60447TT

Or can i just settle with the Thule roof bars? The Thule is so much cheaper and easier to find.
How much would you pay to get the OEM roof bars?

XCLR8TT

I didn't like the way the car looked with them on. But if you are in to biking or something like that they do fit well.

Since they are no longer made and IIRC not available retail, you may pay a high price to get them unless you can catch a set on Ebay.

60447TT

I'm planning on using it with a bike rack. Would you say they fit better than Thule? I've seen the picture of the guy on a kayak while it was on top of the car. So I know the Thule is very stable. But I also read that the Thule's legs will rub off the paint or clear coat. While the OEM bars dont.

XCLR8TT

I've never used a Thule rack, so I can't give you any guidance.

gaber6

<center><img src="http://gabrielutasi.com/tt.canyon.3.JPG"></center><p>
They are uber simple to install and remove, and will not harm your paint (at least not enough to worry about if you remove them every once in awhile to remove the dust that collects; they have rubber protectors.)

I know they go for a lot on ebay but I got mine for 275 shipped with a bike rack attachment. If you are willing to wait for the right bid, then yea, but 400 for just the rack is a bit much.

I've used mine plenty already for my bike, and have considered it for hauling larger things, as each bar has loops on either end to help attach straps to. I think the load weight is 80something pounds.

The wind noise is noticible, but not terrible, since our cabins are so quiet, but mine is missing the rubber that covers the valley that the racks slide into.

I have already almost popped my rear window with the bike attachment on though. Luckily I was letting the hatch up slowly when it bumped.

Good luck finding one. You'll always make your money back if you go to sell it.

Gabe

sonus

Hence I wouldn't sell mine unless I got rid of the car. So it really depends on your situation. But as for OEM vs Thule, I would never go Thule, OEM is sooo easy to put on, but I hear the Thule is a nightmare. Also Thule interferes with the weather stripping and your paint unlike the OEM.

lkfoster

The American wife has the Thule bars on her coupe. I haven't seen any indications of paint rubbing as they don't move once installed.

I've had Thule racks for 12 years now and have been pleased with them. The load bars plastic coating will peel off after 5 years or so of Arizona sun, but otherwise no problems. They'll keep a bike on at speeds up to 110 mph.

Couple caveats;
-If you mount bike racks the normal way they foul the rear hatch opening. I swapped the fork-mount racks around to face forward. I'm not totally happy with them that way, but at least the rear hatch can be opened.
-Locate the front rack back a bit further than what Thule says to as the window weather-stripping density is too heavy at the instructed location and you get a lot of wind noise.
-A fairing will eliminate a lot of wind noise, definitely something to add.

XCLR8TT

<ul><li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-Audi-TT-Roof-Luggage-Rack-Brushed-Alum_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33651QQihZ009QQite mZ190020427642QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW">Ebay Link</a></li></ul>

HACK THS

They match the car very well, and since I leave them on all winter that is nice. Actually plan to have them color matched to the car next season, but even the silver looks good on a black car. I forgot what I paid, but they were used, something like $250 or something, not sure anymore. The attachments though I bought from VW, they are the same for their bars. Really comes down to how long you will have them on the car- if for a good amount of time I would say get OEM cause they match the car well, if this is a use them for a day or a week here or there, then get cheaper/non-OEM

Gettysburg

If I didn't already have them, I'd probably spend $500 to get the OEM over the Thule. You can install/remove them in less than 5 minutes.

The Thule brackets look like a pain to install; since they clamp to the window frame. I had a Thule clamping rack on a 98 Jetta, and it was a bitch to install/remove. Ended up leaving it on all the time(ugly).