Who actually uses their sunroof?

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syntax

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So after 15 cars, I recently got a vehicle with my first sunroof.
I dont know what i was expecting, but it feels like a bit of a waste.

Sliding open the cover cooks my head, opening it in any form makes the car unbearably hot ( I guess the heatwave doesnt help)

The only way I can use it is if i keep the aircon on, which seems like its defeating the purpose.
I have had one mildly pleasant experience driving fairly late at night where I could actually have the windows a little bit down and the tilt on the sunroof, but overall, it feels like a collossal waste of time and money.

Am i missing something here or is it just for the look factor?
 
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I never open mine because of the noise at anything over 60, under that it's nice to hear the turbo on cold nights. And that's on tilt, I never actually open it short of it having stood in the sun and wanting to air the car quickly.

Definitely wouldn't pay for it as an optional extra.



I like leaving the cover open though because it makes the car feel roomier inside, so next time I'll just have an all glass panoramic roof that doesn't open.



I also feel cars with sunroof are noisier in general than their normal counterparts but it's a bit tricky to compare.
 
My one cousin uses his sunroof on his car.When he upgrade to another main vehicle that didn't have a sunroof he was bummed out & kicked himself for not opting for one with a sunroof.
 
As one motoring publication put it,

Fashion engineering.

Engineer something
that appeals to 1% of the population in the hopes they will buy it.
 
syntax said:
So after 15 cars, I recently got a vehicle with my first sunroof.
I dont know what i was expecting, but it feels like a bit of a waste.

Sliding open the cover cooks my head, opening it in any form makes the car unbearably hot ( I guess the heatwave doesnt help)

The only way I can use it is if i keep the aircon on, which seems like its defeating the purpose.
I have had one mildly pleasant experience driving fairly late at night where I could actually have the windows a little bit down and the tilt on the sunroof, but overall, it feels like a collossal waste of time and money.

Am i missing something here or is it just for the look factor?
Click to expand...

Basically the look factor - like those guys who walk around with their sunglasses tilted back up over their heads; almost like an alice band. I have a sun roof on my car, but that's because it was specced by another guy who then forfeited his R10k deposit and the car ended up on the show room floor. Having said that, there are two benefits with it imo:

- it does actually add to the looks of the vehicle. Bit of an expensive "spoiler".
- when I have to park in direct sun, leaving it tilted open actually does make the car feel cooler when you get back in it.

On another point, I was told by a VW salesman, when I was looking at the Golf R, that sunroofs actually increase the resale value of Gti's etc. Them VAG folks....
 
SauRoNZA said:
I never open mine because of the noise at anything over 60, under that it's nice to hear the turbo on cold nights. And that's on tilt, I never actually open it short of it having stood in the sun and wanting to air the car quickly.

Definitely wouldn't pay for it as an optional extra.



I like leaving the cover open though because it makes the car feel roomier inside, so next time I'll just have an all glass panoramic roof that doesn't open.



I also feel cars with sunroof are noisier in general than their normal counterparts but it's a bit tricky to compare.
Click to expand...

We have had this debate before, but in reply to the two parts I bolded above from your post:

1 - that's likely because your Gti had a "factory fault" in terms of the design of the sunroof. Or it's just generally a shoddy design from VW. I can cruise with my car @100km plus and not notice it. Then again, it may be the superior engine blocking the noise :D

2 - tricky to compare? How about tricky to even make that assertion? Other than you potentially having owl-like hearing, what are you basing this on?
 
I use mine pretty much every time I use the car.

Opened my convertible's roof EVERY day except when it rained or was below 10 deg.

Missed a sunroof every time I didn't have it. Busy selling the convertible, already depressed about it.

Each to their own.
 
When I bought my car, I had a choice of beige without a sunroof, and red with one. I took the red one, the colour looked better. I didn't set out to buy a car with a sunroof. I also figured that it'll be years until I buy another car, so I might as well go all the way.

I barely use it in summer. I'm more of an aircon person - can't stand heat. Open it to let the baking heat out quickly, if the car has been sitting for a while. If it's really cool in summer, I open it all the way. Otherwise I tilt it open when driving in cool evenings.

It's mostly used in winter. Sometimes it's nice having just the cover open, especially on cold mornings when the sun is out. Otherwise it's open all the way.
 
Splinter said:
We have had this debate before, but in reply to the two parts I bolded above from your post:

1 - that's likely because your Gti had a "factory fault" in terms of the design of the sunroof. Or it's just generally a shoddy design from VW. I can cruise with my car @100km plus and not notice it. Then again, it may be the superior engine blocking the noise :D

2 - tricky to compare? How about tricky to even make that assertion? Other than you potentially having owl-like hearing, what are you basing this on?
Click to expand...



Like you said we've had this discussion.



I'm not repeating myself.



It's not a GTI problem, there is no fault from VW. I've driven plenty of cars with sunroofs, results are the same.



You sound like those people who say "my convertible has no buffeting even at 160". Nonsense, they all have buffeting, it can't be avoided. It's whether you can live with it or not.
 
reactor_sa said:
As useless as a convertible
Click to expand...

+ 1 trillion...

I thought I was the only 1 that realised this.

The car only looks nice but your head will burn on a kark hot day as the windshield deflects the wind up, not that the wind will help n any case...
 
CamiKaze said:
+ 1 trillion...

I thought I was the only 1 that realised this.

The car only looks nice but your head will burn on a kark hot day as the windshield deflects the wind up, not that the wind will help n any case...
Click to expand...

Hence I wear a hat when I put the roof down and it's sunny...

Nothing quite like caning it through a mountain pass with the top down...
 
Sinbad said:
Hence I wear a hat when I put the roof down and it's sunny...

Nothing quite like caning it through a mountain pass with the top down...
Click to expand...


You have a proper convertible though with a metal roof.

But that cloth **** must bugger off.
 
He has an SLK if my memory is correct.

Or was someone else the hairdresser? :)
 
Splinter said:
Basically the look factor - like those guys who walk around with their sunglasses tilted back up over their heads;
Click to expand...

not so sure about the look factor
mine has a panoramic sunroof - unless you are taller than 2m you wont even be able to see it unless in the car.

as for using it, never in the day, constantly during evenings and night
 
SauRoNZA said:
Like you said we've had this discussion.



I'm not repeating myself.



It's not a GTI problem, there is no fault from VW. I've driven plenty of cars with sunroofs, results are the same.



You sound like those people who say "my convertible has no buffeting even at 160". Nonsense, they all have buffeting, it can't be avoided. It's whether you can live with it or not.
Click to expand...

And you be wrong I think. Been told it by a friend who had that Gti (5 or 6; I forget). He was informed of this by his VW service manager. But, for you, I will double check with him.

Just how many would these "plenty" of cars be that you have personally driven? What makes, and what age of model?

Also, bringing a convertible "at 160" is just totally off tangent.

Tell you what Sauron - come have a drive with me in my car. We stay in proximity to each other; and you have absolutely no reason to be scared to take up the offer.
 
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