The coolest option Saturn Vue didn't get: Opel Antara's Flex-Fix
Click image for Flex-Fix gallery
We've reported on the Opel Flex-Fix system before. It's the ingeniously cool, fully-integrated bicycle carrier option that made its debut on the Corsa and next appeared on the Antara SUV. Many of us had high hopes that Flex-Fix would survive the translation from Opel Antara to Saturn Vue, but alas, that's not the case. Our understanding is that federal crash regs are responsible, so Americans will need to buy racks or just throw their two-wheelers in the back for the drive to the trail. Too bad, because Flex-Fix is an elegant, innovative solution. On the Antara, it adds €650 to the purchase price. The rack is there for two bikes when you need it, and it's totally hidden in a drawer behind the rear bumper when you don't. Click the gallery below for several new photos showing the Flex-Fix system in use on the Antara, and click on either of the two links above for additional background. What a bummer that this option couldn't make it into the Vue.
[Source: Opel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
davidt70 8:20AM (7/13/2007)
that's a shame that we can't have it here. I have my Thule rack on top of my forrester all the time which lowers my gas mileage, but only have my bike up there a fraction of the time. Foiled again by the US govt.
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spm 8:23AM (7/13/2007)
That is so cool - A feature like that could make me look at a car that I may not have considered otherwise...
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jeffinToronto 8:24AM (7/13/2007)
That's very cool....until someone rear-ends you a little too hard and you realize that your 650 Euros option is toast.
Technology and integration is nice until something goes wrong. All these gadgets and electronics seemingly can only be worked on by "trained technicians" and cost and arm and a leg to fix. Nobody seems to be a "mechanic" anymore.
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Mike 9:03AM (7/13/2007)
Yeah, because if someone hits me hard enough to destroy the integrated bike rack I'm sure my the rest of the car isn't going to need an insurance claim.
Pessimistic weirdo. This is a cool option for bikers. Roof racks cost almost as much and tend to look crappy.
Doogs 9:35AM (7/13/2007)
"That's very cool....until someone rear-ends you a little too hard and you realize that your 650 Euros option is toast."
Because if someone rear ends you with a hitch-mounted rack nothing will happen? Will the other car just bounce off? Do hitch-mounted racks have magical force fields or something?
As Mike said, that's what insurance is for.
And what is that "mechanic" rant all about? Newsflash - technobloat and computerized control systems make most modern cars difficult, if not impossible to work on, unless what you're doing only requires turning a wrench or changing fluids. Opel/Saturn is far from unique in this regard.
And besides...this rack looks purely mechanical. I'd venture it would be fairly easy to replace, with a little bit of know-how.
jeffinToronto 10:39AM (7/13/2007)
To the two previous knobs...I'm not suggesting that Opel is unique in this regard. If you get hit in the bumper normally, you may have replace the bumper or fascia covering it. If you get hit in bumper that has a slide out mechanism in it, you're probably going to have to replace the bumper AND the tray mechanism.
Ben H. 9:03AM (7/13/2007)
Nice!! Almost Transformer-like! ;)
It's also a great anti-tailgating device.
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Doogs 9:35AM (7/13/2007)
If I were going for an anti-tailgating device, I'd rather have one of these:
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/dixonbate/
Or those nasty-looking bumpers on armored cars.
Maytag 11:28AM (7/13/2007)
.... or one of these (in the back, not on the side): http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/
Guenther 9:01AM (7/13/2007)
I wonder if that interferes with mounting a trailer hitch, too.
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Mo 10:04AM (7/13/2007)
Clever idea, but the rectangular fold out taillights are horrible looking afterthought.
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kballs 1:23PM (7/13/2007)
650 euros could buy a basic trailer hitch and hitch rack... and maybe a cheap bike on top of that... and the bike rack could hold 3-4 bikes and fold down for opening the rear hatch without unloading bikes... and you could tow a trailer when not hauling bikes.
This is similar to a built-in nav system... aftermarket is way cheaper and more functional/flexible.
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Nick 1:25PM (7/13/2007)
Considering GM is raiding Opel's panties for it's lineup, I am quite shocked that this option hasn't made it's way over here as well.
It's definitly a sweet option, but, as has been mentioned, it seems getting rear-ended may cost you quite a bit more than usual.
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Jesse 1:39PM (7/13/2007)
Not only did crash regulations (thank you, U.S. government) nix this option, I doubt many states would be crazy about issuing the duplicate license plate that mounts on the rack.
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UH2L 8:22PM (7/13/2007)
Very cool and clever feature. It would be nice if the feds just made Saturn warn the prospective buyer about the impact on crashworthiness and then let the customer decide to get it or not.
Here's what annoys me though... I can understand that if you have more than 2 passengers or a lot of cargo that you need a rack for bicycles. But when there are usually one or two people in the car, isn't that what SUV's are for, to put large stuff in the back? I thought the 'U' in SUV stood for utility.
I can put two bicycles, (one with the front wheel off), in my wagon and hatchback where they stay out of the elements, won't get damaged, stolen, or in a fender bender from backing up (with a rear-mount rack), or hitting something overhead (with a roof rack), and won't fall off due to improper tightening (something which does happen). To keep the car clean inside, I use a tarp or an old blanket. Folded over, the tarp also protects one bike from being scratched by the other bike.
Atul
http://www.realitydriven.com
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amp 11:20AM (7/17/2007)
Sounds like laziness to me. Crash standards are just a convenient scape goat.
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