I was watching a short on YouTube, an ad for a car, and one of the features was a "panoramic sunroof".
I admit that I have always been baffled about a sunroof in a car. I've had vehicles with them in the past. Belle's vehicle has one now, but it has never been used, except when they demonstrated it to her at the dealership.
Does anyone actually use a sunroof? I've never seen the utility. It adds complexity to the vehicle and puts a hole in the roof, which I've always thought was a bad idea.
Honestly, does anyone use a sunroof?
I've had them in a few cars I've owned. It would be a nice day, so I'd open it up along with the windows only to discover that I don't like the sunlight. I prefer driving with the cab darker. So the answer for me is no. I find them useless.
ReplyDeleteUnless the dog riding with me farts. Then, they are amazing at venting the vapors.
I don’t have one in my current rig, but my last few vehicles have had a sunroof and I used them frequently, They’ve always been a hit with my dogs too - standing with their front paws on the center console and sticking their head up through the open sunroof.
ReplyDeleteMy wife uses hers. I don't have one in my truck...it's a tool not a fashion statement.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what a "panoramic" one might be. Wider than usual? Fisheye lens glass? No idea.
The important thing, whether you ever use it or not, is remember to clean out the drains periodically. When a sunroof starts leaking into the vehicle, 90% of the time it's because the drains are plugged and the water has nowhere else to go. Blow compressed air through them occasionally to clean them out and you'll probably never have a problem with it. I usually do it about every second oil change...or when I'm using the compressor and think about it.
The automobile industry has gone a long way to reduce the weight of all car components. For obvious reasons: less weight reduces gas consumption and improves the car's handling characteristics. Additional weight, especially in the upper third of the body, makes cars less stable in curves (they tilt more and the point of rollover comes earlier). So, knowing that a sunroof is a lot heavier than standard sheet metal, you have to ask yourself if the benefits outweigh these disandvantages. Back in the times when cars in my home country (Germany) came without AC, at the same time me being a fan of sunbathing, I saw the benefits. Today: No way... "Panoramic" is such a nice marketing buzzword. Count the times that you are looking into the sky while driving. What is to been there? Just sky, streetlights flashing by or the underside of bridges. Or bird droppings. Spending a lot of money for these views while reducing the car's cornering stability doesn't make any sense to me...
ReplyDeleteNot me. I have it and it's been opened ONCE for demo by the dealer.
ReplyDeleteCutting a hole in the roof of a vehicle is akin to building a city below sea-level. It is a sin of pride against the laws of nature.
ReplyDeleteI say that as a former automotive engineer who was responsible for testing "sun roofs" aka "leak-roofs".
in tx they work great...in the middle of summer and it's 150 in your vehicle, opening that thing up and rolling down the windows let's all that hot air out...only time i use it...
ReplyDeleteIt's a moon roof.
ReplyDeleteI live in S. Texas.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't even think of having a greenhouse in my truck, not to mention that we get hail sometimes as big as softballs.
I believe a "panoramic" sunroof is one that is longer/bigger/wider than usual.
ReplyDeleteI have a (standard-sized) sunroof in my '05 Tundra and I love it! More light on dark days, more breeze on hot days, and the ability to see overhead are all huge pluses to me. I greatly enjoy it.
-JLM
Had our last car for 14 years. I think the sunroof was opened twice.
ReplyDelete1 previous and 2 current with sunroofs. Have never used any of them.
ReplyDeleteOur grandkids enjoyed them when they were younger.
ReplyDeleteMarginally useful for ventilation considering the downsides of a big-ass hole in the roof. I would much rather replace the glass with a battery-maintaining PV panel to take advantage of the aforesaid hole, but I'm lazy and cheap.
ReplyDelete