cummins diesel 4x4 (okay with twin turbos) ran a 13.99. Then they booted me off the track because I didn't have a helmet.
That was 150hp ago....I wonder what it would run now, besides probably scattering the tranny or transfer case.
Oh and it's is my gig rig too!

great platform to work on, good for you. just sold one to get a hemi powered ram

 

[Pilgrim]

SUV. Neither my wife nor I will even drive a minivan as a rental.

 

[duff beer]

I guess you could say driving an automatic is to playing with a pick, as driving a manual is to playing with your fingers.

Some would say you get better control with your fingers, but really it's all personal preference. I prefer to drive manuals (but i play with picks).

With the quality of today's auto trannys, there is no advantage at all to having a manual. Buy one if you enjoy shifting, but don't buy one because you think you will have more control...because you probably won't.

 

[tifftunes]

that thing runs 13.5s !?!?!?

produce a time slip or I call BS

I didn't want to put it so bluntly. I just want to see the engine.

Call it whatever you want! Its a stock '95 Chevy LT1 ("nuttin special" 350) producing 330 Lb-Ft of torque, and a few minor bolt-ons, including a diff gear change. Launches great... Loses a bit in the upper rpms though... Needs valve springs and rolling rockers, and possibly bigger exhaust to improve even another quarter second. It starts getting really expensive after that, and not really wort it for a daily driver...

You can find a couple of vids of 95-ish Caprice/Roadmaster wagons on youtube that are 12 second cars, whupping Stangs, Camaros and Vettes! All supposedly with simple bolt-ons as well...

 

[KJung]

I play on the road quite a bit, and do a bit of driving to some of the gigs. That means that there are a few things very important:

1) I need to fit all my gear in a place 'out of sight' since I leave most of my stuff in the car when staying in hotels

2) Gas mileage... the higher the better

3) AWD... for Winter travel.

The small crossover SUV's fit these requirements very nicely. The ones with the biggest cargo area (even more than most full size SUV's for some reason) and that have 'blackout' windows in the back that keep things hidden, and also get decent mileage and have AWD are:

- Honda CRV
- Toyota Rav4
- The Honda Element gets honorary mention, but the gas mileage and highway noise are poor IMO.

The cool thing about both the CRV and the Rav4 is that the cargo area is VERY low to the ground... very easy load in and out, and I can fit my large 410, a head, a backup head, stands, luggage and a bass all in the back compartment of either of these.

The price is decent on these, plenty of power, quiet (reasonably) on the highway, and just a dream for schlepping gear. Also, not as geeky as a van or station wagon, and those typically don't have the black-out rear windows and the ability to get the gear down below the sight line.

IMO!

 

[buzzbass]

Call it whatever you want! Its a stock '95 Chevy LT1 ("nuttin special" 350) producing 330 Lb-Ft of torque, and a few minor bolt-ons, including a diff gear change. Launches great... Loses a bit in the upper rpms though... Needs valve springs and rolling rockers, and possibly bigger exhaust to improve even another quarter second. It starts getting really expensive after that, and not really wort it for a daily driver...

You can find a couple of vids of 95-ish Caprice/Roadmaster wagons on youtube that are 12 second cars, whupping Stangs, Camaros and Vettes! All supposedly with simple bolt-ons as well...

It's all conjecture without a time slip. That boat has to weigh all fo 4500+ lbs. Takes a lot of power to get something that heavy to move that fast.

 

[tifftunes]

It's all conjecture without a time slip. That boat has to weigh all fo 4500+ lbs. Takes a lot of power to get something that heavy to move that fast.

...Not conjecture when you use your eyes! And 330 lb ft of torque is nothing to sneeze at.

Check this out:



There are quite a few fast wagons. Most are daily drivers like mine. My last 95 wgn got 26 mpg @ 75mph in the desert, with ac on... current wagon is only 21mpg @ best with the diff gear change... still, pretty good for a 4500 lb go-fast!!

Also, the sedan version used to be THE police pursuit car of choice, for good reason.

 

[buzzbass]

...Not conjecture when you use your eyes! And 330 lb ft of torque is nothing to sneeze at.

Check this out:



There are quite a few fast wagons. Most are daily drivers like mine. My last 95 wgn got 26 mpg @ 75mph in the desert, with ac on... current wagon is only 21mpg @ best with the diff gear change... still, pretty good for a 4500 lb go-fast!!

Also, the sedan version used to be THE police pursuit car of choice, for good reason.

just because those run that fast, doesn't mean yours does. List your mods, there's no way it's stock with claimed time.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I play on the road quite a bit, and do a bit of driving to some of the gigs. That means that there are a few things very important:

1) I need to fit all my gear in a place 'out of sight' since I leave most of my stuff in the car when staying in hotels

2) Gas mileage... the higher the better

3) AWD... for Winter travel.

The small crossover SUV's fit these requirements very nicely. The ones with the biggest cargo area (even more than most full size SUV's for some reason) and that have 'blackout' windows in the back that keep things hidden, and also get decent mileage and have AWD are:

- Honda CRV
- Toyota RAV4

The cool thing about both the CRV and the RAV4 is that the cargo area is VERY low to the ground... very easy load in and out.

IMO!

+1! I see you're from Detroit; I am as well (Plymouth specifically) and I go to school in Grand Rapids, so I can relate with wanting AWD for snow. I drive a Toyota RAV4 with 4-wheel drive and it does a great job hauling gear and hauling a** (ok, maybe not hauling a** but whatever haha.) I wish mine were a stick shift because with the auto trans it feels pretty sluggish. Truly a nice little SUV. I'm convinced that RAV stands for Really Awesome Vehicle...

 

[stratovani]

Seats 8, hauls family, gear, and just plain hauls! Decent mpg for a 13.5 sec car too!

2 pa spkrs & stands, pa head, 2 basses, full drum kit, and my cabs... though I haven't used these two together in a few years (typically a 1x15, with or without a 1x12 on top these days...).

You guys can argue speed all you want, but these shaggin' wagons are great for starting a family! I should know, I've got a 23-year-old son to prove it!

 

[scottbass]

Minivans, though "uncool" are excellent for hauling gear.

+1,000,000 (or more).

After 22 years and four different Chrysler/Dodge minivans, I finally downsized and can now stuff all my gear into a PT Cruiser. I'm already considering going back to a minivan, however...

The four major advantages of a minivan over a pickup & topper (cap) are (1) easier loading/unloading, (2) better climate control, (3) gentler ride, and (4) greater security.

 

[banditcosmo]

I was one of the first in my town to get a 2001 PT Cruiser and really liked it and was great for hauling stuff but it was so darn slow. Had to wait 6 months to get it.
I may do some test drives thing weekend.

Here's some I'm going to drive:

• Kia Soul
• Scion XB
• Nissan Cube (no sunroof available, storage is not great)
• Mazda3
• VW Golf (step down from the "GTI" I lease right now)
• Honda Fit (bla don’t car for its looks though the sport model does not look to bad but is the top rated small car, great gas mileage, low price)

 

[Keith Richard M]

I use a 1998 Civic Hatchback, fits an upright bass and 2x10 cab with head. I'd recommend a something like a small Toyota or Honda wagon. Smaller is better, gas will be 4 bucks a gallon again in the near future.

 

[Gravedigger]

It's not economical, but it hauls, and everyone always remembers the guy that drove the Hearse....LOL!

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[baron665]

I had a 1972 Le Mans (GTO copy) and was able to fit 2 (a 4 and a 5 string) basses, my amp head, a 2x12 cab, guitar, mic w/stand, small guitar combo amp, and a small PA(4 channel mixer and two 10" cabs), along with my spare tire in the trunk. The tire kept things from sliding, and no one would know that there was gear in it. I wish I still had all of these. I had to sell almost all of these. Out of all these pieces listed, I only have the mic and stand. Though I did get a new bass recently, with a small Ampeg combo amp.

 

[JohnMCA72]

I drive a Chevy HHR. With the back seat folded down, I can carry both my 301 cabinets, head, & all gear easily with plenty of space left over + room for a passenger.

If you look at SUVs, be sure that you have a flat deck with the rear seat backs folded down. Some vehicles' seats don't fold flat.

I used to have a Fiat 124 coupe, that I could slide an Acoustic 406 bottom on its side, into the back seat. It fit perfectly, right down to the side bolsters matching up with the angles on the back of the cabinet! It's surprising sometimes, what you can stuff into even a small car with some imagination.