I'm looking for a cycle carrier for my 2010 Octavia estate to carry 3 bikes. I would struggle to lift the bikes onto a roof-mounted carrier and don't have a towbar, so I am looking at the tailgate mounted models. The big names in cycle carriers don't seem to have tested their carriers on this version of the Octavia, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience (good or bad!) with any carriers. Thanks.

Not tried one on our Octavia, but a quick google found this.

I had a boot mounted carrier, it scratched both my golf gti and my vRS.

I now have a couple of Thule pro rides. You'd easily fit three on if that's what you need to carry.

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by rob_e

Without towbar its crap imho. I retrofitted a original accessory towbar for less than 600 Euro.

The win of usability is HUGE and cannot be overestimated.

If some money is left buy the Thule 929. As a bonus it has the option of a fourth cycle.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/211022-thule-euroclassic-g6-led-928/page__view__findpost__p__2526254

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by digidoctor

I used to have a tailgate mounted carrier on our old Passat, and compared to the towball mounted carrier on the Octavia, I'd go for the towball every time. (You just have to watch the nose weight limit of 75kg). Our old tailgate carrier was a Halfords model and was fine.

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by Rab-k

I like the bike on the near side Rob (was you out with Mary Poppins that day?)...looks a really comfy seat too!

We use a thule toe bar mount rack. it cost quite allot but it prevents damage to car and bikes.