After much searching and being outbid on several auctions, I finally won a set of Votex load bars for my car! I hadn’t really been planning to buy to buy one so suddenly, but with some birthday money left over combined with a little Christmas shopping money, I spotted the auction on eBay and I couldn’t resist.
These parts are all original Votex pieces and were available from the VW dealer back when Mk3s were in the showroom. According to other enthusiasts on Vortex, the roof rack of choice seems to be either the OEM Votex setup or the aftermarket Thule (Swedish company, pronouced “too-lee”) setup. And actually, the Votex racks were all made by Thule for Volkswagen, so its easy to see why either are a good choice. The Thule design are similar to the Votex, except the Thule carrier bars are wider and stick out on each end past the feet.
Here’s a pic of my friend’s Mk3 Jetta with the Votex load bar setup installed:
The other reason people choose Votex or Thule over other companies like Yakima is because the Votex/Thule accessories are all interchangeable. Thule even makes adapters so that their rack accessories can be fitted to the Votex load bars. My next task is to find and purchase a basket for the load bars, but I’m still not sure which design to choose. Votex has its own design while Thule has 2-3 others. I’ll probably continue looking at what other people have done and then shop around for prices and availability.
Anyways, I can’t wait for the bars to arrive! 
December 9th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Haha Mike! I’m doing exactly the same thing as you, just two weeks slow! I’ve found an eBay auction for a Thule 404 which I am bidding on (fingers crossed) and have started shopping for a basket! The Votex roof rack looks the bee’s knees.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:23 am
I just saw your thread on Vortex asking about the difference between the Thule 404 and the 444. Like I said, after doing much searching, I ended up going with the Votex. I was outbid on a 444 auction and the Votex rack just happened to appear in my sights.
I got the rack installed yesterday, but haven’t gotten any good pictures of it on the car yet, especially with all of the snow we’ve been having.
As far as a basket goes, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going with the Votex basket, mostly for its cost (about $100), but also because it has a nice, low profile to it, while still doing its job.
December 12th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I ended up getting a 404. If you don’t mind, how much was the Votex? I got mine for $170AUD, which I think is a bit steep but for the reasons you listed, it should definitely be worth it.
Good luck with finding your basket
December 12th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I won the auction for the Votex rack for $125 shipped (roughly $140AUD.) That seems to be the going rate for most racks, though usually the Votex are harder to find. I have seen the Thule 444 racks going for around $120-140 though, so with the discontinued 404 rack, I think you probably got a pretty fair deal.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Yo Mikey!! Looking sweet blud, really like roof bars, kinda dig the whole utility style but slammed with a few choice mods. She’ll look sweet when done man. What else you got planned? You gonna split and smoke your stock lamps?
December 12th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for the comments, Al! Plans for spring include mounting up my new 15×7 Sportmax 002 wheels, installing some smoked Vento e-code headlights and a euro headlight switch, running wiring for a rear fog, bolting in my upper glove box, ordering new sideskirts and painting my hood (with shaved washer nozzle holes.)
I can’t wait for all the snow to melt and for the sun to reign again.