Sunroof?

[Cubsfan]

Ok, I'm looking at a new Altima, and one of the options is a sunroof. I've never had one before (and I kind of have mixed feelings about having one). Have you had a sunroof? Would you get it again?

Some of my friends say it's nice, some say it sucks (less headroom, and the times that you want it open is when it's sunny, and it just makes it hotter in the car). What do you think?

(By the way, it's like a $700-$800 option)

[bachviet]

I have moonroof but I hardly use it. Mine came with the EX model from Honda so it wasn't an option. I wouldn't get it if it were an option.

[DankNstickY]

i say go for it. i think it'd be cool to have one. i have a civic lx, so my car didnt come with one. and why would it be less headroom, if not more? open it up, and stick your head out the top.... but yea, i dont know if you'd want to go elsewhere to get it installed other than factory to save some cash maybe... but i say go for it.

[Showtime]

I liked it when I had it, but dont really miss now. Though in So Cal you get a lot of chances to open up.

-j

[BrewMaster]

i've had a moonroof in my last 3 vehicles and i used it only 2 or 3 times a year. they are unecessary. save your change for something else.

[ski]

I don't see the point of sun/moonroof. Having the sun shine on your head for $800 isn't worth it to me. I guess if you've had one on every car, you'd miss having one on a new car.

[Cubsfan]

Interesting. I think I'm leaning toward not getting one, but I'm wondering if why so many people like them is that they are in California? Here in Colorado, it would probably be completely worthless 4-5 months a year (unless you enjoy getting snowed on :) )

[sizemic1]

We have sunroofs on both of our cars..and really..I could take it or leave it.
It is kinda nice to crack it to get some fresh air flow w/o the noise of opening up a side window. But all in all, I might open it fully a couple times a month.

[speedracer120]

It's nice if you smoke or like outside ventilation, but otherwise like you stated a waste of a sacrifice in headroom, when the seals fail it'll cause a lot of annoyances, and lastly you live in Colorado man.

[JackHammer]

I think the moonroof.sunroof cools down a hot car faster. In the summer time, when I get out of work, alls I do is open the moonroof and the car gets cooler faster. Plus it helps a lot with the ventilation. Driving with an open moonroof seems to pull more air out of the vents, I think. I love mine in my prelude. The next car I get, has to have one.

[OremuS]

Interesting. I think I'm leaning toward not getting one, but I'm wondering if why so many people like them is that they are in California? Here in Colorado, it would probably be completely worthless 4-5 months a year (unless you enjoy getting snowed on :) )

I have had cars with them, without them, and I have had them installed. Overall I would say that having one is better than not having one. My rundown of cars with and without are as follows:

89 Nissan 240SX - with manual pop-up sunroof
86 Mustang GT - without
99 Pontiac Grand Prix - had power sunroof installed aftermarket
04 Accord EX - with factory moon roof

I live in Ohio (east side of Cleveland...we got about 120 inches of snow this year), so I can appreciate the loss of use during the winter months. I get the most use out of it in the spring and fall, however in the summer it is nice to leave it cracked open or open it when you get into the car to cool things off. It is also nice to open the roof and the rear windows...kinda gives a convertible type feel with the wind moving around and whatnot. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. If you are going to get it, go with the factory one. After market ones are pretty weather tight, but they usually do not open as far as factory ones. The one I had put in the Prix was around $600 installed.

Hope this helps.


I think the moonroof.sunroof cools down a hot car faster. In the summer time, when I get out of work, alls I do is open the moonroof and the car gets cooler faster. Plus it helps a lot with the ventilation. Driving with an open moonroof seems to pull more air out of the vents, I think. I love mine in my prelude. The next car I get, has to have one.

It definitely pulls more air out of the vents. Gives the incoming air a place to go.

[DarkFury]

I don't see the point of sun/moonroof. Having the sun shine on your head for $800 isn't worth it to me. I guess if you've had one on every car, you'd miss having one on a new car.
Heh...

And to think... I spent about $1200 to have one installed in the HEMI. :D


But honestly... I LOVE my sunroof/moonroof and I use it all the time when I'm driving around... especially if I'm out on the highway. On the highway, the noise level is less with the moonroof open versus the side windows when you just want to have some fresh air.

People who have moonroofs but never use em... just don't realize what they are missing. The only time I don't use mine is during the winter when it is snowing. However if it gets "hot and stuffy" in the ride... you can bet that I crack the roof if there isn't any snow or rain outside. :D

Consider it a "cheap alternative" to having a convertible. :D :fro:


It's nice if you smoke or like outside ventilation, but otherwise like you stated a waste of a sacrifice in headroom, when the seals fail it'll cause a lot of annoyances, and lastly you live in Colorado man.
BTW... not all sunroofs leak like that.

Most modern roofs (i.e. installed from the dealer or professional trim shops... NOT Ziebart) have weep channels in them for drainage. This sends the water from rain or washing around the roof and down into your vehicles side pillars to the ground.

Also... most good roofs have a firm rubber gasket seal around the glass. My T-Bird has a roof and it has never leaked. That's on a 9 year old car... Pretty much, as long as you can keep the weep holes free of debris.... you probably won't have a leakage problem with a roof nowadays.

[Memo]

I like them. Fresh air on long drives keeps me awake and the moon roof makes it so you don't have to have the windows down with lots of air blowing in your face.

[PiPhiAngel]

seemed like an option that i couldn't live without since i love the sun so much (bet you couldn't tell if you saw my super pale skin :| )-- but never used it after the first few weeks. still nice to have though, for those long car rides.

[Merlin]

Anything that makes it more of an open air feel is good in my book.

Personally I drive a convertible and always will. I need to have the open air feel. Get the sunroof.

[Nija]

I love my sunroof. I use it almost every single day.

[Cubsfan]

Seems like people either use it every day, or never use it at all. Wonder which group I would be in... :)

What really irritates me is that the one option I would like is the Bose stereo. However, in order to get that, I would have to also get the sunroof. So combined, that's like an extra $1400-$1500 dollars just for a stupid stereo.

[bachviet]

Seems like people either use it every day, or never use it at all. Wonder which group I would be in... :)

What really irritates me is that the one option I would like is the Bose stereo. However, in order to get that, I would have to also get the sunroof. So combined, that's like an extra $1400-$1500 dollars just for a stupid stereo.
Welcome to the world of Toyota and Nissan. Honda hardly has any option for any of its models. If you want to get moonroof, you have to go with the EX. You can't get the moonroof with a LX or DX model.

[Merlin]

You can probably get a much better sound system aftermarket for less.

[bachviet]

You can probably get a much better sound system aftermarket for less.
For lots of newer cars, it's almost impossible to install new stereo systems without major modification, which costs lots of $$$. Some of the new cars have the stereo control integrated with the AC control so you can't remove it.

[Cubsfan]

For lots of newer cars, it's almost impossible to install new stereo systems without major modification, which costs lots of $$$. Some of the new cars have the stereo control integrated with the AC control so you can't remove it.

Or you lose the use of the steering wheel mounted controls.

[DarkFury]

Seems like people either use it every day, or never use it at all. Wonder which group I would be in... :)

What really irritates me is that the one option I would like is the Bose stereo. However, in order to get that, I would have to also get the sunroof. So combined, that's like an extra $1400-$1500 dollars just for a stupid stereo.
honestly... just because it says "BOSE"on it from the factory, don't believe the hype that you are really getting something "good" there.

You can't spray perfume on sh@t to make it smell better... :shrug:


If you have $1500... you can get some really nice aftermarket speakers and a decent amplifier and keep your stock radio (if you must) and have a decent sound. Personally, this is what I did in the Hemi... I kept the radio with the steering wheel controls and added front and rear Kenwood 6 1/2 and 6x9 speakers plus an amp. Then I added some subs and another amp for the BOOM. Needless to say... the Hemi is ROCKIN' now. :D


For lots of newer cars, it's almost impossible to install new stereo systems without major modification, which costs lots of $$$. Some of the new cars have the stereo control integrated with the AC control so you can't remove it.

Every stereo has either a line out or a speaker out... therefore you can still get signal and go aftermarket behind the head unit.

Good sound comes from clean signal and power... and there are all kinds of neat toys that will allow you to keep the output level of a factory system low enough to not distort yet amplify it so that it sounds really good. I have a Kenwood pre-amp EQ that does this for me in the Hemi... and honestly, I don't even have to turn my radio up past 8 (out of a potential 36 levels) to get some really decent sound out to the speakers with no distortion.

And honestly, there was no "major modifications" to doing it this way. :thumb:

[StonedWheat]

I wish I had a sunroof. Like DF said, it's the next best thing to a convertible.

[bachviet]

If I were to modify the sound system, I would go all out with head unit, EQ, amp(s), speakers, and subs. IMHO driving an amplifier with a stock HU via speaker wires is not the right way to do it.

[GracieBayb]

heck yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[ShawnLee]

I thought it'd be cool, but I don't think it's worth it. But if it's for the stereo? Eh.

[guiseppewv]

Also... most good roofs have a firm rubber gasket seal around the glass. My T-Bird has a roof and it has never leaked. That's on a 9 year old car... Pretty much, as long as you can keep the weep holes free of debris.... you probably won't have a leakage problem with a roof nowadays.

I have an Accord that is 11 yrs old and the sunroof (factory installed) has never leaked. Knock on wood. :bonk:

[PrObLy]

I have a moonroof on my car and whenever it's nice out and not raining...that sucker is open. It's just a great feeling and gets a lot of air moving around too. I use the A/C very seldomly (read: ~100 degrees w/ high humidity) because the moonroof is so effective.

Having the sun peeking through from above seems to make longer rides a bit more pleasurable too.

[DarkFury]

I have an Accord that is 11 yrs old and the sunroof (factory installed) has never leaked. Knock on wood. :bonk:
umm... knock on "simulated wood dash" maybe? :shrug: :D

[DarkFury]

If I were to modify the sound system, I would go all out with head unit, EQ, amp(s), speakers, and subs. IMHO driving an amplifier with a stock HU via speaker wires is not the right way to do it.
But losing the functionality of the steering wheel controls was less appealing in my case...

Yes, I would normally prefer an aftermarket head unit.... but as I stated earlier, if you can get a clean signal out of your head unit, then there are ways to process that signal and get the same desired effect using a stock head unit.

On top of that... with the radio looking "stock", it tends to make the vehicle less appealing to the less savory parts of our society who would love that new aftermarket HU you just installed. :D

I assure you... my stock head unit combined with my pre-amp EQ delivers quite enough power to drive the 10" subs in the Hemi (via the mono amp that is pushing them). Make it so bad... I had previously bougtht an "Audio control line driver" and I didn't even use it since I was able to get plenty of good signal from just the HU and the EQ alone.

For folks who are leasing... (not that I recommend that practice..) this is an alternative to getting good sound with minimal modification.

[Showtime]

If you dont want the sunroof and can install or get the speakers and amps installed for you, I can spec a really nice sounding system for less money. Much much better than anything bose puts out. But doesnt that factory $1500 upgrade come with navigation or something?

CDTs sepearates ($150) for the fronts a RE SE 10" or 12"sub/box($300) and 2 amps(under $500) is all you need. Wiring kits are another $60 or so. If you don't need that much bass, one 8" sub and a really small box/amp will save you a couple hundred.

-j

[Bires]

My last three cars and my wife's car have/had sliding sunroofs and we love them.

Last month or so it has been especially nifty, since it's been 70-80 in vegas.

I have never had one leak, and they actually add headroom since you can slide the sun cover back and leave the glass in place.

[Grubbie]

I loved my mom's old car that had a moonroof. It was great to have it open in the summer, I also like leaving it closed but without the shutter or whatever covering it up at night.

All I knwo is I want a panaramic moonroof in my next car. those are cool.

[Eugene]

honestly... just because it says "BOSE"on it from the factory, don't believe the hype that you are really getting something "good" there.
I agree. My friend's older corvette has a bose system and he isn't very happy with it. He says that bose's philosophy is to have a subwoofer and then a bunch of small satellite speakers.... which IMO doesn't give enough credit to the midranges, which is where most of the interesting stuff happens. Now, I'm not sure if they still do that or even how good the system you could order would be, but I guess it's something to consider...

And with all the suggestions of how to change your stereo system aftermarket, it sounds like you could put the extra $700 to pretty good use on a custom job.

[Bires]

The sentraspecV that I bought and later traded had a "Rockford Fosgate" system. It sounded like crap, and the only thing the RF made was a 100W amp that powered all five speakers. :puke:

[Renski]

No need. I opened it a few times when I just bought the car and haven't messed with it ever since...

[logicdc]

Or you lose the use of the steering wheel mounted controls.


There are aftermarket interfaces that plug in between to allow aftermaket units to be controlled using the steering wheel controls.

[Cubsfan]

There are aftermarket interfaces that plug in between to allow aftermaket units to be controlled using the steering wheel controls.

Are there good ones? Seems like the only ones that I've seen basically are IR Blasters that you still have to mount in front of the head unit. Got a link to a good one?

[guiseppewv]

I have the bose system that comes with the Alty. It is pretty decent but it does lack the a little in the mids as mentioned by an earlier poster. As far as a stick stereo goes it is well above average.

I personally would not get the alty again. I have had some issues with it an Nissan has yet to resolve them even when going through their corporate channels. Taking care of the customer is not a Nissan priority. :thumbdown:

[DarkFury]

There are aftermarket interfaces that plug in between to allow aftermaket units to be controlled using the steering wheel controls.
Only if your "aftermarket" unit uses a IR remote controller. There is no "hardwire adapter" that can mate an aftermarket to the steering wheel control but there are IR adapters that can perform that function.



I personally would not get the alty again. I have had some issues with it an Nissan has yet to resolve them even when going through their corporate channels. Taking care of the customer is not a Nissan priority. :thumbdown:
Trust me... this isn't just a "Nissan" problem.

Go and do a search on "FURD" to see what I mean. :D

[Jihforce]

yes. i'd get one. I think its a nice option to have for those sunny days. As a matter of fact, i was just using it yesterday.

[rasetsu]

Get everything. The extra few thousand will make little difference in your monthly payments if you plan on financing. You won't live to regret it later if you have a choice of using it or not because it's already there. These factory options will make a big difference in resale value too. My fiance has a 2.5 SL Altima that she toyed with trading in for a SE. She has Bose and leather, but no sunroof. That dropped the value a good amount.

I would not have an aftermarket sunroof installed. If it's an option, I'd get it, but I can live without one too. I don't trust anyone cutting into the roof. It's more likely to leak than a factory sunroof and may decrease resale value as a result.

As for loosing head room, unless your 6'5", I wouldn't worry about it. Also, you're not going to get sunned on when you don't want to. Sunroofs now are almost always tinted glass with a sliding sun screen.

[DarkFury]

I would not have an aftermarket sunroof installed. If it's an option, I'd get it, but I can live without one too. I don't trust anyone cutting into the roof. It's more likely to leak than a factory sunroof and may decrease resale value as a result.

Once again... the "who" who does it matters in this case. The place I went to for the Hemi does the work for many of the local dealers in town. The roof that they put in was made from a manufacturer that supplies many of the OEM roofs that you get when you order them from the dealer (you don't think that car companies actually build sunroofs do ya? :D )

The ONLY difference between buying a dealer roof and one of the types that I have is that the vehicle comes off the line stamped with a hole in the roof for them to install it into the vehicle. Pretty much, if you stay away from the mass retailers types (i.e. Ziebart) and stick with the professional trim shops (i.e. Classic Auto Trim) to do the work you won't be sorry. :D

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/DarkFury/144061.jpg

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/DarkFury/144064.jpg

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/DarkFury/144062.jpg

[Houdini]

I wasn't sure how much I'd like mine, but on a cool day, driving with the moonroof open can be very nice. On a hot day, opening the roof works great for venting the superheated air inside your car. Some models allow for roof/windows opening via a button on the keyless entry. Also nice for hot days. Overall, I'd have to give it a thumbs up.

[thekidrocks]

Go for the sunroof/moonroof! I've never had one in a car I own... and really like them in every car I've driven. I like that open feeling - even if it's closed (glass exposed).

Last time I bought a car, I waited and waited for the right combination of sunroof and other extras - one had to be a power seat (not common on the model I was looking at for some odd reason) as the sunroof reduced the headroom so much that I didn't fit in the car.

As for the Bose system - NO!!!!!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!!!

They are known to be problematic (as are many car stereos due to the environment) and then costly to repair. Stick with the best non-Bose factory system and upgrade the speakers. It's amazing how poor the factory speakers are on pretty much every car (unless you spend lots of whatever premium system - here Bose). Put some good speakers with the factory head unit, and you'll likely be very pleased. You can always add some extra power at some point.

[Cubsfan]

As for the Bose system - NO!!!!!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!!!

They are known to be problematic (as are many car stereos due to the environment) and then costly to repair. Stick with the best non-Bose factory system and upgrade the speakers. It's amazing how poor the factory speakers are on pretty much every car (unless you spend lots of whatever premium system - here Bose). Put some good speakers with the factory head unit, and you'll likely be very pleased. You can always add some extra power at some point.

I've heard this more than I would have guessed. Guess that Bose system is not universally liked :) To be honest, I haven't played with it too much. I wouldn't have a problem just replacing the factory speakers with something nice (not sure I'd like to replace the head unit, as I like the steering wheel controls.)

As for the sunroof, I think I've decided that it's not an important thing to me. If they have the exact model I want and it has the sunroof, then I'll get the sunroof. If not, no big deal.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[logicdc]

Are there good ones? Seems like the only ones that I've seen basically are IR Blasters that you still have to mount in front of the head unit. Got a link to a good one?

http://www.pac-audio.com/products/swi.htm

a list of vehicles supported for the last universal product:
http://www.pac-audio.com/swixprogramming/allinfo.asp

[Bires]

DarkFury: Did they also install drainage ducts when they put your sunroof in?

[DarkFury]

DarkFury: Did they also install drainage ducts when they put your sunroof in?
Yes...

The roof drains down the weep holes in all four side pillars... and the water ends up on the ground behind the front and in front of the rear tires.

This is why I was saying.... don't have this done by Ziebart. They don't do this when they put a roof in. This is "trim shop" level work by the same folks who do cars for the local dealers.

[guiseppewv]

This is why I was saying.... don't have this done by Ziebart. They don't do this when they put a roof in. This is "trim shop" level work by the same folks who do cars for the local dealers.

:stupid:

If you are going to do this aftermarket then get it done by the right shop if not you will be sorry.