George,
The challenge with the new racks is the side rail is a solid piece of plastic (I am sure there is a metal core) that goes all of the way to the car top except for the center 21", there is no extended slot to mount a cross bar on. I have modified my current set up similar to what you have done and I am happy with that. Volvo and VW both have wagons that are low with very long racks but the price tag for the car and repairs is a bit much for me. I do like the Subarus, both of my sons drive one and the only reason I am thinking about replacing mine is my daughter is in the market for a used one and where I can get a discount on new ones it is a way to help her out.
Scott

: Lucky you!

: I find I'm usually paying as much for a car with 25,000 miles on
: it, as most folk pay for a new car..... what's wrong with that
: picture? :-)

: When I bought the Thule racks for my Legacy, I found the intended
: distance between front/back left a lot to be desired - and there
: was obviously more 'track' left on the cars fore/aft mounting
: brackets. The Thules were set up to only allow so much travel on
: the 'legs' that lock into the cars track. After talking with a
: rep from Thule, I asked -'why'? He had no explanation, but noted
: that my plan, to grind a bit of the restriction out of the
: horizontal bars travel (the part that locks into the track) was
: what he'd done with his Thules - also voiding the warranty. I
: did, it worked fine, and I get about three feet of separation,
: front to rear. Works fine, btw.