does it make a difference in handling? i want to remove it for more hatch cargo room but was wondering if it makes a noticeable difference in stiffness.

 

If you wanted space, you should have bought a different car.

 

agreed. its there for a reason... leave it

 

Keep it. It stabilizes the whole rear end. Your car will feel much looser, and sloppy without it.

 

I remember reading a post years ago from someone who removed it (temporarily). He was going on a trip and needed more cargo room. He didn't say anything bad happened. I'm with the others though. I wouldn't mess with it. But that's me.

If you do decide to do it, come back and tell us what it was like and if anything bad happened.

 

If you've got the Bose Hose in the rear, I'd pull that out, that'll give you quite a bit more room.

Leave the rear strut bar, it's there for a reason.

 

im with the others, if they put a rear strut bar there from factory, it serves a purpose..

id leave it

 

If you mean, can you remove it for a single trip that you need to haul more stuff, go for it. If you mean, can you remove it for long term use, buy a different car.

 

Anyone ever purchase an aftermarket rear strut bar and feel the difference?

 

^^i wanted to know the same thing, have you?

 

Why would you feel a difference? The aftermarket strut bars I've seen are intended to accomodate eye bolts for harness mounts, which they're not much better for than the stock bar (because the flimsy mounting brackets are still a weak link). Side-to-side, however, there's no difference.

 

I would never trust my life with harnesses mounted to that bar, or an aftermarket piece there either.