[hopbackguy]

Every so often, I have another search to see if there's a good roof rack for the Ampera yet. This time round I found this:

http://www.varerum.co.uk/thule-roof-racks/roof-racks-for-cars/opel/ampera/thule-roof-racks-for-opel-ampera-4d-sedan-11-with-normal-roof.html

So..clear implication that this will work on the Ampera, and that the rubber fitting kit therefore matches the Ampera's roofline. Question is: do I risk £140 and find that in fact it *doesnt* fit exactly?

 

[ALC]

I've purchased several roof bar sets over the years and always find Thule ones to be the best engineered. If this is a genuine Thule set, then I would hazard a guess that it'll fit like a glove.
Interested in hearing if you go ahead.
Tim

 

[proddick]

Sorry, but I am dubious. If you look at the link below and select Vauxhall or Opel there is no Ampera. If you select Chevrolet there is no Volt. I'd suggest emailing or calling Thule direct before ordering anything.

http://www.thule.com/fitguide/default.aspx?language=en&market=gb

 

[hopbackguy]

I agree, my suspicions exactly, as I've found the same each time I've gone to the Thule site.

 

[CW4]

Thule roof bars (754) fit Ampera, now on the Thule configurator.

Anyone have them? Thoughts?

 

[Wowbagger]

We have found that our S & S coupling-equipped tandem fits over the top of camping kit in the back of our Leaf. We take the stoker bars off. I don't know of a set of roof bars that would fit, and I shudder to think what the range would be like.

 

[hopbackguy]

Thule roof bars (754) fit Ampera, now on the Thule configurator.

Anyone have them? Thoughts?

The Ampera is on the Thule configurator? Where? I just looked at the Fit Guide on the UK Thule.com pages and the Ampera still isn't listed.

 

[CW4]

It's listed in the application guide at thuleonline.co.uk, independent Thule specialist:

http://thuleonline.co.uk/index.php?route=product/appguide

and the same feet here:

http://www.varerum.co.uk/thule-roof-racks-for-opel-ampera-4d-sedan-11-with-normal-roof.html

Might be worth a call to confirm and agree a return in advance if they don't fit.

 

[hopbackguy]

It's listed in the application guide at thuleonline.co.uk, independent Thule specialist:

http://thuleonline.co.uk/index.php?route=product/appguide

and the same feet here:

http://www.varerum.co.uk/thule-roof-racks-for-opel-ampera-4d-sedan-11-with-normal-roof.html

Might be worth a call to confirm and agree a return in advance if they don't fit.

Ah yes right. I've found this before. You can find a couple of independents who have guides that say the 754 feet will work on an Ampera or Volt - and yet still the Thule company fit guide doesn't list either car. And if you go to the Thule USA site and try it, you can find the Chevy Volt, but the fit guide says 'no solution currently available'. This is what I've found when I've looked previously. So its not clear - if it was supported, why don't Thule themselves list the solution? This is why last time I looked I decided I wasn't prepared to risk the money up front, as I wasn't convinced the independents would even know what an Ampera was!

If you'd like to be the first to experiment of course.... ;-)

 

[Lee Dalton]

I keep looking for the same reasons (bikes), and the best I came up with was the sets that they sold for a while in the USA for the Volt.
It seems that they do fit, but are not 'officially' recognised as such.
A quick look on GM-Volt should give you the parts you want, but it is a bit of a risk I guess.
We just bought a set of roof bars for our ICE car, as my wife only does 6000 miles a year in it, so a couple of longer runs a year is actually good for it

 

[Jeff Smith]

I did a bit of research, and Thule do a roof bar and fitting kit for the Ampera/Volt

Thule Rapid System for VAUXHALL Ampera .Foot Pack 754, Roof Bars 769 / 869, Fitting Kit 1647

I have the bars and foot pack from my previous car, lucky me only needs the fitting kit

 

[hopbackguy]

I did a bit of research, and Thule do a roof bar and fitting kit for the Ampera/Volt

Thule Rapid System for VAUXHALL Ampera .Foot Pack 754, Roof Bars 769 / 869, Fitting Kit 1647

I have the bars and foot pack from my previous car, lucky me only needs the fitting kit

Which web site did you find that on please? As I said above, I also found references to the 754 feet fitting the Ampera but NOT on Thules own web site and hence wasn't willing to be the first to pay up front to test them. If you are, let us know how you get on!

 

[Jeff Smith]

Which web site did you find that on please? As I said above, I also found references to the 754 feet fitting the Ampera but NOT on Thules own web site and hence wasn't willing to be the first to pay up front to test them. If you are, let us know how you get on!

Hopbackguy, I found it on a UK site here:

Thule Rapid System for VAUXHALL Ampera 4 dr Sedan 11-, Foot Pack 754, Roof Bars 769 / 869, Fitting Kit 1647

 

[Jeff Smith]

I've ordered the fitting kit from elsewhere, I have the 869 Wingbars and the 754 Footpack that I purchased for my previous car (Toyota Auris Hybrid 2012). Fitting kit 1647 is £37 from Halfords. I can post a picture of them fitted for reference.

 

[Brett Sinclair]

Fitting kit 1647 was listed for the Volt a few years ago but Thule withdrew it, due to problems with the connector. It's not listed anymore and there was never an option listed for the Ampera. I have some really nice, top-of-the-line Thule aero bars and pro bike racks but I won't use them on the Ampera. The car is clearly not designed for use with roof racks or tow bars. Apart from killing the performance & economy, if Thule themselves decided that their product didn't work satisfactorily and withdrew it, I really don't think it's a good idea to fit it.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Hi Brett, Thule withdrew the Volt/Ampera listing due to two customers raising issues about the fitting of the rear mounts, Thule have a very good reputation worldwide and wouldn't like their good name dragged through the mud. Nearly all manufactures advise against the fitting of after market roof bars, in the past I have purchased so called "genuine" Vauxhall, Toyota and Ford roof bars and then realised they are Thule and have just been rebranded. When you purchase brand new from Thule, you get comprehensive fitting instructions and measurements of where to mount the bars, usually taking the measurement from the top of the windscreen, how many folk read the instructions or keep them for a second user when selling on? This may be the reason for complaining about the bars not fitting correctly?

 

[Brett Sinclair]

Thule withdrew the Volt/Ampera listing due to two customers raising issues about the fitting of the rear mounts, Thule have a very good reputation worldwide and wouldn't like their good name dragged through the mud.

I don't believe it was only withdrawn because a couple of idiots didn't read the instructions properly. Thule wouldn't be able to sell any of their fitting kits under those circumstances. In fact, few, if any, companies would be able to sell their products. I suspect there was a problem, highlighted by these two customers and Thule couldn't find a satisfactory answer, otherwise it would either have remained on sale - because it fitted correctly if the instructions were followed - or Thule would have made a small modification to it, to fix the problem. The fact that they couldn't do either of those things means there had to be a safety issue.

Nearly all manufactures advise against the fitting of after market roof bars, in the past I have purchased so called "genuine" Vauxhall, Toyota and Ford roof bars and then realised they are Thule and have just been rebranded.

Yes but the difference is that other cars are designed to be fitted with roof bars or tow bars. The Ampera isn't and there aren't any options, even from the manufacturer themselves.

When you purchase brand new from Thule, you get comprehensive fitting instructions and measurements of where to mount the bars, usually taking the measurement from the top of the windscreen

But with cars which are properly designed to take roof bars, you don't need these measurements for fitting because the mounts are already there on the roof and the kits screw in easily and without any issue.

 

[hopbackguy]

I've ordered the fitting kit from elsewhere, I have the 869 Wingbars and the 754 Footpack that I purchased for my previous car (Toyota Auris Hybrid 2012). Fitting kit 1647 is £37 from Halfords. I can post a picture of them fitted for reference.

Yes please

 

[hopbackguy]

@Jeff Smith did you get the roof bars successfully fitted to your Ampera? As a result of recent discussions in the pub I decided to look back on threads about carrying bikes on the Ampera...

 

[Jeff Smith]

Yes certainly. Used the Thule Wing bars and my Thule roof box on a recent trip to Somerset.