Forgive us for being old and boring, but we like to think cars are supposed to be practical, not a way to show the neighbors you're rich. The days when people would load their wagons to the roof and drive across the country are gone. Nowadays, it's more common to use a roof box for weekend getaways.
Toyota UK needs a pat on the back for putting together DIY videos detailing how you can install a roof rack. Most of the other manufacturers would just tell you to ask the dealer for the install so that they can make extra money.
In both videos below, an Auris model is used. However, the cross bars require the model to have standard rails, which only the station model version offers.
Roof racks offer a convenient and safe way to transport luggage, sports equipment, and other loads. They can also be useful during your monthly trips to Ikea.
If you've never had a rack on your car, the first thing you'll learn from this video is that there's no danger posed to your paint. The system provided by Toyota comes with a clear protective film that tapes onto the car, followed by rubber mounts.
The difference between the rack and cross bars is that the latter clips more easily to the inside of the roof rails. So the next time you see a crossover with silver bits on the roof, you'll know why they are there.
In both cases, the installation is straightforward and easy, but make sure to follow the instructions.
Heavy or large load may change the behavior of the vehicle on the road, so you should never drive faster than 120 km/h with a load on the roof. Another precaution is that after the first 100 km with rack, you should tighten all the nuts and straps. This check needs to be repeated every 1,000 km after that.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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