I have an 02 WRX Wagon and I got a Thule bike rack for it and realized that when the rack is mounted in the normal position (bikes facing forward), you can't open the back hatch because the rails are too long.

I turned the rails around so that the bikes are pointing backwards, but this looks kinda funny because the rails stick out pretty far forward.

Does anyone else have a bike rack on their wagon?

yeah, i did the same. You could also run it as far forward as you can and then cut the trays down so they don't hit the rear wing. only problem you may have doing that is that your roadbike rear wheel might hit it. My mountainbike doesn't hit but my roadbike does. so i just run it reversed. i have seen some people run it normal though.

I have a rockymounts mounted on the stock rack. I too have to flip it around so the hatch wouldnt hit it. The tray doesnt stick out that much. just run it backwards and be done with it.

mount it on the outside and it barely clears with the hatch open. this is what i did with mine, some people say the bar isnt strong enough... i have driven with my bike on top of my car 4000 miles(one trip, without removing the bike) like that and nothing happened.

You could buy another rail if it really bugs you having it backwards. Mine is a Sportsworks:
http://members.cox.net/sideman7/WRX-GT.jpg

I just took a peek at their website, and it appears that Thule bought them out, so you might be able to get the same rail from them...

yeah, i've got the same sportsworks rack... its a great rack and a must have for disk brakes.

the only diff between that and the thule is that thule put their lock in the ratchet mech.

i liked the racks sticking foward though... I always wanted to put some paper mache missles up there or something... heh

You could buy another rail if it really bugs you having it backwards. Mine is a Sportsworks:
http://members.cox.net/sideman7/WRX-GT.jpg

I just took a peek at their website, and it appears that Thule bought them out, so you might be able to get the same rail from them...
Man, I wish there were place like that to ride around here!

I don't have disk brakes and I like how I can lock my bike down with the Thule rack. I think I'm going to cut the rail down.

I have the THULE setup and rock the bike tray on the outside of the roof rails as well. Looks kinda cool sticking out past the rails.

-J

How much of a problem is the Thule rack if your Impreza wagon doesn't have a rear spoiler?