Panoramic glass roof- would it put you off a car?
Discussion
As above, would you be put off by a car with a panoramic glass roof?
Obviously it's quite a nice feature but I'm wondering how prone they are to cracks? Replacement would obviously be expensive.
Also how much will that extra weight hold the car back in terms of performance and fuel economy?
Obviously it's quite a nice feature but I'm wondering how prone they are to cracks? Replacement would obviously be expensive.
Also how much will that extra weight hold the car back in terms of performance and fuel economy?
No - but it's an individual thing surely so need to make your own decision.
If you are looking to make an informed decision, then a quick Google brought back the following link:
https://www.badellscollision.com/blog/advantages-d...
And there are probably others.
If you are looking to make an informed decision, then a quick Google brought back the following link:
https://www.badellscollision.com/blog/advantages-d...
And there are probably others.
swisstoni said:
Something I can take or leave. Perhaps the airy feel and view of the sky from the back seats is nice. But I’m never in the back seats. All they seem to do for the driver is introduce glare.
From a practical perspective I’ve never had any issues.
This. All it ever did for me was give me a warm head in summer and make the car colder in winter (Tesla Model 3). The kids in the back liked it though.From a practical perspective I’ve never had any issues.
On a used car I'd probably avoid, just something else to worry about and bloody expensive to sort if there are any issues.
I didn't even realise our car had one until I was driving it home after buying it.
One of those things I find irrelevant really. It's nice I suppose as makes the cabin abit more "airy" but I wouldn't miss it if it wasn't there.
Ours does have an electric blind so cover it if wanted, I darent use it though as apparently they are known to break and are not a cheap fix.
One of those things I find irrelevant really. It's nice I suppose as makes the cabin abit more "airy" but I wouldn't miss it if it wasn't there.
Ours does have an electric blind so cover it if wanted, I darent use it though as apparently they are known to break and are not a cheap fix.
I've just bought a 10 year old Yeti and is has a panoramic roof, lovely and airy feel to the car. We are in Ireland so no chance of a burnt head. Dealer had to replace the blind before we collected it as it was broken. Was surprised he agreed to fix and he did, very impressed, can't have been cheap.
Wouldn't have been a deal breaker if there was no panoramic roof, but nice to have and have a working one! Wouldn't like to be paying to fix one though.
And to answer the OP's question, no it wuoldn't put me off as long as it was working correctly, any hint of a problem though and it probably would.
Wouldn't have been a deal breaker if there was no panoramic roof, but nice to have and have a working one! Wouldn't like to be paying to fix one though.
And to answer the OP's question, no it wuoldn't put me off as long as it was working correctly, any hint of a problem though and it probably would.
swisstoni said:
Something I can take or leave. Perhaps the airy feel and view of the sky from the back seats is nice. But I’m never in the back seats. All they seem to do for the driver is introduce glare.
From a practical perspective I’ve never had any issues.
The tint is so heavy on them now to prevent thermal gain and glare that they have become pointless.From a practical perspective I’ve never had any issues.
A white interior, at least roof liner, will make the car feel airer due to more reflected light bouncing around the cabin. Light seats also more so.
Don't be fooled by the intent, they don't actually work.
Ironically smaller old sunroofs that didn't need so much tint probably let more light in and less heat.
I recently bought a w176 a45. I was actively searching for a pan roof. Test drove one it creaked like crazy just thought meh it's a rough example went and found another test drove that. That bloody thing creaked aswell. Kinda put me off after that. Spent the next 9 months seeking one that hasn't had it specced from factory.
tenmantaylor said:
The tint is so heavy on them now to prevent thermal gain and glare that they have become pointless.
A white interior, at least roof liner, will make the car feel airer due to more reflected light bouncing around the cabin. Light seats also more so.
Don't be fooled by the intent, they don't actually work.
Ironically smaller old sunroofs that didn't need so much tint probably let more light in and less heat.
Don't be fooled that 'in your opinion' makes it a fact.A white interior, at least roof liner, will make the car feel airer due to more reflected light bouncing around the cabin. Light seats also more so.
Don't be fooled by the intent, they don't actually work.
Ironically smaller old sunroofs that didn't need so much tint probably let more light in and less heat.
White interiors are great until they're not after a few years.
Some panoramic roofs have a solid screen that slides across to deal with very intense sunlight.
If you have a dark interior for practicality reasons then a glass roof makes a world of difference, in my opinion, to how the cabin feels.
GT9 said:
Don't be fooled that 'in your opinion' makes it a fact.
White interiors are great until they're not after a few years.
Some panoramic roofs have a solid screen that slides across to deal with very intense sunlight.
If you have a dark interior for practicality reasons then a glass roof makes a world of difference, in my opinion, to how the cabin feels.
I had an ivory interior previously and, after 20 years it still looked great. My currrent interior is a very pale grey, is 12 years old, and looks almost new. I'm not partcularly careful either.White interiors are great until they're not after a few years.
Some panoramic roofs have a solid screen that slides across to deal with very intense sunlight.
If you have a dark interior for practicality reasons then a glass roof makes a world of difference, in my opinion, to how the cabin feels.
I've always chose light interiors because I like the airy feel, so I can see how a panoramic roof with a dark interior would make a huge difference. I suppose my main opposition is that it's another expensive thing that might potentially go wrong. That and it would probably annoy me having another piece of glass to clean and keep streak free.
I guess there's no right or wrong answer, just a matter of personal preference.
Having had an Audi A3 Sportback with one that also had water ingress issues that were an absolute pig to sort, I’d avoid buying one again.
I guess if it’s non-retractable, there is slightly less to go wrong, but it’s still adding extra weight in the wrong place for not much gain in my opinion, plus there is still potential extra expense should something go wrong, so i’d still avoid.
I guess if it’s non-retractable, there is slightly less to go wrong, but it’s still adding extra weight in the wrong place for not much gain in my opinion, plus there is still potential extra expense should something go wrong, so i’d still avoid.
I have one on the c class and it’s great, let’s lots of light in when it’s dark and gloomy, can be opened to let the v8 soundtrack in and has a sunshade for when you leave the car and it’s really sunny. Only downside is it can get squeaky but I put some rubber seal feed stuff on the seals and the quieten down.
My legacy has a massive sunroof. I like it, so much in fact, when its time to change my company car in December I’ll be adding it and discounting anything that doesn’t have one.
In the legacy its like driving in a convertible estate. Lets in a lot of light which makes the interior light and airy.
On the mk7 golf r estate I’m looking at. Its one extra I’m actively avoiding due to cracking and leaks.
In the legacy its like driving in a convertible estate. Lets in a lot of light which makes the interior light and airy.
On the mk7 golf r estate I’m looking at. Its one extra I’m actively avoiding due to cracking and leaks.
RP64 said:
Obviously it's quite a nice feature but I'm wondering how prone they are to cracks? Replacement would obviously be expensive.
There are a small number of Insurers that exclude panaromic roof class under glass. Just read the T&C's and avoid the bottom feeders. Most treat them as a windscreen claim.Canon_Fodder said:
You get a better 'panorama' by looking out of the windows that are provided in the side of the car
Yep. We had 2 years in a car with a panoramic roof and now 6 months in one without. Can honestly say I've never thought about it or missed it once. Both cars have dark interiors so no difference there and the current car even has rear tints.sam.rog said:
My legacy has a massive sunroof. I like it, so much in fact, when its time to change my company car in December I’ll be adding it and discounting anything that doesn’t have one.
That'll be the same as the one I had on my old Outback and I agree it was a bloody brilliant feature - I really miss not having a sun/pano roof on my current car so whatever I get next will definitely have one.As an aside the Outback also had a cream/ivory/beige/whatever-you-want-to-call-it interior, and it looked fine even at 15 years old and having received very little care in my ownership (a lot of which involved it being used as a mobile skip). I don't get this stuff about 'a light interior is all well and good but it'll look like a crack den after 3 years so it's better to drive round in a coal pit'.
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