Sunroofs!

K.C. Leblanc said:
They can also be problematic on older cars. My dad had a Passat that had to be parked with the back higher then the front, if you didn't and it rained you'd get water dumped on you when you drove off.
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Preferable to the roof going rotten because of clogged drains etc.
 
Love having a panoramic roof in my A4 Avant. Makes the entire interior feel much more spacious. It retracts quite far back as well for when you fancy an open top feel.
 
My parents went through a succession of MK2 and MK3 Golfs that all had sunroofs and despite the MK3s having working air conditioning the sunroofs were open as much as possible. My mum sold her MK7 Golf GTI with a 'panoramic' sunroof last year, she bought the car new and one of the options she absolutely had to tick was the sunroof, she wasn't fussed about anything else other than the car also being a GTI - wanted to re-live her youth I guess.

I wouldn't mind a sunroof in my next car, I've been looking at an E92 with a sunroof on AutoTrader on and off for the last couple of weeks, so it is quite tempting as the car has most of the other kit I've been looking out for as well. If another car came a long with everything I wanted apart from the sunroof I wouldn't turn it down, it's more a nice-to-have rather than have-to-have for me. Functioning, freezing cold, A/C is on the list of have-to-haves for the next one as the last two cars haven't had working A/C (not a simple re-gas job).
 
Had a proper nightmare with the sunroof drains on my MG ZT-T leaking - it's a design shared with the BMW E46 platform which also seems to leak.
If it wasn't for that, I'd love it - the replacement E61 I bought doesn't have one, and I do miss it on hot days.
 
I like them, its the cost that puts people off, I added the Pan roof option on the XC60 as it was only a £1200 option, but i havent used it as much as i thought i would, the sun burns your head when its open on a properly hot day. I wont be having one on my new car unless its a proper pan roof and less than a £1k option. Theres always something more preferable on the options list nowadays, i certainly couldnt have the old style small sunroof, its full roof or nothing :p
 
I would love a panoramic roof for the sunlight, not necessarily just to open. Expensive extras like you say, though.
 
I also would like a sunroof - had them in quite a few cars and I do miss them. never had a glass one and electric if possible .

I have been a auto man since my second car in late 60's and have had them if it was convenient - now got a power shift and love it.
 
I like the sunroof in the RS3, as an option I think they call it a pano roof, and whilst when it’s closed it’s a nice big area to let light in, when it’s actually opened fully it’s not a massive opening.

It does creak now and again which they are known for, but I’m still glad I have it.

Wasn’t a must have on the spec when I was looking for one, but it was definitely a nice to have.
 
Nasher said:
It does compromise rigidity quite a lot as well.
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I think that is only important on race, track or serious hoon cars which a family car to cruise about in is not.

I know I shouldn't be scared of automatic cars, they have come a long way in the last 20 years, and my current audi has very poor engine braking response anyway!

I am glad people enjoy the sunroofs, for me it is light and fresh air to try to get some of the convertible feel. Sadly 4 seater convertibles are hard to find with enough comfort in the back for adults and very often the roof eats into the luggage space when you put it down and would be very limiting. (on holiday in France I was sat outside a bar with my Dad and the top entertainment watching 4 Brits in a Saab trying to get the roof down with a few small bits in the back - down it came, beep, back up again, shuffle some bags, try again 5 times and give up a and drive the roof closed on a sunny day! (We of course had 2 cars, 2 lots of petrol, 2 different crossings instead!))
 
Pigeon said:
I think that is only important on race, track or serious hoon cars which a family car to cruise about in is not.

I know I shouldn't be scared of automatic cars, they have come a long way in the last 20 years, and my current audi has very poor engine braking response anyway!
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Pretty much all new cars are like this apart from fast stuff like Porsche and other premium sports car brands.

It seems newer cars these days like to hold revs whether auto or manual, some of the hire cars I've had recently (Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Mocha etc those sort of cars) seems like once you take you're foot off the accelerator they very slowly start dropping revs, almost as if its holding onto them somehow. I guess the idea is its more efficient for coasting and mpg.
 
I think a heavy flywheel causes that. Probably is an eco thing tbh. and its supposed to make it easier to work the clutch/gears for people who cant drive.

I borred a tall Fiat 500 thing recently and that was just awful to drive. The controls didnt feel like they were actually connected to anything.
 
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I had a sun roof, then didnt, and now do again. All were crap cars without Aircon. I like that they let light in through it during the winter but I don't actually have it open ever - on the flapped up setting it doesn't really sick air in and on the wide open setting its just defening.

I'd quite like a "glass roof" bit in whatevrr car I get next though.
 
Blackhawk47 said:
It seems newer cars these days like to hold revs whether auto or manual, some of the hire cars I've had recently (Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Mocha etc those sort of cars) seems like once you take you're foot off the accelerator they very slowly start dropping revs, almost as if its holding onto them somehow. I guess the idea is its more efficient for coasting and mpg.
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Mine does that unless I put it into sport mode - you really have to get it down to a T in normal (now eco) mode to get it to taper off speed without braking to slide into a new speed limit. In sport mode it is a very different beast.

In a lot of vehicles normal driving mode has now been re-tweaked to parameters more like an eco mode.
 
Got a sunroof on my '03 and it's fine. Just jet the drains out maybe once a year, takes a few seconds and all is good.
I wouldn't say I use it that much, but it's great to help vent the heat after being parked in the hot sun all day at work, even with the aircon.

Automatics are just boring, though.
 
My Subaru has a sunroof, and dual climate - You cannot beat the open sun roof and quite country roads and a nice sounding 6 cylinder engine with a 6MT, things sadly going by the wayside.
 
Panoramic roofs all the way, it'd have to be a big compromise for me not to. A bit of patience and the right spec car always turns up :)


Roofs good for smoking and driving, but the pano is great for the kids in the back seat, much less claustrophobic.
 
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