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I'm interested in drawing up a list of cars with the following spec:
* They must have some decent power. E.g. 180hp/ton+
* I'm being brutal re: styling: cars that have no utilitarian look. So no estates or SUVs with roof bars, no matter how flush
* Ability to fit a removable towbar that has no signs of existence once removed, apart from necessary cutaways to rear diffuser that can only be seen if you stick your head under the back of the car
* Ability to fit a (compatible with above) towbar-mounted bike carrier that can take at least two modern long wheelbase bikes
Can't recommend anything without budget. Are you spending 5k or 50?
No need for a budget.
Golf R
Literally anything that can have a tow bar fitted will do what you want. Do you really want to be putting filthy gear in a nice car though? As money appears to be no object, buy a Caddy or Connect for bike duties and a Porsche (other aspirational Marques are available) for car use.
Cupra 290 (is what I have)
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/seat-towbars/seat-leon-towbars.html
If you read about the Leon hatch it mentions from 2017 onwards there are tow bars that don’t need bumper cuts. I don’t use one so don’t know. My 29er and friends 27.5 go in the back with the seats down and wheels off.
I’d imagine that the Golf R and Audi S3 are going to be similar in terms of bumper / tow bar requirements.
If you don’t need the 300hp then a standard Golf GTI or a 190hp Seat Leon FR Sport, the Leon still has a 0-60 of under 7 seconds. I had one and it was a really nice car to drive. And I’m a big fan of the 7 speed DSG gear box.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce.
280bhp as standard of as per mine 324bhp with a Celtic Tuning stage one re-map.
No idea of tow bars but with the back seats down I can get my medium Canyon Spectral 125 in with just the front wheel off.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10598346@N03/52829424293/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10598346@N03/52828404472/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10598346@N03/52828404557/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10598346@N03/52829424488/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10598346@N03/52829429738/in/dateposted-public/
That's a thing of beauty, but...
Do you really want to be putting filthy gear in a nice car
That's going to end in tears.
I’m being brutal re: styling: cars that have no utilitarian look. So no estates
but estates or wagons just look better, bikes or no.
No budget, must have a towbar and over 180bhp per ton
Think this will cover it!
https://www.zero2turbo.com/2016/05/this-is-first-and-only-ferrari-f12-in-world-with-towbar
I've got my Diverge in the wife's Kia Picanto - admittedly seats down and wheels off! You could probaly fit a tow bar, but it would likely tip the car backwards with any weight on it 😂 Doesn't quite meet your bhp requirement however 😉
F series M135/140 or equivalent 3 series with a towbar, easy 400hp with a map.
Pokey - was I alone in thinking a very small car rather than powerful! 🙂
I used to have a 944 S2 and now have a gt86. Both carry bikes inside. You're basically looking for front engine, 2+2
Audi TT is an easy one, Integra type r, Mustang, etc etc
I managed to get an XL Stumpy FSR in my Mk2 TTV6. It was a squeeze, but it was really quite practical.
Cupra 290 (is what I have)
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/seat-towbars/seat-leon-towbars.html
If you read about the Leon hatch it mentions from 2017 onwards there are tow bars that don’t need bumper cuts. I don’t use one so don’t know. My 29er and friends 27.5 go in the back with the seats down and wheels off.I’d imagine that the Golf R and Audi S3 are going to be similar in terms of bumper / tow bar requirements.
The Cupra is front wheel drive (like the Golf GTI), the S3 and Golf R are 4WD, from my research the rear diff gets in the way of the tow bar mounting.
BMW M340i, available as saloon or the more practical (and better looking) touring and will take a tow bar.
@Chipps of this parish had a Carrera soft top with a roll bar mounted bike carrier.
F series M135/140 or equivalent 3 series with a towbar
I had a 1 series Msport125 that happily took a couple of bikes inside with the back seats down, or on the roof, And I even squeezed a bike in a 2 series 140.
I've a top spec 3 series saloon, it'll fit a long Cotic FS in with just the front wheel out.
Its also got a towbar, standard 2-bolt as I got it aftermarket but you can get the hidden ones that drop down.
With the standard dark tint on the rear windows very difficult to see there's a bike inside too.
Pokey – was I alone in thinking a very small car rather than powerful! 🙂
Why compromise on either criteria?
Caterham 7, and U-bolt some fork mounts to the roll-cage because a towbar is clearly adding too much weight.
Anything else is utilitarian by the OP's definition!
If you want luxury, get an S1 Elise with a hard top and seasucker rack 😉
Tesla Model S Plaid?
You can (just) get a 55cm road bike with the wheels off in the passenger seat of a 986 Boxster. Wheels go in the frunk.
A mate has been know to Seasucker a Geometron to the roof of a Cayman.
Fiat 500 Abarth. Small, fast, plenty of space inside if don';t mind taking the wheels off the bikes.
I use to have the non Abarth version but still the same size inside. Use the put 2 adult bikes in quite often without issues. Had a tow bar installed after a back injury was making it too hard to get a bike in/out the boot but they do fit.
You can get a decent road bike in the boot of a Z4 Convertible
You can get a decent 29er in the back of a Z4M Coupe.
You can get anything you like on a Sea Sucker on the roof of almost any sports coupe.
Why bother with a towbar rack?
You can (just) get a 55cm road bike with the wheels off in the passenger seat of a 986 Boxster. Wheels go in the frunk.
You can get a Large 29er XC hardtaiil in an MG Midget, with the roof up!
Wheels off, spin the bars, fork goes over the passenger seat and the back end in the footwell. Wheels arranged on the shelf behind the seats then put the roof back up.
Pokey – was I alone in thinking a very small car rather than powerful! 🙂
Nope, me too!
And me. From the thread title, I thought this was going to be all about the honda jazz
A pal did this, fits all the thread criteria but I can't recommend it.
Work colleague has ordered and waiting for a BMW M240i xDrive Coupe and was asked numerous times if he really wanted the towbar fitting.. which he does....
Not sure it is pokey, but I'm looking at the Cupra Born, but can't find any details on whether a towball can be fitted to it. It appears to be the same as the VW ID3 which does have a transportation solution (daft marketing speak) for a towball to use for bike racks, so I'm hoping it will be possible on the Born...230bhp so I suspect it will be more than quick enough.
Actually, I think it might be pokey as in a wee bit quick, but it probably isn't small and pokey...
Work colleague has ordered and waiting for a BMW M240i xDrive Coupe and was asked numerous times if he really wanted the towbar fitting.. which he does….
A word of warning, I've a 2018 BMW with an aftermarket towbar that used BMW supplied wiring and was fully coded to the car, but recently I'd a recall on it for the EGR Cooler software and the BMW Dealer was unable to install the software.
They tried it with the towbar wiring disconnected, and it worked - but then couldn't get it recoded when they connected it back. Removed the software update and the towbar recoded no issue.
Talking to them the chap he reckoned about 10% of recall updates have had this issue, with the majority due to either aftermarket installs of Apple/Android carplay or towbars.
They need to negotiate a towbar in for a factory install IMO.
335 xDrive Touring
Debadged obvs
+2
I've got the estate and it's ace.
I got 4 bikes (2 mtb + 2 road bikes) in my Astra SXi - not powerful, but the Astra VXR is the same size with a little more grunts
Why bother with a towbar rack?
You can see the bikes while driving.
Easier to get to the bikes.
I noticed a lot of people stopped tailgating me once a got a towbar fitted.
Whatever the Car a Sea Sucker type rack potentially removes the need to worry so much about Towbars?
@thisisnotaspoon I was passed by an Elise with an mtb racked to the roof last week. Made me smile.
Here's my two offerings:
My old TT 225 Quattro with a large Banshee Prime in the boot:
And the current Mustang with Rassine suction mount (they do a multiple bike version) holding a large Canfield Tilt:
Both pokey, the Ford especially so. TT mk2 can have a towbar fitted, and the US has plenty of options for towbars on this model Mustang so I'm counting that as eligible.
I had a tow bar on a Renault 5GT Turbo and you could get 2 bikes in the back as well.
Does that count? They’re still around (well a few are).
It’s basically the epitome of ‘pokey’ and is also high performance
Renault 5GT Turbo
is also high performance
It was for it's era, unfortunately that's 40 years ago.. 115bhp isn't very fast these days, even in something lightish
I was passed by an Elise with an mtb racked to the roof last week. Made me smile.
That might be me soon. Van is going on eBay and I start my new job next month. I've currently got a very eclectic watchlist but there's 2 Elise 111r on there.
@shedbrewed also hopefully me soon as well. Had the Elise for years and in the past put bikes inside (required forks removing). Currently building a rear mounted rack for it.
This was parked outside Munich Legends a couple of weeks ago.....that'd get a couple of 29ers in the boot no problem. Your labrador might protest tho
https://www.munichlegends.co.uk/item/bmw-e60-m5-26700-copy/
BMW 3 or 4 series coupe. Plenty of room in the back for a bike.
As much as I love the V10 M5/M6, I chickened out of buying one at the very last moment due to all the horror stories. You need very significant cash reserves to run one without fear.
Not much really structural apart from the roll over hoop under the hoop cover to attach a heavy MTB to on an Elise!
I’d agree TT are surprisingly practical
Which is what I'm planning. S1 with harness bar and a removable rear window. Spare window with the glass replaced with poly carbonate of some kind so can bolt through it and then attach to the harness bar. Then two straps over the clam onto the tow eyes underneath. Rear wheel held in place on a suction cup and front inside in a bag.
Well that would work but you would have to hope that it doesn’t rain when you are out since getting the roof on with that set up would be tricky. I’d just take another car if you have one. But post pics if you do get it set up!
Alfa 159 saloon. Fits a ritchey timberwolf in with the front wheel off and with the correct engine (1750 tbi, 3.2v6 or 2.4 diesel) will surpass the required power to weight ratio whilst looking suitably bellissima. That giulia looks pretty epic too.
I can confirm that a Thule bike rack will clamp to the roll cage on a caterham 7.
Roof won't need to come off, there will be a though axle mount on the back of the window. Though the true way to drive an Elise is rid down anyway 😂
Was also of the belief that pokey was a bad term. Not necessarily small but just generally old, tatty, and/or of poor quality.
to quote the Cambridge Dictionary....
UK informal
A poky room, house, or other place is unpleasantly small and uncomfortable:
They live in a poky little flat.
OR
UK informal
(of a car) fast:
a poky two-litre petrol engine
so maybe both?!!?
Didn't someone on here buy an Ariel Atom? Did they ever strap a bike onto it?
Not sure if it’s been mentioned as only skimmed the thread but what about a G30/saloon 540i? I have the G31/tourer 540i and it’s plenty pokey and can fit a removable tow bar. It’s also incredibly refined in the cabin with plenty of high quality materials. Given mine is a hatch I was expecting a bit more road noise but it’s really rather quiet, the saloon will be even better and a very good partner on a long trip. Plus as per your requirements it doesn’t scream mountain bikes/utilitarian. Debadged naturally because then you can’t tell the difference between it and a 520d, so some good sleeper creds.
I mean it’s shocking round the doors (20mpg) but will do 40mpg on a trip. Mine doesn’t come off the drive very much outside big trips as we have a little ID3.
This used to come past my place 2 or 3 times a month through the winter (with winter tyres) and more than once during the summer with a bike rack (and bike) on the roof.
The Huracan that replaced it was used in the same way.
I've held off a Seasucker for the roof of my RX7, as I'm a little worried it'll open up the paper thin roof panel like a can opener.
So, not an rx7.
5lab
Full MemberI used to have a 944 S2 and now have a gt86. Both carry bikes inside. You’re basically looking for front engine, 2+2
I used to get two 26er MTBs in my 944 turbo.
Not tried more than one modern bike, might be a struggle.
220-250bhp on paper but I don't think I've seen a standard one for years. Most seem to be 250bhp upwards.
Didn’t someone on here buy an Ariel Atom? Did they ever strap a bike onto it?
Not an Atom, but I've seen a Nomad with two bikes on a rack. Was at some leisure/outdoors show in Glasgow, I believe it belonged to a bike shop owner or similar, but can't remember who.
Thread title to me means small, quick cars - any big car can easily carry a bike, but small ones it's more of a challenge.
I used a RockBros suction rack on my Monaro which was rather more than 180bhp/ton, but not exactly small. Bike wouldn't go in boot due to the (very) big fuel tank inside it, so kind of the opposite to the thread title...
I can't find a proper link to it now, but I recall racks could be fitted to an Elise by cutting a small hole in the side of the upper bodywork near the fuel filler to gain access to something solid underneath. Sort of like this:
I've seen a Bentley Continental GT on the A51 a couple of times recently towing a Bentley Motorsports trailer. I reckon that would tick most of your boxes.
Not had a close look at it but I reckon you could fit a couple of bikes in the boot too.
This should do you
Environmentally friendly too.
... or apparently not as I don't seem to know how to upload an image. Anyroad, a Taycan Cross Turismo will fit your bill & has an optional bike rack [for about the price of a bike].
“ That Giulia looks pretty epic too.”
Went to the FOD on Thursday and the combination of the fitted Alfa protectors and some old quilt covers worked just fine. No marks on the fabric of the car at all!!
Obviously I bought a Tesla model 3 because I’m a tree hugging hippie. However its 0-60 is very respectable* and it has a towbar.
*better than the Boxster it replaced
Model 3 definitely fails criteria #2 🤢.
Forget all those cars, I have seen the perfect car. Probably completely useless for carrying a bike.
The Morgan Aero 8, I saw one parked and it just looked a thing of beauty
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce...No idea of tow bars
I have a Stelvio with a towbar. Wouldn't put a bike inside it, but can take four on the back without exceeding the towball download. However, fitting a towbar does involve a cut on the bumper. The 2 inch hitch means it's not too ugly though.
180hp per ton is quite difficult to achieve, and by the OP’s initial description he is ruling out something like a BMW M3 Estate etc.
So as suggested above Caterham (they even have a naming convention that tells you the bhp/ton. Not sure about an Ariel Atom and tow bar as the engine is rear/axle mounted
what a weird thread !
180hp per ton is quite difficult to achieve
Won't most of the top models of any particular platform achieve that?
Most of them are around 1600-2000 kilo and bouncing around 400 bhp.
Christ, even many top end SUVs are 180bhp/tonne for the premium powertrain.
(Or, if EV, enough torque so that bhp/tonne is irrelevant)
180hp per ton is quite difficult to achieve
Used to be, not so much any more. And the OP specified ton not tonne (not sure if deliberate - I think most people talk in 1000kgs tonnes rather than the old imperial 907kg tons these days) which makes it easier still. Edit - early morning maths fail - makes it harder - doah! So the first car suggested, the Golf R, just makes it (but only the latest generation with >300bhp.)
Not quite sure why the brief is so vague - there is such a massive difference in car experience between a small and light track car and an autobahn cruiser that achieve that goal. And if money is no object (i.e. there is no upper limit to the budget set) basically any car with enough power and styling of choice could be retro fitted with a towbar given unlimited budget to achieve it. Hell, dispense with the towbar if is only for attaching a bike rack and have a custom made carbon fibre number that uses a bespoke engineered and strengthened diffuser or undertray with mounting hard points for your bespoke CF rack. Anything is possible and therefore suggestible without limits.
I just wanted to check and yes, you can fit a towbar to an Ariel Atom,
But, having spent time in cars like this, I would never, ever buy one.
I'd rather have something like this for local missions with the DJ Bike
Alpina B3 (touring version is much cooler but see you're averse to estates).
Just to add another couple to the 'surprisingly inappropriate cars with tow-bars' my father used to have one on his Stag, towed a 3/4 ton boat with it. And I've seen a Corvette ZR1 with two bikes on a roof rack, which doesn't meet the tow-bar criteria but probably does tick the bhp/ton box.
Anyway,
As money appears to be no object, buy a Caddy or Connect for bike duties and a Porsche (other aspirational Marques are available) for car use.
That. Get an old Caddy/Berlingo/whatever and a Caterham/Elise/Cerbera depending on level of comfort required
Towbars are over rated.
Seasuckers are where it's at.
How about this? My made a custom rack for his Elise. A fun way to get to the Alps!
180/ton is easy if you're willing to tune.
388bhp/ton with the added bonus that you've got back up transport for when the engine blows.
Ticks both definitions of pokey.