Cycle Rack - VW Roof Bars or Thule aftermarket?

[si.griffiths]

[JB GTI]

Thanks. I have just been to my dealer and bought a set of the VW roof bars. Pushed a bit and got them for £192.
The box looks big. Is it full width on the golf ??

[si.griffiths]

Yeah, it is big but it doesn't overhang the front and the boot opens all of the way with no problems. Yes again, it's full width (well, virtually). I looked at the touring 200 (similar width but a little shorter) and the motion 600 (long but narrow). Gotta take 2 adults and 2 kids to the south of France for a couple of weeks tomorrow so need the bigger space without compromising on too much style.

Take a look at the Thule website for a million and one different styles and sizes but buy elsewhere, I paid just less than £300 for the box which seemed the cheapest out there as far as I could find.

[JB GTI]

I think I will probably go for the Thule Touring 200 then 
Thanks again for the info


Now ordered: Thule Touring 200. Will post a couple of photos so anyone interested can compare between the two different size roof boxes on a Mk7 Golf

[p3asa]

Wouldn't mind seeing this from an end on shot if possible?

[JB GTI]

Thule Touring 200 now fitted using VW Roof bars




Now ordered: Thule Touring 200. Will post a couple of photos so anyone interested can compare between the two different size roof boxes on a Mk7 Golf

[si.griffiths]

Wouldn't mind seeing this from an end on shot if possible?

It looks the same as JB GTI's roof box from the front and rear. I'd post photos but I do everything from an iPad and haven't figured out how to blank out the number plate?!?

[JB GTI]

Wouldn't mind seeing this from an end on shot if possible?

It looks the same as JB GTI's roof box from the front and rear. I'd post photos but I do everything from an iPad and haven't figured out how to blank out the number plate?!?

So do I. I use iPhoto. It was already installed on my iPad. Just select brushes from the options on the bottom row then repair. Top tip. Use capacitive zoom to make the picture as big as possible to make a neater job of it. 

[Sootchucker]

Hi guys, looking for a set of roof bars to suit my 5 door GTD. As has been mentioned, the genuine VW ones seem awfully expensive with the whispbar from (roofbox.co.uk) coming in quite a bit cheaper.

I do like the OEM flush fitting look, but according to the above website, the whispbar are also available in a flush fit like the VW ones, but have the advantage that just the foot packs need to be changed to suit a newer vehicle when eventually the Golf goes in years to come, which I quite like the idea of.

My question is, as I understand it, due to the aerodynamic profile of the whispbar, the bars themselves seem quite wide. I'm wondering if my existing bike rack (from a few years ago) will fit, or if that will have to be replaced as well. Are the VW genuine bars quite wide as well or are they alos aerodynamic profile in nature ?

[205Rallee]

I bought Whispbar through bars for my Mk7 GTD 5 door as I wanted the extra width for 3 bikes. They are mega easy to take on/off once they are set up, are very low profile, make virtually no noise and have negligible effect on fuel economy. Also in the opinion of my teenage son they look so much better than the VW genuine ones which look really big and tall.

I've got 3 Thule pro ride 591's on the Whispbars and the bolts just slot into the track and the bike carrier is bolted onto that, I don't think it makes any difference how wide the bars are.