I thought the same thing until I did some field strength measurements. (a
meter/diode/antenna field strength meter - I have an e-field probe now, but
haven't tried it yet)

Get this:
A 2M quarter wave on the roof has much more field strength than a 5/8 on
the trunk! I saw about 20 dB more. I was also surprised that the same
model car with a sun roof had LOWER inside (with the roof 1/4 wave) than
the one without the sun roof. Go figure.
Steve, K;9;D:C:I

"JDer8745" wrote in message
...
Crazy George sed:
"At 15', you are in the near field of any HF antenna. ...
---------------------------------
Kind of rules out mobile operation.

Of course the metal body of the vehicle probably shields the station from
the
effects of the near field. 73 de Jack K9CUN