"Alan Bal jeu" a bal wrote in message ...
I've been looking at buying a new compact car, but I want to make sure it's
not a mistake. I will want to carry my 16' canoe on top, and be able to put
the paddles, a friend or two, life jackets, and backpacks inside, (and the
roof rack when it's not carrying my boat). Will there be enough space in a
Jetta/Civic/Corolla/Protege to do this?

Of course, especially if you go for a wagon model, you should have
plenty fo room. Maybe you also want to look at the Ford Focus. Of all
the models you just mentioned, the Focus Wagon has the highest
official roof load capacity. I had one (put 175.000 km (~110000 miles)
on it in 2,5 years), which was allowed to carry 100 kg (~220 lbs) on
the standard roof rack. The good thing of that kind of roofrack is
that the rails are already bolted on the roof, you only need cross
bars. That construction is very strong (I have stood on it together
with several boats, no problem).

After I've got everything packed, I'll need to drive it down the freeway to
distant lakes and rivers. And since the temp will probably be 35 degrees
celcius (105F), I'll have to turn on the A/C. Might this be a strain on the
car's engine?

No way, if you go for the normal engines that come in such cars, you
probably only notice it taking a few km of the top speed... Then
again, how often do you get to drive 160+ kmh (~100+ mph) with a full
load on your roof?

My current car is of the same size (and platform) as a VW Jetta (U.S.
model, it's called "Bora" over here), and it easily carries a couple
of boats, bikes and such on the roof, have AC blazing in this past
summer's high temps and easily do 150 km/h (90+ mph) on the German
highway. No problem.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's happily using their compact, or if anyone
found it just didn't work.

I have had three "small family cars" in the past four years, and I
find them very suitable for the kind of usage you are looking to use
it for. I call my car a fine two person holiday vehicle (It does get a
lot of use, especially with boats and such on the roof...).

HTH

My last paddling vehicles, all small family cars, with plenty of boats
on top:

Opel Astra:

http://wilko.webzone.ru/astra-k.jpg

Ford Focus:

http://wilko.webzone.ru/focus-k.jpg

My current car, a Skoda Octavia:

http://wilko.webzone.ru/soc-a10.jpg

--
Wilko van den Bergh
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.
http://wilko.webzone.ru/