I am looking for a new vehicle and am considering an Acura TL. A key
feature for me is ease of use to carry bikes. I'm hoping there are a few of
you out there who can answer some questions:

When you mount a bike--a mountain bike in particular--on the roof, is
there significant wind noise when driving?

Does the rack itself create noticeable wind noise even when bikes are not
on it? (I'm looking at a Yakima roof rack with the wind deflector they
sell).

Can you fit the car in a garage, in particular a parking garage, with the
bikes on top?

Is it a real pain in the butt using a roof rack for bikes, or is it easy? (I
drive a truck at the moment and am used to just laying the bike in the
truck bed).

Can you get a mountain bike in the trunk by taking off just the front
wheel, or do you have to take both wheels off?


I'm seriously considering a TL because of the great value and good gas
mileage. It is a great looking, sporty, safe car for the money and meets
all the characteristics I'm looking for except ease of storage of a bike. It
is hard to judge how much of a pain it will be in carting a bike around
without actually experiencing it for a few weeks, so I'm looking for some
help here from any of you who have experience.

My other option is to just suck it up and pay for a second MDX. I bought
one for my wife and we love it, but I don't get to touch the thing. I'd
rather not spend 45k on my own car.