Why roof rails?

Its assummed those needing estate cars will be carrying larger items

I can't see how they increase the noise inside the car. They go with the airflow, not against it. However, the reason they fit them generally is because modern cars don't have gutters and it's not so easy to fit removable rails to these.

Whether you consider them ugly or not is a question opinion/taste.

Rob Graham

The same assumption could be made for a hatchback car. It is very rare to see the roof racks actually being used. People who carries larger load usually buy a people carrier type these days.

Yes, they are sometimes aerodynamically designed, but it's not perfect. That's why estate cars have slightly larger fuel consumption. And the noise is also present. I wish they could be removed, but the you're left with holes in the roof.

Buy one without then. & you're not left with holes if you remove most of them, you can fit the standard blanks.

But not many estates are without roof rails. I only know that Saab 9-3 estate doesn't have them.

Hearses don't have roof rails either, one wonders why?

Mondeos, A6s, A4s, 308s, I assume there's others.

Possibly in the UK but most cars now are made for global markets , a set of roof rails is cheap , making them market specific would possibly add to the cost

It is more likely the marketing dept. They think that customers wants a certain rugged look to the car. Maybe they do? But I rather would not have them for the benefit of noise reduction.

johannes wibbled on Saturday 13 February 2010 13:22

I have rails and I regularly carry long loads, eg 2.4m lengths of wood, old mattresses and anything else that needs moving and I can safely secure. Rails are a hell of an improvement on the old gutter clips or round-door- frame clamps. I own 4 Thule cross rails (sometimes 4 are useful with bendy loads like coving) and one Thule flexy-roof-bag thing, which sees use every family holiday and is extremely useful for getting junk out of the car (= happier kids) and avoids the PITA factor of hard roof boxes.

Granny on the roof rack...

I doubt you'd actually notice the difference in noise in a modern car. What cars come with and without roof rails that you can try?

Do you actually need an estate or are you just buying it as a fashion item?

My A6 had 'em. I don't think I've seen a late(ish) A6 without.

Personally, I think roof rails look great on estate cars, and I've never noticed any wind noise from 'em.

My Xantia estate had them, with a roof rack attachment. They were easily removed and had plates in the channels that sprang back over the holes

Mike P

Pete M wibbled on Saturday 13 February 2010 21:12

The only noise I get is with teh cross bars bolted on - they whistle somewhat. Take 'em off and it's as quiet as any other car (ie all road noise)

They're optional on trim levels below SE

What do you need a roof rack for?

A 5 pack of 150x20mm x 2.4m fit IN my car. As do 3m lenghts of copper pipe or 10ft wooden curtain poles.

Why do you want to carry something on the roof of your car? It is obviously not ideal as it adds to fuel consumption, makes the car unstable and with the risk that something might fall off.

A friend of mine once carried a table on the roof of an old Golf. When reaching motorway speeds, the Bernoulli effect became so great that the table was sucked off, luckily it didn't hit anyone.

Why do you want to carry something on the roof of your car? It is obviously not ideal as it adds to fuel consumption, makes the car unstable and with the risk that something might fall off.

A friend of mine once carried a table on the roof of an old Golf. When reaching motorway speeds, the Bernoulli effect became so great that the table was sucked off, luckily it didn't hit anyone.

Generally because it doesn't easily fit inside.

Only if you're a muppet.