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Roof rails - impacts fuel consumption?

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rigasr

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My 05 V8 Touareg came with the black OEM roof rails. I have used them once only. Is it good practice to remove them if not being used? Is more fuel consumed due to added wind resistance of the rails?
Any opinion if the Toureg looks better with the rails on (in the rear spoiler position) or removed altogether?
 
#4 ·
I heard that it helped consumption so I took them off and discovered that the Toureg just looks better without them...

So they're in storage until I need them...

Oh and I think it helped a bit with gas on the fast highway drives...
 
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#5 ·
I keep mine off unless i need them. Not exactly sure which looks better IMO though. Racks on or off. Also when the front rack is moved forward, it makes a horrible noise on the highway

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#6 ·
I used mine once to move a xmas tree...but thats it. Might be worth taking them off for the extra 1 mpg the other 364 days a year. Are they easy to take off?
 
#11 ·
NorthVan997C2S said:
The Touareg looks better without them and still gets bad milage.
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I disagree... ;) IMO it looks better with them on... And I have enough other cr @p lying around in my garage. I leave them on the roof... where they belong... :D

You shouldn't be driving a $40k car if you're worried about 1mpg... ;)
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
I took mine off yesterday. I personally like the look without the rails. Plus any gallon saved is good for the environment.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
It's really easy, I'm assuming you have the key to unlock the latches on the sides of each rail.
Once you've unlocked them, you slide them one at a time to the openning in the channels and lift them out.
I beleive its in your owners manual too.
 
#15 ·
Yeah you will have no trouble removing. You can see somewhere on them that has RF, LF, LR, RR. To keep track of which way to put them back on. I notice no fuel economy, but i personally think it looks cleaner with out them on. I bought mine from another ClubTouareg member because i'd hate not to have them, but only break them out when needed.

On a side note: Can i ask that people don't strip their t-reg for unsuspecting new buyers.
 
#16 ·
I personally like the spoiler look. I guess it also depends, from a hassle factor, on how much you use them. When not in use, I store them all the way in their back and ready position.
 
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#17 ·
AndrieK said:
I disagree... ;) IMO it looks better with them on... And I have enough other cr @p lying around in my garage. I leave them on the roof... where they belong... :D

You shouldn't be driving a $40k car if you're worried about 1mpg... ;)
Click to expand...
You would be surprised how many people just bought an 04 that think they can affort it and believe that things do not break down.
For those people 1 mpg makes a difference and a big disappointment down the road.
 
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#18 ·
rigasr said:
It's really easy, I'm assuming you have the key to unlock the latches on the sides of each rail.
Once you've unlocked them, you slide them one at a time to the openning in the channels and lift them out.
I beleive its in your owners manual too.
Click to expand...
That was pretty easy. Thanks for the help.
 
#20 ·
nltomba said:
You would be surprised how many people just bought an 04 that think they can affort it and believe that things do not break down.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I hear you. As mentioned before, all our Tregs here came with 5yr/100,000km maintenance plans. The '04's are all now getting out of warranty and their 2nd hand value has dropped like a rock. I suspect a lot of guys here are going to fall into the same trap where they think they're buying a great deal, only to get seriously knocked with maintenance costs.

That's why I got the VAG-COM cable and decided to keep mine for a while longer... WITH the roof racks fitted... ;)
 
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AndrieK
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