We have an upcoming trip and will need to use our Thule box for extra storage. The Audi roof rack bars sit pretty high and I really don't like the look. Still no Q7 rack listed on Thule's website here in the US. Roofrackshop in the UK has the complete Thule Q7 rack. Since it is Thule tested and approved, there is also a warranty. I spoke with Thule in CT and they agree that the UK rack looks just like the Subaru 440 here in the US. But, until all the testing is done on a Q7, they advise against using the Subaru rack on a Q7. Plus, in the UK there is an additional fit piece that is not available in the US yet. I'm probably going to spend the extra money to get the UK Thule rack. The UK rack costs about $150 more, but I guess it is silly to risk damaging a $60K Q7 over $150.

I have had my Thule 440 rack with an Evolution box on my Q7 non-stop since January. It's held 4 sets of skiis and poles, cottage luggage and garbage, and up to about 100 lbs of stuff. I usually drive on the highway at about 120-130 kmh and then through a twisty cottage road. The rack has not even shifted from where I originally mounted it. I have stuffed black packing foam into the gaps where the additional Q7 spacers are supposed to go and that is just to reduce wind noise - nothing else.

So I can tell you from personal experience that it is absolutely solid and will not damage your Q7. The only drawback is that the bars for the 440 are a little shorter than the UK bars so they do not stick out to the side at all and the bases are mounted at the very ends of the bar.

I got the same disclaimer from Rack Attack who is a Thule dealer. But after the installer and I were heaving up and down on the bars we knew that the car was going to rollover first before they were going to come off the roof.

If you want to spend the extra money to get the UK version and this would give you more piece of mind then you should go ahead and do so. Just thought I would let you know that I have been using the 440 non-stop since January and I have had no regrets.

They have in fact installed the 440 on 2 other Q7s so far. No problems at all. I think I have changed my mind and will be making the trip to a Rack Attack dealer about an hour away since they offered to make sure it is installed correctly.

I dont like the look of the really high bars and as reported by others it whistles/whoooosss from quite slow speeds up.
Another negative as far as I am concerned; when fully loaded the box nods and wobbles a bit. This is because the only position for the Audi bars is fixed quite close together. This leaves more nose and tail weight and length than I like. You can grab the box and start it nodding really easily.
IIRC you also need about 2.2m clearance at the toll booth for motorway
The only plus is the tailgate opens fully with the spoiler right under the box and the glass right up to but not touching the box.

A point worth noting. The clamp system is critical too. Mine is the older U bolts which work fine only with higher bars. With the lower bars you will need the J clamp system from inside your box.

<center><img src="http://watkinsglen.bverticals.com/pictures/Q7/q7chaletgoat12.jpg"></center><p>I think the box itself makes more noise than the racks. It sounds like the Thule rack will work just fine.

Whatever its a nice lookin rig.

The short box looks better. Is it wide?

I think the Audi bars are supposed to help airflow if you have the "moonroof"

the newer aero bars and like how it attaches to the Q7.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/70417/whistler_ski__snowboard_festival_041.jpg">

I chose the full UK kit, since it comes with the aero load bars (vs. the square bars on the 440). I concur with others' views that roofrackshop has tremendous customer service -- I ordered Friday morning and I received the rack yesterday (Monday)! Try getting that from a US-based shop...

If the aero bars aren't important to you, get the base 440 and order the fit kit from the UK, which would only be ~$25 plus shipping. Then, you wouldn't have to "make do" with the Subaru fit kit (when I looked at REI, the base 440 was priced separately from the fit kit, anyway).

I didn't pick the Audi bars because I didn't like the tall look AND they're $375! My UK order came to $320, including shipping.

Butch

As I mentioned above, I just got/installed my racks last night. Now, I'm on to getting the roof box -- either the Evolution 1600 or the Spirit, depending on whether the Evo will let me get into the garage.

Anyway, can you open the sunroof with the box installed, i.e., do the box mount clamps have enough clearance with the sunroof open?

Also, if you have Sirius, can you still get reception with the roof box installed?


Thanks!
Butch

The box is very wide and while short, I can still fit a 169 cm snowboard in there.

a cargo box (Evolution 1600) and 2-3 bike carriers. On my other cars, I left the bars a bit longer than recommended so that I could mount the bike carriers outboard of the towers.

Anyone transport large cargo boxes and bikes together able to chime in to the width/usability?

It clears but hits a little when it does. The one and only time I did open it I had to loosen the box and lift it a little to get the roof to come back and close.

I went with the Spirit and am very happy, especially for one main reason. The box is on rails inside and at each mounting point it can be slid forwards and backwards for adjustment. My older Evolution has set mounting points and they do not line up with the Q7's mounting points on the roof rails. You will need to get a box that has mounting adjustments so that they will line up correctly.......or drill into the box and reset new points.

I bought the UK version in Oct. and modified longer aero bars. We carried two Thule boxes all winter. The modifications work great.

I won't even be using the racks until we go up to Whistler this coming December so I'm thinking all this stuff will be available here in the U.S. by then.

The slot on the underside of the aero bars needs to be cut-out to allow for the mounts to be moved in to the width of the roof rails. In addition, I had the twist handle/tightening rods extended by welding an additional piece of rod to the existing rods. Works great.

...if you have the tow package. A lot more aerodynamically efficient and you don't need a ladder to load it.

I also took the UK route, the bars are great, pity they are so short. But what about the noise? It's awful. On past vehicles with Yakima bars I've never had an issue with the noise. So my question is this: Does anyone know what size of Thule fairing you need and is it available in the USA or do you need to go to the UK for that too?