There’s a lot of things I don’t currently have at this very moment: a reliably-running car, hair in a small yarmulke-sized patch on the crown of my head, and any non-embarrassing clothes to wear when I head out to Pebble Beach to cover all the rich-people cars there next week, for example. But that last one I’m solving thanks to something important I do have: a wonderful friend I’ve known since I was five years old who has great clothes and is about my size. This friend also finds himself in a position where he needs a car, so I figured I’d try to return his clothes-lending favor by asking the best crew of car-selectors in the known universe. That’s you.
My friend is named Jeremy, and unlike all of us, Jeremy is a successful, well-adjusted person with a real job and a wife who went to 9th grade prom with me and dogs and a house and no painful obsession with cars. He’s a huge F1 fan, sure, but when it comes to cars he’s very much a normie, in that his needs are rational: safe, reliable, all that. Oh, but he does play a double-bass, so he needs something that can haul around an instrument the size of a corpse.
He had a 2013 Subaru Impreza Wagon that was just wrecked and totaled, which is why he’s in this position. Insurance gave him about $11,000 for the car and he’d like to spend up to about $20,000 total, which is actually a good number, because here at The Autopian we’ve informally decided that if we ever do regular Help-Me-Pick-A-Car posts, we’d like to make it so they have a $20,000 cap. It just feels right that way.
So, what can we find for Jeremy here? He wasn’t that attached to his old Subaru, so don’t worry about brand loyalty. My fear is that his set of requirements will mercilessly shove him into the arms of that safe, reliable, but boring triumvirate of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, or Nissan Rogue. Maybe that’s fine, but I’ve never been crazy about the Rogue’s CVT, and, dammit, I just want more for him. But it can’t happen at the expense of usability or reliability or just overall ease, so my dream of him shoving that bass into the back of a Citroën DS Break probably isn’t realistic.
We were considering a pickup like the Ford Maverick, but the bed is just too small for a bass, and most other pickups aren’t what he wants, either, because a bass isn’t just a bunch of lumber or bags of peat moss. You can’t just fling it into a truck bed, so he’s not really interested in the truck route.
With this in mind, I’m going to ask Team Autopian to come up with three choices for him: a safe one, a bold one, and, yes, a bonkers one, because I’m here to entertain, too, dammit. And you can vote on the best ones!
And, then, of course, I desperately want your choices in the comments! Because you’ll likely have ideas we didn’t consider! So let’s get to it!
Torch’s Picks
Safe: Mazda5
The Mazda5 is a rational, useful reliable car that happens to be a blurry mix of SUV and minivan. I always liked the swoopy character lines, and the side sliding doors should be great for getting Jeremy’s dogs in and out. Seats folded, there’s plenty of double bass room. Maybe even triple bass room. You can find good ones of these for less than $20,000 still.
Bold: 1990s Buick Roadmaster Wagon
I have a bit of inside information here because Jeremy told me that he kinda wanted a big car for a change. And, if nothing else, a Roadmaster is a big car. Plenty of double-bass room, ideally that wood paneling, and, really, it’s not hard to keep going. Parts are common and relatively cheap, and sure, it’ll drink gas, but that’s a small price to pay for living-room luxury and class out the ass. You can find these in great shape for between $10-$15,000 or so, too.
Bonkers: Nissan Rasheen!
I’ve always thought these were cool. This JDM little SUV has all kinds of boxy charm, should be able to fit that bass fine with the rear seat folded, and has gobs of right-hand-drive weirdo charm. If it’s anything like my Pao, it’ll be a reliable daily driver, too. Duncan Imports has these for a very reasonable $6,900!
Matt’s Picks
Safe: The Honda Element is likely spacious enough for large stringed instruments and is efficient to boot, with an interior that can be washed if your dog makes a mess.
Bold: A Ford Transit Connect has enough room to hold both a double bass and the longing regret your significant other feels at not locking down Jason after junior prom.
Bonkers: I still think the 1st gen Subaru (GF) WRX wagon was the best looking WRX and it’s a shame we never got it here, but this one from Oishii Imports is half your budget and not Concours-clean so you can actually use it without fear of harming a future classic.
Mercedes’ Picks
Safe: Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is not a car that will excite you with its driving dynamics. Instead, it’s meant to do one thing and one thing only: Reliably pass fuel station after fuel station. The one in my shared fleet has been a reliable workhorse and even fits a surprising amount of crap in it.
Bold: AMC Rambler
The good thing about not having kids is that you don’t have to worry about if your daily driver is safe or not. So why not get a classic? An AMC Rambler has solid classic style and you can find them for cheap all day long. Plus, they can be found in a variety of body styles.
Bonkers: Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
Look, you aren’t spending money on feeding, clothing, educating, or otherwise keeping children alive. That means that you can spend more money on cars! Why not spend it on one of the wildest SUVs to ever grace the planet. Yes, the Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI requires you to drop the engine to do any repair, but the second you hear the sound of that engine (like a Lamborghini mixed with a shaking can of bolts) and the thrust of the torque you’ll fall in love. Then you’ll fall out of love when your mechanic buys a yacht with your repair bills.
Thomas’ Picks
Safe: Prius V
Everyone knows about Toyota’s archetypal hybrid, and the Prius V is an immensely practical MPV variant of the popular battery-augmented fuel-sipper. It’s about as exciting as unbuttered toast but its deeply pragmatic nature is exactly what most people want in a daily driver.
Bold: Audi A7 TDI
An economical and wonderfully-appointed diesel luxury sedan that just happens to be a cavernous hatchback. The first-generation A7 may be getting older, but it still looks and feels like an $80,000 car. You’ll have to look really hard to find one within budget, but wallet-friendly examples are out there.
Bonkers: BMW x5 M
Why not throw sensibility out of a fifth floor window and pick up a fire-breathing 555-horsepower super SUV with a manufacturer-claimed zero to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds? It may be rated at 14 mpg combined, but it’s less catastrophically unreliable than its N63 V8-powered little brother, so that has to count for something, right?
[Editor’s Note: Thomas has assured me all of these can be found for under $20K, if you’re willing to look. – JT]
The Bishop’s Picks
Safe: Subaru Crosstrek
The reliable Japanese choice (now that the head gaskets in these aren’t made of wax paper anymore), you can at least get it in REAL COLORS, like bright orange and the not-grey-not-blue like a Fiat Strada, so you can’t lose it in a parking lot
Bold: Audi Allroad
I think that twenty grand could get you one at the bottom of the depreciation curve but not in full meltdown mode just yet…maybe
Bonkers: LaForza
A handbuilt off roader with an American V8, but Italian electrics, in a constant fight…and you can guess who’s gonna win THAT one.
Okay! David’s being interviewed for an AMC documentary, so you’ll just have to imagine his rust-saturated selection of Jeeps. Now, let’s see what you like best from each category.
First, which Safe choice do you prefer?
Okay, now pick your Bold choice:
And finally, the Bonkers:
And, of course, comment! Give us better ideas! Jeremy needs a car!
Mazda5 will definitely fit the bill, they have lots of room inside even with just the rear row of seats folded. They are both 4-cyl only, but the 2.3L in the earlier ones & the 2.5L engine in the 2012+ ones both like to rev and will return 30+ MPG on the highway as long as you keep it below 75 mph or so. They’re also available with a manual transmission which has pretty good feel and really helps the vans feel more sporty and connected (plus knocks a few grand off the purchase price).
I picked up a 2012 with the manual trans in Feb 2021 for $5000 with only 110k miles, and its been going strong on numerous road trips and camping trips with my family of 4 +2 ~50 lb dogs. It’ll hold all of us and the dogs inside + some luggage, but for those camping trips we had a lot strapped on roof-racks and a trailer hitch carrier.
If you’re going manual, get the 2012+ ones, the extra gear helps knock down the engine speed on the highway and helps considerably with NVH. The lack of sound deadening still makes this a relatively loud vehicle at highway speeds, but that doesn’t bother me driving or my kids sleeping.
For the safe pick, I’d recommend a Jetta Sportwagen, you can get a prime example with any engine you want well within the budget, and they span all the way from supremely economical (automatic TDI) to very fun (GTI engine with a manual) and just quirky in between (2.5L DSG), and as far as I’m aware you can get any combination of thesse.
For the bold pick, it’s a Volvo V60 R-design. They’re a bit more expensive on maintenance than a normal car, but the styling is understated and classy, there’s plenty of room in the rear for your instruments and the T5 and T6 engines are both powerful and characterful. The cabin is outdated now but very comfortable (my mom had an XC60, it was the lap of luxury) with its cream leather interior), and you can’t compare to Volvo safety.
Now, if we’re gettint bonkers, may I ask: is your bass case waterproof? I had a Miata in high school, and always took my guitar to music lessons in the passenger seat, occasionally I unzipped the back window to carry lumber and other diy materials. Now, I’m not saying you should get a Miata, but you *could* get a 6-series cabrio. It has an electric roll-down rear window, and a backseat so you can strap your beloved instrument into place with just the neck popping out, like a dog that plays music. If you prefer, you can lay it sideways out of the rear side window, or just put the top down and keep it upright. Whichever route you pick, you’ll be recognized as a man of the arts wherever you go to play your music.
Yeah, that Prius V is the ultimate “safe but boring” choice. It’ll haul all the crap your heart desires…just not quickly.
You mentioned Pebble Beach so I decided, why not trawl the Monterey craigslist and see what I can come up with? And good lord, are there cars.
Safe – $5k Chevy HHR. The cockroach of the road. Should fit your bass. https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/salinas-chevy-hhr/7516018550.html
Bold – $20k 1994 Toyota Century. Do the back seats fold down? No idea. Does it have little flagposts up front upon which you could fly your bass clef livery? Very yes. https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/seaside-1994-toyota-century-vg45/7511315430.html
The rest are bonkers. Here there be monsters; consider yourself warned.
Bonkers – $5k 1992 Roadtrek RV. Just think of all the babies conceived in this thing. https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/monterey-1992-roadtrek-21-foot-agile/7520655443.html
Bonkers – $20k 1990 Vanagon. Mostly posted here so I could go JESUS HEADGASKET CHRIST what is up with the pricing on this thing?! https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/monterey-1990-volkswagen-vanagon/7514262637.html
Bonkers – $8k 1974 GMC Stepvan. Almost certainly haunted, but doesn’t “Air Doctors” have an awesome ring to it as a band name? https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/carmel-1974-gmc-stepvan/7515083119.html
Bonkers – $19.5k 1922 Dodge Brothers Touring. I’m reasonably certain you could fit a bass in this thing. Or a mischievous duck playing “Turkey in the Straw,” from a cartoon that wouldn’t come out for THIRTEEN YEARS when this vehicle was new.
Bonkers –
Huh, that comment came out weird.
Also, the 1922 Dodge Brothers ad seems to have vanished off Craigslist. :/
An RV being offered with zero interior photos, neglected sealing, “some rust”, and a persistent CEL on the swapped engine in California. I suspect even at the $5K asking price it’d end up blowing the $20K budget. Bonkers is right.
We haul ours in a 2019 Outback. Fits two adults, the bass, and the kid that plays it.
“his needs are rational: safe, reliable, all that. Oh, but he does play a double-bass, so he needs something that can haul around an instrument the size of a corpse.”
Why not a used herse then? Cheap, low miles, mostly driven slowly and rear curtains to obscure the cargo. Also has some style.
My personal favorite for hauling around my upright bass was a 1985.5 Porsche 944. The neck stuck up between the front seats (better for the bass anyway since it keeps pressure off the neck), but there was enough room for a small amp and stool for whenever I needed to be amped up.
Also hauled it around in minivans, Jeep Cherokees, a Ford Flex, etc., but an upright will fit in just about any reclined front passenger seat as well.
Safe: Roadmaster. That gen was made from 78-96, so parts are everywhere if something rare fails. If more modern, MAGNUM! Preferably SRT8.
Bold: AMC Eagle. Nothing inherently wrong with it, just Dead Brand Funkiness and the like might be a PITA. Or a Clamshell GM, the previous B body, but those were all taken out in demo derbies so parts are getting hard.
Bonkers: FC-170 with a gutted Scamp 5th wheel body on the back
As a musician myself, a minivan is the right answer. Hauls instruments, amps, PA, drums, people. You just never do know what sort of gig is coming around the corner, and if you have a good minivan, you are prepared for almost anything. Practical has to rule here – the fun comes when you start playing.
Volvo wagon. I’d say a well-sorted 240, but he needs something newer and guaranteed-reliable because being late to the gig is NEVER an option.
Also, Corb Lund wrote a theme song for your friend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HoXKLPQ_kk
I have owned two of these. Roomy, comfortable, fast and beautiful cars, built by Heuliez for Citroën in the mid nineties. I mean, just look at that picture: It’s perfect!
https://img.autoabc.lv/Citroen-Xantia/Citroen-Xantia_1995_Universals_163122302_4.jpg
Find a good minivan in the specified price range. It’s not at all easy to do that, which makes other choices much more attractive.
DELICA! Plenty of lockable space (no serious musician is ever going to leave his livelihood where us riff-raff can get to it). Carry all four members of the quartet in right-hand drive style! And some of them have full fold down rear seats, so your buddy can road trip from village to village across this great nations, stopping at each local tavern to spank out some double bass tunes and collect enough singles to make it to the next burg. And there are several here in exactly the right price range.
P.S. EDIT BUTTON!
https://www.delicausa.com/inventory/
Ford Flex with 20″ wheel option.
Drop mic.
This, of course, is the correct answer. Drop the seats, and you have PLENTY of room for a double bass. You can even add some blankets to pad it to keep it safe, cause it’s gonna slide around in there. Good thing fuel economy wasn’t a requirement though, cause Flex’s are not efficient, considering the fact that they’re basically refrigerators on wheels.
My brother is a string bass player, and he specifically chose a Honda Fit because it was small, cheap to operate, and can gulp down a string bass. It’s quite an amazing design. Sadly he was rear-ended by a Super Duty on the highway and the Fit sacrificed itself to save him. It was actually still able to drive off the road to the berm (FWD, natch), but still totalled.
So, Honda Fit gets my approval as a nice versatile little car that is also clearly safe enough to keep people alive in the current American road environment.
I hate to be the guy who says this, but your buddy needs a Kia Soul. I know, I know. But everybody that I know who has one of those things absolutely loves it. Almost as good as a minivan in its versatility, but it’s not a minivan. I had to borrow one a few weeks ago. I moved a water heater with that damn thing. Full size 50 gallon tall model. Your buddy’s stand up bass will fit in it no problem and if he needs to use it as a family car it’ll rock that too.
TIARA: Truck Is A Reasonable Answer
How safe would a double bass be in a truck? I like your creativity, but he would need some kind of special case for this to work. String instruments hate weather.
Safe: Acura TSX Wagon
Bold: Mercedes E350 Wagon
Bonkers: Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
I really wanted the TSX Wagon but none available when I unexpectedly had to replace my car in April.
Jetta TDI wagon as safe choice. Still thinking of bold and bonkers. But why not a pre-94 Saab 900?
Double Bass player here. Nothing is impossible. Mom took me to lessons in the 7th grade—twice a week—in a 1975 AMC Gremlin. I had to ride in the back seat; the bass rode shotgun.
Whatever you do, a wagon is the right answer.
my son is a double bass player..
started out with the Sienna, room for bass and four passengers. Really you can’t beat a minivan..
Honda Fit actually works but only for driver and bass
he now has a WRX, fits the bass and a passenger
A double-bass player need a ride with a bit of personality and some class. You can’t go vanilla, even with the “safe” choice.
Safe is finding a used Acura SUV. Costs a bit more than the CR-V/RAV4 option, but it’s much nicer to live with. I would have suggested an Infiniti QX SUV for the slightly weird styling, but you don’t want to risk a CVT transmission grenade.
Bold: Cadillac CTS Wagon. As long as you omit the delicious “CTS-V” version, you can find plenty of good examples under $20,000, and they still look pretty awesome on the road.
Bonkers: Porsche Cayenne. Again, $20,000 provides a lot more choices here than you might expect! I’d sooner go with a Panamera. There used to be a lot of choices in the $12,000 to $20,000 range, but virtually all of those have rocketed up in price and finding a good daily for under $20,000 these days is nearly impossible. So Cayenne is the bonkers choice.
Safe: minivan. New hybrid Siennas a great. New Odysseys are great.
Bold: E34 M5 estate
Bonkers: Toyota x70 Mark II station wagon. The newest ones had the 1G-GE which will run until the sun burns out.
Try to find any decent Sienna or Odyssey for under $20,000. Double your budget and you might get a new one, if you’re lucky. Most are $45,000 and up
A friend of mine has a 2018 Honda Civic Sport hatchback with the 180hp turbo and a 6 speed manual. He also hauls around his daughter and her base.
All her base?
Are belong to us.
Element is not efficient!
Former orchestra teacher, had to haul tons of instruments between schools. Double Bass fits in the front seat, fully reclined, diagonal of a Saturn SL2. Can’t see and not safe for you or instrument. The instrument (if this is a pro) is worth much more than his car budget, and has its own insurance!
Prius V is a great option, so is any wagon/hatch with a folding rear seat and not too swoopy rear glass. A cello or bass needs to rest on it’s side, so it can be surprising tall in the cargo area!
A Frightliner Sprinter high-roof model would be awesome, since it could double as a practice room at home, and a camper on the road.
Some kind of shooting break is the obvious most stylish choice, but a minivan is very hard to beat for this.
My ex’s sister carried hers in a Datsun 510 coupe- with the passenger seat removed