VW Golf roof rack question

[Albacore]

I am looking for a new commuter car and would like to use my old Yakima rack. I am looking at a 2-door VW golf. Yakima's website does not list a fit for this car. VW has their own rack for $175. Does anyone out there have any experience with such a setup? Any Golf owners? Thanks

[Neccros]

its probably the same as the GTI.... do you have the factory rack pins under the door seal flap on the door?? If so Im guessing its the same as the GTI. I have a Yakima on my car and it fits/works awesome...

[KonaDawgDeluxe]

Which year is the Golf you're checking out?

[Albacore]

2008 Golf. I haven't seen it in person yet. I am trying to schedule a test drive on Tuesday. I will look for said pins then. What towers, clips, and size crossbars do you have on your GTI?

[PassatBoy101]

I had a 2000 Passat (hence the name) And I used the factory rack and it was ok except they did not offer the wind fairing which I went and bought and made my own way to attach it. Then it took me an hour to get the bike part of the racks off because the bolts I used for the fairing. Thule and Yakima made a rack for the Passat but a few years after the car came out, like 2000 for the B5 Passat(started in 199, and I would go with that for sure next time. Sorry if that doesnt help at all.

[KonaDawgDeluxe]

Originally Posted by Albacore

2008 Golf. I haven't seen it in person yet. I am trying to schedule a test drive on Tuesday. I will look for said pins then. What towers, clips, and size crossbars do you have on your GTI?

Are you sure its not a 2008 Rabbit? I have a 2008 Rabbit and I have the Yakima base rack and 2 Sprocket Rocket bike racks on it per Yakima's fitting charts. The car you're going to check out is most likely a GTI. The hatchback is considered a door per Yakima's car fitting chart so the car you're checking out is either a 3 door or a 5 door. VW renamed the Golf to Rabbit from 2006 to 2009 in the USA. For 2010 the Golf name returns. BTW, I love my bunny.

[Albacore]

KonaDawgDeluxe,

Thanks for the info. I researched the car more and it is in fact a Rabbit. Does your rack have the 58" crossbars?

[KonaDawgDeluxe]

Yep... sure does. Some people actually cut them a little shorter but you may screw yourself with not being able to install a combo of Yakima products like 2 bike racks and one basket case or one Sky box and one bike rack, etc. I left mine 'stock.' The bar ends stick past the top section of the car (roof) but they are even with the bottom of the door windows (the cars profile standing in the front and sighting up and down). I have the fairing on and that really only quiets the air from making noise as the air hits the towers. By the way, bike racks are being stolen left to right- right now (due to the economy???) especially from people's driveways at night so I remove my bike rack from the roof rack when not transporting the bike. It only takes me 1.5 minutes to reinstall the bike rack. I want to buy a Sky Box but I'm not sure there's room for that and 2 bike racks. I got to check out their allowable product configurations for 58" bars. I know you can have 2 bike racks and basket case. Anyways, hope this helps.