At 05:43 PM 6/7/98 -0500, Dave Moak wrote:
>I know this topic has been covered before, but I couldn't find anything in
>the archive. Are there alternatives to the VW bike rack that will fit a GTI?

Dave,
	I assume that you're looking at roof racks (really the only way to go).
The Thule is a definate fit. Get the 555 kit from them. Thule makes the VW
kit, but they both use a little bit different bar style. You end up paying
about the same for either when it's all said and done. I've heard that
there is also a Yakima kit that will fit, but I don't know if it's a custom
fit or a one size deal. I'm sure Saris, etc. all make kits that will fit,
too. I have the Votex (VW) rack on mine, and I am totally pleased with it.
This thing looks good and works better. If we go on a drive again (after I
get insurance!), you can see mine in action. I've also fitted the Thule
fairing to mine (requires the $0.45 hardware store conversion kit). You may
be able to find someone who's got a Jetta/Golf Trek/K2 and has given up
on/broken the bike/snowboard/skis, and get the rack for a steal.

Josh


--
Josh
xjoshone
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Dave,

I have a Saris Bones rack for my 1998 VR6.  It fits on the hatch and 
 has 6 straps to secure it.  If attached properly, it is VERY sturdy 
 and can hold up to 3 bikes.  Rubber feet, big ones, protect the car.  
 Big bonus is you can still use your sunroof because there is no roof 
 rack noise to drive you crazy.  Car is more aerodynamic without a roof 
 rack.  No need to worry about people stealing your trays.  Great rack, 
 and the price is right around $130.00, I forget exactly.  Try Colorado 
 Cyclist: www.coloradocyclist, great catalog and great customer service.

One small caveat, the feet that rest on the rear bumper or hatch *may* 
 create small footprints that will be visible even when the car is 
 clean.  I have 'em on mine.

Regards,
Manny
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Hi,

     The 28" spread (between the bars) may not be the maximum.  However, I
think it's the most structurally sound (most mounts are satisfied by a minimum
spread of 24" anyway).  I say this because of Thule's design.  Thule, in
cooperation with VW, created racks specifically for the Jetta/Golf.  If you
look at the rubber strips along the roof, you'll see little arrows near the
middle of each door.  This is where the manufacturer designed the racks to go. 
The only thing I don't like about the premade Thule rack is that it isn't
advertized how wide the bars are.  I'm thinking 48".  I have 52" Yakima bars on
my 88 Sentra and I need every inch.  I'm considering switching over to Thule
because there rack does not touch the paint (so I've read).  It would be
expensive to make the total switch (3 bike mounts, one tandem mount, and 7
wheel mounts).  Yakima has Mighty Mounts, which adapt their mounts to fit
"Euro" bars, like Thule.  I may go the half-breed route, using a Thule rack
with Yakima mount. 

     I know this is long-winded, but I hope it helps.
Scott A. Farrell, KE4WMF
98 Jetta TDI w/ 13000 miles

Couldn't agree more with Josh, the VW rack sits perfectly, of course I wax
the roof before and after. My rack was on for the whole summer in 96, took
it off in the fall, now it goes on whenever I need it, I figure it's been
off and on about 10 times since then.  I put those little rubber pads in a
ziplock bag with some powder when I'm not using them, don't really know if
that helps or not!  Make sure you really tighten the rack to reduce the
chance of water settling under those pads - if that happens you'll get some
discoloring, but even that can be cleaned up.

ian

-----Original Message-----
From: xjosh <xjoshone>
To: john marotzke/Marotzke Inc. <jmarotzearthlink>
Cc: dustin easter <dustineasterhotmail>; gti-vr6dev.tivoli
<gti-vr6dev.tivoli>
Date: Monday, September 14, 1998 2:55 AM
Subject: Re: [gti-vr6] Thule 444 Roof Rack Installation


>VW (Votex) rack. No scratches.
>
>Josh
>
>On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, john marotzke/Marotzke Inc. wrote:
>
>> Dustin
>>
>> Short answer " scratch free. fat chance."
>>
>>  For the long answer in my quest for scratch prevention and minimization read
>> on.
>>
[ See Thule_444_install.html.  aqn. ]

On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Patrick Downs wrote:

> Rich, I have a Yakima rack for my car.  In my opinion they look better and
> there accessories are a little better quality.  The only downside (which is
> a major one) is the way that the rack clips into the doorjamb on the car.
> This is bad for the paint in the jambs, weather-stripping and you can't
> mount the crossbars very far apart.  This means that carrying anything other
> than bikes is very difficult.  I once tried to carry my kayak and it was
> like trying to tie a basketball to a broom handle.  Some of the other guys
> on the list have Thule racks (Pete?) and there rack is made specifically for
> our cars. (the factory rack on the Jetta Treks and K2's is made by Thule)
> To make a long story short I think the Yakima is the better rack but knowing
> what I know now I would go with the Thule because of the mounting system.

Patrick speaks the truth here. The mounting system of the Thule and VW
racks is pretty good. It uses factory mounting points, and is of no harm
to the paint. I've carried ladders, 2x4s, 4x4 sheets, etc on my A3 rack
without problem. I would agree that they could beef up the carriers a bit
more, but it's pretty much suffficient. My only other beef is that nobody
is this damn city carries Thule stuff in stock, save one shop.

For clarification, the Thule-branded rack and the VW/Votex rack are
different racks, even though they are both made by Thule. Carriers sold
through a dealer (in my experience the same price as Thule at a bike shop)
will come with hardware to fit both bar profiles. I don't know if the
opposite is true.


- -- 
Josh Tibbs                  | 00 VW GTi GLX
xjoshone               | 89 VW Jetta GLi 16V
http://w3.one.net/~xjosh/vw | 87 VW GTi 16V
ICQ: 391156                 | 00 Dodge Durango SLT+

Okay, I've got a GLX so keep in mind that everything I say is suspect!  But,
I've owned a Yakima rack for several years and used it successfully on an
Audi A4.  When I bought the new Q-pods/clamps to go w/ my Mk3 GLX, it didn't
work.   I fiddled w/ angles, pod distances, everything.   Don't know what the
hell I was doing wrong, but the clips just didn't fit right in the door
jamb.   In fact, with it tightened way tight, I was able to dislodge the
entire rack with one swift upwards thump on the end of the rack rod
(scratching my door jam paint in the process).  Someone (I believe on this
list) once said that the Yakima pods do not fit Mk3 cars.....certainly my
case supported this.

The Thule rack doesn't need to clamp onto the edge of the roof, it has
locking clips that fit into slots beneath the rubber rain gutters on our
roof.  This seems much cleaner of an install, but I have to say that I
haven't tried it because I don't want to spent the dough for a whole new
system.

I'd recommend at least trying the Yakima if you really want it, and returning
it if it doens't hold for you.  If you don't want to experiment, get the
Thule.

Ted
97 GLX

I have a 95 gti.

The sound of my thule rack and open sunroof was intolerable.  A quick
investment in the wind deflector eliminated the sound and save me 2.1 mpg to
boot  :)


Check out an old photo from the days of crappy black and white scanners


http://gti-club.org/gti-vr6/month/d96.html



- -john voss

Look at Thule and/or Votex (VW Accesories) for roof racks. They are
perfect fit. I had Votex racks for my Mk3 and Mk4 Golfs. If you go with a
roof rack, get a fairing as well. You can rig a Thule fairing on a VW
rack.

As for hitch-style racks, it seems that Draftmaster makes a nice rack but
I don't have any personal experience there. Make sure that you get a rack
that will fold out of the way (while loaded) so you can access your
hatch. I have a Hollywood hitch rack for my truck. I got it used and it
was dirt cheap, but it seems to be a pretty beefy rack for the dough (even
at new prices).

I personally like the roof racks for the Golf. Another bonus (for me) was
the ability to use the load bars for other cargo (lumber, ladders, etc).

BTW, if anyone needs a rack for a Mk4 2 door Golf, I have a nearly new one
available for sale. I no longer have the car so I no longer need tha
rack. Nearly new condition.

Josh

I have a Yakima w/ fork mount bike trays and i'm going to replace it with a
444 Thule.  The yakima is an excellent rack and is great if you plan on
going through different cars over the next couple years.  The drawback of
this versatility is that it doesn't fit the 2 door Mk3 so well.  On my car I
get a 16" spread between the front and rear crossbars which is only good for
bikes.
A fairing is a must, you'll probably get your $$ back with improved gas
milage (especially this summer...)

t

I don't know who you heard that from, but from my experience, the faring
helps so much more with wind noise, with or without the sunroof open.

Chadwick

-----Original Message-----
From: Iori, Max [mailto:mioriinternet]
Sent: May 10, 2001 3:14 PM
To: gti-vr6byahoogroups
Subject: [gti-vr6] Thule rack on an MK3


Hello all, I have heard to not get the faring with a Thule rack because of
excess wind noise with the sunroof open.  Has anyone else heard this?  Also,
how is the Thule rack (with or without the faring) when driving with the
sunroof open?

Thanks.

Max

in my opinion, the thule rack without the fairing produced a horrible
whistling noise that disappeared as soon as the fairing went on. If you
live in S Florida, you are welcomed to a demo.


-jv

John,
I would recommend that you try one for the hitch.  Unless you are
unbelieveably clumsy or drunk, you probably won't have to worry about
scratches.  But if you are hell bent on a hatch mounted rack, I'd suggest
the bones model at Saris.
http://www.saris-products.com/