Thule clamp style roof bars

[Flying ace]

I noticed that the Taycan CT/ST and Panamera ST has a very similar body frame, especially the frame near the roof. Not surprised as both are built on the VW MSB platform. Has anyone tried to use the Thule roofbar kit that uses the clamp and pad on the frame for the Panamera ST for the Taycan CT/ST?

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/sea-sucker-instead-of-rails.4899/

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[McgR]

I had the Thule ones for my Taycan and now have the original Porsche ones for the Panamera. They fit on the roof profile and also have a pin that matches the Panamera inside the door.

The Panamera doesn’t have frameless doors like the Taycan. The rubber is attached to the door in the pana and to the car in the Taycan. Won’t work even if the size would fit.

ps anyone interested in the Thule roofbats for Taycan. Almost new

 

[RGBArgee]

I have Thule Wing Bars from previous Audi RS4 and fits my CT4S no problems.

 

[McgR]

I have Thule Wing Bars from previous Audi RS4 and fits my CT4S no problems.

With a roof rails or without? The Panamera ST doesn’t have rails and it is fixed directly on the roof with clamps going under de door rubbers. It can’t see how that would work with frameless doors and mostly the pins that specifically for the Panamera goes into door area.

The Thule wingbars are just a combi of S M L size depending on car type. They can accomodate to different lengths within the range with the internal springs. So for similar sized roofs with open rails it would work. I think the Taycan has L in front and M in the rear. So that could work indeed. But that was not the specific question here.

 

[Flying ace]

thanks for the replies. RGBArgee - it appears your CT has the roof rails. I'm researching whether anyone has tried clamp style racks without the rails.

I did more research and found

1. Detailed photos of a Panamera wagon using the Porsche clamp style bar. Note that the bottom clamp sits flush with the crease on the frame, and the top clamp matches the top of the frame and it's boarder with the glass roof.
https://rennlist.com/forums/panamera/1085568-971-roof-rack.html

2. This is the best detailed photo I can find of the Taycan wagon with a glass roof

In my review of details of the Taycan door frame, the crease on the side of the frame and the roof frame that meets the glass all appears to be the same measures as the Panamera's. I've also email Thule for a confirmation whether they even tried to test the fitment.


Complicating the matter is that I don't own a Taycan, but am shopping for one nor do I feel comfortable using the Seasucker (suck cup style) mounts. A likely fitment without rails would open up more cars for me to choose from.

I'm going to guess there was an attempt to fit this at Porsche and there's a reason why Porsche never offered a similar Tequipment part for the CT/ST without rails, though cynically, I think it's bc they want to sell you the Roof Rail option! Logically, I think it may also be bc wagon in non-North America markets has an option for a metal roof, thereby changing the style of the of the roof?

 

[Flying ace]

coincidentally, there is likely only 1 person in the interwebs that has the ability to test this, the OP in this thread: https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/sea-sucker-instead-of-rails.4899/

He had both the Panamera with the clamp accessory and a CT without roof rails! But he hasn't logged in on this site for 2 years! lol

 

[McgR]

It won’t work. Just went to my Panamera to take some pictures of my car and original Porsche roof bars. The Thule ones have one pin in stead of two but they need to be positioned in the whole in the frame of the door like shown in the picture. And the shape of the roof is different.

And most important the Taycan doors are frameless. You will damage your windows when you close the door and it rolls up to close. And the rubber is on the car not on the door. You would have to partially detach the rubber to slide the clamp in which won’t work with the pin.

 

[McgR]

I noticed that the Taycan CT/ST and Panamera ST has a very similar body frame, especially the frame near the roof. Not surprised as both are built on the VW MSB platform. Has anyone tried to use the Thule roofbar kit that uses the clamp and pad on the frame for the Panamera ST for the Taycan CT/ST?

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/sea-sucker-instead-of-rails.4899/

Ps Panamera is on the MSB platform which it chares with the Bentley Continental and Flying spur. The Taycan is on the J1 electric car platform.

 

[RGBArgee]

With a roof rails or without? The Panamera ST doesn’t have rails and it is fixed directly on the roof with clamps going under de door rubbers. It can’t see how that would work with frameless doors and mostly the pins that specifically for the Panamera goes into door area.

The Thule wingbars are just a combi of S M L size depending on car type. They can accomodate to different lengths within the range with the internal springs. So for similar sized roofs with open rails it would work. I think the Taycan has L in front and M in the rear. So that could work indeed. But that was not the specific question here.

I have roof rails.

 

[Flying ace]

Ps Panamera is on the MSB platform which it chares with the Bentley Continental and Flying spur. The Taycan is on the J1 electric car platform.

Wow! Thank you for the detailed break down. Awesome information. Sigh, I'm just not comfortable putting 100lbs on that glass roof with the suction mounts

 

[McgR]

Wow! Thank you for the detailed break down. Awesome information. Sigh, I'm just not comfortable putting 100lbs on that glass roof with the suction mounts

I wouldn’t do it either. But I saw I ST in Germany with a roof box on sea suckers. Looks really strange. He was on his way back from the alps so I guess it worked.

However I would be waiting to hear plop-plop-plop and see my roof box flying away in the rear view mirror. Or could it pull just of the glass roof with high speeds ? It is glued isn’t it.

 

[RGBArgee]

thanks for the replies. RGBArgee - it appears your CT has the roof rails. I'm researching whether anyone has tried clamp style racks without the rails.

I did more research and found

1. Detailed photos of a Panamera wagon using the Porsche clamp style bar. Note that the bottom clamp sits flush with the crease on the frame, and the top clamp matches the top of the frame and it's boarder with the glass roof.
https://rennlist.com/forums/panamera/1085568-971-roof-rack.html

2. This is the best detailed photo I can find of the Taycan wagon with a glass roof

In my review of details of the Taycan door frame, the crease on the side of the frame and the roof frame that meets the glass all appears to be the same measures as the Panamera's. I've also email Thule for a confirmation whether they even tried to test the fitment.


Complicating the matter is that I don't own a Taycan, but am shopping for one nor do I feel comfortable using the Seasucker (suck cup style) mounts. A likely fitment without rails would open up more cars for me to choose from.

I'm going to guess there was an attempt to fit this at Porsche and there's a reason why Porsche never offered a similar Tequipment part for the CT/ST without rails, though cynically, I think it's bc they want to sell you the Roof Rail option! Logically, I think it may also be bc wagon in non-North America markets has an option for a metal roof, thereby changing the style of the of the roof?

whoops I should have read the question! One of the reasons I ticked the roof bar option was to be able to use the more modern approach to roof bars and utilise the Thule Wing bars. Porsche wanted circa $1000 for their kit which is a complete rip off imho . Good luck to you non roof bar folks!

 

[Flying ace]

I wouldn’t do it either. But I saw I ST in Germany with a roof box on sea suckers. Looks really strange. He was on his way back from the alps so I guess it worked.

However I would be waiting to hear plop-plop-plop and see my roof box flying away in the rear view mirror. Or could it pull just of the glass roof with high speeds ? It is glued isn’t it.

Yeah the concern with the suction style is the amount of weight placed in the glass. It wasn't designed for that. For some situations, I plan to use both a box and a bike holder, so it'll be close to 150-170 lbs

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