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I just ordered the Thule Euro Rack from Cheam Subaru in the UK. I hope to have in a week or so, and as soon as I get that, I listed below what I'm planning to get for it....
If you go this route, Jim Childs (parts manager) gets back to you quickly and without BS. I hope the rest of the process goes this way.
I'll let you know my progress with the whole thing (purchase, delivery, install etc...) and provide pictures as soon as they become available..
Rule #1:
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Keep us updated for sure. I am interested in this rack. I have already removed the strips on my roof to install the Subie rack, which I abandoned, due to missing parts. I know how to get the roof deletes off and on within minutes . Right now I have a Yakima rack from my previous car, but I think I like the European rack better. The only downside for this rack for me is that it doesn't look wide enough for 4 bikes.
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Giggitty Giggitty...
better pictures when it arrives...
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Very clean looking rack! 
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This is the rack I want too. I will be very interested in hearing your experiences with it.
So, this is only available over seas? Every dealer I've visited here only has the ones that attach to your door frame.
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Why are the components for this rack not available in the US? They're in the Thule Catalog. That the rack I was planning on getting to use with one of their roof boxes. Mmmm...boxes and racks...

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It's one of them sexy racks with a foreign accent. Ooh la la!
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Got an e-mail from Jim today, rack should be here this time next week. As far as I've seen during my online research the US stuff needs an adaptive ring for the Aero bars I'll be getting.
To answer your question Jscro, I heard of one company here in the US that sold them, but have been out of stock for months now. I didn't feel like waiting, so for a modest overseas shipping charge, I get it now instead! I hope it goes well, I'm really excited about this. I've been looking up pics of WRX's and wagons with racks, and they be lookin' damn good.
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becareful of the rack (dont wnat to pop your bubble)
make sure its installed at the mount locations because the roof arent that strong on out cars
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Thanks for the heads up...I will be sure to follow the instructions on this one. When all is said and done, including my bikes/skis etc, I'll have invested too much into this to cut any corners.

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First bump in the road....
Got a call this morning from my credit card company (Visa). They put the transaction on hold b/c it was my first overseas purchase, so I guess they were just making sure that it was me.
Long story short, I e-mailed Jim (from the rack co.) and was told (by Visa) that I had to re-order the rack and the purchase would go through.
So I guess word of advice, if you order overseas, try to let your CC company know ahead of time so as to avoid this type of delay.
I work nights, so I didn't find this info out until about 2 p.m. EST, so by the time I got it all sorted, and re-ordered, the 5 hour time change meant that this wont move until tomorrow. 
Oh well, I guess I'll give props to Visa for being careful with my identity/fraud protection

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Methodman, did you get the whole rack (with bars)? I was thinking it would be a lot cheaper to ship without them. What did shipping end up being on this. I missed another opportunity earlier this week to get them picked up by a friend going to London on business.
Speaking of racks, has anyone tried a hitch mounted rack on our cars? I saw an STI up skiing the other day with one. Seemed a pretty workable solution.
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I looked into buying just the towers, but they didn't give me option to buy without buying the bars. I know for a fact that the one I bought came with the more expensive silver Aero Bars which are curved, compared with the all black standard square bars. Again, no option on that. Which was fine b/c I like the look of the Aero Bars, they'll match the color of my car.
I didn't look into buying without the bars, but again, I got what I wanted in the end.
Price to ship is 55 Pounds = $106.78 US @ 1.94108 exchange rates as of 1/10/07.
I'll find out tomorrow when to expect it. Cant wait. I have the Yakima High Roller bike rack (x2) planned, but they don't arrive until Spring '07.
http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=98
Deciding whether to get the Thule 725 - Flat Top 6pr Ski Carrier
http://thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp … mp;sku=725
or the Yakima FatCat 6, which I haven't heard from them (e-mail pending) as to whether it'll fit or not. 
http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=181
I'm not moving on any of that until I get my towers/bars.
I'll keep you updated if interested.

Last edited by Methodman (2007-01-09 21:48:22)
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It's unfortunate that this ski rack has gone back to full price. I got it for about $40 last fall, and I know it would fit the aero bars.
Stick with the thule and keep the swedish name.
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Azrael wrote:
It's unfortunate that this ski rack has gone back to full price. I got it for about $40 last fall, and I know it would fit the aero bars.
Stick with the thule and keep the swedish name.
I was going that route, since again, they will match the Aero Bars & Arctic Silver nicer than the Yakima. What I didn't know/look into was that Thule is Swedish....learn something new everyday. 
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Hahaha, you went the opposite route that I did. ALL I could find for my body style 9-3 were the Aero bars. I looked forever to finally find ones that were just the standard square bars
I agree the look of the Aero bars are much nicer than the square, but I didn't feel like buying adapters for everything, my fairing, road bike tray, mt. bike tray, etc.
I do however, LOVE the way that latch onto the roof, even more so than the previous gen 9-3.
Hopefully, things go well on it! 

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Does anyone else have an extreme noise problem with their Yakima racks? I ordered a ferring but if it doesn't cut the noise down significantly, I think I'll just return the whole system. I had to take the rack and skis off 20 minutes into my trip because the noise was relentless. Any thoughts?

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Turn up the stereo. 
On my other car, 2002 Altima, I had a 4 bikes on my roof for a 3 hour trip. I just got used to the noise after a while. When I don't have bikes on it, I take it off the car.
cbm129 wrote:
Does anyone else have an extreme noise problem with their Yakima racks? I ordered a ferring but if it doesn't cut the noise down significantly, I think I'll just return the whole system. I had to take the rack and skis off 20 minutes into my trip because the noise was relentless. Any thoughts?
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Thanks for your patience guys...If I didn't have to leave in 30 minutes to work a 14 hour day, I would install and review....but for now, here is a tease.....
Just a loose fitting to see how it looks:
Full follow up on its way.
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Wow! That was fast. I figured you wouldn't see your shipment until next week at the earliest. When you get a chance, please measure the length of the bars. If you could show the close up photos, that would be great.
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pstauff wrote:
Wow! That was fast. I figured you wouldn't see your shipment until next week at the earliest. When you get a chance, please measure the length of the bars. If you could show the close up photos, that would be great.
I got the tracking info this afternoon from the vendor in the UK. I was expecting it to still be overseas, but in one day, it left there, came across the pond, and ended up in NJ. 2 days is all it took. I was shocked!
to UPS.
I will take better pics when it goes on, and measure the bars. They are not wider than the car. I was checking on that myself. So no worries about it hitting your head getting in/out of any door your using.
One thing I see is the feet say "Subaru" instead of Thule. No big deal, it looks like a sticker that can be removed. Few more days till I can check into it.
So, the whole purchase/shipping went without any problems other than the CC authorizations, but I'm glad my CC company is paying attention.
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Kudos on the new rack... I'm about ready to pull the trigger on purchasing the set myself so +1 to some detailed thoughts/pics/whatever from an install.
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So I can just pick this up in London? Is it easy to take on and off?
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VietGuy wrote:
So I can just pick this up in London? Is it easy to take on and off?
I dont see why you cant go to a dealership or vendor and buy one off the shelf. Its a EDM product, so it should be around.
As far as the install goes, I won't get to it until Tuesday, at which time I'll take some pictures and drive around with it and see what noise it makes. I'll probably look into a ski carrier then too. Full writeup will come along...
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