Two months ago I bought a new VW Golf TDI (turbodiesel -- gets 42/49mpg) and this week I installed a Thule roof rack. I loaded up the kayak for the first time tonight, strapped it to the load bars, poked my head under the front bumper... NO TIE-DOWNS! There's a big under-engine cowling that covers just about everything under there. In back there's one loop one one side of the bumper. I hadn't thought to poke under there during my test-drives to see if there were proper mounting points before deciding on a vehicle.

I'll have to make due with only load-bar attachments tomorrow, but later in the season I'll be crossing the Mackinac bridge (a 5-mile suspension bridge that connect the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan) and I need at least a bow strap.

Dean