Hi,
My luggage cover is fine and it is in use, but I keep thinking there must be a better way as there is so much "potential" space above the cover (albeit, at the expense of rear vision). The storage capacity gets probably a 50% increase if you go "up" in the back.

How may of you run without it? Any issues (noise?)?
Do any of you have a custom solution (netting or stretchy material) that works?

I get the increased security of the cover - out of sight out of mind....just wanted to know if anyone had come up with an elegant improvement/mod in this space?

 

I leave my hatch in all the time. I don't usually haul anything that would necessitate removing it. Now in my Golf, I take the hatch cover out frequently, but that car is my sporty station wagon ( 5 speed). With its huge rear window, vision is not easily blocked.
I did follow the guidance of another F forum member who had installed thick rubber washers on the hatch pegs, to keep the cover from sitting askew and inadvertently damaging/breaking a peg. I also bought a net for the back end of the trunk to store odds and ends (windshield solar screen). I think I could easily design a stretch fabric cover, somewhat like what's in our 2018 Corvette coupe..stretch cord run though side hems with looped ends.something like this
https://www.redlineautoparts.com/che...sl_lnQ4YIL0T3Y

 

Hello everyone,
I also always leave the cover in, but I have printed my own spacer sleeves with the 3D printer. They fit well and tight enough and keep the cover where it should be. The original caps now cost a fortune! If you want, you can use my STL file and print them yourself, just send me an email: madaka"at"web"dot"de (I can´t upload STL-files here).

Inside I also use a stretchy net.

Greetings,
Markus.

 

I keep a collapsible milk crate in the trunk for storage when needed.

 

I took a totally different approach. All of the carpeted panels as well as the luggage cover are now covered in leather. The car is more of a garage queen/weekend cruiser.

 

Could you send a picture or three...sounds pretty cool. Must have been costly....



And for the person who noted another solution, if that is not this leather option, what did you do?


TIA

jb

 

I usually leave mine and never hauled so much stuff that I needed to remove it, even when going for 2-3 week long roadtrips with the wife. I really like its look also and that it mirrors the RWD hood.

You get some more road noise and above all exhaust noise if you run without the cover. That's the reason to why I sometimes remove mine.

If I'm going out for a joyride to just drive the crap out of the car and enjoy the noise I remove it. If I want to hear the exhaust even better I also remove the trunk floor cover, battery cover and the whole storage compartment under the trunk floor. Done in seconds and the end result is that there's only some thin aluminum between the exhaust system and your ears. Also so much simpler than messing around with noisier after market exhausts.

 

I took mine out once when I went to pick up a new computer - the box was a bit too tall to fit under the cover. Of course, I didn't know that until I got to the store so I then had to find somewhere to carry the removed cover! Hmm. Fortunately, it just fits down the side of the passenger seat so I got lucky.

 

I leave mine in all the time, I have a small back firing sub…never really thought if it helps or hurts with the base sound come to think of it…may have to take it out and see if there’s any difference lol

 

Mine it’s out but it’s because one of the pins that holds the string on the hatch side kept coming loose.

 

First mod I made. Removed it on day one, don't miss it a bit.

 

Great thread. I didn't ever think about it. Great, now it's going to bother me. I voted that I always keep it in. Now I'm going to try it without. Can't wait to feel the difference. I'm going to tell myself that my horsepower increased due to weight savings. Seriously, I am looking forward to trying this out.

 

Glad I googled this subject and found this thread. I drove to work this morning without the luggage cover/hatch to see what difference it would make.

The immediate result is obviously noise which I was looking for but when I got 4K RPM for the first time I almost jumped! 😂 Road noise is more prevalent too especially over more coarse tarmac.

I like the idea of removing weight and gosh it's heavy. Despite using the grommets, I still get some squeaking noise after a while requiring me to reposition the cover on the pegs possibly because I open the boot (truck) twice every day.

The cabin does feel more airy without it but I think overall, the screen adds finesse to the interior so it will probably go back in.

 

I was sort of hoping for a solution that could expand for bigger things as needed but otherwise be like the stock cover...probably a pipe dream.

It is my every day car. Snow, rain, etc. And it excels.

 

For me this thing is nothing more than a fun weekend car only. I don’t even care about storage space more generally, let alone covers. If someone is dailying a car like this, we’ll I get it I guess…