jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Anyone got any reccomendations/experiences of roof boxes for the A4 Avant? The one Audi have listed as an accessory is made by Thule, anyone got one and able to work out which model it is? Noticed that Thule have made a new ultra aerodynamic one (Spirit) Anyone got this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Wasn't UBM posting about his the other day??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I have ordered an autoform explorer 430 which has still not arrived yet. In the meantime, www.roofbox.co.uk leant me this : which is a Kamei Delphin 480. See the other roofbox threads here : roofbox thread and here here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Wasn't UBM posting about his the other day??? [/ QUOTE ] Good memory Sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Ooops 1000 posts... I'd better leave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Thanks yet again, only been on this site a couple of days and already feel greatly indebted to the 'Bling Meister' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 No way - it is a TSN group effort. You may have been here only a fefw days but you have captured the true nature and spirit of TSN. Hope you stick around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Yep planning to stick around, now I have found TSN! Spent the last 4 weeks hunting the internet for various Audi parts and instalations, with very ltlle joy, then I came accross TSN, now my life is complete A BIG to TSN and all you guys and gals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I borrowed this Mont Blanc one from a friend of mine and it was excellent. Excuse the dirty car though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 There are several threads on roof boxes, you just need to search for them. In the mean time, take a look at these pictures of mine. Atera Odyssey 800 gloss black roof box no. AR2166 £219.85 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 How do you guys find the wind noise / reduction in MPG with the boxes on? Will a box like the Thule Spirit really make a considerable difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 The best I have had my car do on the motorway, at a steady 60mph, was just under 64mpg. On a recent trip to Cornwall, with the roofbox and a bike attached, at similar 60mph speeds I averaged 46mpg. So it does effect the fuel consumption, but it's still respectable. As for wind noise, there is some, but I didn't find it intrusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I found no difference with it on - about 42-44mpg. The missus had forgotten it was on as it was so quiet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I guess it is more about having the capacity needed than MPG, no point having a small sleak roof box if all it is good for is the Sunday papers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 The one we had was noisier than normal - but then we didn't get the Aero bars. Just normal square Paddy Hopkirk ones. Normal MPG for us is about 35 and to be honest it only dropped by about 3-4 so we got around 31-32 on a trip from Bucks to Newcastle. This was at Christmas and it swallowed up the pusch chair, high chair, two bigs bags and some pressies. The boot was full of the rest of the pressies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 We have the aero bars (Thule) - very good and quiet. I spent ages looking at roof boxes and decided the long medium ones were best for our requirements - about 430L capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 And I forgot to add we can still squeeze two bike carriers on as well - just! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I guess it is more about having the capacity needed than MPG, no point having a small sleak roof box if all it is good for is the Sunday papers [/ QUOTE ] This was one of my concerns, but I found they're deceptively spacious. The one I finally opted for is thinner at the front, but I can still get a hard suitcase in there (see my gallery). My other concern was being able to get a bike on at the same time. Again, the one I opted for allows this. But if it's not one of your requirements you could opt for a wider one. But bear in mind loading. Even the one I have can be a pain to load/unload if there's no kerb to stand on. (I'm 5'8") At home it's ok, as you can use a small step ladder. This might be more necessary if you get a wider one that covers the whole roof. In that case, try and get one that open from either side. Mine only opens from the right. So it needs to be on the off-side of the vehicle. If you park against the traffic yuo can access it from the pavement. But if you frequently park on the left, then a left hand side opening box will be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 The guy I borrowed that one off, got his on eBay, but this is the one (540 litres) http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/1304/Cat/461 - it was the width of the car though, so there's no way you'd get anything else on the bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Are the Thule 'Aero' bars better thant the Audi ones? I have been offered a new set of silver bars from my stealer at £100 as part of buying the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I'm perfectly happy with my Thule Aero bars. I can't, however, remember how much they cost. The Audi bars I have seen on cars in dealerships have looked funny though. The feet look too long. It's as if they're on stilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I'll investigate the audi bars today, gotta go to stealer for missing mudflaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinamarsden Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 We did have a long medium wide box ( 380 ltr ) and you could fit bikes on as well, but we've recently replaced it with Karrite's latest and biggest model (contour 580). This is quite literally HUGE ! Full width and length of the roof ( careful opening the boot ! ) and was £ 189 + £ 10 delivery from roofbox central ( dorridge auto ). As happy campers with two small children, we just needed the biggest going ! Quality is adequate ( made by thule ) but it's definitely a two person job to get it in place. I would say fuel consumption was affected slightly and you can hear the bars more than the box itself at speed. My advice would just be to go for the biggest possible unless you need to carry other things like bikes on the roof, otherwise like us you may be trading up to a bigger one sooner or later ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPLiiX Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Look at my gallery (link below). I have the Spirit Thule and it is ace!!! You can open it either side and putting it onto the bars is easy as pie. It's like a crab to grip onto the bars. I rarely take the box off, however the box is off at the moment with two bike racks on. You can get the two bike racks on as well but it really is tight and two of the "crab" bits are on the outside of the bars which is really not a good thing, but has been fine so far. MPG not noticed. Wind noise, yep someone said earlier the bars make as much noise as the box (certainly on the Spirit). I got mine from www.roofracks.co.uk. Nice people and delivered the next day!!! Brilliant service! The size of box as you will see in the pic is 780 - I went for this one for looks as well as practicality. The boot can open fully, Just. Once the bars are on (remember and line up with the dimples on the roof) the box can be moved forward and backwards, if you don't tighten it first. We just love it and has been perfect for every need. It fits my carver ski's but not the racing ones I have. If you need to buy a bigger one later www.roofracks.co.uk will take your old one as a trade in!!! I also bought the lifting hoist for it and it is a doddle. Not putting it up in the garage though, that took me about 2 hours but it now takes 3minutes (yourself) to put on and off. I take off the lot, bars and all..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlast Posted June 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Is that on the Thule Aero Bars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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