Greg, this doesn't answer you questions but here are some slightly off topic roof rack thoughts. I too refuse to put out $300 plus for a roof rack. Back in March 5th,on this board, Gordon said he made a strong roof rack for a gutterless car by bending four modified "S" shaped steel straps that fit inside the door slots and bolted to wood cross bars with two length bars fasten to that. He said it was very strong and he carries two kayaks on it. Also, in the JC WHITNEY AUTOMOTIVE CATALOG there is a two bar roof rack for ($29 for 4 door vehicles-50" wide-with or without rain gutters-heavy duty steel and no mar rubber feet.) It looks like this could be modified for a kayak rack.

John