Factory Roof Rack?

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by \o/

Unfortunately this doesn't solve the most frequent cases for me.

Fold down rear seats + large mountain bike = fail.
Fold down rear seats + dirty mountain bike = fail.
Fold down rear seats + dog + snowboard = fail.
etc.

Or like someone else said, long skis won't fit w/o entering the driver area, same with long snowboards.

Originally Posted by Sully

Seriously. Why shouldn't you tow a camper with a bmw or benz? Or a small boat? They've got the power, and the chassis isn't going to break. So why get a 2nd vehicle?

... because a sports car isn't meant to tow!

Get the car that fits your lifestyle! If the OP doesn't want to use the inside for a snowboard or a mtn bike, why even bother trying to make it work. Get a wagon, an SUV or a truck.

[u2b]e8a71x6H8_4[/u2b]

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by pastuch

You don't need a roof rack... fold down rear seats + skis = Win.

Hmmm, not if you are bringing friends + snow gear + food + random other stuff. Fold seats down works if it is just you or one other.

Originally Posted by RRnold

... because a sports car isn't meant to tow!

Get the car that fits your lifestyle!

[u2b]e8a71x6H8_4[/u2b]

This. Or just learn the hard way.

[Foto]

If Yakima doesn't produce a roof rack, I'll just take my 240sx and throw my mountain/DH bike in the back of it. I don't see why there wouldn't be one made.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by RRnold

... because a sports car isn't meant to tow!

Doesn't mean it's incapable!

I'm more referring to the roof rack hate though. Not towing.

Though personally? For bikes or boards? I'd just put the back seats down, throw a tarp on top of them. Take off the front wheels and stow them. Remove tarp when done. Poof! Car is still clean.

Get the car that fits your lifestyle!

Originally Posted by poormans_LFA

this whole one dimensional idea on what a car should/shouldn't be used for is purely an American phenomenon. go most other westernized places in the world (primarily Europe) and people use cars for EVERYTHING. and yes, Porsche is very well known for providing external transport solutions straight from the factory on their cars. no reason Subaru/Toyota won't/shouldn't do the same for this car.

If the OP doesn't want to use the inside for a snowboard or a mtn bike, why even bother trying to make it work. Get a wagon, an SUV or a truck.

(Or a roof rack)

[u2b]e8a71x6H8_4[/u2b]

The fail isn't so much tow vehicle choice(assuming it's rated for the weight it's towing), it's in having the load so (relatively) high and not knowing how to drive.

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Hmmm, not if you are bringing friends + snow gear + food + random other stuff. Fold seats down works if it is just you or one other.

Sheesh, man. Have you seen the back seat? How many people are you planning on putting back there?

(This is where I look like a fool if you have kids that actually fit in the back)

Originally Posted by coyote

Roof bars on a BRZ with a little trailer for my great dane sounds like an excellent compromise.

Dude, treat your dog better than that. That's terrible.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by Sully

Sheesh, man. Have you seen the back seat? How many people are you planning on putting back there?

None cause that isn't what the car is designed to be used for. Would use my friends Tacoma for that instead.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by RRnold

... because a sports car isn't meant to tow!

That was clearly caused by insufficient tongue weight, pure and simple. It isn't the car's fault that it's driver didn't know how to load a trailer.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by Sully

Doesn't mean it's incapable!

I'm more referring to the roof rack hate though. Not towing.

Though personally? For bikes or boards? I'd just put the back seats down, throw a tarp on top of them. Take off the front wheels and stow them. Remove tarp when done. Poof! Car is still clean.

(Or a roof rack)

The fail isn't so much tow vehicle choice(assuming it's rated for the weight it's towing), it's in having the load so (relatively) high and not knowing how to drive.

If there's a will, there's a way! Its funny b/c the other thread about transporting a bike, the OP was against roof racks and planned to put his bike inside.

In regards to snowboarding, in California, when the snow comes down in the mountains, the California High Patrol issues a checkpoint. It is a mandatory requirement that all vehicles having snow chains/snow cables unless your vehicle is AWD, 4WD and on snow tires. It's mostly those with the Subarus and 4WD who move to the front of the line and are back on the road in less than 10 secs since all we have to do is show them that we have chains.

From my experience, the gridlock is due to the guys in passenger cars/suv/trucks trying to get as far as they can until they are 1) stuck or spun out or 2)hit the CHP checkpoint and have to pull over to put on their chains.

Originally Posted by old greg

That was clearly caused by insufficient tongue weight, pure and simple. It isn't the car's fault that it's driver didn't know how to load a trailer.

I know, I just threw that video up since Sully correlated BMW's and towing. IIRC, I believe the cause of the trailer sway was the driver was driving too fast.

I've had a mild trailer sway one time when I was towing 3 motos back from Willow Springs. I was going down the Cajon pass near San Bernandino and wind gusts were pretty strong. Folks don't realize that when you are towing, slow down.

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by RRnold

... because a sports car isn't meant to tow!

Get the car that fits your lifestyle! If the OP doesn't want to use the inside for a snowboard or a mtn bike, why even bother trying to make it work. Get a wagon, an SUV or a truck.

+1

This has been my dilemma for the past couple of weeks. Except it's pick up an old cherokee (or any 4wd beater) and get a new FR-S or a beater and a used 'Vette. I figure having a new scion it'll see daily duty and leave the Jeep for the weekend. Makes it just a tad easier to justify

To OP, what's wrong with your GTI? Since returning to the states I've been considering either a GTI or Mazdaspeed 3 as well. I figured they are the jack of all trades; practical, spritely, comfortable and with enough driver feedback to be engaging Especially if you must make due with just one car.

[pastuch]

I haven't found a road in Canada yet that requires chains and that includes Rogers Pass in the Northern BC rockies. Annually, it gets more snow than anywhere else in North America other than Alaska.

[Sully]

requires chains FOR YOU. Other people don't know how to drive or have poorly maintained/winter prepped cars. Etc.

[\o/]

Originally Posted by Re_Invention

+1

To OP, what's wrong with your GTI? Since returning to the states I've been considering either a GTI or Mazdaspeed 3 as well. I figured they are the jack of all trades; practical, spritely, comfortable and with enough driver feedback to be engaging Especially if you must make due with just one car.

GTI is wrong wheel drive. I thought it would be okay when I got it, but it's just not the same. If it was RWD I would probably just keep it. Especially given that I track / autocross it for fun, the GTI just burns through the front tires. As others have said too, I don't really need all the power. Anything more powerful than the GTI would just be too much power to have fun with on public roads (without speeding like a mad man that is). It is an amazing car though, and I would pick it again over the competition in a heartbeat if it wasn't for my RWD requirement.

Not that anyone asked, but other cars in my "list" besides the 86 are: used BMW 128i, used BMW Z3 coupe, used 370z if my dog will fit (but he probably won't). The 86 leads that pack by a long shot though, I just need confirmation of some form of roof rack for weekend adventures.

To all the critics of roof racks, don't worry, I'll take it off when I'm not using it so the car will still look stylish. Also, given that I like the 1 series and Z3 coupe I think the more intelligent among us will recognize that I don't care a great deal about what the car looks like :P

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by \o/

...I think the more intelligent among us...

Oh the irony. Complaining about tires because you are taking the car out on track days... Yeah, sure buddy. Nonetheless, best of luck. :happy0180:

[Abflug]

roof rack for me please!

[Syldrin]

Originally Posted by pastuch

I haven't found a road in Canada yet that requires chains and that includes Rogers Pass in the Northern BC rockies. Annually, it gets more snow than anywhere else in North America other than Alaska.

imo it's because california is illprepared for heavy snow also population density is crazy here so i think they enforce anything they feel they can to minimize accidents. last year when i was comeing back home from CO to CA there were people completly stopped due to a very small amount of snow. in colorado i never once saw chains enforced except on 18wheelers. took me 6 hours to do 100 miles it was miserable ~.~