Roof rack or NO roof rack, that is the question

[quicksilver5]

When I bought my new P5 last week, I had to take what was on the lot. I was hooked on sunlight silver and I had to have a stick shift (no way I wanted an auto - no offense to auto owners). Anyway, the car that was closest to my options came with a roof rack (which I didn't want, but I can live with). Roof rack owners all know that when you remove the roof rack, you are stuck with two large roof rails.

Anyway, now that I've had the car a week, the rack has kind of grown on me. It almost looks like a spoiler. It kind of gives it that rally look.

So I'm curious of other's opinions. Does the P5 look better with the rack on or off?? Those who have taken it off, is there a noticable difference in wind noise?

 

[Ceej]

I like the car WITH the roof rack as well.

Don't like silver though....I call it "old man gray".

 

[viVid]

I took my rack off and sold it... I mean completely off (no rails - looks like the canadian version). It's a much cleaner look, in my opinion - and no wind noise. But hey, if you'll use it, what the hell. If you decide you want to completely remove the rack, you'll need to order these parts:

BJ3D-50-9H0D right side roof moulding
BJ3D-50-9L0D left side roof moulding

About $100 + shipping from mazdastuff.com.

 

[quicksilver5]

Ceej: Silver is a love/hate color. You either love it or hate it. Zora Argus Duntov, the lead designer on Chevrolet's Corvette design team, said that every Corvette would come only in silver if he had it his way. I feel the same way about silver. Then again, my second favorite color for a car is white. The only color I would have chose over silver would be Toyota's "Cosmic Blue Metallic" or BMW's "Atlanta Blue". They are both basically silvers with a hint of blue (think Dallas Cowboy's silver blue helmets). As for it being "old man gray," well, you may be right because I look at the yellows and laser blue's and think of them as kid's stuff. Then again, I have chosen to be a college professor for my career, so that may explain alot.

 

[Natey]

I also think the racks look good. IMO, It gives the car a hint of utilitarian look to compliment the "performance" look that the air-dam/spoiler/skirts give the P5.

If you have a sunroof like I do though, the rack'll drive you nuts with the freeway noise. The wind is pretty loud.

 

[Subghetto]

I'am personally not a big fan of the roof-rack that is why I took it off it looks so much cleaner now. I was getting tired of the wind-noise and don't like how it look the other main reason is I never had the need to use it. I would say go no roof-rack just my 02.

P.S. Vivid I tried going on mazdastuff.com to look for the parts to get rid of the filler strips (roof moulding) but can't seem to find them where are they located on the site.

 

[redwagon02]

Roof racks like nice.

 

[viVid]

No, they are not listed on the site and most dealers won't know what you are talking about unless you give them those part numbers. They have to special order them (but they don't take long to get). Just email Richard at parts(at)texasmazda.com and he can get you a quote.

 

[Brandon's PR5]

Roof rack

Hey man !!!
I just installed a snowboarding rack on my 2003 PR5.. It looks awesome.. So i'd say keep it for now. They are made for the racks

 

[Coqui258]

I like the racks... it kinda makes the car... I've seen the P5 w/out racks and didn't like it much...

 

[mp5]

95% of the time I have the cross rails removed because i can't take the wind noise from them with the sunroof. I only put them on if I need to use them for things I don't want/won't fit in the car. Once you remove them and reinstall them once or twice you'll find you can do it in less then 5 mins.

 

[Mike R]

Mine didn't come with the racks (03.5) I bought one off a member here and installed it. I think it looks better with the rack.

 

[eting_pro5]

I never noticed the amount of wind noise produced by the roof racks, but because i just got a yakima rack, i had the cross bars removed for 3 days. It's an incredible difference in the wind noise, especially with the moon roof open. With my new rack I can take it on and off in under a minute, and it's much quiter if with the rack on.

I do like the look of the car much better with the roof racks on, but it's not worth the hassle or money to order new cross bars (dad ran over them) And even i did have them, i don't think i'd use them because they're pretty much useless to me.

Although there's a ton less noise, i'd keep the roof rack on. the car looks so much better with it

 

[Ceej]

Ceej: Silver is a love/hate color. You either love it or hate it. Zora Argus Duntov, the lead designer on Chevrolet's Corvette design team, said that every Corvette would come only in silver if he had it his way. I feel the same way about silver. Then again, my second favorite color for a car is white. The only color I would have chose over silver would be Toyota's "Cosmic Blue Metallic" or BMW's "Atlanta Blue". They are both basically silvers with a hint of blue (think Dallas Cowboy's silver blue helmets). As for it being "old man gray," well, you may be right because I look at the yellows and laser blue's and think of them as kid's stuff. Then again, I have chosen to be a college professor for my career, so that may explain alot.

My last two cars were "old man's gray" a 2003 Eclipse and a 2003 PT Cruiser. I have also owned a white car (with a black top) a 1968 Chrysler New Yorker.

Over the years after owning just about every color of car (yellow being the only one not owned) I have come to the conclusion that my two favorite car colors are black and red and those will be the only two colors I ever buy in the future.

 

[matallama]

If you often haul lots of stuff or oversize objects (surfboards, skis, etc), then the roof rack is great, and I think the car looks good either way.

Mine came without. I purchased a Yakima after-market rack, which I only install for long trips (once every couple of months), then take it off when not needed.

 

[redwagon02]

If you often haul lots of stuff or oversize objects (surfboards, skis, etc), then the roof rack is great, and I think the car looks good either way.

.....and christmas trees too!

 

[P-Funk!]

Because my kayak holders are bolted to the racks - and WOW do they sssSCREAM in the wind - i usually keep 'em off. Does the car look better with 'em? Yes.

 

[+ friction]

I also think the racks look good. IMO, It gives the car a hint of utilitarian look to compliment the "performance" look that the air-dam/spoiler/skirts give the P5.

If you have a sunroof like I do though, the rack'll drive you nuts with the freeway noise. The wind is pretty loud.

Exactly. I think it almost cheapens the car's look w/out the racks, but the sunroof noise is horrendous. I'll get the deflector for that soon, but certainly think it looks better without the deflector.

Of course, it is up to your own tastes. When I was much younger, roof racks (especially on wagons) spelled s-o-c-c-e-r m-o-m. Now, I think they are cool, but then again I'm old.

 

[kdub]

I have the strips, if you would like to trade for the rack. 2003.5 P5 5 months old.

 

[uclap5]

i like them both ways. right now i keep mine off because i have yakima snowboard rack on the crossbars, and thats too much wind noise.

i may take off the ski rack when the season is over though