Cars with a Ski pass through/bag... not a split fold seat

[Warp Daddy]

Agreed.

ME three +++ my first Saaab 0.3 was great BUT my 07 SPORT COMBI is the BEST ski car i've ever owned i don't even use SNOW tires on it and i go out in all kinds of weather in teh Dacks and up to TREMBLANT -- no problemo and IT STARTS in extreme cold

 

[ski63]

The Audi's and VW's have the option. That combined with AWD makes these cars great in the snow. Our Passat w/ AWD was great last year.
The big March snow was no problem.

Here's why I always have my skiis inside the car. BTW I always bungee the skiis inside in case I have an accident since I could not find a Passat locally the had the "ski bag". Skiis flying inside a car is dangerous.

The effect of road salt on ski bindings can be devastating. A few decades ago I went into my local ski shop for new equipement and I took my old skiis for the ski swap. My local friendly tech looked at me and asked how I maade it through last season. You can imagine my surprise when he set the ski on his bench, grabbed the toe piece of the binding and twisted and broke the screws with very little force. It's a wonder I made it through that season!

 

[campgottagopee]

Dang, I always thought that was so you could reach in the cooler for a beer not to stick something in there.:beer:

 

[Maksim]

Also, just to add it to the list... the new volvo C70 hardtop convertibles have a nice deeeep trunk, and have a ski pass through with the condom standard I believe.

Will go look at the saab's today.

 

[Maksim]

ski63,
Wow, I knew in the back of my mind that it would be bad... but just wow, puts it in the front of the mind.

Aside from that... yes, why ruin gas mileage, increase wind noise, take rock chips from cars and trucks in front.

Skis belong inside.

 

[abc]

How about folding back seat AND ski passthrough?

I can't do without folding backseat due to hauling bikes. But if the seats also has ski passthrough, than I don't have to fold it down for carrying skis... In other words, I can keep the skis in there between trips without sacrefising passenger capacity.

Any cars has THAT?

 

[billski]

The effect of road salt on ski bindings can be devastating.

Until I had a car big enough to put the skis inside (read: no fold-down or pass thru), I used a rack but ALWAYS, used a ski bag. It was a PITA getting them in and out and tied down so as not to flutter, but well worth the hassle.

I think the car mfrs are figuring out there are only about 7million of us in the USA, not a good investment for them, sshhhh! Too bad we can't find more things people can use pass through for.

I like the doggie pass through in the earlier picture.

 

[Warp Daddy]

How about folding back seat AND ski passthrough?

I can't do without folding backseat due to hauling bikes. But if the seats also has ski passthrough, than I don't have to fold it down for carrying skis... In other words, I can keep the skis in there between trips without sacrefising passenger capacity.

Any cars has THAT?

Yes teh Saab 9.3 have both capabilities availible in a sedan or Sport Combi

 

[aveski2000]

I have an '08 Subaru Legacy. It has a pass thru. Last year we squeezed four skiers and gear into the thing for a trip from Portland to Sunday River. The back seat was a little cramped, but it worked.

 

[ski220]

How about folding back seat AND ski passthrough?

I can't do without folding backseat due to hauling bikes. But if the seats also has ski passthrough, than I don't have to fold it down for carrying skis... In other words, I can keep the skis in there between trips without sacrefising passenger capacity.

Any cars has THAT?

Audi S4. The A4 should be availible with that configuration too, I imagine.

Any way - the S4 w/snows = best ski car for those mad winter dashes when it's dumping.

 

[Glenn]

I'm amazed at how wet the roads are in ski country. Constant flurries and salted roads = deadly salt spray. I have a Car Fax for my Jeep...it spent the first few years of it's life in Northern VT. No wonder my rear brake bleeders required a lot of PB Blaster before I was able to open em'.

One thing I have noticed, well on new Jeeps at least. It seems that roof racks are now "optional" equipment. And even if you do get a rack, you don't always get the factory cross bars.

I picked up a used Yakima rack on e-bay for like $35. I took a gamble and thing fits my factory cross bars. (Side note: I had to buy the cross bars separately...didn't come with the Jeep. But a buddy hooked me up). I have the rack "just in case". It's usually just my wife and I. But if another couple were to come with us, I could use the rack in a pinch.

 

[Phillycore]

Just to add something that wasn't mentioned...

The Mitsubishi Galant also has a pass-through and seats 4 comfortable when in use.
(shameless plug for my employer I know, but it's true)

 

[MichaelJ]

The effect of road salt on ski bindings can be devastating.

If my skis have to be on the roof because I'm riding in someone else's car, I use binding condoms to try to minimize this.

 

[billski]

If my skis have to be on the roof because I'm riding in someone else's car, I use binding condoms to try to minimize this.

I never felt that was an adequate solution; it doesn't protect the edges and at 65mph, the salt spray just forces its way past the elastic barriers. I've always opted for a full bag when I must put the skis on a roof rack.

 

[2Planker]

As posted in the other ski car thread - I've been driving Audi's for 10+ years. The last 3 (A4, A6, and most recently an S4 and an A4) all have had the center arm rest pass through. It works great, especially if you've got modern skis, or anything under 195cm. We don't use it all the time, but we can easily accomadate 4 skiers and all their gear. Just drop the arm rest, put the longest skis on the bottom, and use the center seat belt to go up + over all of them, and secure them down nice + tight !

If it's just 3 of us, we drop the 40% side of the 60/40 split seat, 'cause it faster and easier, but the person in the back get a little more road noise. and it's a little bit cooler to start out.

W/ 25+ 400 miles round trips a year to SR, I'll never drive anything but an Audi, and I'll always opt for the cold weather package, which has the better battery, heated seats, a better,bigger heating system, and the ski sack.

 

[abc]

Audi... and all-wheel drive too! Tempting...

How's the reliability and repair cost? I'm a a bit of a cheapscape...

 

[billski]

Audi... and all-wheel drive too! Tempting...

How's the reliability and repair cost? I'm a a bit of a cheapscape...

I'm on the "beginner side" of repairs - none yet, had the A6 for 1.5 years. Parts, as a given are expensive. I know of people who are sinking a lot of money into them at what I consider low miles.. I also know others who have had their A4 for 160K miles and only regular maintenance plus one small drive train issue. If you look at the audi forums there seem to be a lot of complaints, till you realize most happy drivers don't post.

Some of it is common sense; if you drive it hard, you can expect to pay for that. I've always babied my cars, I'm not a gearhead, I just like style and wintertime practicality.
I have also mitigated the expense by finding an independent repair shop which is very competent with repairs. They already did some body work for me, after my garage door rail fell on the car (don't ask, stupid me!)

I think I could be just as happy in a Subaru (been there, done that), but I really want to take a chance, get something with a bit more pizazz for once in my life. My wife expects I'll have it 10 years. that's what I've been getting on my others - Toyota, Saab.

My $0.02. Your mileage WILL vary.

 

[2Planker]

Audi... and all-wheel drive too! Tempting...

How's the reliability and repair cost? I'm a a bit of a cheapscape...

I wouldn't be driving them exclusively for 10\+ years if reliability was a problem.....

I'd recommend getting a Pre-Owned Audi Certified A4. You can easily find a 3 year old one w/ factory warranty still in effect, before the 2 year certified warranty kicks in. If you can Go New, then all maintenance is covered for the 4 year / 50,000 warranty. Audi's may not look as sporty as BMW, nor be quite as fancy as M-Benz, but they have the best interiors, and AWD - which Audi invented 30 years ago, and has been perfecting ever since.

 

[Glenn]

Audi... and all-wheel drive too! Tempting...

How's the reliability and repair cost? I'm a a bit of a cheapscape...

We've had our 02 A6 for about 2 years now. It's very very solid car. Although, we've probably only put on about 14k for miles in those two years. All we've done so far: oil changes and the 40k service.

If you go the used route, go here: http://www.northbayimports.com/ I tried a few Audi dealers, but these guys beat them all hands down: Service and price. I spend the better part of a day up there test driving A6's before I pulled the trigger. They didn't mind, they just kept giving me keys.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

My A4 has it and my Saab 9.3 had a ski bag built in the rear center consol..never used it....more popular in European cars...