Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Do American passenger cars typically have reclining passenger seats?

This is topic Do American passenger cars typically have reclining passenger seats? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 07-13-2005, 02:49 AM:

I am finally getting ready for my vaction in Seattle. However, because I don't have enough time for the long drive, I am flying after all. So I will rent a car at the airport.
Problem here is, I will also get a double bass from a friend there, and that needs to ride with me in the car.
A station wagon would seem to be the best choice, but you can actually put a bass nicely into most standard passenger cars - provided the passenger seat can be reclined or tilted backwards into a "sleeping position". Then the bass can lie on the seat next to yo, like a stiff corpse. I actually prefer it that way to having it in the back of a station wagon.

The question here is, do typical American medium-sized cars they have at the rental places, like Oldsmobile Alero or comparable cars, normally have that function? I don't know, because I drive around in Ford Ranger which obviously doesn't, and the few times I had such a rental car here, I didn't pay attention to that detail.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 07-13-2005, 03:50 AM:

I don't know about the Alero specifically, but typically American cars have reclining front driver side and passenger side seats.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-13-2005, 03:52 AM:

No

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 07-13-2005, 05:56 AM:

When you reserve the car, request a recling passenger seat. Make it the rental agency's problem. (Are you driving back or are you going to take it as "carry on."?)

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 07-13-2005, 09:31 AM:

The Oldsmobile Alero does have reclining passenger seats.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 07-13-2005, 11:21 AM:

I haven't seen any newer cars that don't have a reclining passenger seat.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 07-17-2005, 08:32 AM:

Been in a few, eh Rach? ;-)

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 07-17-2005, 08:38 AM:

Depends on the size of the bass, too. I'm a music teacher in real life, and I've discovered that I can get a 1/2 size bass into a Honda Accord or anything larger, but a 3/4 size bass really requires a station wagon or SUV.

Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 07-17-2005, 09:58 PM:

You could also request a "compact" SUV (think Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 or Ford Escape) this would give the best of both worlds. Room for the bass, and not driving a damn land yacht.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 07-18-2005, 12:55 AM:

At the Dauphin Island Fishing Rodeo every year, they usually just put their bass in a cooler & sling it in the back of the truck or car. That seems to be the way the professionals & serious amateurs do it.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 07-18-2005, 04:52 AM:

I have put 3/4 and larger basses into virtually every car had to deal with, including the tiny plastic "Trabant" cars from East German times, as long as the passenger seat could be reclined. This time, I got a Subaru Legacy from the car rental, which isn't an American car after all, but it's made for the American market and very similar to an Oldsmobile Alero or similar mid-sized cars, and it does have the reclining passenger seat. No problem at all putting the rather big 5-string bass I rented in Seattle in there.

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 07-18-2005, 09:44 AM:

What sort of music do you play, Michael? I love bass, but only play the one at school with my kids, since I don't own one myself.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 07-18-2005, 02:22 PM:

I mostly play what is commonly referred to as "classical music", orchestral music. Normally I play in the LaJolla Symphony in San Diego. Now I am here in Seattle on vacation playing in a festival orchestra, Mahler 2nd symphony, also "El Salon Mexico" by Copland and "Prayers of Kierkegaard" by Barber.