Power Kite Forum

A Car for Kiters?

domdino - 20-1-2008 at 10:14 AM

Hey guys...

So i'm carless at the moment but i'm moving to pismo beach at the end of the year so i can fulltime kite and work freelance in my current job...

Wondering if those older and wiser than myself could offer some advice as to a good car i could get to drive across the country in?

Want some good fuel economy, large (at least wagon size, maybe a pickup?), 4x4 would be nice so i can drive onto the beach at pismo, not too hideous and that costs less than 5000$! Toyota 4Runners looks pretty good, could maybe find a 4 cylinder one of them so it doesn't guzzle fuel too bad? Maybe a late 90s volvo wagon or a VW but i'm really not sure... i don't know much about american cars, but i'd like it to be fairly reliable but nice and useful for kite related activities :)

archkiter - 20-1-2008 at 11:15 AM

with your description I'd look for a subaru wagon. They are very reliable, have lots of lots of room, AWD, and OK gas mileage (better than an SUV).

strictlycarved - 20-1-2008 at 11:25 AM

subies are so nice, their fast reliable and good gas milage, but the volkswagen euro van is also a good cross country.

geokite - 20-1-2008 at 02:36 PM

I'm really happy with my Hyundai Tucson. Plenty of room inside; I can fit a mountain bike upright (seat and front wheel off), along with an inside rack for kitesurfing gear (2 boards, 3 arcs). Bike can come out and I can sleep flat out next to the ks rack (the passenger front seat folds down flat). My girlfriend and I sleep often in the back when camping.

I have the 4 cylinder, millage is around 29mpg on the highway. The Tucson comes in a 6 cylinder and 4wd (for less millage). Very reliable, I've had no problems.

And with the money you save you can buy more kites!

I'll have it with me at NABX, if you are coming out for that.

Steve Bateman

Bladerunner - 20-1-2008 at 06:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by strictlycarved
subies are so nice, their fast reliable and good gas milage, but the volkswagen euro van is also a good cross country.

2 very good suggestions :thumbup:
I think the best vehicle I ever owned was my VW Westfalia. I dubbed mine the " Cramalot Inn " due to it's amazing storage and sleeping set-up. With the VW if you have a breakdown there are often parts available :thumbup:
If I was touring, I'ld love to do it in a Westfalia or Eurovan again :yes: To me a great kite vehicle is one you can comfortably change in. ( and not worry about sand all over ) If I buy a vehicle it will be another VW van :thumbup:

kitesurfer - 22-1-2008 at 05:32 AM

I have a dodge truck with a gas guzzling hemi! it has a limited slip differential--works real well on the beach and takes the place of 4 wheel drive. I have a topper on the back with racks on top of it. I always have all my kite gear in the back so I'm ready to go. I have a 2" receiver hitch on the back and i attach a cargo carrier onto it to carry my buggy. Back wheels sit on the carrier ad the front wheel up against the glass on the topper. I've been driving dodge trucks rigged in this fashion since 1990 and i've been all over the east camping/kiting/motorcycling and such out of my truck. (whitewater kayaking and Kawasaki Sportbikes in the mountains)

bigkahuna - 22-1-2008 at 07:11 AM

Never lived near Pismo beach, but I've lived near the beach in Hawaii, San Diego and now North Carolina. I've also moved across country twice. Believe it or not, the best surf mobile I've ever had was my old Honda Accord. The back seat folded down so there was plenty of room for surfboards, kites, kiteboards, etc. I got 30+ mpg and it was a sweet car to drive (lots of balls in the little car).

My current ride is an 03 Nissan Frontier 2WD. Much too nice to be a surf mobile, but I've put over 100K carefree miles on it and still get close to 30 mpg. If you're moving to California, standby for some hefty gas prices and low octane gas (plus it sounds like the "Governator" is looking to close a bunch of parks?).

A 4WD would be nice, but I don't know if there are many beaches (or any) in California that will let you drive on the beach. We used to do it in Mexico, but from what I've read things there are a bit too crazy at the moment. When I had a 4WD it just seemed to be a waste since the gas mileage is much worse and I never really got to take it off road.

When are you driving across? This time of year would be pretty iffy in the mountains. We drove across last April and some highways were still closed due to snow.

domdino - 22-1-2008 at 08:14 AM

Pismo beach you can drive on, it's one of the only ones :) it's an amazing beach!
Can probably get away with just bigger wheels though rather than 4wd, or an audi quattro or suburu 4x4 or something like that!

I'm not gonna move till december so i have plenty of cash in my pocket!

matthewlavin - 23-1-2008 at 04:00 PM

hey dude, can't wait to come visit. anything but an suv. all wheel drive should do it at pismo.

Kiteboarder2B - 23-1-2008 at 11:05 PM

I second the Hyundai Tuscon. I love mine and people are constant
ly amazed how much gear I can cram in there. I have the 6 cyl. with all wheel drive and I get about 23mpg. The all-wheel drive system is amazing. It generally runs on 2 wheel drive until the computer detects slippage in the wheels, then it kicks into all wheel drive. The all wheel dive system also comes with Electronic Traction Control wich detects slippage in the wheels and then diverts power to the wheels that have the most traction. Finally, their all wheel drive system also comes with a center locking differential which locks the center differtial, splitting the power 50/50 to the front and back differtials. Awesome!

domdino - 24-1-2008 at 10:58 AM

Cool thanks, looks like the Tuscon is a little out of my desired price range though :(
Don't really wanna spend more than 5 grand!

Matthew, you're welcome to come up for landboarding/kitesurfing weekends when i get all set up :) i'm very excited about the move even though it's a long way off yet :D