What sort of car do you use for gigs ?

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 3 Aug 2012 10:52 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:If the gig is local, I might load everything into the (1968) Morris Traveller:

Nice

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 4 Aug 2012 12:15 am

I have been using a Pontiac Torrent all my gear fits snugly behind the rear seat. Amp, 5 space rack, steel seat, steel case plus a roadrunner dolly . a dark blanket over it and dark windows and you cant see the gear from outside. It's very easy to load too.
I have loaded a Mini Cooper with the same gear but it's not as easy on your back.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 4 Aug 2012 2:40 am

your steering wheels are all on the wrong side!!

Family wagon - holden commodore, seats fold down and you have space for gear and a bed!!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 4 Aug 2012 5:40 am

Caddy

Josh Rossow · Post by **Josh Rossow** » 4 Aug 2012 4:08 pm

Me and the band play a lot of private parties and benefits. I'll usually bring my 72' Dodge Travco ,It's like an old tour bus and we don't have to worry drink in and driven, it sleeps 6.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 4 Aug 2012 9:21 pm

Lincoln Town Car!

If I put the spare tyre inside the car I can get two steels in the trunk, as well as my FX rack bag, two NV 112s, two Steelers' Choice Sidekick seats, my Roland Acoustic amp, and my Telecaster - everything is out of sight and relatively safe.

The car gets 27 mpg on the highway and, best of all, it's all mine and fully paid for. I couldn't imagine paying upwards of $30,000 for a car just because it has the hybrid technology - in addition, the Lincoln is very, very comfortable!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Aug 2012 2:40 am

Ah, Roger, Roger, of all people... you go for the big American luxury car. I thought for sure, you'd resonate with the Morris....

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 5 Aug 2012 3:08 am

The Honda Fit works for me, but it's a shame that station wagons are no longer popular enough to be widely available in the U.S. I still have my '96 Corolla wagon, and I sometimes prefer it to the Honda Fit if I'm in the mood to carry my pedal steel fully assembled. It fits in the back perfectly with the front legs up over the rear seatback, with the rear apron resting on the floor. It can't move or slide around. Up until the mid-ninties, there were many choices for wagons, but hardly any now.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 5 Aug 2012 6:27 am

Thanks for the info guys ! Its opened my eyes to some better possibilities.

Mike Kowalik · Post by **Mike Kowalik** » 5 Aug 2012 6:30 am

Same here....I'll be buying something new to drive by the end of the year.

Don't want to get another pick-up...tired of lifting up over the tail gate.....

George Seymour · Post by **George Seymour** » 5 Aug 2012 6:37 am

Volkswagen TDI Diesel Sport Wagen, 50mpg on a trip
43 around town, unloading this morning after last nights show.
Great car, my second.

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 5 Aug 2012 7:44 am

I believe in buying a American vehicle, as I live, and made my living in this country. I have a 07 GMC sierra. I will only buy one that has the lowest ratio gear in the rear axle. Like a 3.08. Thats the best for gas mileage. You don't need a 3.50, or a 3.73 gear, for normal driving. I get way over 20mpg, on the highway. And the comfort, and enough room to haul anything in the back. carry a stool about a foot high and set the corner of the case on it, lean the case on the tailgate, and only have to pick up one end, and slide it in.

Craig Schwartz · Post by **Craig Schwartz** » 5 Aug 2012 9:09 am

06 Scion XB, alias called: toaster or the box
Lots of leg room for driver and a flat floor in the back with the back seats down, plenty of room here,
Not suggested for any one person weighing over 270#

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 5 Aug 2012 9:30 am

Wow... I'm starting to understand what happens when somebody asks what strings or volume pedal to buy!

Funny, but not many of these appear to be black...

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Aug 2012 11:10 am

Jim...

The Morris DOES resonate with me - it's got an elegant simplicity and an essential 'Englishness' that elevates it above many vehicles - but even its staunchest proponent couldn't say it was comfortable to travel in for very long...

Back to the Lincoln: when I lived in the Old Country I always had Jaguars but they're out of my price-range over here. The Town Car has many of their attributes and, in Florida, are very thick on the ground as well as eminently affordable!

Mine's up to 200,000 miles now, but I'll replace it with another one.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 5 Aug 2012 12:41 pm

I use my wifes car, a 2007 Dodge Nitro. I load my amp and pack-a-seat, put my bag under the pack-a- seat, then put the steel guitar in upside down with a cover on it. I take the back legs off the guitar and close the hatch down. It is perfect for playing steel guitar.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Aug 2012 2:06 pm

Well, it's not like I have to drive it to North Dakota, Roger.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Aug 2012 4:09 pm

You make an excellent point~!!!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 5 Aug 2012 5:19 pm

This was the car I owned when I drove to Nashville to get my first steel guitar. Not a good gig car.

Pete Ethridge · Post by **Pete Ethridge** » 7 Aug 2012 4:34 am

i usde a cheverolet hhr it very good on gas and enough room to take wife along and someone else

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 7 Aug 2012 12:10 pm

Aaron Smith · Post by **Aaron Smith** » 7 Aug 2012 4:59 pm

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 7 Aug 2012 9:16 pm

2000 Audi TT ( non-quatro). I fit my Williams D-8, steelseat, single 12" cab, Showman head, mandolin, lap steel and pedal board in the back with rear seat folded down.. gets about 32 mpg.

Hap Young · Post by **Hap Young** » 8 Aug 2012 4:43 am

I use a Honda Odyssey. Back seats fold into the floor and I have plenty of room for my steel, amp,two 15" speakers and a steel seat,and my saxophone.Not great on gas in town but up to 24 on the hyway.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 8 Aug 2012 6:05 am

George Seymour wrote:Volkswagen TDI Diesel Sport Wagen, 50mpg on a trip
43 around town, unloading this morning after last nights show.
Great car, my second.

George, you all must make a lot more money than we do down here. They would have to pay me $300 just to set up all that equipment. Nice car.