Roof Racks: Trendy accessory, or UnAerodynamic Gas Mileage Killing Travesty?

[TimKninja]

I want a trendy roof rack for my car. My car had one before i bought it, but the kid did something stupid with it. Who cares

I drive my car (AKA Gods Charioit) 75 miles a day, my gas mileage with the S50 Is allready crappy enough (22MPG 90% of the time, 25 MPG if I drive like a Vagina)

Do any of you hipsters notice a dramatic MPG Decrease with your roof rack? Im really running out of space to store my stickers of assorted shoe companys and brewerys I may or may not have visited....

kthnx

[marshallnoise]

Trendy. Not my bag.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[Balleristic31]

If you buy one just for looks that's pretty lame. It will maybe cut 1-2 mpg max

[TimKninja]

If you buy one just for looks that's pretty lame. It will maybe cut 1-2 mpg max

I want to also bring my bike places, like random bike paths and other stuff as well. I like riding my bike, and i like driving my car.

[YAN-3]

If you buy one just for looks that's pretty lame. It will maybe cut 1-2 mpg max

On my e46 I get 20-22 mpg without rack in DC traffic, 19ish mpg with rack in same DC traffic

By the way what's up with the poll answer choices?

[Ray Smoodiver]

This thread is gayer than 11 dudes fucking 10 dudes.

[lambo]

This thread is gayer than 11 dudes fucking 10 dudes.

just how i like it

[Andy.B]

I have a Thule rack with the air dam and two bike carriers. I only put it on when it's in use. It only takes a couple minutes to put on. The rest of the time or hangs from my garage wall. The wind noise, difficulty cleaning, and hit in mpg is not worth it for the look, IMHO.

[ClausE30]

why the 5toes hate?

[SmokeE30]

I rock my rack all the time and the difference in mpg is negligible it more depends on my driving habits than aerodynamics. I use my rack though so at times there are large not so aerodynamic things up there making terrible wind noise but its the only way to really make the most of a junkyard run without a truck lol

[illest318i]

Get a basket rack!

It's the ultimate grocery go getter :nice:

[Dalejandrino]

The difference really is negligible. I have a roof rack and when I have it on I'll leave it on for weeks at a time cuz im lazy and I fill up my tank no quicker nor slower than I usually do. But I usually only drive city streets. I rarely have to go on the highway.

I would imagine if you're carrying a heavy load on top or something it would decrease the MPG, but even then it would probably be just like driving around with a passenger.

Unless it's a boat sail.

[CW325]

I don't notice a drastic drop in mpgs to justify taking it off everytime.

[FredK]

I was fine with gas mileage until I ratchet strapped an empty, rusty 55 gallon drum that used to contain Kendall GT-1 in my Thule basket. Crosswinds sort of sucked too.

[TheTacoMan]

why the 5toes hate?

There is no coming back from a rusted hood.