I travel with my son in a Holden Ute to the local track and to race meetings. two bikes in the back plus all our gear with the wheels on easily. V6 on Gas is very cheap to run.
Earlier in the year i went up to Canberra to race at their state titles (from VIC). 4 adults in a Chevrolet Silverado. 4 bikes in the back, two tents plus all our gear fitted under the tarp. If i had a canopy in there we could have left the wheels on the bikes and probably fitted a few more in there!
I travelled up to Bendigo with another club member in her Kia SUV and with no room in the back had the two bikes on the bike rack out the back. While i understand some people need them, i dont like the idea of my bike out in the weather if it is raining, or the security even popping into a shop to get fuel etc.