Roof rails... or not!

[apeman69]

I hate roof rails on an estate. Yes, they might be useful but they make the car look ugly.
I would never have bought or even considered an estate until I stumbled across a Legnum on Autotrader about 3 or 4 years ago. I was looking for twin turbo cars and amongst the plethora of GTOs and Supras up popped one Legnum.
What an interesting proposition I thought. Must have stuck in my mind despite the roof rails it had.
Anyway, a couple of Celicas and a crappy Mondeo later I decided to seriously consider buying a Legnum.
Now I have one... without roof rails!

My question (finally):-
Were the roof rails an option or model-specific (I suspect optional) or were they simply free to tall customers lucky enough to use them?
If optional, any thoughts on why so many Japs paid for the damn things? (Mental note to do research on Japanese lifestyle). Surely the cars with rails should have also had motorised ladders attached to the underside so that the little buggers could reach the roof to stick their junk on top of the rails!!!
I'll have a look on e-bay to see if I can find an HKS elevator or maybe Blitz Super Steps.
Ah ha... the lowering spring was born! Anybody own a Legnum with the ultra-rare Stenna stair-lift conversion?

Think it's time for bed.

To any Japanese people who may read this: I am only joking and I have the utmost respect for your country and fellow countrymen/women. After all one of your more vertically challenged citizens gave me my Legnum!

Did the roof rail situation affect your own buying decision in any way?

[djb160]

I'd prefer them if I have a choice in the matter.

[pungatree1]

My first legnum had them but the the legnum we have now doesn't. I think I only used them once but I guess they are handy to have. I prefer the look of the vr4 without them though and stuck a tow bar on instead!

[elnevio]

I think deleting the rails was one of the many, many tick box options available to JDM customers when ordering their Leggies.

I'm in your camp - I prefer the looks without the rails, not least 'cos mine doesn't have 'em!

[TAR]

No rails on mine!!

But I'm undecided about whether they would be useful.

[Kieran]

Roof Rails are a must! They add to the comedy value when you tear away from some twit in a repmobile!

Ariadne originally wasn't fitted with rails. She definetly looks better with a set!

[Wodjno]

On a Pre-facelift ........ Without

Facelift..................... With

Reason for this is on the Pre the rails spoil the line of the car as the tailgate.. spoiler is low.

On the facelift they work better as the tailgate spoiler sits higher..

[WildCards]

On a Pre-facelift ........ Without

Facelift..................... With

Reason for this is on the Pre the rails spoil the line of the car as the tailgate.. spoiler is low.

On the facelift they work better as the tailgate spoiler sits higher..

[Subaru ETA]

my legnum had them. handy for when you are camping and need to tie a washing line to something!

[andrew38]

Mine's got roof rails and I prefer the look with them, also I use them for my son's surf board over the summer.

[Nick VR4]

Mine has them look ok imo
Never used them though

[miller]

Definitely with them, these are personal feelings though. Whichever makes you happy as its YOUR car.

Cant wait to see the how it looks with my snowboards strapped to the top this winter


Mike

[MarkSanne]

I'm in the without-corner.

[bradc]

Without - the car looks smoother and lower without them. The boot is already big enough anyway, if you need to carry anything bigger you should put it on a trailer!

[MarkSanne]

Exactly my thoughts Brad!

[Josh2xsv]

NO RAILS & prefer it that way, bout to go tow-bar rout... mmm black and chrome

[Davezj]

i have no rails on a 96 prefacelift but i have a set to fit for particality reasons only.

They are from a V6 sport 2003 i didn't even check if they would fit. was there any change in the roof rail over the life of the galant/legnum.

I will have to drill some holes and i wanted to make sure before i take the head lining out. which i itself is quite a big job by all account. i believe there should be some reinforcement on the roof where the hole need to be drilled as standard.

[pitslayer]

so your the dark blue leggy that lives where i work! i knew i had seen a VR4 around and had been told of it, as for me, no roof rails, they just look silly, they dont even look like they serve a purpose on there

[MikeKey]

My V6 had the rails but I NEVER once used them. They looked OK though. The VR-4 looks much better without IMHO, speshly the facelift

[shaun1978]

With a cavernous boot who needs rails? I'm firmly in the WITHOUT camp.