Best Hatchback Vehicle for Drums?

[Tombo 7/4]

I have a Honda Fit 2010 and I love it. I don't know how they achieved such a huge trunk in small looking car. My kit fits no problem.
I tried all the hatchbacks on the market and the Fit has the best size/price/space/torque/quality ratio and drinks like a camel.

[chris perra]

I've been looking at the Fit as well.

Have you checked to see if you have a spare tire?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnKbFgvahg

[Kurtis]

go find yourself an 06 or 07 used nissan pathfinder. no shortage of space. no need to pack things in a certain way to make the drums fit. just throw the hardware and drums in the back and good to go. it's sort of a gas hog. not to bad. if you live in the east coast and there is a foot and a half of snow on the ground after your gig throw that fucker into 4 wheel drive and your good to go. been there and love it. have a 2010 pathfinder and that thing goes anywhere i need or don't need to be. it's out of the price range you be looking at but it's good to think big. i have own pathfinders for a while now and love em. never had problems with them. nissan makes a good car and truck.

[DeeP_FRieD]

I have an 02 Hyundai Accent that has a hatchback... great gas mileage, very reliable and it is cheaper than hell(requirement for a working musician)

[Tombo 7/4]

I've been looking at the Fit as well.

Have you checked to see if you have a spare tire?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnKbFgvahg

Fits don't have a spare tire. They have an inflation kit with a compressor that injects air and a stuff that seals off most of flats.
It saves 20 lbs and helps reduce gas consumption. New Audis and Mercedes have this too.

[chris perra]

I talked with a local dealer.. they said I can get a doughnut wheel for it, there is space for it..if you replace the kit that is there..

A Fit might be the right thing for me,. I hate paying for gas.. and it apparently has the most cargo room of the ones I'm looking at.. You wouldn't think it to look at it... Just doesn't seem possible that it has more cargo room than the Matrix..
How is the suspension if you are loaded to the gills? I test drove a sport version.. was a little to stiff and sporty for my liking.... What type did you get Tombo?

[littlegrooves]

The best hatchback vehicle for drums is whichever one your girlfriend is currently driving.

Duh.

I thought all drummers knew that.

[Tombo 7/4]

I got the LX automatic. Has AC, 6 speakers and 15" wheels. If you're tall and think at buying used get at least a 2010. I first bought a used 2009 and returned it after 3 weeks, not enough leg room.
They sold the genuine Japanese platform and changed it in 2010 to beef it up a bit. So I changed it for a new 2010. I always had small cars and compared to the others, it's the most agile. We went on vacation with family of 4 for a 7-hour drive with trunk loaded to the roof and a fully loaded BigMac on the rack. Noticed no change in suspension. It sure not is a Ferrari but I'm not a sportive driver.
You have a real time gas consumption meter so you can adjust your driving and learn when to lift your foot. Automatic has a feature that detects if you're going downwards and adjusts the RPM to still reduce gas intake.

[chris perra]

I'll be buying a new one.. I'm going to have to try a normal, non sport one..
Buying a new car has to be one of the most painfull aggravating things someone can do.. What a screwed up industry..

Thanks for the info Tombo. the Fit is back on the list haha..

A couple things I've heard in forums... Ac isn't very good, and road noise is loud, and not very much pickup power on highway..

My little test drive was local, and I found the gas pedal to be crazy herckey jercky responsive,.. Lots of pickup.. But on a highway might be different..

Sound like you didn't have any of those problems..

[Tombo 7/4]

You hear the road in all vehicles of that category which exists for his low L/100km. Soundproofing materials have a weight and are found more on sedan/higher end cars.
Compared to my previous Mazda Protegé5 which I had for 8 years and was a very good hatchback car, wind noise is lower, AC is quick, steering radius is very short (turns on a dime), gas pedal is very responsive in town, much less if you want to pass at 120 km/h on highway. Getting the manual gearbox instead of waiting for the automatic kickdown might be better for this. The Fit is the only car I’ve seen which consumption is lower with the automatic transmission (more intelligence).