my wife has one. occasionally i take it. i can take a 4x10, head, 2 bases and my bag o' stuff w/no problem. and it's super easy to load/unload. i would probably go with the clubman if i were buying one for me though.
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What small - mid size car is friendly to transporting gear?
- Thread starter 1stOfficerRiker
- Start date
my wife has one. occasionally i take it. i can take a 4x10, head, 2 bases and my bag o' stuff w/no problem. and it's super easy to load/unload. i would probably go with the clubman if i were buying one for me though.
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
Chrysler PT Cruiser. Take out the rear seats and the resulting cargo space is remarkably large AND, more importantly, the right dimensions. I cut out a piece of 1/4" plywood to fit the floor contours. I then load in two JBL 2x15 PA speakers and assorted other gear. Then I lay another piece of tailored 1/4" plywood on top of the speakers and I have room for a big old 1x15, a Schroeder 2x12, a 4-space rack case, two basses in cases, two sets of Chauvet 4-light LED light bars, all assorted stands, controllers, 16-channel mixer, relatively large gig bag and a 10-space rack case full of outboard PA gear. Really!
The main drawback is if you don't get the turbo, the normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine is pretty gutless. And you can't get a V6.
And they don't make PT Cruisers anymore, either. But there are lots of low-mileage newer ones (2008 - 09) being sold very reasonably.
The main drawback is if you don't get the turbo, the normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine is pretty gutless. And you can't get a V6.
And they don't make PT Cruisers anymore, either. But there are lots of low-mileage newer ones (2008 - 09) being sold very reasonably.
I have an '08 MKV VW GTI. It fits my 4X10 and 6 space rack pretty easy with the seats down. I could fit 2X 410s if I put em on their side, and still have room for my other stuff.
I can fit my 8X10 Ampeg and two basses in the back too, but I have to put the rack in the front seat. If I could turn it and stand it sideways it would all fit in the back. Haven't tried it because I've only moved the 8X10 once from when I bought it. When I bought the car I wanted a hatchback for the look and because I knew I'd be lugging around bass gear. Works great for me. I've moved my 4X10 setup multiple times to jam with buddies. It's sitting in my car right now as a matter of fact. Goin play tonight with some friends.
I can fit my 8X10 Ampeg and two basses in the back too, but I have to put the rack in the front seat. If I could turn it and stand it sideways it would all fit in the back. Haven't tried it because I've only moved the 8X10 once from when I bought it. When I bought the car I wanted a hatchback for the look and because I knew I'd be lugging around bass gear. Works great for me. I've moved my 4X10 setup multiple times to jam with buddies. It's sitting in my car right now as a matter of fact. Goin play tonight with some friends.
I can fit my 810, SVT, bass, and backpack in the back of my Subaru Impreza hatchback and even more in the front passenger seat if I need to. It's a ruler of a car.
'07 VW Rabbit, very much like the GTI mentioned above. I can fit my basses and amp (4x10 and small power amp, essentially) as well as guitars, guitar amp, and the guitarist in the car. Not a problem. A Mini or a Honda Fit would be similar but more fun/better mileage. All hatchbacks will hold what you want.
'03 VW Golf here. Fits my PR-410, rack, pedalboard, bass, etc.
I think just about any hatchback would work for you, but VW kick ass. Also, do a search there's at least one thread about 'show your hauler, loaded for the gig' pics, and a 'bassists who own vw' thread.
I think just about any hatchback would work for you, but VW kick ass. Also, do a search there's at least one thread about 'show your hauler, loaded for the gig' pics, and a 'bassists who own vw' thread.
Where do you put two basses? Front passenger seat, sticking through the sunroof? You are much more efficient packer than me, thats for sure!
I ordered my wife a new '05 Mini Cooper "S" (Oh, its so cute), sold it (Its so bumpy on rough roads) and got her a (much roomier and smoother) VW Rabbit in '08, and while it was indeed big fun to commandeer the Mini for an occasional blast through the boonies I couldn't manage to get squat inside.
Using this picture for reference, it's only about 8' between wheel centers, about 2.5' from the back of the front seats to the hatch, maybe 4' wide inside, around 2' from the cargo floor to the roof, and the rear seats don't even fold flat.
Granted, cargo carrying isn't what it's designed for, I did drive it to rehearsal once but the best I could do was a 115, a head and a single bass; that was tight, and I had to use a gig bag for the bass. I wouldn't know where to start with a DB, I would have loved to watch edmidlifecrisiss classmate wrestle with that!
That sucker would sure scoot though, as that is what it was designed for; even quicker than my 911 through real tight twisty ones, although as my wife noticed it would beat your brains out on a long trip. I think the non "S" model is a smoother ride, but I dont think it has more room.
I can get an amazing amount of stuff in my Jeep Liberty; but I gave up on abusing my passenger vehicles as cargo haulers and a few years ago bit the bullet and bought a dedicated Ford E Van for my gear, saving my passenger cars for passengers.
Worth every penny!
+1 on the HHR!!! I love mine(I have the regular version), I can haul my G-K 4-12" NEO cab, G-K head and a couple of basses with the rear seat folded down. Great gas milage, flex-fuel(if you are into that) and fun to drive.
Subarus are great for this. I regularly put 2 1x12 cabs, three basses, and a random assortment of bandmates' guitars and amps into my Forester.
I've also shoved a double bass in there without much of a problem. Getting it out was tricky, though.
Where do you put two basses? Front passenger seat, sticking through the sunroof? You are much more efficient packer than me, that’s for sure!
I ordered my wife a new '05 Mini Cooper "S" (“Oh, it’s so cute”
Using this picture for reference, it's only about 8' between wheel centers, about 2.5' from the back of the front seats to the hatch, maybe 4' wide inside, around 2' from the cargo floor to the roof, and the rear seats don't even fold flat.
Granted, cargo carrying isn't what it's designed for, I did drive it to rehearsal once but the best I could do was a 115, a head and a single bass; that was tight, and I had to use a gig bag for the bass. I wouldn't know where to start with a DB, I would have loved to watch edmidlifecrisis’s classmate wrestle with that!
)
two basses (in cases, not bags) in the passenger side front, 28x24x19 4x10 cab and head in a 4 space rack in the back (seats down) and plenty of room to spare. nornmally i take a volvo wagon, but if i was looking to buy a clubman would be on my short list (barn doors and 1.5' longer).
the car in the pic is te same as my wife's except colour.
I drive a 2007 Honda Accord. Don't know mileage, but it is somewhere around 30 mpg. I routinely load my Berg NV610 into the trunk.
I have to go against any TDI recommendations due to their HPFP failures leading to the entire fuel system being replaced. No, I'm not exaggerating.
http://www.google.com/search?q=HPFP...=&oq=vHPFP+failures&pbx=1&fp=fd0f73886609171d
http://www.google.com/search?q=HPFP...=&oq=vHPFP+failures&pbx=1&fp=fd0f73886609171d
I had a Scion xB (the box) and it could be loaded with several amps, cabs and guitars because the back seats folded down "flat". I loved the car, but my nephew totaled it. 
The Ford Focus is also a decent car that can carry a ton of gear. I liked driving the Scion better than the Focus, but both were affordable and economical.
The Ford Focus is also a decent car that can carry a ton of gear. I liked driving the Scion better than the Focus, but both were affordable and economical.
Well there! Quite a few people telling you what they use -- mostly hatchbacks.
Come to think of it, I can't think of _any_ hatchback that couldn't take a 4x10 and a bass. (Wait: does a Smart Car have a hatch??)
I have a teeny tiny old Toyota Echo sedan (that butt-ugly but crazy-economical-and-reliable one). No problem getting a larger ported 4x10 in the back seat -- as long as it's not in a hard wood (wheeled) road case.
Mine is 10 years old and completely problem-free -- like: I stare at it in utter disbelief at how well it runs if I just toss some Mobil 1 oil in it once a year!!
But I'm getting into double bass, and am thinking ahead to something slightly larger. Chances are very good that I'm going to end up with a Toyota Matrix -- probably the older, first generation. They are also "crazy-reliable" (I don't think they've been accused of Toyota's "magic, autonomous accelerator pedal, er, feature"), and are pretty accomodating of any and all bass gear.
Come to think of it, I can't think of _any_ hatchback that couldn't take a 4x10 and a bass. (Wait: does a Smart Car have a hatch??)
I have a teeny tiny old Toyota Echo sedan (that butt-ugly but crazy-economical-and-reliable one). No problem getting a larger ported 4x10 in the back seat -- as long as it's not in a hard wood (wheeled) road case.
Mine is 10 years old and completely problem-free -- like: I stare at it in utter disbelief at how well it runs if I just toss some Mobil 1 oil in it once a year!!
But I'm getting into double bass, and am thinking ahead to something slightly larger. Chances are very good that I'm going to end up with a Toyota Matrix -- probably the older, first generation. They are also "crazy-reliable" (I don't think they've been accused of Toyota's "magic, autonomous accelerator pedal, er, feature"), and are pretty accomodating of any and all bass gear.
Another vote for a Mazda 3 hatch. These pics are from three years ago, before I was really good at loading her up. Anymore, I can take my GIII, my 4U rack head, two 12" yamaha mains, two 12" floor monitors, a yamaha PA head, two speakers stands, mic stands, two basses and two rubbermaid bins with cables and microphones - enough gear for most bar gigs - and still have room for the wife to ride along with the seats back far enough for me to be comfortable at 6'4". Plus, since it's a Speed 3, I could get to the gig at 150mph if I needed.
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- Sep 9, 2007
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I have a Hyundai Elantra GT with a hatchback. Fits a 4x10 easily in the trunk without anything, but you can put the seats down for more room. I can easily throw my DB in the car with amp, misc. gear and wife and have room to spare.
