Hi all,

Skoda Octavia Elegance 05 plate hatchback....

Looking for some roof bars / rack - do I need to source these from Skoda or could I go to Halfords and just buy some??

Not sure it they have standard fittings?!

Cheers

Lee

You could go to Halfords, or any motorist shop. I would shop around as the prices can vary quite dramatically. They are often sold as bars with separate adaptors/brackets (such as Paddy Hopkirk and Thule, often Halfords own brand too). Buying a make which comes a parts like this means that they can be used with other cars by adding more vehicle specific brackets. So you can use them with another car of yours, or lend to them to friends if they buy the brackets they need etc.

Don't buy vehicle specific bars that cannot be used with differing adaptors as this limits them to that vehicle only. Ask about different adaptors for any bars you are offered.

PS don't buy a rack buy bars. Racks can be added to them, or more usefully a box can be. If you are unl,ikely to use a box oftne then think about hiring one - again many motorist shops do this (usually the smaller local ones, who should be tried for a price for bars as they may well be les than the chains like Halfords) Also try online - there are plenty of websites selling roof bars

Hi,

Ahh ok - so I would need a specific set of brackets for the car to mount the bars too - I thought the bars just slotted in somehow...makes sense now!

Try these guys:

roof bars bar racks and roof box supplier paddy hopkirk automaxi autoplas snow chain chains roof rack

or these guys: Thule roof rack & cycle rack systems Skoda's fitment list can be found here.

Also, like I've said in other threads on the subject, Thule would be my brand of choice. Paddy Hopkirk or Halfords' own brand aren't as good. Apparently Skoda's own brand bars are in fact made by Thule.

Where are you based? I notice your profile says South East and South West. The company I recommended above are based in Borough Green, so if you don't fancy ordering over the net, you can pick them up at their shop for the same web price. Works out a hell of a lot cheaper than Halfords. (Well it did for me)

I used The Roof Box Company: sales and hire of Thule roof boxes and other brands of roof boxes, roof bars and bike carriers and bought the Thule set. They fit my 56 hatch very well and were simple to put together. Roofbox were one of the cheapest around at the time and delivered very quickly.

I tried a set of thule bars in april 2007 . They did'nt fit. I had to get the skoda bars which are well made and fitted my octavia without any hassle. The price difference was minimal and well worth it. The the only problem is that if you change your car you may have to buy new bars.

I tried a set of thule bars in april 2007 . They did'nt fit. I had to get the skoda bars which are well made and fitted my octavia without any hassle. The price difference was minimal and well worth it. The the only problem is that if you change your car you may have to buy new bars.

That surprises me as I've fitted loads of Thule bars, boxes, bike racks, etc, to a vast variety of cars and have always found they fitted perfectly and very well made. Often better than some of the OEM bars I've seen.

I have had issues with Paddy Hopkirk and Halfords' own brand on the other hand.

I tried a set of thule bars in april 2007 . They did'nt fit. I had to get the skoda bars which are well made and fitted my octavia without any hassle. The price difference was minimal and well worth it. The the only problem is that if you change your car you may have to buy new bars.

Welcome to Briskoda by the way! Or should I say, welcome to posting!

Thanks Ant . Yep I had thule bars on my last octavia 2002 model and they fitted perfectly. For some reason thule just would not fit my vrs. The supplier of The Thule bars admitted there was a problem at the time I purchased my last set and it may be they have rectified this since.