Best Vehicle Type for a Surfer

[ET]

(Hopefully) Soon I'll be looking for my first car and was wondering from your experiences what car best suits the surfer in me. Hopefully vehicle types can be understood as they may be exclusivly used in Australia!

[Hang11]

One of these - get you most places, lock your boards inside, and you can sleep in them.



That one's on ebay in oz.

[boardofwork]

surely campervan needs to be an option?

[Clark]

Camper vans are the speciality subject of DrowningBitByBit so ask him lol

[IdRatherBeSurfing]

LWB 4x4

[tomcat360]

A work/cargo van. You can get it cheap, put boards on top, in it, people, sleep in it, etc etc etc.

Or I drive a Ford Explorer (don't know if ya'll get them) and it's great. I can sleep in it, good roof rack, the 4WD is an absolute beast, good ground clearance (not too important on the beach). Drives pretty lively too, unlike a van (I've never driven a VW van though)

But I think it's going to have to be sold soon

[chris fixxy]

a vw van with a high top (for storing boards with you want sleep)

[O_Danny_Boy]

i actually think a golf gti like own is perfect

youll be spending most of your time on the road anyway so why not get a good handling car with plenty of welly for overtaking

a good roof rack and your sorted

[bluesnowcone]

we had a vw t25 with semi high top and it was the best for trips down the west country, but it wasnt very good around town.

[PapaW]

as a first vechicle i'd personally go for an estate style van.... eg berlingo, VW caddy, etc.
Its not too big that you'll make a meal of converting it and its also small in terms of insurance etc etc as a first car..

[Bad Beat Maker]

I have a Mazda 6, I just pop the seats down to make it all flat and can sleep in it fine if I want. I'm 6' tall. Can put boards inside too, I fit my 7'10 and the new 6'6 I got just fine.

[Banana]

The best vehicle might be the one that gets the best gas mileage.



My Toyota Echo gets over 40 MPG.

[tomcat360]

I actually get around 23-24 MPG with an American made SUV. My mom's asian car gets worse....

It might have gotten better straight off the assembly line, but you gotta keep them up! I change my oil every 1500 miles, air filter every 3000, throttle body tune up about every 2000, tire pressures close to weekly.

I would like to put an aftermarket exhaust system and a cold air intake, which would bring up the MPG even more, plus giving more performance.

Those of ya'll spending lots on gas, consider those two upgrades, they really do help!

[surfsc77]

i have to say, a volkswagen bus is the best surf vechile by far. me and my friends took his to the beach for the first time a few weeks back and it was awesome. we fit 3 surfboards ( 8 foot, 9 foot, 6 6) and 3 people inside, and still had room to lay down, NO PROBLEM. you can change out of your wetsuit in it, and avoid freezing to death outside, and you dont even have to worry when it gets dirty cause its 30 years old!

[Hang11]

Here's mine - Mitsi Delica. It's a diesel, drives like a complete pig, but it's 4wd, with good ground clearance, seats 8, so gets me, boards, camping gear and a couple of mates to the out of the way surf spots, and is great for getting to the mountains in winter.



I guess what's best depends on where you live, in the UK a decent station wagon that was economical was always my favourite, because it could do a long drive cheaply and in comfort, here in NZ, a 4wd is much better - getting to a lot of spots involves driving accross or down rivers, or on beaches, dirt tracks etc, and fuel is a lot cheaper.

A nice boat has got to be the best solution

[Otter]

Dingo!

[boardofwork]

This is why campervans are the best:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john-sutherland/440729161/

Amazing views. Not a soul in sight. Enough room for a couple of boards plus me and my girlfriend. Fridge, cooker, seats, bed, music. All you need and more! ANY campervan must be the best!!

Yes. A pig in town but hey... live and let live.....

[dave610]

I persoanlly like something that is 4WD so u can go off road or along the sand if need be.. somehtin like the Hilux surf is good.. as u can sleep in it.. and throw the boards on top or inside wen u want to keep them safe.. and cheap..

[Dec]

Ford Falcon Ute

Waterproof seats, board space. It's specifically designed for surfers. It's sponsored by rip curl!!!

[ET]

Thanks everyone for their imput!
Think I'll be going for the Holden Ute (Aussie Icon) because fits board, reliable, affordable (in my case round $20k 2nd Hand) and also has a good image amongst us teens and surfers!
It's not needed until August so got a while to look around and see what pops up.
ENGINE SOUNDS BLOODY GOOD TOO!!!!!