Bike rack on nice c...
 

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[Closed] Bike rack on nice car?

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I'm looking at getting a new car and am interesting in the new Megane Coupe and am a big fan of tow ball bike racks, but think it would be a real shame to have a great big tow ball and pendle rack mount on the back of a nice looking car, are there any asthetic ways of doing this, or just quit moaning and have the metal work on show?


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 1:47 pm
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A Renualt? I thought you said a nice car?
😉


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 1:49 pm
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I think your definition of 'nice looking car' and mine differ slightly 😉


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 1:49 pm
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Removable tow ball? Just check it's nose weight limit first, it's usually lower than a fixed bar.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 1:53 pm
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Get a proper car instead! Big turbocharged estate cars is where it's at! Sod the aesthetics, get some grunt and bootspace!


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 1:57 pm
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Why not get a set of roof bar mounted ones, you can then remove the bike racks & roof bars all as one unit so they just take a couple of mins to fit/remove. Not too hard to reach either as the Megane's quite a low car.

This works a treat for me.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:05 pm
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anyone seen the carrera 4 that has a bike rack on it at glentress? always makes me have a smile/cringe moment......could he not afford a cheap "biking car"


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:10 pm
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Removable tow bar.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:12 pm
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Have seen a few 911s in London with roofbars - probably an easier option, especially if you have to deal with residents permits and the like.

Actually, for a while all the cars in the West London Porsche showroom had roof bars/racks and things attached to the roof - including the Boxster!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:15 pm
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JCornford I take it you're female. Anyway can't you get a towbar fitted with a removable tow ball - takes seconds to fit.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:19 pm
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Why assume they're female?


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:21 pm
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MrsF, that's not exaclty the sort of car a chap would [i]choose[/i] to drive...! 😉


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:22 pm
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[i]'m looking at getting a new car and am interesting in the new Megane Coupe[/i]

Need I say more.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:23 pm
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Actually I'm male. I've not got loads of cash so the big 4x4's etc are out of the question and a sport coupe seemed a nice option. Can I just ask what you don't like about the new one? http://www.renault.co.uk/cars/model/newmeganecoupe/product.aspx

I doubt I could afford to insure a big turbo charged estate car and quite like sticking the bikes on the back rather than in the car.

I've never been a fan of roof mounted racks, although I have never used one, the thought of height restricted car parks, bridges etc and lofting a dh bike onto the roof have always been a deterrent. Plus aren't they a lot worst on fuel economy compared to having them on the back?

CaptainFlashheart, why is it not exactly the sort of car a chap would go for, what sort of car of that zie should a chap look at then? I'm not getting a Golf as my house mate has got one, so that would leave, Focus, Astra, Volvo C30 and te Seat Leon.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 2:46 pm
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If you like the Megane coupe, why not look at the Scirocco too? Probably a bit more expensive, but (IMO) a better looking car.

Still, the Megane does look pretty nice from 90% of the angles.

You could also get a removable tow bar so nothing on view when not towing.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:06 pm
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The Scirocco is too pricey for me.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:10 pm
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The Scirocco is too pricey for me.

It's also more expensive than the Golf GTI, which is reckoned to be a better drive, and more practical -)

btw - i quite like the look of that Megane 8)


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:13 pm
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I was just winding you up 😉

Have a look at the seat ibiza sc, pretty car, fantastic fuel consumption in ecomotive form.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:16 pm
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The Scirocco is too pricey for me.

Fair enough - it will have much better residuals though. Wonder what comparative lease prices would be?
the Golf GTI, which is reckoned to be a better drive, and more practical -)

Since when is car choice only based on practicality? The Scirocco looks about 1,000,000,000 times more beautiful than the Golf. And you don't look like a sales manager.

(But you may look like a make-up artist/hairdresser/tanning salon owner).


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:19 pm
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[IMG] [/IMG]

My set up. I think 75kg was max vertical weight on detachable towbar fitted here.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:23 pm
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I suppose when the bikes aren't on the rack you could keep the oil drum there 😉


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:25 pm
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I suppose when the bikes aren't on the rack you could keep the oil drum there

Post of the [s]day[/s] [s]week[/s] [s]month[/s] year.

🙂


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:28 pm
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We've got a 911 and regularly put bars and a couple of bikes on the roof... it's a surprisingly practical car (is what I keep telling myself)

Do get some strange looks in the car park when we're unloading them though.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:39 pm
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My definition of "Nice Car" is a car that doesn't stop you doing what you want.

I had this little discussion with myself when I bought a nice shiny big car and then fretted about a few scratches from bikes & windurfers.

I decided to put up with the blemishes, carry my toys in it and on it, and live happily ever after.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:45 pm
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Surely that is a practical car, not a nice car?


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:48 pm
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Detachable tow-bar is the way to go, I keep trying to convince myself to get one fitted on my 3-series coupe but the idea of getting the bumper cut doesn't fill me with joy 🙁


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:54 pm
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So i take it with a detachable tow bar you have to get a rack that mounts to the ball itself rather than bolts on like the pendle?


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:55 pm
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Captain ,I'll tell GF then, he likes those 😉


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 3:59 pm
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roof bars on a 3-series coupe work ok for me


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 4:10 pm
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I watched a bloke in a TT fit a foof box and rails to his pride and joy outside Halfords today.

edit: foof box!!! clearly a typo and not a ref to anything else, at all 😯


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 4:49 pm
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Renault megane. If going by my luck with the last megane then you and renault UK service department will become good friends.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 5:40 pm
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Tow-trust now do a 'flange detachable' towball which gives you the best of both worlds...removeable but still got the twin bolt system for bike racks/bump plates/pin & eye hitches etc.

Also, if you are looking at 'sporty' coupes (I notice that the Megane Coupe you linked to states it uses a 'sports chassis') check they have type approval for towbars...it would be a bummer to buy the car then find no one makes a towbar for it! Mondeo ST220 and some supermini stye city cars don't have type approval.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 6:32 pm
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he said 'flange'.

walks away s****ing.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 6:34 pm
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As already sugested, you can get a detachable towball/swan neck whatever.

I love my towbar...


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 6:56 pm
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Mitsu Legnum VR4


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 6:56 pm
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DickBarton knows.

Those things look incredible.


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 7:02 pm
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I'm not getting a Golf as my house mate has got one,

😕


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 7:06 pm
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I'm not getting a Golf as my house mate has got one,

😕

A bit like saying, "I'm not going to have a lovely girlfriend because my house mate has got one, I'll have a tempremental, stroppy cow instead"


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 7:07 pm
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"Detachable tow-bar is the way to go, I keep trying to convince myself to get one fitted on my 3-series coupe but the idea of getting the bumper cut doesn't fill me with joy"

That's what put me off for so long too. In the end I got it done and you can't see the cut at all.

I wish I did it years ago.......


 
Posted : 27/08/2009 7:16 pm