Small cars that still fit your rig?

Check out: http://www.searchtempest.com/

It has a related car/truck search that looks at several sites including craigslist by the parameters you set up.

For $2k, you might be able to find a pickup that you can put a bed cover on. Or maybe a wagon/van.
Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-cy...506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:12|39:1|72:2148
Good luck.

 

A wagon with the back seats down should probably do the job.

 

Bring your bass with you when you go look at the car and see if you can fit it in. I used to carry my bass around in a '67 Beetle.

 

I think you'll be surprised how well a bass fits in small cars. I have an old Mazda 323 hatchback that works great. I can fit me, my bass, and all the rest of my gear and still have room to comfortably seat two passengers. In fact, I have transported myself and two horn players in my car on a number of occasions.

I would definitely check out hatchbacks, as they are easy to load the bass in and out, get good mileage and are inexpensive. If possible, look for ones where the back seats have a 60/40 split and see if your bass will fit with only the "60" side folded down. In my car, I load the bass in on its back with the scroll ending up between the front seats (but not so far forward that it interferes with driving). That bass is very secure and can't move around at all. My gear fits next to it snugly enough that nothing can fall on or smash into the bass.

 

Why not just get a topper? That'll be a lot cheaper than a new car/truck/wagon, is it not possible for your truck to have one?

 

Scion XA, my Kay, amp, and a kiddie seat. However, it's a tight fit and Toyota has changed their design, so you'd better try it on for size with your own bass.

 

I know this is an old thread, but I had to share my experience with my 2009 Honda Fit that I bought in October.

I had a gig in Chorpus Christi, TX with their symphony. It was a pops gig so I had to double on acoustic and electric bass. I was able to fit: Myself, Ladyfriend, Dog (corgi), Upright bass, electric bass, AI Contra, two suitcases, and I was still getting 40mpg going 70mph. I'm very happy with my purchase.

 

It fits in a Fit? That's both surprising and fun to say. I'm able to squeeze mine into my 1998 Mazda Protege, which is similar to the 323 mentioned earlier by Michael. I recline the front passenger seat and go through the rear door on the driver's side. After a little wiggling, it takes up the entire passenger side. My wife has to sit in the backseat. She doesn't mind it, but I think it is because she likes to say, "Home, Jeeves!"