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For some reason, sun/moonroofs have become standard on the higher trims of many cars/trucks. I would be happy if I could opt out.
A sunroof adds a lot of weight up high, shifting the center of gravity so much that, in some vehicles, it can only be used with the counter-weight of a 4/all-wheel drivetrain.
Sunroofs, when they are options, are expensive.
The first time I had a car with a sunroof, it seemed like a pretty snazzy item -- I could look up and see the clouds (or the moon and stars.) As you can imagine, the 'new' wore off of that pretty quick!
I have only found one real use for a sunroof: to vent the hot air out of the cabin -- the very same hot air which was created by the 'solar heater' in the ceiling. Depending on how far north you live, this feature might be a bonus for some part of the year.
In my Element, the sunroof has no inside sliding cover. It is above the rear seat area and passengers always complain about the sun shining directly down onto them. I added dark tint but that simply made the glass itself as hot as a pancake griddle -- they weren't any happier having that hotplate a couple of inches above their heads! Many do have inside slides to block the light, but what is the point of it if you need to keep it closed. The one positive point it had -- the view -- is then gone.
I suspect that the real purpose of sunroofs is only for car dealers: to brighten the interior of otherwise gloomy passenger cabins while potential buyers are shopping.
So, whadaya think? Other than sightseeing on a trip to a national park with neck-craning views like Arches, Bryce, or the Redwoods, what redeeming points do sunroofs have?
A sunroof adds a lot of weight up high, shifting the center of gravity so much that, in some vehicles, it can only be used with the counter-weight of a 4/all-wheel drivetrain.
Sunroofs, when they are options, are expensive.
The first time I had a car with a sunroof, it seemed like a pretty snazzy item -- I could look up and see the clouds (or the moon and stars.) As you can imagine, the 'new' wore off of that pretty quick!
I have only found one real use for a sunroof: to vent the hot air out of the cabin -- the very same hot air which was created by the 'solar heater' in the ceiling. Depending on how far north you live, this feature might be a bonus for some part of the year.
In my Element, the sunroof has no inside sliding cover. It is above the rear seat area and passengers always complain about the sun shining directly down onto them. I added dark tint but that simply made the glass itself as hot as a pancake griddle -- they weren't any happier having that hotplate a couple of inches above their heads! Many do have inside slides to block the light, but what is the point of it if you need to keep it closed. The one positive point it had -- the view -- is then gone.
I suspect that the real purpose of sunroofs is only for car dealers: to brighten the interior of otherwise gloomy passenger cabins while potential buyers are shopping.
So, whadaya think? Other than sightseeing on a trip to a national park with neck-craning views like Arches, Bryce, or the Redwoods, what redeeming points do sunroofs have?