I'm planning on car/tent camping also. It fits my my income and needs. I have some experience motorcycle/tent camping. Wild weather with wind can make you unhappy. Laying in a tent while it's fabric is on top of you in the middle of a thunderstorm is discouraging. That time my flimsy aluminum tent pegs couldn't penetrate the rocky ground and pulled out. Two inches of water was contained by the water proof floor. My phone didn't float. It was dead in the water. Your car will be a great and welcome refuge after a miserable tent failure. It's always a possibility, maybe a certainty over time. Your tent choice is important. Money spent on a quality tent from a respected manufacturer is important. The ease of putting it up and taking it down single handed is another important feature. Strong, long, steel tent pegs are a necessity. I like the Kodiak style tents because they are single wall. Dome style tents are much more wind resistant. But putting on a rainproof fly on a windy day is hard by yourself. Stringing multiple long poles through sleeves and then picking the center of the tent up single handed is challenging. They also may need fifteen pegs. I know because I have one. For me, since I am going on 72, the ability to stand up and walk out is vital. My legs cramp quickly and painfully when it's cold and have to take midnight walk.
I've explored most of the options and having a versatile car/tent rig is the most important choice for me. Most cars/SUVs will work. Your vehicle failure doesn't have to be a disaster since you just put your gear in another. The gas mileage should be better than a heavy, large frontal area vehicle. AWD is on a lot of SUV's. It's great being in the outdoors. I won't be city boondocking or camping in Walmart parking lots. You can get started on minimal cash. Move to the comfortable zone as the seasons change. I guess the main reason is that I can afford it.
