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I suppose this would come under the heading of mildly interesting and amusing. Although I can see it being of more than passing interest to some. Jist of it is all about smaller, "economical" cars with more room and they use a tuba as the example.
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/listarti ... id=1139697" target="_blank

Good article! Rather timely, too, as I need to find a car to easily load/unload my tuba without having to spend a fortune...

My VW GTI just hauled two largish tubas from Memphis to BHM (a 5/4 Rudy in a case and my 36J in a gig bag). I treat the GTI as a 2-seated mini-wagon - except for the times I treat it as a 4 passenger "little deuce coupe".

The Golf is adequate, but the GTI just has so many extra touches.

I have a 2003 - and I'm starting to look around for a replacement. Alas, none of the cars featured in this article really speak to me. What I need is a stylish, well-appointed 2-seater - with room in the back for the kitchen sink. The 2003 "all the options" GTI is very close to the sweet spot - not too utilitarian, and definitely NOT "boy-racer". Suitable for both attending the Symphony and hauling instruments to the Community Band gig. And, of course, 30 miles of daily-driving for one.

Anyone own a Compressor C230? I recall that being "just over the horizon" when I settled on the 2003 GTI.

Actually, what I really wanted was the (then) new Nissan Z - but they completely screwed up any chances of hauling tubas with their silly bar right through the middle of the cargo space. I'd actually *prefer* a car with only 2 chairs installed. In another life I had a sweet 240-Z - luxurious space FOR TWO. Too bad the axles fell apart and the sheet metal rusted out. If there must be a back seat, I'd kill for one that folds to leave a FLAT cargo area. That's definitely a minus for the VW. It's been both more, and less, trouble than I thought it would be.

So, for me, the perfect design would start with an "all the options" VW GTI, rip out the back seat and install a flat floor, lower the roof line a bit...and we're good to go.

No, sorry - the Mini is just a hair too small.

hey sloan check out the volvo C30. Not sure how roomy the back is but very nice car.
Also used saab 9-2x, basically a subaru but nicer (Saabaru)
I am waitnig for the Nissan Juke to come out.
k

Why are all these "spacious" cars so ugly?
Three tubas and three substantial players can fit in a Subaru wagon, but it is going to take a cataclysmic event to make me give up my 240 Volvo sedan. Even huge horns fit easily into the back seat because the rear doors actually are wide enough and open all the way, the trunk is not only wide, but tall enough for a tuba bell, and even enormous folks have enough space in the front seats. Unfortunately my 240 is now 22 years old and has 250,000 miles on it...

Love my Ford Focus. My PT-1 in its gig bag fits in the back seat easily and if I am playing out of town I can slip it into the trunk to keep it out of site. Now the hard case is another matter. I have to use my 1993 LeBaron. Fits in the back seat okay but forget the trunk either way.

I guess I could have mentioned I have a Saturn SC1 "3-door" (small suicide door on driver's side). Enough room in the back seat for my 3/4 Rudy plus I have the option of laying down the rear seats with access into the trunk for more space. A consistent 35mpg is pretty sweet too. Can't seem to bring myself to strap the gigbag on and take the motorcycle though. The thought of what would happen to my beloved Rudy in the event of a laydown is even scarier than what might happen to me!

I am so disappointed in our car choices in the U.S.! I have a chevy HHR wagon, and I can fold the back seats down to carry a 3/4 Double Bass(headstock sticks out between front seats),a Cerveney 686 w/case, a minimark bass amp, a paper clip style contra-clarinette, and two larger men(my contra playing son is 6'0,275, and I'm...too big!lol!). the car gets about 30 at 70 on the freeway, around 24 in town. I really need a mini van or S.U.V. soon, as my 13 y/o will be joining the family for our Tuesday night group soon, and there's no room for Her, let alone another Tuba!Where are the DIESEL 4 and 5cyl. minivans and smaller S.U.V's? jeep was working on it, and the technology is certainly in use overseas! I guess big oil just wants to milk ALL they can from us, while the "Greenies" fight us on the diesels! What are we players of LARGE horns expected to do when all we have is an electric "golf cart" available? LOL! Al.

When I was forced to go car shopping a few months ago, I walked into dealerships with my tuba on my back. First thing, no questions asked, was put the tuba in the back of the candidate vehicle. Folding down seats or putting the tuba in a passenger seat is NOT an option for me, at the very least I carry an additional three people around with me. Yes, children are smaller. But,,, children in federally mandated carseats actually take up more space than the average (aka non-tuba playing) adult. I can currently put a 4/4-5/4 and a bass trombone in the back. On the tuba, I can either do wide (20+" bell) or tall (Kaiser length) but NOT both, due to how I have to get the horn to fit, taking into account the wheelwells and hatch. I had to reconsider a recent horn purchase for that very reason; without having the horn in front of me it was just too close to call. However, the horn I am expecting will just clear bell-wise, but has enough leeway in height to make it workable.

MartyNeilen and Tubaforce are just your typical examples of the heartache experienced by musicians of large instruments. My solution a diesel Silverado 2500 Duramax 4x4, with a cover over the bed. Bad weather does not slow me up too much, I can carry five people and all their large musical instruments, stands, mutes and other paraphernalia and I get about 20 mph on the road. The downside, I would not want to use this vehicle in a large metropolitan area. Parking is a bitch, and I can parallel park it. A more cosmopolitan choice Chevy/GMC Suburban or Ford Excursion.

But if I had to have a smaller vehicle that could still hold large musical instruments I would go with a Honda Element.

With money tight these days, I am looking to scrimp wherever I can, and while the Hondas are more fuel efficient than many other models, it just irritates me that I can't buy a small suv or minivan with a 40mpg diesel! VW has a wagon or two with diesel power, so where are the the vans? And how about a 4-cylinder stick shift rig? Salesmen look at me like I'm from another planet! Al

Dodge is the only pickup manufacturer making a pickup that comes standard with a manual transmission. Ford and GMC it is automatic only. The one thing nice about a manual transmission - it is an auto theft device. Not many folks now how to use a manual transmission any more.

MartyNeilan wrote:When I was forced to go car shopping a few months ago, I walked into dealerships with my tuba on my back.

I did the same with my Sousa/Protec gigbag. If it didn't fit in the trunk, it was a deal breaker.

Honda Civic. Done deal.

I am so disappointed in our car choices in the U.S.! I have a chevy HHR wagon, and I can fold the back seats down to carry a 3/4 Double Bass(headstock sticks out between front seats),a Cerveney 686 w/case, a minimark bass amp, a paper clip style contra-clarinette, and two larger men(my contra playing son is 6'0,275, and I'm...too big!lol!). the car gets about 30 at 70 on the freeway, around 24 in town. I really need a mini van or S.U.V. soon, as my 13 y/o will be joining the family for our Tuesday night group soon, and there's no room for Her, let alone another Tuba!Where are the DIESEL 4 and 5cyl. minivans and smaller S.U.V's? jeep was working on it, and the technology is certainly in use overseas! I guess big oil just wants to milk ALL they can from us, while the "Greenies" fight us on the diesels! What are we players of LARGE horns expected to do when all we have is an electric "golf cart" available? LOL! Al.

I think this would do:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect/

sloan wrote: Anyone own a Compressor C230? I recall that being "just over the horizon" when I settled on the 2003 GTI.

When I got rid of my Pontiac Vibe (by the way, a perfect 3 passenger tuba car), I was going to buy the Mercedes-Benz C230. What stopped me? Three words:

"Premium fuel only"

I bought a Kia Rondo instead. The only thing that would make this car better is if it got 30 mpg on the highway instead of the 28 mpg that I'm getting.....and that's with a V-6.