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I know that tuba transports have been discussed in the past. I was just wondering if there was any new input.

My wife and I are planning to move to a big(ish) city, and we decided that we will only need one car until we are both out of school and have real jobs (i.e. 10 million years).

We are trading in her '98 Jetta and my '03 Aztek (spare me the jokes. I know it looks like the love child of a warthog and a Trasnformer).

We are looking for either a USED wagon or a smallish SUV. Enough space to fit 2 tubas and a euph (plus maybe a wife) mandatory, good gas milage a plus.

So far we have come across the Toyota RAV4, Volvo / Audi / VW wagon, Ford Escape, Dodge Magnum, and Jeep Liberty.

Anyone had any experience with these? Anyone drive something else that works well?

Thanks in advance.

d(who should probably consider safety since kids will most likely be coming before I sell this upcoming vehicle)temp

Consider a used Subaru Outback. The back end is wide enough for me to hold my 6/4 Holton (in a gig bag), PLUS either my B&S F or Miraphone 186 BBb, without folding the back seat down.

It will give you many of the capabilities of an SUV, but without the sucky gas mileage and high center of gravity. The Limited model is about as luxurious as anyone ought to want, and it's nearly as reliable as a Toyota (making it far more reliable than nearly all American and German cars in my experience).

We also have an Audi A6 wagon, and the tuba will not fit cross-ways in the back the way they will in the Subaru. To get two tubas in requires folding down the back seat and removing the bar that holds the trunk-area cover.

Rick "on his second one" Denney

Have you seen bloke's thread looking for a vehicle? He lays out the criteria needed really well.

viewtopic.php?t=12792

I have a Ford Escape and a Chevy Aveo. Both are great for tubas & sousaphones. The Ford Escape V6-auto is not as easy on gas as it might appear, but my wife has knee problems and cannot drive a standard. Both have seats that fold flat and/or up and out of way really well for efficient cargo space. I can even put a souzy in the back seat of my Aveo as is!

I recently undertook a cross country trip with a fellow tubist in my Ford Focus ZX3 (that's the two-door plus hatchback). With the back seats folded down we were able to carry:

MW 2155 in gigbag
MW 45S-LP in gigbag
Miraphone 187 in gigbag
two suitcases
small cooler with beverages
two crocery bags of assorted snacks
laptop in case
new printer in factory box and packaging (Christmas gift)

and all this without having to slide the front seats forward or obsruct the vision out the rear-view mirror.

Either my 2155 or 45S-LP will fit in the back without dropping the seats. a MW 2165 sould not.

I second the motion about the Subaru. I have one and fit a Besson 983, Miraphone 190, Rudy Meinl 5/4, Yamaha 822C, euph, and a bass trombone in it (not all mine). It was funny and I think I have a picture somewhere. Anyways, you can fit a lot of stuff in it and it works wonderfully for tubas. I can even put my large WJ case in the back without folding the seats.

Yet another vote for the Subaru Forester here.

Consumer Reports' recent Top Picks 2006 puts it at the top of the sub-$30k SUV category. Mine is comfortable, roomy, reliable, and great in snowy weather. I'd buy it again given the chance. Oh, and it holds a PT6 and MW2141 without folding seats.

My sister gave me a 1991 dodge mini van. My first van. I threw away the 2nd and 3rd seats and now I got me a truck. Lots-o-stuff goes inside and I use the roof rack and $200 bucks for a trailer hitch puts my band on the road with a $10 a day U-Haul covered 4 by 8 trailer with my huge P.A. in it.
Rock and roll!
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

joshstanman wrote:My 1991 Honda Accord Wagon does the job quite nicely. I've never had to fit multiple tubas, however, it fits my slightly oversized 186 case nicely. Great gas mileage. 130,000 miles, and it honestly runs like new. You can't beat a Honda. All this, for only $2800. I might feel froggy and post pics. I love my car.

Hondas are always a good choice. How's this for an investment:

Friend buys '9? Honda odyssey for $2500 with 350,000 miles on it.
He drives it for 30,000 more miles.
He "falls asleep at the wheel", hits a curb and totals the van.
Insurance company pays him $5000 for the car.

Such a deal

Fact is, most cars can easily swallow a tuba or two and a passenger if you are a little creative. Here was one of the best designed (a lot of space in a small car) ideas out there: I was able to put a large tuba, small tuba, upright bass, and big amp cabinet in it at the same time!

Dig that cool 80's band uniform!

And the chicks dig it, too!
(Did I really look like that when I was 17 )

Your teenaged offspring will hate it, but the best solution is a station wagon. I drive a Volvo. I really like the new V70.

Agree with Rick. My Last Subaru Legacy had a larger trunk area than my present Forester. The Forester has lots of room for 2 Tubas both in cases.

My vote would be for a Honda CRV. Lots of room, fairly cheap to buy and operate. We get 25 mpg in all-around driving. It holds my wife's bass clairnet and my Besson E flat or King B flat in hard case, all behind the rear seats, along with music stands, folders, and all the other garbage that we tote around.

I've owned subarus and a ford escape and like the Honda much better. Gas mileage with both Subaru and Ford were disappointing, and our local Subaru dealer is a crook (but the Ford dealer is great- it's a shame that I had to visit him so often ...).

My own car is a Miata- holds the tuba but not the wife. Lots of headroom.

Bill Anderson

I have an HB2 CC in the BIG Walt Johnson Case and a 983 Eb in the typical case that it comes in (the factory case made for the Eb with the 19" bell) I drive a 94' Chevy Cavalier station wagon. The Johnson case it a tight fit in the back seat, but thankfully I don't need to bring the seat up (I'm 6'1"). The Besson case goes in the back hatch without a problem, plenty of room. If you can find one, try to get a 4V. My engine is original and has almost 250,000 miles on it. The '91-'94 models should be going for less that $2,000 and get great gas milage, especially on the highway.