Just getting my first car, quite exciting and I remember from my uni days that my parents had this rather rickety tailgate bike rack which I always made sure my bike was secured to the hilt on but I never had ultimate faith in it.

I'm getting a Seat Ibiza and just wondering if getting something like a Pendle boot rack will suffice especially as it may mean carrying more than one bike or whether I should invest in roof bars and roof rack for the utmost sturdiness.

Cheers. 

I find the roof access ones easiest TBH, must be my height, straight on and off. Are you a short ass Mike?

I believe Thule & one or two others now do boot mounted racks which attach with metal fixings (not webbing/straps).

WWW.ROOFBOX.CO.UK have a @what bike carrier for my car?" facility on their website for specific details etc..

Try the Thule 9103/9104 clip on jobs. I used to run on on a Polo GT. Really solid - the only time I've ever felt my bike was secure. That car had a spoiler at the top of the window with the brake light similar to the Seat IIRC.

Have diff car now so that racks in the loft - currently faffing with back seat and blankets...its the only place i dont worry about my bike. Trying to find a specific boot/seat cover if anyone knows where i can get one (5d-Vectra).

Would also be interested to know how much it costs to fit a towbar etc and go down that route.

Towbar would set you back £200-£250, fitted - I believe.

I'd like to warn against "hi-rise" racks that put the bikes above the line of the car at the rear. I just don't like my rack becuase it's terrible for fuel efficiency and handling.

Conversely, a friend has the thule rack which attaches to the rear of his hatchback and it's really secure.

I wanted one of those or a towbar mounted one for my new car - but will have to go the roof-bars route instead because nobody makes a towbar for the last-model Honda Prelude. Bugger!

Estate or a hatchback if I was you,  cuts on your fuel bill,  safer if you pop into a shop or something.

Chaka,  I had a mk1 ish prelude 4ws nice cars,  more conventional on the boot my halfords rack fitted it fine, thankfully.

I've got a'strap-on' (ooh-err missus). It's an american brand called Graber and has worked fine for 5 years with my old Golf and my current Focus. It was only 25 quid cos there was a bolt missing but I replaced that and have been happy carrying 2 bikes. I'm not sure they're available now so of I was buying a new one, I reckon I'd go for one of the pendle strap-ons.

I have both roof and towbar mounted (need to manage with 4 bikes).

Roof is good, but height restrictions are a pain - and you feel the drag.

Towbar is good, especially if the boot/tailgate clears the bikes, although some do angle for this - and had over 120mph with no problems (my previous car would run to 140mph with them on).

As for fuel economy, with 2 bikes on the roof, and 2 on the towbar rack, 4 lads and their gear onboard and foot down, it equates to about 22mpg (normally get 30mpg).

If it was a choice, then towbar.