Don't see many cars with Factory fitted sunroofs

chaparral · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:06

While looking around at many different cars forsale,there seems to be very few cars now days that have a Factory fitted sunroof

Is this because most cars come with Air Conditioning or Climate Control ??

wassap · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:11

Aye, thats the main reason, i guess its cheaper to implement CC AC than a sunroof. I personally prefer sunroofs.Makes the cabin more airy.

Shimmy · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:13

[gloat]I have both[/gloat]

paradigm · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:16

The last car I owned with a sunroof was my E36 325i, granted it had Climate and a Sunroof, but that's pretty uncommon.

MagicBoy · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:19

It's the main reason. Sunroof is usually on the options list, although some cars now come with the glass roof things.

[TW]Fox · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:23

The reason is indeed because of AC and CC.

However, I happen to think this is the most pathetic, stupid and ridiculous reason ever which does nothing but further highlight how dim the British car buying public is. Everyone thinks you dont need a sunroof if you have AC, and vice versa. Just why do people think this? Can a sunroof chill a car with conditioned air? Can air conditioning fill a cabin with light?

They are two completely different items which have been bizarrely and curiously linked in the minds of the buying public.

Go to the USA or Australia and lots of cars have sunroofs (Or moonroof as its called in the USA) despite all having climate as well. I can only imagine this is because they are slightly less daft than we are.

I'd LOVE a sunroof in my car.

paradigm · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:26

[TW]Fox;20043677 said:
Go to the USA... I can only imagine this is because they are slightly less daft than we are.

That can't be the reason, as that's simply not true!

I guess it's more to do with the utter lack of sun we get.

thecremeegg · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:28

paradigm said:
That can't be the reason, as that's simply not true!

I guess it's more to do with the utter lack of sun we get.

Its because they leak

[TW]Fox · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:34

thecremeegg said:
Its because they leak

Only broken ones.

Shimmy · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:35

thecremeegg said:
Its because they leak

My 10 year old sunroof is leak free, as are both of my parents 15 year old w124 sunroofs.

But yes sunroofs do have the risk of being another bill, rust/leaks/motor failing.

Dogbreath · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:36

thecremeegg said:
Its because they leak

They CAN leak, but they don't all leak by default. If my 13 year old Fiat and 8 year old MG Rover have sun roofs which still don't leak, I don't see why this should be a problem in general on newer and better quality cars.

MagicBoy · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:37

thecremeegg said:
Its because they leak

Only if they are broken, old or a badly fitted aftermarket pop-up type.

POB · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:41

My last three cars and my current one have a sun roof.

My favorite was the Fiat Stilos Sky Roof, the entire roof folded up not just a small section of glass.

They do sometimes reduce head height, so that might annoy some people.

chaparral · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:45

thecremeegg said:
Its because they leak

Maybe the "tilt only" cheap ones....

But most my cars have had the better tilt & slide back sunroofs and have never leaked

Philz0r · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:49

i miss sunroofs

chaparral · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:49

Ok stupid question time

What the difference between having Air Conditioning and Climate Control ??

wassap · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:52

Mind we are a nation that seems determined to buy softops and never have the roof down, so many people who own Z3's,Boxster's on our estate seem to be of this type, they all look at me funny when i drop the top on my MX5.

Why have a sunrroof when you can buy a convertible instead

Joshy · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:53

[TW]Fox;20043677 said:
They are two completely different items which have been bizarrely and curiously linked in the minds of the buying public.

Is it necessarily the fault of the Birtish public though? The first time I heard of the 'either/or' solution was with BMW on E36s.

Had a sunroof in every car bar the latest and I really do miss the extra cabin light.

POB · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:54

chaparral said:
Ok stupid question time

What the difference between Air Conditioning and Climate Control ??

I know Air Conditioning can cool the air...But does having Climate Control also cool the air ??

Air condition cools / heats the air with a refrigerant.

Climate control, controls the air conditioning to an exact temperature in degrees, and will constantly adapt the cooling / heating process to maintain the temp.

Climate control often comes with a dual zone feature allowing the passenger and driver to have different temperature settings.

Normal manual air conditioning is just always on at the setting you set based on the temp (blue to red style dial) / fan speed.

Cosimo · 11 Sep 2011 at 11:56

My last but one had a panoramic roof which was brilliant, the current one has one.