I have a 2000 RX300 and had two questions:

1) Can anybody tell me the optimum positioning of the roof rack rails in order to minimise wind noise. I understand that the dealer adjusts it. Does anybody have measurements ?

2) I notice that in my vehicle, the trailing edge of the sunroof sits low exposing a slat which probably contributes significantly to wind noise. Is that the way it is supposed to be ? Or should it be flush with the roof in the trailing edge too ? If yes, how do you adjust that ? When I try to push it up, it moves some but is never flush with the roof.

 

1. You can adjust the cross bars yourself, you don't need the dealer to do this as it's just loosening the "screws" and then tightening. As for position, I have then full forward and full back on my 99 RX and I don't get much noise, atleast nothing that would be unbareable for me.

2. That's probably a misalignment that I'm not sure if you can adjust or not. It should sit flush, front and back, as mine are.

 

Yeah, on the garage shelf, until needed.....Probably get better gas mileage too.

 

thats what i did. makes the rx look smoother.

 

Personally, any SUV without the roof rack looks very minivan'ish. I've seen the RX without spoiler or roof rack and it's just like a high riding Previa.

 

but some previas come with a roof rack and spoiler. does that make it look like a low riding rx?

 

yup. in garage until...well i'll never use them haha.

p.s. you can't arrange them in a such a way like the touraeg (or however u spell that v-dub). you can only slide the front one back to about 10 inches away from the other one because the roofline gets smaller...

 

Just saw another RX with black paint peeling off the roofrack. Roof rack to most RX owners is a non-functional item that generates noise, decrease mpg, and can be detrimental to aesthetic. In fact, Porsche Cayenne has listed roofrack as optional item, so does the new MDX.
If one needs empty roofracks to distinguish himself from a minivan, I seriously doubt others will believe the driver is going offroad. In fact, everytime I see these "pretend to be sporty and rugged" drivers, 90% of them drive exactly like minivan drivers that drives exclusively on pavement roads and more often than not, slow pokes.