I have read all the Hitch threads. I see that some people think the Curt is better built. And some people are happy with their Coastal hitch. I need one to carry a bike rack. Here is one thing I haven't seen mentioned when comparing the two brands? It seems as though the Coastal Hitch is tucked further behind the bumper and is hard to see when approaching the vehicle from behind. I believe this is because the square receiver tube is longer and that places the cross member further forward toward the rear axles. Am I correct in this assumption? Is the Coastal indeed less visible?
The Coastal hitch does not even exist yet for the GenIII, so there is no way to make a direct comparison. The biggest difference on the GenII was that the Coastal was available with a 2" receiver, where the Curt only comes with the 1.25" receiver. Since bike racks almost all work with a 1.25" receiver and the Curt hitch has gotten fine reviews from people who've put it on, that's the one I went with.
I did not look at the Curt. Not sure they had one in 2004 when I got my Coastal, they may have. What I like about the Coastal is that it uses the bolts and holes in the frame replacing the tie down brackets. No cutting, etc necessary. PLUS - the hitch is in 2 parts - the driver's side bracket is bolted into the car separate from the rest of the hitch (so you DON'T have to cut anything) and is then bolted to the rest of the hitch. That means you can take the hitch off and not drag all that weight around when you don't need it. If it was one piece, you would have to take out and reinstall 3 smaller bolts/screws on the driver's side every time you want to take the hitch off an then again when you put it back on. I got the 2" since I figured it gave me the option of larger accessories while still being able to use the 1.25" accessories with an adapter. I don't think I would want to adapt UP to a 2" accessory. BUT the downside. Coastal isn't always very responsive. I sent them email a few weeks back asking if I could get a separate driver's side bracket for my wife's car so the hitch could be easily and quickly mounted on either car. I have not heard back.
