General Fiat Croma roof bars (without roof rails)

[uksdsgl]

Can you recommend lockable roof bars and a lockable roof box for use without (longitudinal) roof rails?

I'm going to buy both.

I assume that attaching the roof bars to the fix points on the roof is a better system than attaching "hooks" to the top of the door frames?

The lockable Fiat roof bars (for use without roof rails) cost 170 pounds from a Fiat dealer:
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.zonaricambi.it/croma.html&ei=CBbiTbGMI4ezhAfko5TzBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEcQ7gEwBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3D50901425%2Bcroma%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D615%26prmd%3Divns

A 480 litre Fiat roof box costs 267 pounds from the Fiat dealer when bought with the Fiat roof bars.

Or these roof bars with locks cost 87 pounds, off eBay, 83 pounds less.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120673783326&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Your advice will be appreciated.

 

[Doofer]

I've got the Fiat roof rails on mine. I'd recommend them - they were on the car when I got it and they never whistle and don't seem to affect MPG.

I previously had cross-ways bars on a previous car - official ones, supplied by the manufacturer. They screwed into tapped holes under some flip-up covers. But they still marked the paint - they made an impression where their rubber bases sat against the paint. They also were a hassle to fit/remove. If left on they made a racket at 70mph.

At least once you have the rails you don't need to attach anything to the paintwork. I don't know how crossways bars would fit to a croma (other than the dodgy window method).

My instinct would be to cough up for the official rails/bars, then shop around for a box.

Edit: Depending upon how much the rails cost.

 

[notorious]

the ebay ones are crap, they will bend first time you load up the roof, go with the fiat ones, boxes can be had for less on sale.

 

[dave]

you are in east London, so pop along to the parts department at chadwell heath, ask for nick, tell him you are an ff member, and ask for price

 

[Doofer]

Having said all the above, I don't know whether the standard Croma's roof is painted around where a normal roof rack would fit. Mine has the "Skydome" roof and rails, so I can't compare - mine has no paint beyond the bit above the doors.

Perhaps the Fiat standard roof rack is the only sensible option. The roof rails probably cost £100s as a retro-fit, so probably not worth bothering with.

Whether painted or not, ensure the area where it's going to sit is wiped very clean before mounting, otherwise you'll be pressing gritty bits into the surface when you mount it and load it up.

 

[cromachris]

hi, uksdsgl.
I have the crossways bars on mine, the official Fiat ones. They are awful. The powder coating has come off the vertical feet of the bars. I'm going to the local dealer tomorrow and I am going to mention it to them. Apart from that they are good, strong bars.

One point worth mentioning is that none of the cheapo Halfords boxes will fit - the fittings won't go far enough apart. I ended up splashing out on a Thule box that was on offer at the time and came with bespoke made-for-the-box luggage bags.

Pics of my Croma with the box on are at the top of the Croma section.

 

[notorious]

I have roof rails but here are mine and very satisfied. You can hear the bars whistle but only at 80-95 kmh, not below or above that speed. The bars are alu Italian made with locks and the box is G3, Italian made, 320l capacity. Together it looks good and serves well. Since we have a large trunk anyways, didn't feel I needed anything bigger and the best part everything cost me 150eur brand new and installed on the car.
Sorry, I don't have a close up of the box.