Mk V Golf GTi - Rear bike carrier - HELP!?!

[kmpowell]

I was just about to place a deposit down on a new Golf GTi, when I thought I should enquire about the rear mounted cycle carrier that I want - only to be told the VW one won't fit the GTi due to the roof tip spoiler!

I have tried Thule and Mont Blanc, but again the roof spoiler hinders fitment. Does anybody here run a GTi with a rear mounted cycle carrier?

If not, then i'm going to have to re-think my car options, because the reason I was getting the golf was simply to carry my bike around, which I can't do on the VX!

[kmpowell]

Ok, i've had it confirmed that the Mont Blanc and the Thule won't fit. Which leaves the Halfords and Pendle versions

Anybody got any experience of them?

Edited by kmpowell on Wednesday 11th October 13:42

[targarama]

Why not stick the bike on the roof? We've got Thule roof bike racks and use them on my A6s. We intend to just get the adapter gubbins for the Mk5 Golf and you're away.

BTW, if you look for it, Thule do a special adapter for 3 door cars - works on things like a 3 series coupe.

[MattW]

Sorry can't help with the GTi but we had an '06 Golf GT TDI which we used a rear mounted Halfords cycle rack on. My advice, don't do it, get a roof mounted one instead; I was really careful when fitting it but I still ended up with marks on the paint work where the straps rubbed.

Luckily it was not my car (company car), had it been I would have been seriously pi$$ed!!

Matt

[colin993rs]

Hi there.

I have just bought a Mk V GTI, and my primary buying requirement was that it could carry two bikes on a towbar-mounted bike carrier. We have had a Pendle wheel-support rack for over ten years on a variety of vehicles (Impreza Turbo, 328 Ci etc), and it does not impede spirited-driving whatsoever - unlike 'strap-on' carriers.

Put a towbar on a pristine Mk V you say? Check out this thread

www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/1,2,12,15,22,25,26,27,8/Number/617829/page/13/fpart/4/vc/1

and see how neat and unobtrusive it is (particularly with the GTi having a non-painted rear bumper valance. Cost me £300 fitted by a Witter dealer (and is a neater job than the factory, detacheable towbar we had fitted to our last A3).

[thepickle]

colin993rs said:

Put a towbar on a pristine Mk V you say?

The detachable towbar is much better than having one on full display permanently. My Dad’s was fitted incorrectly though and the car was left with me when the Witter specialist came over to fix it, that’s how I got the pic with bumper off. The Witter man was saying a bumper with towbar “hole” is fitted in the factory as an option as opposed to being “cut” by the Witter fitter....so no chance of a towbar fitter making a mess of the bumper. You don’t notice the cover at all unless you know it’s there