roof rack questions

[gorillajin]

Hello,

I am about to purchase a roof rack for my 9-3.
Which one do you guys recommend? I think They will carry 2 bikes most of time.
I would like to get some info so I can buy used one on craigslist.
Is my saab rain gutter style?

Thank you.

[mthydro]

Try to find one of the Saab factory racks for your car. I have one on my car and its great. If you pull back the weatherstripping at the top of the drivers door there are 2 small holes. This is where it attaches. There are the same 2 holes behind the weatherstripping on the rear doors. The best things about this rack is that nothing "contacts" the roof and they go on and off in minutes. I had a Yakima rack in the past, but it was kind of a pain to put on and take off, plus it touched the roof and doors.

Also, ALL Thule accessories and most Yakima accessories will fit this rack. I found mine used on craigslist for next to nothing. You can get them new here:

http://www.stateofnine.com/page/stat.../SaabRoofRacks

[gorillajin]

Originally Posted by mthydro

Try to find one of the Saab factory racks for your car. I have one on my car and its great. If you pull back the weatherstripping at the top of the drivers door there are 2 small holes. This is where it attaches. There are the same 2 holes behind the weatherstripping on the rear doors. The best things about this rack is that nothing "contacts" the roof and they go on and off in minutes. I had a Yakima rack in the past, but it was kind of a pain to put on and take off, plus it touched the roof and doors.

Also, ALL Thule accessories and most Yakima accessories will fit this rack. I found mine used on craigslist for next to nothing. You can get them new here:

http://www.stateofnine.com/page/stat.../SaabRoofRacks

Thank you for the info.

Hum...the thing is, I can buy thule or yakima roof rack and 2 bike rails around $125 from craigslist. Usually, they will go about $400~$600 together, but it's way cheaper buying used one.
My goal is paying less than $200
Some people are selling one that fits rain gutter style, some people are selling Q top(?) so I was little confused.

[mthydro]

Older cars had raingutters and by Q-tops they mean Q-towers. These are what the Yakima rack uses. You have to buy specific clips for each car to attach to the Q-towers before attaching it on your car.

If I were you I would search around on Craigslist for a used Saab Rack and buy used Thule or Yakima bike rails off of there. You could easily find a used rack for $50-$75 and used bike rails for just as cheap.

[gorillajin]

Originally Posted by mthydro

Older cars had raingutters and by Q-tops they mean Q-towers. These are what the Yakima rack uses. You have to buy specific clips for each car to attach to the Q-towers before attaching it on your car.

If I were you I would search around on Craigslist for a used Saab Rack and buy used Thule or Yakima bike rails off of there. You could easily find a used rack for $50-$75 and used bike rails for just as cheap.

Hum....I found thule towers(X4) for $90, but I found out that I need the thing goes the bottom of the towers for my 9-3. They are $60 at thule's web site... I think I can get the cross bars for free...but then, I need 2 bike racks, and total will cost around $200 if I'm lucky

I will keep seraching for used saab rack....but I do not know when I can find them though.
Thanks for the input.

[LiteracyMatt]

i just bought my thule via ebay/craigslist.
payed 35 for the rack and 15 for each of the two bike carriers.
couldnt be happier.

go thule.

[LiteracyMatt]

i just bought my thule via ebay/craigslist.
payed 35 for the rack and 15 for each of the two bike carriers.
couldnt be happier.

go thule.

[gorillajin]

Hum....I just checked my car where to mount. Mine is 9-3 hatch, and I could see the mounting point at the front door, but I couldn't find any mounting point at rear?
I saw a plastic clip, and I took it out, but it didn't look like the front mounting point....
Does this mean I can only buy one for 9-3 hatch? I can find OEM 9-5 roof rack for cheap, but I think it won't fit into my car???

[gorillajin]

By the way, can 9000 OEM roof rack fit my 9-3?? Anyone?