fit question for 2009 Audi A4 Wagon roof rack to fit side rails

[bryanbr]

Having recently moved to Munich Germany, I brought my 10 year-old Yakima rack with me with Q Towers.

We have a 2009 Audi A4 Wagon with side rails. This is new design for A4, alternates like Q7 and A3 have had this new styling for a couple of years--siderails with no airgap to roof.

Can anyone recommend a configuration with Yakima rack? Or should I be opting to replace/replatform with Thule 450 Crossroad or Thule 450R Rapid Crossroad.

My frequent call to Yakima haven't told me that they have an option for the 2009 Audi A4 Wagon.

Any help is appreciated!

[Sweet Rack Gurl]

Oh yeah I just checked out the 2009 Audi A4 wagon online (see picture below). As of this post I haven't seen one of these come through for a car rack installation inquiry, but it looks to me like it might have fixpoint attachments on the roof top. These are becoming more and more common on new vehicles. Fixpoint attachments are a new phenomenon that car makers are including onto vehicle rooftops. This allows after-market car rack companies such as Thule Racks and Yakima Racks to develop car racks that integrate right into these fixpoints for a very sleek and integrated look that gives the car rack the appearance of being aprt of the vehicle versus how many car racks obviously look like they were installed afterwards and kind of stick out like an eyesore.

Thule Racks is already doing a very good job of taking advantage of fixpoints found on many new cars. Their car rack for fixpoints is the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system. It uses specific Fit Kit brackets designed to be used with a certain model car. They also offer the Thule 460R Rapid Podium car rack system which works the same way as the regular 460 Podium and uses the same Thule Fit Kit brackets but has a much more sleek and aerodynamic look due to the Rapid Aero aluminum bars. My guess is theat Thule Racks will soon offer a Fit Kit bracket for the 2009 Audi A4 wagon that would then allow you to then use the 460 Podium or 460R Rapid Podium on the 2009 Audi A4 wagon. Yakima Racks hasn't even begun to engineer car racks for use with vehicle fixpoints so no telling when they will get into the game.

Yakima Racks only possible option currently is the Yakima EZ Rider car rack system which is designed for factory side rails that have no gaps in them. But you are right Yakima Racks has been totally mum so far about whether the EZ Rider works or not.