How much does a roof rack actually affect fuel economy?

[nathantheengineer]

They look very well thought out.  Definitely get what you pay for!

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

They look very well thought out.  Definitely get what you pay for!

What was the cost and shipping?

[ORCoaster]

Kind of clash against that paint job though.  More rattle cans please?

[JBG3]

They look very well thought out.  Definitely get what you pay for!

What was the cost and shipping?

like 200 bucks for everything, cross bars and rails.  Shipping was cheap, came from a warehouse in the jersey area I think. 

[JBG3]

Kind of clash against that paint job though.  More rattle cans please?

 

you are looking at my glacial paint process.  One day, the whole car will be repainted when funds allow, but as I progress, im having a body guy paint primer in readiness for final prep before paint.  He dusts the gray with black for sanding purposes.  Next big body job is the driver side doors, eventually it will all be gray, then a MB green color. 

[ORCoaster]

My brother drove a primer gray car for years so I can relate.  When it finally came time to paint the color on it he chose this bright baby blue that I never could get used to.  The metallic midnight blue I put on my Triumph would turn heads because it was sharp.  His color evoked laughter from many.  Should have had it painted with some baby pink on the hood while he was at it. 

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

They look very well thought out.  Definitely get what you pay for!

What was the cost and shipping?

like 200 bucks for everything, cross bars and rails.  Shipping was cheap, came from a warehouse in the jersey area I think. 

Is that a good price compared to what you get from Thule or Yakima these days? How's the quality? I don't know about Yakima but Thule racks these days are very poor corrosion resistance wise, paint peel, plating on hardware flakes off and rust out. I have some old Thule bike carriers that were made in Sweden (not the same as Thule USA), much higher quality with no rusted hardware. I was lucky, found them at a Salvation Army $20 for 4 carriers.

[JBG3]

My brother drove a primer gray car for years so I can relate.  When it finally came time to paint the color on it he chose this bright baby blue that I never could get used to.  The metallic midnight blue I put on my Triumph would turn heads because it was sharp.  His color evoked laughter from many.  Should have had it painted with some baby pink on the hood while he was at it. 

this will be the final color, I think it will look good on a mk2.  Its called "petrol Green" 

[ORCoaster]

Go Diesel Green, you know that color on the pump handle.  I don't see many of those on the road.  Wonder why?

[JBG3]

Go Diesel Green, you know that color on the pump handle.  I don't see many of those on the road.  Wonder why?

already have a work van I painted as close to john deere green as I could, which is pretty similar to a diesel pump green.  Can't have two vehicles almost the same color.  would get boring!   

[ORCoaster]

Yellow racing stripes on the van and White ones on the car?

[JBG3]

Yellow racing stripes on the van and White ones on the car?

lol, not a bad idea.


Update-
Car has been down for the count for a while as I redid the interior and other issues, but im driving it again starting last monday.  Im dealing with a brake drag continuing problem in the rear, so I still don't have fuel economy numbers on the cross bar that wouldn't be slightly off, but as soon as I run a tank, ill post up something. 

Additionally, I did a strength test to see if the rack would end up denting the roof, here area few pics-




this is a bunch of lumber, 5 mounted tires, and a bunch of casting mold casings over some plywood I left up there for a day or so.  Roof seemed to handle it just fine, no denting at the feel or anything, so im confident that I can put my bike up there and ski carrier without incident, but Ill watch it long term

[fatmobile]

Here's apic of the subaru Legacy wagon roof rack swapped onto the Rabbit:



The Subabru's roof is flatter so the ends want to draw up a little but it's not noticeable unless you are up close and looking for it.

Still looking for a couple cross bars.

[JBG3]

so its been a while, and ive been very pleased with this roof rack arrangement.  even with the cross bars and carrier, its never done less than 42mpg this winter so far. 

couple pics-
also found that my thule cargo carrier grabbed these monteblanc bars extremely well.  They were just the right size for the screw on clamps to be really effective and not over extended

[JBG3]

Here's apic of the subaru Legacy wagon roof rack swapped onto the Rabbit:


The Subabru's roof is flatter so the ends want to draw up a little but it's not noticeable unless you are up close and looking for it.

Still looking for a couple cross bars.

what year legacy?  you should check out that rack website earlier in the thread, there are some excellent and cheap cross bars on there