THe Perfect Harp Car

[unknown-user]

Wow – a CG fits too! I’m definitely going to have to try this. It’s $20K for a new Corolla as opposed to $35-$38K for a wagon, so much more affordable and as you say way better mileage. Thanks for the advice. 🙂

(BTW in Australia Corollas are both the hatchback and sedan, not separate models. Imagine if they sold harps the same way! 🙂 )

[barbara-brundage]

>BTW in Australia Corollas are both the hatchback and sedan

That may not be the same as the Matrix, then. The Matrix was a joint venture between Toyota and Pontiac. Still, it’s definitely worth taking your harp in and giving it a try.

[carl-swanson]

Basel- That’s called a hearse in English and I have known several people who have used hearses as their harp cars!

[unknown-user]

I checked with my local car geeks and they reckon that the Matrix and non-US Corolla hatches are essentially the same car – same wheelbase measurements, etc – the Matrixes [Matrices? :)] just have a different body kit to make them look more like SUV styling and offer different engine and drive configurations like AWD. The interior dimensions should be the same. (Not trying to be painfully pedantic here, just offering the information in case anyone else outside the US was considering the Corolla.) Looks like I’ll be off to the Toyota dealer for a harp test.

[barbara-brundage]

Well, I hope so, but I would take into account that things like the hatch door styling can make a dramatic difference in the harpability of a small car.

Let us know how it goes.

[mr-s]

Carl i am afraid if i move the hap by hearse it will the last trip of it :))

[HBrock25]

Hi Kirsten (and everyone else!),

I’m just up in Roanoke, not too far from you.

[vincent-pierce]

Whitney, you can really fit a Salvi concert grand in a RAV4? Salvis in particular seem larger, as I learned when I borrowed my church’s Diana and had to put it in a Honda Element and get it up to my second floor apartment! I love Toyotas, and I’ve been eyeing the 4Runner, but I thought the RAV4 would be far too small. They are definitely cheaper too. Good info, now I know I can look into a newer model RAV4, especially since I’m planning to get a semigrand for my first harp. Thanks!
Vince

[unknown-user]

I recently purchased a Dodge Nitro R/T.

[unknown-user]

Gloria,

Hi. I drive a ’95 Camry and play a Dusty Strings 36B. Here’s the way I put it in the back seat: column up, I sort of twist it in. I have found that if the harp is slightly tilted outward at the base and at a slight angle, I can just shut the doors securely. I wrap the seatbelt around the base to secure it. If the harp were 1 inch taller I would have a severe problem.

I have driven many many miles with it in this way and it works perfectly. I also haul clothes, bench, and every other thing I need.

Hope this helps.

[harpglo-jean]

Hi Emily,

Thanks for that tip…I may try one more time to get my Dusty into the Camry, but, I have pretty much tried every which way of positioning it, to no avail….couldn’t close the car doors at all, and that center console that extends slightly into the back seat area seems to be preventing it also… ..At this point, it’s just so much easier to slide the harp, and all my other gear right into the back of the Explorer and take off….

Thanks again,

Gloria

[unknown-user]

Have you heard anything?

[unknown-user]

Well, I finally got myself a harpmobile! This isn’t the actual car but it looks like this. A 2003 Mitsubishi Magna (Diamante in North America, I believe). It’s a station wagon, but it’s not a great hulking thing, and I can put the harp flat in the back. All the ways of fitting harps into Corollas and similar small cars were too impractical for me (and I couldn’t afford the newer, larger hatchbacks). And this is an exceedingly good car, despite it having a 3.6L V6 engine it gets about 10L/100km highway and 12L/100km city, handles very, very smoothly and since it’s the “Executive” model it has all the options. I can now take my harp places without so much frustration. 🙂

Of related interest on Flickr:
Pics of a concert grand in a Honda Fit
Pics of a Daphne in a Toyota Yaris 3-door

[unknown-user]

So, that picture of the harp in the Fit is fairly amazing.

[Devon Carpenter]

The harp in the Fit is mine, and it’s a great harp car!

[Author]

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