Why are some luxury cars ditching sunroof's in exchange for glass roofs that don't open?
Posted by mustangfan12@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 289 comments
Right now with some expensive EVs and luxury cars, they are ditching the sunroof in exchange for an all glass roof that doesn't open and has adjustable shade. I was watching a video about the new Polestar 3, and with that car they just have a giant glass roof that doesn't open. I personally think a sunroof that opens is more premium and also it allows you to have more control over how much sunlight your car gets in. I also wonder if in a all glass roof, if it will heat the car up more when it's just parked. Why are luxury cars moving away from sunroof's that open?
TheDreadfulGreat@reddit
I work in automotive marketing and it’s shocking how many people say “please tell me I can delete the sunroof”
The main two reasons I hear are 1) perceived leakiness (not an issue I’ve ever experienced, the sunroof gaskets are as sound as the windshield) and 2) loss of headroom (absolutely true)
My parents have a sunroof in their car but keep even the shade part closed 24/7, because it’s “too bright and too hot to drive”
Perth_R34@reddit
Because most people don’t open the sunroof.
Occhrome@reddit
Hard disagree.
I’ll bet you 5$ dollars that its because it looks more modern, cheaper than a sunroof, easier to manufacture and when it breaks they need to come back to the dealer for a new OEM glass roof.
Thereelgerg@reddit
$5
5 dollars
There are multiple ways to write out "five dollars" but you still did whatever you did.
megacookie@reddit
$5$ dollar$
techtimee@reddit
What a beautiful start to reddit today
llamacohort@reddit
I would think that aging better and never leaking are more important than things like "looking modern".
Gold_Pangolin_Dragon@reddit
IIRC glass panel roofs are also substantially lighter than moon roofs. Lighter weight = more mpg.
danny_ish@reddit
Automotive engineers do not care about maintenance cost or how much profit they will make from maintaining a vehicle.
We care that it is able to be manufactured, able to be warranty, and meet the cost and weight requirements along with the timing requirements for the project. That’s it. Nobody is telling us to make something that will allow for higher profit margins on a repair component.
dnyank1@reddit
yeah go tell that to GM, delco makes more profit for them than the vehicles do
mymomisyourfather@reddit
yes but thats by and large a result of cost cutting on the parts and incredible margins on parts (5 to 10x sale price vs cost is quite 'normal') and not a deliberate move to make it shit.
Granted, the end result is the same
dnyank1@reddit
If you think the lifecycle of your car hasn't been precisely engineered to have a specific service interval and specific in-service lifetime estimate... boy have I got a bridge to sell you. And it isn't in even in Brooklyn
mymomisyourfather@reddit
That is still not the same as making it shit. Yes of course lifetime (Ln) of parts is engineered, but its based on six sigma statistics coupled with a safety aspect (like ASIL rating) or customer satisfaction metric. Increased importance of those factors, the higher the mean Ln shifts to account for outliers.
Every single part of a vehicle can be made to not fail in 20, 30 or 40 years. But that would make that very same vehicle so extremely heavy and expensive that it cannot possibly be competitive. 70 to 80% of the cost of a vehicle is in purchased parts, and margins are razor thin. So of course a lifetime target is chosen that makes it possible to design a competitive product. Again; that does not mean that parts are deliberately made to break down. Its maybe a matter of semantics and depending on how well a company does this the end result is similar but the GOAL and the PURPOSE is entirely different.
And that matters!
dnyank1@reddit
whatever helps you sleep at night, bud
danny_ish@reddit
Yeah thats not how it works. We have design cycle targets to meet or exceed, and acceptable failure criteria. We do check to make sure the test loads are reasonable, and sometimes have to lower them. But most of that focus is to ensure we arent adding costs or complexity.
dnyank1@reddit
so you do all that which results in
and you're telling me I'm wrong?
Sick.
danny_ish@reddit
Your comment made it sound like we are told ‘make this last for 250k miles, but fail at 251.
Which is not how it works
dnyank1@reddit
I mean... it's not that deliberate or sinister.
But if you think for a SECOND the MBA's who determine the design criteria haven't carefully balanced out all of this, with charts, graphs, data and sheer sweat-and-tears.... That is what they went to school for, that's what that piece of paper means.
Indeed, if you think there's no consideration of "planned obsolescence" (not the boogeyman, oh no! sorry, "product lifecycle") from the inception of historical and current automotive products, dating back to at least the 1950s... Again, buddy, bridge to sell you.
Your comment makes it sound like "they" (you?) don't know the ways the piece of shit they sell is going to fail, and how, and have a plan in place to profitably sell you the remedy. All of that is part of product development. Ask me how I know. (Second paragraph)
Those following along at home, look up the concept of graceful degradation. That squeal you hear when your brake pads wear out is engineered to be there.
danny_ish@reddit
Yes, I am Chassis Engineer for an OEM. We are on the same page now, but your original comment definitely read to me like I said previously.
And yes, we constantly have system requirements that are not logical or that well thought out. Including lifecycle testing vs reality correlation that has no basis in reality
DaggumTarHeels@reddit
Able to be warrantied == maintenance cost just with a shorter duration.
Yeah and that'd be difficult to forecast anyway.
I will say, it's clear that a lot of automotive engineers barely made it through school given some of the dumb-fuck decisions I've seen while repairing vehicles. Decisions that clearly have nothing to do with meeting cost or attribute constraints (like handling/ride quality/sound isolation/etc)
danny_ish@reddit
I can guarantee you that each of those dumb decisions are a result of dumb requirements.
randopop21@reddit
Yes, but their overseers DO care and likely pressure the engineers to do stupid things for greater profit.
My minivan has plastic parts for critical functions when metal would have worked and lasted forever. The plastic parts fail over time.
I'm sure automotive engineers know that yet it continues to happen.
eneka@reddit
I think this is the the missing piece most people dont' realize. Manufactuers are always trying to figure out new ways to mass produce things at a lower cost while keeping all the requirements.
Love reading the articles about new ways to manufacture things - like what Honda did with the new civic.
https://www.sae.org/news/2022/08/2022-honda-civic-lightweighting
INACCURATE_RESPONSE@reddit
I’ve optioned the moon roof on all my cars for the last 20 years and never opened them. I just like how much less claustrophobic it feels inside with the extra light.
ClaudeVS@reddit
No way, someone else from Perth!
admiraltarkin@reddit
I've opened my sunroof fewer than 10 times. I do always keep the shade open though, I like the visibility
mr_j_12@reddit
I must be one of the rare ones. Sunroof unless its middle of winter is at the very least popped.
NotoriousCFR@reddit
Tilted sunroof and cracked windows + heat and heated seats at full blast in the dead of winter = heaven
mr_j_12@reddit
My car didn't get the option for heated seats ticked. Shattered about that. 🤣👍
penguin_cheezus@reddit
My problem is the AC. Anything over 80 in Northern California I'm dying, so I don't want to let the cool air out. And when it's colder months, I'm not sure I want to hear the wind when driving around. And I say that as someone who has only ever driven cars with retractable roofs.
wtfduud@reddit
Isn't that all the more reason to not let extra solar rays into the car?
mr_j_12@reddit
If im on the highway, ill have aircon on, if not ill have roof open or popped. Im in australia so not exactly cool summers. As for the wind noise ive never really had an issue with wind noise from sunroof (or targa top in case of my mr2), more of an issue with windows that the roof cor me.
mb0205@reddit
As soon as it’s spring here in the Midwest in the US I open mine every day until it gets cold again late fall. Didn’t realize most don’t
mr_j_12@reddit
Glad I'm not the only one. Thought I was going crazy 🤣
account312@reddit
I've had my car ten years, and I'm not sure I've ever deliberately opened it.
Grumpyyann@reddit
They also tend to rattle over time and cause many other issues. Win win situation, I'm all for getting rid of sunroofs.
velociraptorfarmer@reddit
Fords are notorious for rattling sunroofs. My dad's old Explorer ST went through 4 entire assemblies in the 2 years he had it.
Grumpyyann@reddit
Add BMW and VW to that list. Specially in dry weather, the seal lubricant tend to evaporate and needs to be re-applied. I have to do this every 3-6 months on my BMW.
tsrich@reddit
I've heard this complaint a lot. Maybe I've been lucky but I've had sunroofs all my life and never had a leak or rattling.
Spicywolff@reddit
Have pano roof that opens. Can confirm I’d rather have all metal or glass fixed roof
Slasher1738@reddit
But damn, give us the screen as an option. I live in the south and it cooks you in the summer
biovllun@reddit
You can get it tinted. Btw, darkness of the tint isn't what keeps the car cool. There's main types of tint with some other types in between. There's some great videos on YouTube showing metered heat readings of how blocking ir keeps temps away.
Dyed: Exactly that and only that. Dyed to a certain darkness. Absolutely no other benefit. Will also fade over time.
Metallic: Darkness and blocks some heat. Beware having metallic all around has potential to mess with cell service and GPS.
Ceramic. Absolute best. Blocks most of the ir (infrared) which is where the heat from sunlight comes from.
Cryptic0677@reddit
You must not live in the Deep South. Tint helps but it certainly doesn’t fix the issue
biovllun@reddit
No. Up north. I mean yea, if it's parked long enough it won't make a difference in terms of getting in the car because the heat will radiate through the car. But in terms of feeling it on you when driving or say your car is nice and cool from the A/C and you need to run into a store for like 5-10min, it'll keep most of it out keeping it just cool enough to not want to die getting back on. Or even on a decent temperature day but very sunny, inside shouldn't be too hot considering there's no heat to radiate into the car and the tint is doing its job keeping the IR out.
SavageryRox@reddit
Recently got ceramic tints on my CX-5 and it's ridiculously good at blocking infrared rays. The car isn't boiling when I first get in anymore, and I noticed the AC doesn't blow as hard as it used to when I set it on "auto"
The important part is tinting all of the windows, including clear tint on the windshield.
Was my first time ever getting tints on a vehicle, but will be tinting every car I buy now. I believe I got 20% all around and clear on the windshield.
Cryptic0677@reddit
Have you had to change your registration sticker with the clear windshield tint? Not sure how that works
kon---@reddit
Now tell them what the world looks like out using polarized sunglasses to look through polarized IR blocking film.
na3800@reddit
Looks normal if you have quality tint
kon---@reddit
Quality film is polarized. Polarization is how it blocks IR waves.
Polarized + Polarized = colors
SavageryRox@reddit
I have never been big on sunglasses, so I have absolutely 0 issues with the tint.
Rapid_Roy_the_Rocket@reddit
Could always wear non polarized glasses while driving, but I got used to the colors and hardly notice anymore, as I like getting rid of the glare from the dashboard reflecting on the windshield.
kon---@reddit
Oh, I'd stuck with polarized lenes and like you, I got used to the effect.
No sense in swapping frames back and forth when getting in then out of the car.
dicksledgehammer@reddit
Both pair of sunglasses have are polarized and the world looks just fine.
kon---@reddit
Yea. I'm not saying anything isn't fine. I'm saying, there's an effect that occurs when polarized light hits polarized lenses.
Flyinace2000@reddit
Didn’t realize clear ceramic was an option! I also got a “light” color ceramic tint for the windows but didn’t want to darken my windshield. So it’s stock except for the strip at the top. I use one of those roll out blockers for the summer.
w0nderbrad@reddit
I think there’s 70/80/90 I think. Pretty much clear and doesn’t make a difference at night.
bandito12452@reddit
I also just use a sun shade for the windshield. Clear tint would be cool but I’ve already had to replace a few windshields in my cars due to rock chips/cracks, I’d be mad if I had to keep re-tinting them too
biovllun@reddit
I want to get ceramic as well, but meanwhile while being broke, I got a roll at Walmart for $20 to do my front 2 windows. Big difference in terms of sunlight heat on me. Light from the back I can feel the heat. Light from the front windows, nothing. Aside from this recent heatwave just cooking the entire car, as long as the sun is angled to (try) to heat my front seats from the front 2 windows, not nearly as hot. Gotta do the rears once this heatwave leaves. Ironic, but also to hot to do anything outside.
heatherdazy@reddit
How difficult is this?
biovllun@reddit
Depends. There's 2 ways. 1) Apply tint on the car. 2) Remove window, tint, put window back in.
Some cars it's easier to remove windows than others. Some cars can be a pita. I personally removed my windows but I also work auto body. There's plenty of videos on YouTube that show you how to tint on your car. There's also plenty of videos showing you how to remove the glass. You can watch both videos and decide what you want to do. But either way, for $20 (for 2 windows worth of tint), it's worth while to at least try.
Do note if you purchase tint from Walmart, read the boxes. They have basic, premium, and something else. My store personally only had dyed for car or metallic or shielding for truck (much bigger tint, but still 2 windows). I just bought the truck one since it blocked ir. I did see ceramic (I believe. Or maybe just premium(metallic)) for cars at another Walmart though nearby
Moistinterviewer@reddit
When you say block does that mean that the IR light is not reflected or it is reflected?
biovllun@reddit
Meaning it does block the IR. Regular light comes through (depending on tint darkness), but ir (which causes the heat) gets blocked. So you can have really dark tint where most of the light is blocked as well as IR or you can even have clear tint that lets all the light in like a regular window but blocks the IR (still keeping the heat out).
Moistinterviewer@reddit
That’s what I thought might happen, so if it absorbs the IR it heats up, my roof is scalding hot in summer and if I put the ceramic tint on it seems it would get hotter
biovllun@reddit
No no no. It BLOCKS the ir. Your car will be cooler. You WANT it block ir.
Moistinterviewer@reddit
Yea so the roof gets hotter, it’s not like reflecting the light where the temp of the surface reduces.
dicksledgehammer@reddit
This! I got my windows tinted with ceramic tints including the sunroof and windshield (windshield 80% and all others 35%) and it makes such a huge difference!! My wife’s car has regular tints and we both had the cars out in the driveway on a beautiful sunny day and after a few hours her car was scorching hot! My car while still hot was no where near as hot as hers. My wife also mentioned how when the sunshine hits her arm in my car it doesn’t feel hot like her car. So yeah the ceramic tints were definitely worth the extra money I paid!!!
JurboVolvo@reddit
Have you seen the monochromatic selective roof glass? switchable monochromatic roof glass
Slasher1738@reddit
Yes, but that's not an option they're selling in most cars
shophopper@reddit
As only a few cars have moonroofs (which don’t open), it is a logical impossibility that most cars have dimmable moonroofs.
Slasher1738@reddit
Which is why I'm asking for the retractable shade
bigev007@reddit
It still doesn't seem to stop the rays
shophopper@reddit
It sure as hell stops Ray Charles from peeking inside. Not sure about other Rays.
clauderbaugh@reddit
I'm pretty sure the casket is stopping Ray Charles first.
VictimOfRegions@reddit
JFC which middle management penny-pincher decided the best way to control a sunroof was a mousepad
timelessblur@reddit
The full gas roof no shade tend to have an IR shield in them on top of putting IR shields in front windshields as well now days.
To give you an idea how much that IR shield works, in the Texas sun my Mach E with a glass roof no sun shade stays cooler than my other car with glass roof and a sunshade in the sun. I can not drive in the summer my other car with the shade open because it is so hot. Mach E I dont even notice it other than the car is brighter on the inside but is not hot. Hell the Mach E in the summer is more comforable to drive temp wise than the other car.
1988rx7T2@reddit
Tesla increased the tint on the new Model Y glass roof. Obligatory yes I know you hate Elon.
Slasher1738@reddit
That's fine, but it should have had that tint to begin with.
THE_GR8_MIKE@reddit
TIL there are sunroofs without covers.
special_agent47@reddit
True. However some of it depends on the quality of the glass and UV blockers the manufacturer adds. Being inside a Tesla in the summer is like being inside a microwave on high. But my friend's new Polestar is cool as a cucumber inside and you can't even feel the heat from above.
blainestang@reddit
Disagree on Tesla. I had one for years in Florida and despite being >6’ tall (closer to roof), I never thought about the heat coming in except when people on Reddit claim it’s awful.
A tint company even did a test where they put quality tint on one Tesla roof and nothing on a other and measured the heat through the roof with a meter and there was basically no difference, so he said, basically, don’t bother buying roof tint from me, so it was against his interests to say that.
special_agent47@reddit
Curious on what model and year yours was. Mine was awful, and every Tesla I've ridden in has been awful.
BlazinAzn38@reddit
The Mach e has an IR coating and the interior doesn’t get any hotter than our non-sunroof car
spekt50@reddit
My current car I ordered with a moon roof thinking I'd like it. Nope, I for sure do not like having the hot sun shine down on me when I have a good working AC.
Anymore, I only open for novelty.
HedonisticFrog@reddit
I've used the sun roof exactly one time in my life, and it was to transport a tree that was too tall to otherwise fit in my sedan. Most of my cars have had sun roofs, they're just not worth it, and they can leak as well.
Funk-n-fun@reddit
Yeah. I think I've opened the sunroof on my MB E coupe 3 or 4 times during the 3 years that I've owned it. But on hot days I often roll all the windows down and enjoy the limitless side views that lack of B pillars offers. I do like the glass roof though as it brings light to the cabin.
Ken_1977@reddit
A sunroof is the best. When I return to my hot car in summer if you hold the unlock button down all the windows roll down and the sunroof opens. Car is no longer hot.
Larcya@reddit
Yeah these people are fucking nuts. I have mine open all the time.
I wouldn't buy a vehicle that doesn't have one.
randopop21@reddit
It will continue to be hot. That's because the rest of the surfaces and bodywork continue to be hot.
Rolling down the windows helps for sure, but it's not like a magic on/off button for the car being roasting.
Zhombe@reddit
Clogged drains totaling vehicles via interior electronic module corrosion in the wiring harness as well that run along the floorboards.
Also pretty neat to sell am excessively priced whole glass roof that’s only available OEM when a baseball drops on it or hail etc.
mymomisyourfather@reddit
Most German manufacturers specify a sunroof service in their service intervals, specifically to prevent this. However, most workshops and even some dealers seem to ignore this or don't know its required.
RabidBlackSquirrel@reddit
Yeah, it's a thing on my 124 Mercedes - supposed to clean and re-grease the mechanisms every once in a while. When I bought my car the sunroof was inop because all of the grease had solidified and it couldn't open. Easy enough to fix, but illustrates the point that it needs refreshing once in a while, and also it's much happier if you actually use it and keep stuff moving.
danny_ish@reddit
Shipped to an end customer which from a OEM suppliers point of view is either the OEM or a body shop, glass roofs are generally cheap cheaper than a big piece of stamped steel. That is so thin that 90% have some type of defect by the time they actually reach a body shop
altiuscitiusfortius@reddit
You've just reminded me I have a sunroof. I haven't opened it in 8 years, not since like the first week I bought the car.
amishbill@reddit
Heck. I don’t even open the shade. I’d be happier if there was no sunroof at all in my car.
WolfPlayz294@reddit
I do!!!
412gage@reddit
Unfortunately I’m one of those people that always has mine open. I really enjoy the fresh air when I’m driving and driving on the beach with the sunroof open is a vibe
Secuter@reddit
That, and whenever something can move it will also break much easier.
Jumpy_Patient2089@reddit
My wife has a sunroof. The other day I asked her to open it. She didn't even know where the button to open it was... She asked for this feature...
Fine-Huckleberry4165@reddit
I had the panoramic roof option on a 2003 Mégane. Opened it so often I wore the guides out. I'd have another roof like that if I could.
XBOX-BAD31415@reddit
Fuck that though - I don’t buy a car I can’t open my sun/moon roof!
TFiPW@reddit
My family has opened the sunroof maybe once or twice and since hasn't been opened since. Roller shade is closed too because it'll break if you use it too much.
speeding2nowhere@reddit
Yea another shitty trend
wgilrq@reddit
Main reason is with EVs you have a big battery under the floor. This raises the floor at least 4-6 inches. If you want a sleek roofline you have to make the roof panel as thin as possible. Glass doesn't need a headliner and gives you at least an inch of extra headroom for a given roofline.
chucchinchilla@reddit
Cost. It’s always cost.
antryoo@reddit
Glass roofs are cheaper and feel like a luxury unless you live in a hot and sunny place, then it turns your car into a solar powered oven
Lighthouse_seek@reddit
This is the part where you realize Tesla 's engineering team is based in the bay area, where it never gets that hot
antryoo@reddit
Mercedes is based in Germany. They love their glass roofs. Those cars are solar ovens too.
stakoverflo@reddit
I imagine they suck in cold climates too; sometimes I'll pull the shade back on my pano sunroof in the winter and it is noticeably colder.
antryoo@reddit
I l I’ve in SoCal where even in winter it’s often sunny and rarely below the 50’s during the day. If it’s sunny the roof allows enough heat to build up in the car that using the heater isn’t needed
Stunt_Vist@reddit
I live in the north and I still hate them because they cook me alive. Plus they cause glare which is annoying. I genuinely hate both sunroofs and glass roofs for that reason. Glass roofs also put loads of extra weight right in the worst place to have it as well so there's that.
Allaroundlost@reddit
I dont want a glass roof or sunroof, ever. I bought my recent vehicle in the lower trim because sunroof was a forced option on higher trims. Convertable is a different story, would prefer hardtop.
MayerMTB@reddit
Not buying a car without a sunroof. I open mine all the time.
That_Car_Enthusiast@reddit
I love sunroofs, I had to get a panoramic sunroof with my current car, that was basically my only requirement!
sipup@reddit
Automotive engineer here. Glass roof offers more head space, as it is thinner than metal. EVs are taller anyway becuase of the battery and that indirectly robbs head space, if the manufacturer wants to keep similar proportions to ice cars. So glass roof allows the roof to be slightly lower. Same reason why there is no movable blind or glass, it takes away head space.
And if i remember correctly, it is pretty cheap to do as well, especially if you fit it to every car.
And it is considered premium
Rich-Ant2524@reddit
it is pretty cheap to do as well, especially if you fit it to every car.
this is the real driver, no?
frogman1171@reddit
Tell your boss a bunch of people on Reddit said they suck. That should solve the problem once and for all
biliogna@reddit
Cost cutting. Just like luxury automakers using screens and charging more for them, when the actually cost far less than the real deal.
jbird600@reddit
I see many people mentioning sunroof complexity and durability concerns, but another reason is aero. Seems unrelated, but here's the sequence of thinking that leads to it: 1. Customers want cars that are larger and higher off the ground 2. The resulting car has a huge frontal area and thus a pretty bad drag coefficient 3. Designers and engineers lower the roof to get the frontal area down, but then they're impinging on passenger headroom 4. Put in a glass roof, and voila, everyone now has headroom in a squashed car riding high off the ground and can still get 25+ mpg
This is especially prevalent on EVs where the battery pack forces passengers upwards; the glass roof provides headroom without raising the roof, preserving aero efficiency.
cliffhung@reddit
The other thing I'm not seeing mentioned is EV range. An open Sunroof creates a ton of drag and will impact the range of an EV significantly.
Chippy569@reddit
Yeah, didn't see many people mention packaging but a sunroof takes up vertical space -- the tracks and linkages have to live somewhere after all -- and to some extent that is also a weight/center of gravity argument.
PeterGator@reddit
Thanks for sharing. This is exactly the understanding I have as well. I will also add that the glass roof on previous engineering studies caused issues with raising the cg but with the large mass of the battery below the seats it is no longer a big issue for items like rollover even on an suv.
strongmanass@reddit
That's exactly it, and designers have admitted it in interviews. It's also a relatively inexpensive way to make a car feel upscale. A glass roof feels like a premium feature which justifies a higher price, it solves a packaging problem, designers get to do something new. Good luck to the consumer if a gravel truck drops a gift on your roof.
Jayfore@reddit
I think similar to other dumb decisions - they think people will think it's cool (and worth paying more for), when in reality it sucks. Like everything having to be controlled via touch screen or a swipe instead of a button or knob.
Egg_Dud3@reddit
It's a lot easier and cheaper to make a fixed glass window as opposed to a power sunroof, especially one that will actually keep water out for more than 5 years.
did_it_for_the_lols@reddit
Makes the car cabin feel open and cheaper than an actual sunroof. Shit trend, especially if you live in a hot place.
bouncing_bear89@reddit
Was told by MB dealer they couldn’t put a sunroof on an AMG GT63s because there isn’t room for it to slide in the roofline. Might be a consideration on some sports cars.
blueingreen85@reddit
Sunroofs have tons of drawbacks. They add weight at the very top of the car. They introduce a place for leaks and nvh.
RazingsIsNotHomeNow@reddit
That's always been the case. Small two seat cars never have room for sunroofs. If you wanted a sunroof in a sports car your option is a convertible.
Equivalent_Chipmunk@reddit
Or the superior targa top, especially if you have glass and solid panels
Theseus-Paradox@reddit
100% this, and also the American cousin, the T-Top!
Equivalent_Chipmunk@reddit
Love me some good t-tops! I do wish the vehicles they came in were a bit better though. I had a 4th gen F-body, and the powertrain was amazing, but the rest of the vehicle was a bit... let's just say it was reflective of the cost/corner cutting culture of GM at the time. The plastic (!) gears stripping out in the headlight motors, and the adhesive bubbling the sail panels (it was improperly specced from original manufacturing) were some of the highlights of that ownership experience. Oh yeah, and a floppy chassis so bad that you could see the car twisting if you jacked up one corner.
The C5/C6 with targas are better in every way except not having back seats
PhantomZmoove@reddit
This is the correct answer!
Bonus points if you get a hard top convertible 2 seater with a glass roof and just have all of everything that is great in one.
(I don't think anyone makes these currently, but I can only afford old cars anyway)
kdesu@reddit
My old Fiero had a sunroof. But it didn't slide, you popped it off and stored it in the trunk.
mhodd8@reddit
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTG_tOaIfg78XqUxN2aPd5VAH-rtHz-hWcS3AUW1Ij4wwrU09hETIE-79U&s=10
FD RX7 managed 30 years ago.
shamarctic@reddit
Not true. The glass can pop up and slide back over the roof. See most recent 911s
RazingsIsNotHomeNow@reddit
What? 911s aren't two seaters. Are you responding to the correct person?
JC-Dude@reddit
Neither is the AMG GT.
GrynaiTaip@reddit
Lots of small cars have sunroofs.
https://i.imgur.com/BsRG1RR.jpeg
Captain_Alaska@reddit
The space consideration has more to do with the reduction in head space on a type of car that generally has a restricted interior.
You don't need a long roof because you can always choose to slide the glass out the top or simply only allow it to pop open.
I realise these are 4 seaters but if you want some examples there is the RX-8, which pops up and then slides, or the 180SX, which only pops up as the placement of the rear hatch doesn't give it enough space to slide internally.
Chocolate-Milk@reddit
Not that it’s a fancy car or anything, but do you consider a Honda civic coupe a small car? They have moonroof options.
mustangfan12@reddit (OP)
Civic coupe's are decently big. On something like a dedicated sports car, it's much harder/impossible to get a sunroof also because the roof slopes more. The dodge challenger and Chevy camaro had sunroof options because the roof is relatively flat and its easy to fit one
RazingsIsNotHomeNow@reddit
Aren't they all 4 seaters? I thought only the old CRXs and del sols were two seats.
Chocolate-Milk@reddit
My 2016 civic coupe has a sunroof that’s the only reason I know lol so I was curious is all.
RazingsIsNotHomeNow@reddit
Yeah that's a two plus two. They occasionally have long enough roofs to have a sunroof. That's why I specified two seats in my first comment. The first gen AMG GT is a 2 seater. The new one is a 2+2 but it's still very small inside trying to look similar to the first so it's not surprising why the roof isn't big enough, unlike the Civic's.
Chocolate-Milk@reddit
Ohhh okay I see what you mean now. Thanks for clarifying that’s what I was trying to understand. I’m not a big car guy, just lurk here ha! I enjoy looking at interiors.
JustACowSP@reddit
Where there's a will, there's a way. Even MB's own CLA series has sunroof that just slide back outside the roof
GrynaiTaip@reddit
Doesn't have to slide into the rear part of the roof, it could just slide backwards outside.
On Scion tC it does this https://i.imgur.com/BsRG1RR.jpeg and it's very effective. The front part pops up like a spoiler, so you get perfect airflow.
I actually used it a lot when I had that car, there was no buffeting and the airflow was very smooth, not blowing in your face and fucking up your hair. People in the back seat were comfy too.
Toyota put some effort into it when they designed it.
7eregrine@reddit
Some car companies get around that by sliding the glass above the roof, not into.
jlt6666@reddit
Honestly I find these glass roofs to be in the same territory as fireplaces in houses. Something people define as luxury but are in fact only pains in the ass.
randopop21@reddit
Agree. We removed ours at some expense. Fireplaces permanently take up a significant portion of wall space. There is currently a sofa where it is. Much more useful.
jlt6666@reddit
It's also a big hole in your house that loses heat/ac.
DrSpaceman575@reddit
Please no this is my favorite trend, I can't fit in most cars with sunroofs but the glass roof has so much better headroom. I've sat in full size trucks where my hair hits the roof because the damn sunroof mechanism takes up 2" of space
Gorgenapper@reddit
Also not good for long term ownership, in general and adds a lot of weight. If it spontaneous shatters, you're fucked. If it leaks, you're fucked.
mustangfan12@reddit (OP)
Yeah I can imagine it makes the car cabin hotter.
Own_Pass_926@reddit
They coat them in micro particles of silver
SkPensFan@reddit
Or an extremely cold place!
Solid-Tumbleweed-981@reddit
I was just wondering about this. I don't want a moon roof that is just a giant sheet of glass. It magnifies the heat. Yes it's cool at night but that's such a waste of cost that isn't necessary.
I use my sunroof regularly and would be super annoyed with a glass useless roof
Example the Cadillac EVs are pretty then I saw they don't have moon roofs... You're making me spend a fortune on something I can't even use wtf
agrouchydude@reddit
It's a failure point, more parts, can leak. Lots of reasons
snktiger@reddit
glass roof is horrible in hot climate... I prefer metal roof with insolation. (quieter as well)
Own_Pass_926@reddit
Metal absorbs more heat than glass. The issue is the lack of material like a car with a metal roof.
antryoo@reddit
Greenhouses are almost entirely glass to let the light come through and heat up the inside. A glass roof on a car has the same “greenhouse” effect
My Tesla regularly gets over 100 deg inside even on 50 degree days if it is sunny and I have the aftermarket roof shade removed
Ran4@reddit
It does not get to literal fucking sauna temps..
trackdaybruh@reddit
Going over 100 degrees in a car is definitely possible especially if the car is sitting underneath the sun.
-SUBW00FER-@reddit
Not only possible but a regular occurrence. I hover between 150-160 if I leave my car out in the Florida heat.
Stunt_Vist@reddit
That's almost hot enough for a decent sauna actually. 100C is the sweetspot and you could probably get close to that if you just ran the heater while parked.
techtimee@reddit
100C? Really?
Stunt_Vist@reddit
Yup. 100C is the target in most of northen Europe. 110C is the most I can stomach, any more than that and you can't throw water on the rocks without scorching your balls.
antryoo@reddit
Yesterday it was 83 deg outside and with a roof shade and windshield shade my car still got to 130f inside while I was at work
Putting it plainly, you are wrong. It gets stupid hot in cars with glass roofs when they are in the sun
MangoAtrocity@reddit
My 2026 model Y was 128° literally yesterday
-SUBW00FER-@reddit
In Florida when its +90F out. The inside of my car can get to mid 160F. Thats most cars though. Its just that Tesla allows you to see the cabin and outside temps from the app.
Adding tint and roof shades does not do much to change the overall cabin temp if the car is just sitting outside because it heats up eventually, just slower.
Occhrome@reddit
Gotta consider the other ways that heat travels: conduction, convection and radiation.
LastGoodKnee@reddit
Metal doesn’t allow the sun to beat directly on you while in the car though
SofaProfessor@reddit
Even warm months in Canada gets my Mach E cooking. Can't imagine hopping in after being parked in a Texas parking lot in July.
I wish I could have just had a metal roof because I don't care about a sunroof either but I wanted AWD and extended range so that put me in premium trim territory.
Scoutron@reddit
A little ceramic tint and my Model 3 is nice and cool when I get in with a little preconditioning. Even driving in the summer I can hold my hand up to the glass and it barely feels warm
ScheduleUpstairs1204@reddit
No one opens sunroof anyways lmao
markeydarkey2@reddit
I went from a car with an opening sunroof to one with a static glass roof and immensely prefer the glass roof because it's larger and I don't have to worry about leaks from clogged sunroof drains. Though mine has a closable shade, I wouldn't like it as much without that.
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
I see the ones without a shade, and it is very concerning to me.
I don't have actual experience with one, but looking at it, it doesnt look comfortable in the hot summer.
FlintHillsSky@reddit
I've driven a Tesla with panoramic glass roof and it did transmit a lot of heat in the summer. I have an Ioniq 5 with a pano roof but it has a closable cloth shade that does a good job of blocking the heat on warm days.
I've seen more expensive cars with electrochromic films on the glass that can make it opaque. I imagine that is where these will eventually end up. I worry about the long term durability of a mechanical cover.
TheJamintheSham@reddit
After owning cars with sunroofs and cars with panoramic roofs, I prefer the latter.
The sunroof is only really useful when it's nice out, and only for a little bit since I didn't want the sun constantly beating down on me. I ended up just using it as a vent 90% of the time, and the opening was too small to make it nice as a moonroof.
I've owned 2 Polestar 2s and now drive a 3, all have had the panoramic roof, and none of them have ever been unbearably hot in direct sun (I live in SoCal), because Polestar coats/laminates them. Not all companies do, I know VW doesn't, but I would imagine most of the heavy hitter luxury companies would. Funny thing is, I hardly ever notice the roof when driving and frequently forget it's even there, despite it making the car feel brighter and more open. My kids and wife, however, love it, the kids especially. They're constantly looking up at the stars or watching rain "race" to the back of the car.
Honestly, if I wanted to feel the wind in my hair, I'd get a convertable.
JJMcGee83@reddit
I personally would love to just not have any glass in the roof but that's just me.
Uzi_Jesus_@reddit
I just want a regular old roof, like made of metal.
nomane-@reddit
I wouldn’t say luxury but my dad had a 2011 mustang with a glass roof I thought it was cool
poweredbym2@reddit
Because certain car company started the trend and suddenly it’s considered upscale and modern but in reality it’s much cheaper and worse function than a normal sun or moon roof.
Just like the trend of plopping a full screens of tablets on the dash.
It’s much cheaper to manufacture, functionally worse and just looks like a lazy design, but it’s billed to the consumers as tech and modern and they sure ate it up.
Astramael@reddit
I personally do not want a sunroof at all, opening or not. Never understood why people wanted to put a hole in their perfectly good roof.
These glass roofs are terrible, every time I have to put up with one I hate it. I am quite content with a normal metal roof.
Firereign@reddit
Functionally worse? You get more headroom (for the same roof height), you don’t have a mechanism that can break, and you have less potential for leaks.
You might find that to be worse, but you’re implying that it’s objectively worse, with no consideration as to why someone might actually like and prefer a fixed glass roof. You just put them all down as “mundane/appliance car buyers”.
randopop21@reddit
A metal roof won't ever "break" either won't ever leak.
A metal roof offers more headroom than one with a powered sunroof. The glass ones do offer more headroom but that's at the expense of no insulation, both sound and and heat.
A lot of people are "mundane/appliance car buyers" who are easily wowed by marketing.
Firereign@reddit
Sure. And that's great, unless you want to build an extra inch of headroom into your car's design without increasing the external size of the roof.
Sure. That's why a metal roof is still what's typically used across the vast majority of cars.
The main point of comparison in this post, and across the comments, is fixed glass to an opening sunroof.
As for the insulation point, that's down to the manufacturer and their choice of glass and coatings. Acoustic glass still allows for low noise transmission, and a good tint will block most thermal radiation.
Sure.
But, dismissing a feature that you don't like by saying that "mundane/appliance car buyers eat it up" suggests that your opinion is fact, that there is no good reason for someone else to like said feature, and it shuts down reasonable discussion around it.
There are good reasons to prefer a fixed metal roof. There are good reasons to prefer a fixed glass roof. There are good reasons to prefer an opening sunroof. These opinions are all valid.
prudiisten@reddit
I will never buy another car with a sunroof that opens. I've owned 4 and every single one has had problems. 4runner, V50, and the Outback all leaked. And the Dodge 1500 got motor died when open and leaked when closed.
So yea I'm fine with a sealed fixed sunroof.
Schnac@reddit
This. Every body in comments complaining about how it’s all a scam but they never actually use their sunroof. Not to mention the whole “oven” argument is moot because they either usually have sliding covers or tint and modern AC gets even a 100 degree vehicle cool in under a minute.
charmanderSosa@reddit
Maybe I’m just lucky. I have an 05 CRV with an opening sunroof that I use all the time.
STERFRY333@reddit
The sunroof in my old Volvo 745 has never leaked. The sunroof in my 86’ 4Runner however…. I gave up and ran a bead of RTV around the damn thing.
dc2b18b@reddit
The same reason why any car company does anything: because their customers want it more than the thing it’s replacing.
pixel_of_moral_decay@reddit
There two kinds on the market:
The ones that will leak; and the ones that have.
There’s a caveat: cars that will get totaled before the rubber seal and drains fail.
That’s just reality. I’m glad to see this catching on. Sunroofs are the best example of planned obsolescence in vehicles. They’re guaranteed to eventually fail and cause water damage in the car. The sun will eventually degrade the seal, the drain will eventually clog,
_BEER_@reddit
I love my sunroof and I hope my next car will have one again. Never had issues with clogged drains either. Just flush them with some soapy water every year. Lube the rails every other year and thats it.
Also if you tilt it it looks cool 😎
jjoep4@reddit
They leak/clog and leak somewhere else
visceralintricacy@reddit
Noise, vibration, water leaks. If it has to move, it will break more easily.
brentsg@reddit
I drove an E46 BMW for 20+ years and during the last 5 or so years, my independent mechanic made me sign a waiver every time they so much as looked at my sunroof.
RabidBlackSquirrel@reddit
Same on my 124 Mercedes. When I bought the car the sunroof was inop, and I wanted it working again. Once you start ripping in, you gotta go all the way with it and you're going in mostly blind - best case is an hour to just clean and lube, worst case is like 10 hours to rebuild everything.
I put a deposit down for the middle of those two numbers. Luckily, it was literally just an hour to clean and lube, but I totally get why they don't wanna touch it without some protection for themselves.
Patrol-007@reddit
Aftermarket? Cloth? A tint or ceramic tint (have read that the some will help block radiant heat)
MangoAtrocity@reddit
Our 2026 Model Y has a metallic film on the glass roof that definitely rejects some heat. But we’re still looking to get opaque panels to leave in during the summer.
Patrol-007@reddit
I see ceramic and tinted films being mentioned for reducing heat transfer, and a caution that if a tinted film is added to a factory UV film, to watch that a razor isn’t used to cut the second film while it’s on top of the UV film.
visceralintricacy@reddit
yeah, almost like one of those meshy window covers people use for babies, and I think they were also tinted...
Stunt_Vist@reddit
I've seen people stick a headliner ish material on the entire glass to just black it out entirely lol. Honestly looks better than a glass roof anyway.
Threedawg@reddit
It's insane that those covers didn't come with the car. Every other manufacturer shipped them with a cover.
steely-gar@reddit
Sunroof wastes headroom for us taller folks that will never use them anyway because they scream in our ears as we go down the road.
iconfuseyou@reddit
Quite honestly, opening the sunroof sucks in a lot of cars since it screws with the airflow in the cabin. Having a large panoramic glass is a lot nicer if you just want the view.
The only downside is that you can’t use a shade on a lot of these. So it’s all sun all the time.
STERFRY333@reddit
I can have the sunroof fully open on the highway in my Volvo 745 with minimal noise. It’s all down to the car.
_eg0_@reddit
In my car the buffeting is already gone by just opening any window a cm or so. That's how it usually works in VAG and BMW cars.
89Hopper@reddit
You can use that to your advantage though. I used to crack my sunroof and crack my drivers window. It created air flow through the car and didn't cause buffeting.
Patrol-007@reddit
Also open the passenger rear window 25mm to calm the airflow. Have seen retractable roller shades in some vehicles with panoramic glass.
funcentric@reddit
I think you mean moon roof. It's just a marketing thing. The Scion TC had a glass roof and no one cared but the moment Tesla introduces the same thing, all of a sudden it was a big deal. Marketing just makes people want things they never wanted before.
RattheEich@reddit
If it opens, it’s a moon roof. If it doesn’t, it’s a sun roof.
heychadwick@reddit
I don't like sun roofs. It's too hot here for 8 months of the year and either option just makes the car hotter. Give me freezy AC.
jasonsong86@reddit
Most people don’t use sunroof.
fastLT1@reddit
Because Tesla was hot at one point and introduced this stupid idea along with pasting a tablet on the dash.
Tesla did it because its cheaper to manufacture that way.
offroadadv@reddit
I wanted a back up car for our new Rav4 hybrid and picked up a used Subaru with a 3.0 engine to pull small trailers. When the sun roof refused to close, I found out that it would cost $1500 to repair.
Perhaps auto makers are trying to avoid warranty issues or future disappointments and made the choice to not build potential problems into their products.
spacetimebear@reddit
Because sunroofs are awful and useless. Big panoramic glass roofs are much better and definitely feel more luxurious.
BetterDrinkMy0wnPiss@reddit
A sunroof reduces the headroom in a car. I test drove a few cars lately and couldn't fit comfortably in the ones with an opening sunroof.
A glass roof gives you the main benefit of a sunroof, the sun, without the drawback of reduced headroom.
Plus most people I know never open their sunroof anyway.
blainestang@reddit
Exactly. My MINI with a sunroof, I hit my head on the sunroof frame, but I had tons of headroom in my other MINIs that didn’t have sunroofs.
This doesn’t matter for everyone, but it’s a big difference for some, and an advantage for glass roofs. It also means the design can have a lower roofline with the same headroom as a sunroof car.
avoidhugeships@reddit
It is cost savings. EVs are expensive so they have to cut some stuff to be competitive. That's what started the whole everything in the screen and no buttons trend. Marketing has been able to convince a lot of people these cost savings are premium.
Agree-With-Above@reddit
Because even with our moveable sunroof car we don't open it. So we don't mind it for the car with the panoramic roof
Polipore@reddit
Because they are extremely expensive to fix, even if it’s just one of the cheap pieces.
$20 lock clip broke on my 2012 Ford Expedition, they want $7500 to fix it because they have to literally tear the entire roof off to get to the mechanism…
Most are built so poorly and end up 100% breaking after a while.
More moving parts = more crap that can break
StandupJetskier@reddit
Unpopular opinion. I hate the sunroof. Weight in the worst possible place. Leaks. Rattles. If it doesn't leak, the drains clog and you get water in very bad places.
I have had all of the above...and spent an hour yesterday cleaning and re lubricating the roof in my current car to silence a rattle. Totally unnecessary....
All because some idiot decided sunroof=convertible and it was an option "everyone" wants.
I once ordered a BMW build. My dealer got a call from the factory to confirm the Sunroof Delete.
I tried this with my current car. I was told all cars get at least the small sunroof, but I was able to avoid the panorama roof.
Bosfordjd@reddit
Glass roofs are dumb as are sunroofs. Extra weight in the worst place and generally a worthless gimmick. Quit making cars worse.
ThrowthisawayPA@reddit
Cost cutting!
designsCA@reddit
You can thank Tesla to for that.. many people prefer the much wider view through the glass ceiling to a smaller sunroof. .
Miliean@reddit
The first answer is that it looks REALLY good when a customer first sits in the vehicle. The second answer is that Tesla did it back when they were popular.
Combine those 2 things together and for the past decade (or so) car manufacturers have been hearing about how cool the Tesla roof is, and no one really cares about a moonroof.
Personally speaking, I think the moonroof that opens is a better and more practical thing to have day to day. But I understand that the big glass roof looks cool upon first sitting in the vehicle, and that's what sells vehicles.
rythejdmguy@reddit
Cost.
5hadow@reddit
Just get rid of them. I cannot express how much I hate them but all the right trims seam to have them.
All of my cars which have had a sun roof / moon roof have leaked, rusted, not worked, got mold.
na3800@reddit
It is the same as touch screens. They are cheaper to manufacture and buyers perceive it is modern
sonicboom1992@reddit
I might be in the minority here, but I’m so glad we are offering more high end/luxury cars without them. I find that they are just another potential problem down the road that I don’t want to deal with for the 5> times a year I might crack it open.
DangerousAd1731@reddit
Made hot dog cookers same way in grade school
Spidaaman@reddit
Cheaper.
MangoAtrocity@reddit
I just wish they came with an opaque motorized shade. I hate needing to wear a hat in my wife’s Model Y.
Jin_Ezawa@reddit
Prob bc Tesla did it. Everyone wants to be Tesla. That's all you can see anymore in the auto industry, to see who can sell the most successful glass dome, electric appliance, yoke-steering, widescreen TV dash-having unstyled bar of soap.
Firereign@reddit
Shouting "Because they're all copying Tesla!" is easy, but self-defeating. There are reasons for the trends, and those reasons are often lost when people just blame Tesla. As if it's Tesla's fault that other manufacturers have chosen to copy some of the shittiest aspects of their design and UI/UX.
Fixed glass roofs are used because they're inexpensive, simple, brighten up the cabin and increase the perception of space, and - importantly for EVs with a skateboard layout - provide more headroom without increasing the height of the car.
Touchscreens are becoming more prevalent because they're cheaper. Far, far cheaper, not just to build but from the very start of the design: it's much easier to update and iterate on a software interface than a physical one. Deciding to move a physical button halfway through a car's design can be non-trivial. Then, of course, every button needs wiring in, adding to material and assembly costs.
When people bitch and complain about modern car trends, with zero consideration for the reasons, or the advantages (as well as the downsides), it's great for Reddit karma, but nothing will change. It's also a great way to create bubbles, because anyone who likes aspects of modern trends (but not necessarily the whole) is shouted down and is likely to fuck off elsewhere.
bwoah_gimmethedrink@reddit
Sunroofs are a pain once they start leaking or when the mechanism dies.
But the bigger problem is that you can't get some cars without the glass roof or at least with an option to have a cover.
Level-Setting825@reddit
I don’t know but I figure living in North Texas where hail is common it ain’t a good idea
IditarodDays@reddit
You mean ditching opening moonroofs for stationary sunroofs right?
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
Honestly, I dont even know the difference anymore, I am pretty sure the two have become the same thing in the industry.
You have sunroofs that can open, and moonroofs that can't.
SAR_89@reddit
It’s cheaper. Full stop.
ILV-28@reddit
It would cost more, add weight and I don't think it's in much of a demand now.
grumpypantaloon@reddit
I loved sunroofs in the cars from 90s and early 2000s, because they were nearly at the edge of the roof, you as a driver would actually see the traffic lights when you were 1st or 2nd in line, it was a benefit not just for ventilation and more light (not too much light), but also visibility. That is long gone, in the few cars where there is small sunroof instead of giant panoramic glass, it is for safety and rigidity moved quite farther back, so you as a driver only see something out of it if you tilt your head back.
I do love the feeling of "open road when you put down your windows and open the panoramic roof, which is somethingh I can do maybe 3-4 weeks a year, when it's not too cold, not too hot.
Last year a rock chipped my glass on pano in Volvo XC90. I went to the autoglass shop to have it repaired, filled, but it was right on the edge of the glass, they couldn't do it. Within few weeks it was a spiderweb, thankfully most cars have laminated sunroofs now, not tempered. NOBODY wanted to fix that. Dealer? oh sure, let's change THE WHOLE FUCKIN THING, for 3500. We can't order just the glass. Or even if a whole part, the moving part with frame. No, the whole fuckin thing. I asked 5 different autoshops, nobody wanted to do it, only one was willing to replace it if I'll go find some part on ebay or from totalled car that had roof intact. At the end I let the leasing company handle it, I said hey - I wanted to hav eit fixed, I ain't paying 500 fee for returning a car with damages that were not repaired. They found, after few weeks, a garage that fixed it, for 800, insurance covered it too, but it took a lot of time and effort to find someone willing to touch it even.
If I ever get a car with glass roof, (I often take cars from the lot, not custom ordered), I will have it covered by ppf...twice.
TruckeronI5@reddit
Cost cutting.
Slowstang305@reddit
No one really uses sunroofs, well after their first week of ownership.
_eg0_@reddit
I'm the opposite. Coming from a car without one who just got it because the previous owner speced it, I didn't use it for the first few weeks despite the weather being ideal. Now I use it almost daily when I'm off the highway and the weather allows it.
ZBD1949@reddit
Why have something that opens when you have climate control? In addition an open sunroof will cause drag which increases fuel use.
_eg0_@reddit
Why go outside and lay in the sun if you can just stay inside an lay in your bed?
Of course it causes drag, but at lower speeds it doesn't really make a difference vs having the AC turned on and on the highway you would close it anyway. I personally have a proper shade and the window has a good tint it doesn't really heat up the cabin either.
Skensis@reddit
Old car had one, and never really used it. For my current car I even paid extra to get a plastic roof.
RadicalSnowdude@reddit
Sunroofs leak and cause problems. They are more complex to make. And people who use AC mainly aren’t opening the roof.
I think that cars should stop making sunroofs and glass roofs and just let the roofs be normal roofs, and if anyone wants the sun above them then they should buy a convertible or a motorcycle.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
The problem is no convertible 4-door model beside Wrangler and Bronco.
kyonkun_denwa@reddit
Does your 335i have a sunroof?
The sunroof on my E34 doesn’t leak but it also doesn’t open. Some mechanism is broken and I don’t feel like fixing it, I’m considering just welding the panel shut and sealing it up.
RadicalSnowdude@reddit
I don’t have either of those cars anymore but yes the 335i did have a sunroof and it leaked a lot no matter how many times I cleared the drains.
badr3plicant@reddit
The real question is how an apostrophe works... Certainly not the way you've used it, OP.
brazucadomundo@reddit
I don't like sunroofs or moonroofs or whatever, I like a solid roof on top of my head, ideally with some solar panels to trickle charge my battery in sunny days.
edinburghiloveyou44@reddit
I guess I’m in the small percentage of people who HAVE to have a moonroof in their vehicle. My previous car didn’t have one and it drove me up the wall.
My next car will have a panoramic moonroof as a car I had years back had one and I miss that.
Having a glass roof that doesn’t open is just a tease.
corm40@reddit
Because they leak
dam_sharks_mother@reddit
Reddit: glass roofs are too hot!
Also Reddit: white interiors are too hard to keep clean!
Stop specc'ing cars with miserable black leather and you won't get so goddamned hot, people.
handymanshandle@reddit
I miss having a light grey interior so much. I like cars without any tint, so to have a black interior in my car is a death sentence in the hot and humid summers where I'm at. Unfortunately I kinda have to deal with it, but at the minimum I'm thankful I don't have a sunroof.
lemlurker@reddit
I've only driven one car with a panoramic roof and I hated it, it had an electric cover so not the worst but it's already enough of a pain to deal with avoiding sun when it's coming in from the side or front but now it's an issue during the middle of the day? Fuck that
assmanrn@reddit
A lot of today's society just wants to see the outdoors, but not necessarily feel the outdoors.
orangutanDOTorg@reddit
Nobody opens them, but the glass tops are worse bc they boil your head if you don’t set super slouched
Jimmytootwo@reddit
Glass roofs suck. The heat is unbelievable and its just a money saving tactic
Quake_Guy@reddit
Live in Phoenix, both are stupid. I already run the AC in my car 11.5 months a year. Glass roof will make it 12 months...
pawpawpersimony@reddit
I really dislike the full glass roof. It is just heavy, expensive to replace, and hot. Just give me sheet metal and good insulation for heat/cold and noise.
fdot1234@reddit
Haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but I remember seeing a video (I believe from u/doug-demuro) that discussed how reducing squeaks and rattles in luxury cars means larger dash/interior components and the only way to put them in the car is to fly them in through the roof.
As a result, the marketing department gets the task of selling us easy-bake-ovens as upscale and awesome.
OHWHATDA@reddit
It’s another reason why I love my Porsche Macan 4S Electric. It’s got a full panoramic sunroof, it opens when you want some fresh air, and it has an electric retractable shade. My wife can’t stand the sun beating down on her, even if a glass roof has a ton of UV protection.
OvONettspend@reddit
They’re like popups. No one uses them, they’re heavy, unreliable, expensive, and UV tint makes the sun a nonissue. I’ve never even opened the cover on my Lexus’ sunroof. The only time I’ve ever touched a sunroof is on my fiero and that’s only because the AC was deleted
mustangfan12@reddit (OP)
But car makers have offered sunroof's for many decades both luxury and non luxury ones
ivabig12@reddit
Love my sun moon roof that opens
techieman33@reddit
Most people driving luxury cars aren't opening the windows most of the time, let alone the sunroof. They're also expensive to design, install, and maintain. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze most of the time.
danny_ish@reddit
Yup, your car learning your schedule and auto starting five minutes before you leave work or your house to activate the HVAC has been a thing since at least the 2007 seven series BMW
JurboVolvo@reddit
Less water leaks hopefully… 🤞 🙏
FortressOnAHill@reddit
Because all industries try to cheap out on you and if they can trick you into thinking it's a new luxurious way of doing things, they'll try to.
cmplx17@reddit
Form over function
Sir_J15@reddit
Most people don’t actually open them and the drains stop up and cause leaks.
deathbysnusnu7@reddit
Cost. Sunroofs leak eventually. It also makes the inside feel more spacious.
Ecstatic-Compote-399@reddit
It’s more cost effective and makes the manufacturing process easier for them.
poopoomergency4@reddit
i just got an s6, got to be the biggest sunroof i've ever seen fitted to a sedan. it's great, coming from an x3 with the pano roof it doesn't feel much smaller.
so looking at the new a/s/rs5 with the fixed glass roof that seems like a huge downgrade.
dont-YOLO-ragequit@reddit
It's a trend where people like panoramic sunroofs.
I'm not sure about cost since the mechanism has been paid for over the decades of making it and the glass needs to be more then 5 times bigger, tempered and is very heavy.
This is more like a trendy feature that sells and makes the car look up to date.
AnonymousEngineer_@reddit
Opening panels risk water leaks, and I also have a suspicion that it's probably significantly easier to implement electrochromatic glass roofs on panels that don't move relative to the rest of the car.
brentsg@reddit
I hate sunroofs. This is great.
Musabi@reddit
Yeah I always choose no sunroof if I have a chance!
turb0_encapsulator@reddit
warranty issues.
DrZedex@reddit
Because they cost less to manufacture and people still pay the premium for them.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Because it's cheaper, lighter, easier to manufacture, etc.
visceralintricacy@reddit
"I also wonder if in a all glass roof, if it will heat the car up more when it's just parked. "
Yep, all the tesla's i've sat in as uber (passenger) had covers for the roofs as it made the car a furnace.
devastationz@reddit
Big window that don’t open looks good
rudbri93@reddit
pretty sure its a cost/complexity thing.