Do any new cars still come with a 'normal' sunroof?

Do any new cars still come with a 'normal' sunroof?

Author
Discussion

daydotz

1,751 posts

168 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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BMW seem to still have a old style sunroof

Alex_225

6,632 posts

208 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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My daughters mum bought a Twingo 133 brand new back in 2010 and spec'd a panoramic sunroof. Oddly though, as part of the pack it came with climate control as well which I thought was an odd combination really.

That said, it made the car so much lighter inside and the tinted glass looks good against the white paintwork. Plus the whole front pane lifted over the back pane so was a really nice addition.



My 2007 CLS63 has a glass sunroof and I'd like one in whatever replaces my old E Class.

W8PMC

3,376 posts

245 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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F10 M5 has a regular sunroof as standard.

IanCress

4,409 posts

173 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Just bought a 2008 Civic with a big glass roof. I was disappointed to find it's just a glass panel and it doesn't actually open. The button in front of the sunroof merely opens the blind, not the actual roof.

Krikkit

26,951 posts

188 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Alex_225 said:
My daughters mum bought a Twingo 133 brand new back in 2010 and spec'd a panoramic sunroof. Oddly though, as part of the pack it came with climate control as well which I thought was an odd combination really.
Probably because the extra glass on top means that you need a higher-rated air con system than standard to keep temps in check.

Alex_225

6,632 posts

208 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Krikkit said:
Probably because the extra glass on top means that you need a higher-rated air con system than standard to keep temps in check.
Possibly mate although the glass was heavily tinted so you rarely felt heat through without the blinds pulled across.

Not that it was a bad thing as the dials instead of the digital screen in the Twingo didn't look as good haha.

Hammerhead

2,702 posts

261 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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I've had sunroofs in each of the 5 series I've owned and liked them. Had one on my S-Type Jag and didn't like it - somehow just felt wrong in that car.

Love the panoramic roof on my current stead, it lets so much light in, front and back. I think going back to a 'normal' one would feel a bit rubbish in comparison.

FD3Si

857 posts

151 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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sparkythecat said:
We call them sunroofs, but in the US they're called moonroofs
I because this is PH, I'm going to be the requisite pedantic asshats.

I'm under the impression that, technically, they're different things. I think a moonroof is glass, but a sunroof is usually metal. Although i think the specific definition is something like a sunroof is any aperture in a roof that can be opened to let light and fresh air past, but a moonroof is always glass. Or the other way round. Or something.

Edited by FD3Si on Wednesday 22 March 11:18

Challo

10,779 posts

162 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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We have a new F30 on order and that comes with a standard sunroof.

Filibuster

3,281 posts

222 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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I can't see the connection between aircon and sunroof either.
A glass sunroof lightens up the interior massively!
On my S4 Avant I got the all black ceiling (black ceiling always looks much classier imho!) and it lightens up the interior.
On my previous Lupo GTI (again with black ceiling) I had a glass sunroof too, again much better.
But the most difference made the glas sunroof in my C30! Bought new, the only options I went for where leather seats and glass sunroof (oh, and that must have spoiler of course!)

All cars where fitted with automatic AC which I never ever turn of, be it winter or if I'm driving with all the windows open.
My default setting is to have the sunroof tilted, in the summer even when parked.
I must admit that I like the look of most cars when the sunroof is tilted boxedin

Pan Pan Pan

10,362 posts

118 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Some seem to like them, and others do not. I have had four cars fitted with them, and found that I hardly ever used them, In some cases I couldn't even be bothered to slide back the blind that came with them. In some cars, even those with wind deflectors the aerodynamic buffeting and wind noise was so bad at cruising speed, it was enough to make the occupants feel ill.
It may be the design of them has improved of late but given that even low cost cars can have air con these days, not many seem to spec them for their new cars these days, it seemed to be a bit of a 70`s thing which has had its day. I remember wags on the top floor of buses trying to chuck rubbish into a car via its sunroof as a bit of sport at the traffic lights! Not been in a car with a panoramic roof yet, but I think I might like that idea more than a sunroof.

Tam_Mullen

2,363 posts

179 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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FD3Si said:
I because this is PH, I'm going to be the requisite pedantic asshats.

I'm under the impression that, technically, they're different things. I think a moonroof is glass, but a sunroof is usually metal. Although i think the specific definition is something like a sunroof is any aperture in a roof that can be opened to let light and fresh air past, but a moonroof is always glass. Or the other way round. Or something.

Edited by FD3Si on Wednesday 22 March 11:18
I think you're right, my uncle had a car which I seem to remember had a sun roof that was metal with a bit of headlining attached and wasn't see through at all... scratchchin

Richard-390a0

2,537 posts

98 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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FD3Si said:
I because this is PH, I'm going to be the requisite pedantic asshats.

I'm under the impression that, technically, they're different things. I think a moonroof is glass, but a sunroof is usually metal. Although i think the specific definition is something like a sunroof is any aperture in a roof that can be opened to let light and fresh air past, but a moonroof is always glass. Or the other way round. Or something.

Edited by FD3Si on Wednesday 22 March 11:18
I always considered a sunroof as having slide & tilt functionality (usually with some sort of retractable blind) & a moonroof as just having the tilt function, usually a retro fit thing with no blind.

AlexHat

1,330 posts

126 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Ninja59 said:
Most of the BMW range still do.

I think on some cars, more so with a low roof line they can massively help increase the "feel" of more space. Equally lighter interior colours can help as well.

Edited by Ninja59 on Wednesday 22 March 08:18
I've never really got why every car with a sunroof is described as having less headroom, but then I've not been in a car with a sunroof since childhood so didn't ever have headroom issues

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

262 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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AlexHat said:
I've never really got why every car with a sunroof is described as having less headroom, but then I've not been in a car with a sunroof since childhood so didn't ever have headroom issues
Sliding sunroofs invariably require additional space between the roof skin and headlining so they can reduce headroom.

GroundEffect

13,864 posts

163 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Sounds like i'm the only person to hate the things? Never used them when i had one - they are out of sight when I'm driving.

Convertible or nothing.

AREA

497 posts

232 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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GroundEffect said:
Sounds like i'm the only person to hate the things? Never used them when i had one - they are out of sight when I'm driving.

Convertible or nothing.
\

No - you're not the only one. Hateful things! One of the reasons (along with the dashboard) that I didn't buy a Jag XJ and why I'm struggling to replace my current MB CLS.


V8RX7

27,566 posts

270 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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I love them and my Forester had a big one.

I agree that they're rarely open but they really brighten up the interior.

Both my wife's and daughter's cars had them to but trying to find them in the used market, really limits your choices.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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FD3Si said:
sparkythecat said:
We call them sunroofs, but in the US they're called moonroofs
I because this is PH, I'm going to be the requisite pedantic asshats.

I'm under the impression that, technically, they're different things. I think a moonroof is glass, but a sunroof is usually metal. Although i think the specific definition is something like a sunroof is any aperture in a roof that can be opened to let light and fresh air past, but a moonroof is always glass. Or the other way round. Or something.

Edited by FD3Si on Wednesday 22 March 11:18
I thought the difference with a moonroof was the whole panel was removable?

KaraK

13,267 posts

216 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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AREA said:
GroundEffect said:
Sounds like i'm the only person to hate the things? Never used them when i had one - they are out of sight when I'm driving.

Convertible or nothing.
\

No - you're not the only one. Hateful things! One of the reasons (along with the dashboard) that I didn't buy a Jag XJ and why I'm struggling to replace my current MB CLS.
I don't hate them in that it wouldn't be a deal-breaker if a car had one (in fact I've owned three cars with them) but I can't see the point and generally ignore them when I have them. The only one I can't ignore is the one in my Clio and that's because the sodding thing leaks!