[Closed] Fast hatch and bike transport?

Seasucker.

I've got a Focus ST, before that I had a Leon FR and a Golf GTI. Bikes have always gone on the roof.

Current setup is Thule wing bars with 3 bike carriers, this pretty much stays on the car all the time. No doubt it has an effect on fuel economy, but if I was really worried about fuel economy I wouldn't by driving a Focus ST

I used to have a Saris Bones 3 bike carrier for my MX-5.
No idea why I needed 3 bikes carried as it only had 2 seats!

Could get some good cornering going on without the bikes shifting at all

My fuel economy has dropped from about 50mpg to about 37mpg on long runs going from bikes inside the car to bikes on top.

It cost me about £150 for bars and bike carriers Vs about £1000 for a tow bar fitting and a tow bar carrier.

The child seat we have is supper annoying to fit and refit plus I can't get the bike plus luggage in with our sprog on the back seat.

I always worry about giving it some beans on the non clamped side

There's a reason Octavia vRs estates are one of the favoured forum motors, he says, going to view one at the weekend, although mine is as much for dog transport as bike transport.

I think I’d still go with roof bars as a good compromise.

I’ve just bought a Jaguar XF Sportbrake - the boot is huge - but to get my road bike in with just the front wheel off I still needed to pop 2 of the 3 sections of back seat down (so nearly fitted in without that - both wheels off would have been boot only).

If I finish a muddy ride I don’t want to be dismantling the bike of its wheels to try and get it in the boot. Even with a portable jet wash you’re going to be putting in a wet bike to your shiny new car. Plus having to fit it in around any tools / kit etc.

I’ve gone roof carrier again - the same as the last couple of cars (Jaguar XE saloon / Citroen DS5 - all 3 of which needed different Thule roof bars to fit which is a chore).

I can see the benefit of a tow bar mounted rack but it’s £££ more by the time you’re had a tow ball fitted (if you didn’t already have one) and then buy the rack. Plus then even if you tilt it I assume it’s in the way if you want to sit in the boot with your legs dangling out to get changed etc?

Probably a chunk better on fuel - but my diesel Xe was averaging 47mpg when I was travelling around a lot with work - roof bars and bike carrier permanently on the roof. Didn’t notice the average drop particularly on bike trips.

Mpg is shocking on the XF as it’s a 2 litre petrol with 250ps - I don’t think the bike on the roof is going to make a huge difference in this case!

I thought about an estate car but it would be too big for my needs - so a smaller hatch is defo the one.
I currently have a diesel Golf that does 50ish MPG without the rack but loaded with rack and bikes it's about 38MPG but I thought the way people were talking with a fast hatch and the bikes on the roof you'll be seeing single digits.
Thule Wing Bars so far sound like the way to go and just remove when I'm not going biking...

Tow bar rack all the way.

Much less faff: removable ball on, rack on takes less than 1 minute.
End of ride 30secs to chuck bike on.

vs roof bars, at least 15 minutes faffing around putting them on in the right position (more if you don't have built in rails), then slide the bike rack on them and faff with rubber strips 10 minutes. Then you got to lift the bike on, the arm isn't quite in the right place, faff with that risking dropping the bike etc etc

Tow bar rack uses less fuel. If you leave the roof bars on you use more fuel ALL the time and add wind noise.

I have a Golf R - so the same engine with a different tune.

Bike in the back obviously gives best economy. I also use Thule Wingbars and the Thule 561 and 591 bike racks when I am carrying more than one bike.

Economy is down to c28-30mpg indicated, when using the eco drive setting and roads with up to 50mph limit.

I'm getting a Golf R estate when my current lease it up.

If you're a PCPer like me, they're often no more expensive than a GTI, it'll still be going on the roof though.

I have a Golf R – so the same engine with a different tune.

Bike in the back obviously gives best economy. I also use Thule Wingbars and the Thule 561 and 591 bike racks when I am carrying more than one bike.

Economy is down to c28-30mpg indicated, when using the eco drive setting and roads with up to 50mph limit.

What's it like on a motorway cruise? I'm being told all sorts of tales of 40Mpg+ on a long run with them, which seems optimistic

Seasucker +1.

I've been using one of the Rock Bros suction mounts on top of my Octavia for over a year and it's been rock solid in all weathers!

Much cheaper than the Seasucker and hasn't let me down once. Mine is a 2 x bike version too.

I'll be keeping it for my next car in 12 months time, but we've just got a Caddy to put the bikes in now, so I'll probably see if I can spruce up and grease the internals or something.

I have a 3x rockbros suction one and while it's dead handy to swap between cars it's not especially quick to fit from scratch.

If I had a SeaSucker I think I'd be an anecdote on the 6 o'clock news - debris all over the motorway.

I currently have a diesel Golf that does 50ish MPG without the rack but loaded with rack and bikes it’s about 38MPG but I thought the way people were talking with a fast hatch and the bikes on the roof you’ll be seeing single digits.

Depends on the weight of your right foot. Though I agree with the removal towball option, doesn't look like you tow a caravan with your GTi.

I could be wrong but the mpg on a powerful petrol car is going to be a chunk lower. The XF is heavier but it’s a 2 litre turbo petrol with 240 ish bhp - on an hours run along the m4 to Cwmcarn from Bristol it did 31mpg. That’s with a big section of 50mpg average speed cameras too. Around down it’s like 20mpg ish.

Previous fairly powerful forced induction petrol cars - a Mini Cooper S with 180-190bhp ish - tended to average low 20’s mpg. On a run it was better - but depends how fast you’re going.

Also had a 225 Quattro mk1 Audi TT (1.8 turbo) - that was a little better then the mini but not hugely.

I have a Golf R (seems popular) and i have put my jump bike in the back a handful of times, but basically try and avoid putting bikes in it. Over the years of doing so in various cars, no matter how careful you are, you end up f-up the interior.

My buddy puts his bikes in his new Merc A45S (56k worth of hyper hatch)... madness!

So, whenever i ride, i generally borrow the wife's Peugeot 3008 which has a tow bar and a thule rack.

As someone else mentioned, way quicker than in car or on the roof, less drag than roof mounted, subliminally safer and overall less faff.

Yes the initial outlay is higher, but its worth it in my opinion.

It looks like I can get a tow bar fitted but this would be my last option to be honest

Why? I bought a mk7 GTI for the reason that it can have a towbar fitted over the R.

Fitting a roof rack to the roof involves clamping directly onto the cars body and paintwork. MPG is less effected, although I'm sure it'd take a lot of mileage to claw back the extra cost of the towbar package but its more about ease of use as well.

Squeezing an enduro bike in the boot was a right chore, front seat had to be moved all the way forward and even then it was a squeeze with one wheel off.

All about preferences but for me the GTI with a towbar was spot on as a fun practical bike carrier, only got rid because of sprog arrived and she wanted something bigger. 😢

Buy a fast estate?

Where does the cost come from in a tow bar fitting? Seems a lot of cash for minimal materials. Electrics too I guess if the car doesn't come with the loom ready to plug straight in. I wonder if there is any mileage in a fitment that is not suitable for towing but upto the job of mounting a bike carrier. Maybe there already is one, I don't know.

I'm toying with getting a tow bar mounted jobbie as whilst the yeti is clearly not a hot hatch and has room inside it's still a bit of a faff with longer bikes now, and the mud etc. Always had roof mounts before (and already have the bars for sup boards) but I don't think it's as good and fortunately the yeti came with a tow bar already when I bought it.

I thought you could only fit a towbar to a GTI under the intention that it would only hold a bike carrier. The fitting/mount isn't suitable for towing a trailer or even a caravan....although I'm not sure this would be the best car choice for towing a caravan 🙂

I thought you could only fit a towbar to a GTI under the intention that it would only hold a bike carrier. The fitting/mount isn’t suitable for towing a trailer or even a caravan….although I’m not sure this would be the best car choice for towing a caravan

Well the Mk7.5 that I had, the towbar was fitted from new - optional extra from factory.

The GTI (mk7&8) has a towing capacity of -
Trailer load limit – Braked 12% incline – KG
1.600 kg
Trailer load limit – Unbraked KG
730 kg
Towbar load limit – KG
80 kg

Interesting set of opinions on here....

I have a Mk7 GTI Performance pack, Bike always goes in the back, front wheel off and some sheets in the back. Some interior wear has happened but we bought the car at the end of pcp so its ours.

Primary reason being, going for a MTB ride is one of the only times i can drive on my own, often early in the morning, and therefore actually enjoy my car. Think very carefully if i were you about, your buying a 'hot ' hatch to enjoy driving it, will you really be able to do that with bikes on the roof in confidence?

If anyone knows of a detachable/invisible tow bar for a mk8 Fiesta ST I'm all ears. I've just sold my van and the bike doesn't really fit inside the car, plus I just don't want it in there.

I've done roof bars before and I'm not going back. They always worked but I was never really happy using them.

BMW M135/140 will take a towbar although you can't tow with them. I've had 3 bikes on the back of mine, plus a roof box and 4th bike on the roof.

I had a Golf Mk7 GTD 5 door hatch, could fit a XL 29er full suss (or 2) but had to take both wheels off. Ended up getting a hatch strap on rack thing as I got fed up with the dirt and scratches to the plastic interior parts.

Ended up leaving the rack on the car 90% of the time as it was convenient, took the wheels off and put them in the boot when I used it as the bike was significantly longer than the width of the car.

Octy sold 🙁

Worth looking at Civics OP? They have big boot space and foldy seats, the FK9 I had was 'big' in the back.

Wife had a mk6 Fiesta ST and used a Thule 2 bike roof rack, which although just 4 bolts to put on, was a fair bit of faff compared to chucking bikes in the back of a car.

Also had a few strap on racks and was never sold on the methods used to fasten the things onto cars.

Personally I always put bikes in the back of my car. Had a Focus ST estate last car and that took 2 decent size mtbs on top of a weeks clothes and food for a trip to Wales.

Easily took my large 160mm full suss with seats down and front wheel off.
Never damaged the interior although it did need a good clean every so often.

Not sure how racks fit onto roofs on the newest cars but maybe an estate with roof runners on could accommodate a rack that is quick on and off to save time messing with spannering - if you don't want bikes inside.

If it's any interest, I also had and Octavia vRS and that took a bike with wheel off no problem as well.

I'm assuming the 15-minutes and positioning of the roof rack is because it is being removed after each use? If so, why? Certainly seems to make a lot of faff, so why not just leave them on and loading the bike is almost as quick as loading it on a towball rack.

To my untrained eye, I'm really not convinced by suction racks - having seen how much a roof deforms and wobbles as well as seeing how much a bike wobbles, there must be some serious suction going on to stop the cup breaking the seal or not leaving a permanent impression on the roof.

Roof bars and rack seems to be a much sturdier method, however, not as convenient (although you don't need to keep the roof spotless to ensure a strong suction interface) - fully expect this is down to my complete lack of engineering knowledge of this type of thing.

Roof bars are really convenient. I don't like anything that contacts the past, no matter how much you think it is clean it isn't and over time you'll dull the pain. Also once you have roof bars you find you use them for other things too. I would never contemplate putting dirty bikes in the car. Been there, done it. No matter how careful you are you always end up damaging or dirtying the inside at some point. Also the speed and convenience of bars and Thule rack are great, ride upto car....30 seconds later bike is secures on the roof, get changed, drive home via pub. As opposed to.....ride upto car, spend 15 mins dismantling bike, leaning over to carefully lay it into your car... carefully place the dismantled parts of your bike in such a way that they wont damage the paint of your bike as you turn corners or slide over and much up the interior, then get change and go home. Too much of a faff.

As for security..well bikes are just as easily stolen from inside cars as from the roof so I'd never leave bikes inside or on the roof of a car.

Dismantling a bike is a 1-minute job, not 15... really not a big time issue. As long as you have a tarp in car then loading is 2 or 3 minutes at most.

If bike doesn't need dismantled then in car probably quickest, then towball rack is probably quickest to load/unload, then roof rack then dismantling and putting in car. All done in under 5 minutes.

Ease of doing needs balanced with faff of cleaning and this is probably more of a concern for people who don't see their vehicle as a tool to get them from a to b...but the time spent doing the bike load really isn't long for any of them.

I’ve a Gtd estate it’s a great car. Roomy 50mpg average driving less spirited. Get dog crate in with seats up. 2 bikes in easily if needed. Reckon you’d get 3 in with wheels off and only 2 seats down. £30 road tax and plenty oomph if you want to play.

Mk7 GTI Performance Pack here too.
Tarpaulin in the back, front wheel off and the 29er goes in with the front seat moved forward a couple of notches.
Tarp folds over the bike and at least it's out of sight if I stop anywhere.

Previously had a 3 door S3 and used a Seasucker for the bike. Worked really well but had to be careful where you placed it. Had to go quite far forward where the roof panel was more solid or it flexed and sounded really disconcerting.

Could have put a non towing tower but struggled to find somewhere to do that and roof bars weren't a good look in my view. On my 340i Touring now I don't mind the roofbars and only take them off if doing a really long motorway run as with 3 Thule racks on its gives a bit of a whine through the glass roof.

Seasucker/RockBros really secure. I did test it, not to the Nascar level but certainly used some of the power of the car with a full suspension bike up top.

I just picked up a new Mk8 Golf R.

There's no chance in hell I'm putting a bike in the back of a £40k+ car.

That's what the van, and riding from the house is for!

What’s it like on a motorway cruise? I’m being told all sorts of tales of 40Mpg+ on a long run with them, which seems optimistic

Using eco mode and cruise @70mph on fairly in congested motorways - I have achieved 35mpg - 37mpg. Journeys with lots of speed-limited sections at 50mph, 40mpg is achievable.

I drive the car a couple of times a week - maybe around 350 - 400 miles a month, so pure mpg wasn’t so important to me.

There’s no chance in hell I’m putting a bike in the back of a £40k+ car.

Your car - your choice and obviously you have a van too!

No matter how careful you are you always end up damaging or dirtying the inside at some point.

Using a custom luggage liner or waterproof bike bag really helps protect the car.

I can honestly say I have never damaged my car interiors with my bikes. My last two cars an A6 and A4, both went back with perfect interiors at c50k miles and 4 years. I like to look after my cars.

Mk7.5 GTI here with Thule Aero bars and a couple of 598 carriers, works great but adds a bit of wind noise with and without bikes on top but never had that horrible high pitched whistle.
If I have a long journey without bikes I will take it off and see a 5mpg improvement but I'm not overly fussed on fuel economy. I do put bikes in the back now and again on top of an old blanket and the interior doesn't take much of a beating if you are careful.
Plenty of power for me and just the right size, couldn't recommend it more!

I have managed nearly 40mpg before with bikes on top but I think that was a one off...

Where does the cost come from in a tow bar fitting? Seems a lot of cash for minimal materials.

It’s because the entire impact beam behind the plastic bumper trim has to be replaced with one that has the tow hitch attached to it, and that’s a pretty substantial piece of metal. It’s not unusual at work to be doing inspection checks on an ex-Motability or other lease car with a tow ball, open the hatch and find a bloody great chunk of metal across the boot, the original impact beam ready to be re-installed if necessary.

16 plate Ford Focus ST, seats down, front wheel off and the bike fits in with just the handlebar grip slightly poking out between the front seats (bike is a large 29er)

Have a Hatchbag fitted which stops any damage and contains any mud/water etc...

Car is currently running 280bhp and i get 37mpg on a 50 mile run sat at 70 most of the way on the cruise control

It’s because the entire impact beam behind the plastic bumper trim has to be replaced with one that has the tow hitch attached to it, and that’s a pretty substantial piece of metal. It’s not unusual at work to be doing inspection checks on an ex-Motability or other lease car with a tow ball, open the hatch and find a bloody great chunk of metal across the boot, the original impact beam ready to be re-installed if necessary.

Interesting, ta.

I'm assuming the replacement is stronger which is good for towing (it does not bend) but bad for re impact absorbing(it does not bend)? Hence why cars don't come ready just to bolt the thing on out of the box.

There’s no chance in hell I’m putting a bike in the back of a £40k+ car.

I do, no issues.

King Size quilt from ASDA and front wheel out & pedals off - 2 mins, and just slide it in (drop/fold seats).

Buy a car with a factory towbar, it might take a bit longer to find one but it's 100% worth it.

I have a big (not that fast) diesel estate, I get 50+ mpg on a long motorway run with no bikes on the towbar rack, and 50+ mpg on a long motorway run with 2 bikes on the towbar rack. You cannot tell they're there apart from seeing them.