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Need Your Advice On Sunroof Pros & Cons

Skidd-au

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2002
Messages
6,657
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I am considering whether or not to order my new Avy with a sunroof. I would appreciate your feedback on the good and bad points about having a sunroof fitted. I've read all the posts on wind noise, but that doesn't really bother me.

I am curious about stuff like; does it reduce the head room in the cabin? Does the climate control still work as well? Do they ever leak water (such as in a car wash)? Is the overhead console as versitile? Etc etc

Skidd 7;)
 
Yes there is a reduction of headroom in the back seat. I would guess about two inches.

No leaks yet except for when the wife forgot to close it when it rained.

Climate contron appears to work normally.

Initially I did not want a sun roof but the wife did. I am glad I listened to here for once. I will probably never live it down though ;D ;D
 
hyper said:
Yes there is a reduction of headroom in the back seat. ?I would guess about two inches.

No leaks yet except for when the wife forgot to close it when it rained.

Climate contron appears to work normally.

Initially I did not want a sun roof but the wife did. ?I am glad I listened to here for once. ?I will probably never live it down though ;D ;D

hyper, that's interesting, so there is no reduction in head room in the front seating area? This was a concern to me as I am 6'5" and thought that the roof was lower (thicker) with a sunroof fitted.

Skidd 7;)
 
I guess they are nice if you use it....I have one and never open it...Too damned hot here in Texas....
 
Get one SKIDD they are great and problem free!
 
You will WANT one for your Av. Nothing like having the windows down, the moonroof fully opened and the rear window stowed. As close as you'll get to an SUV-convertable!

Jamie
 
Brangus said:
I guess they are nice if you use it....I have one and never open it...Too damned hot here in Texas....
Actually, one of the nice things about the sunroof is you can open it when you first get in, and while the A/C is cooling down all that hot air inside is going right up through the roof. As the A/C kicks in and starts blowing cold, close the roof and it'll cool down much faster. Give it a try.

Yeah, you could open the windows for the same effect, but you get less wind blowing in with the roof, and it works just as fast.

Of course, I don't live in Texas, so I may be underestimating the heat. But even so, my old black Blazer with dark interior got plenty hot in the sun, and the sunroof really cooled things off. Based on that, I vowed my next truck would have the sunroof, and it does.

Just my $0.02.

-- SS
 
every car I have bought in the last 10 years, has had a sunroof. I love sunroofs. The sunroof's thickness is very marginal. maybe an inch. Get it, you will love it. Take out the back window, and open the sunroof, and go cruising it is a blast.
 
As long as we're talking about them, is it a sunroof? a moonroof? or both ???

I have always understood a sunroof to be the panel that pops open whereas the moonroof is the style where the panel slides into the roof area. I am I correct here or what? Spork, help me understand my roof!

Jamie
 
jamie said:
As long as we're talking about them, is it a sunroof? a moonroof? or both ????

I have always understood a sunroof to be the panel that pops open whereas the moonroof is the style where the panel slides into the roof area. I am I correct here or what? Spork, help me understand my roof!

Jamie
I always thought a sunroof was a solid or glass panel in the roof (generic term?), while a moon roof was the old one-way mirrored glass panels they put in the old Lincolns (maybe a trade mark?)

-- SS
 
jamie said:
As long as we're talking about them, is it a sunroof? a moonroof? or both ????
According to the RPO codes and owner's manual, it is a power-sliding sunroof.

There's on going discussions of sunroof vs. moonroof on the other boards. ?Some say it is the sliding, whether you can see thru it or what it made of (steel or glass) that makes the difference.

goo929
 
jamie- Not necessarily. I've always wondered about this too, but different people and/or manufacturers call the "electric glass panel in the roof" either sunroof or moonroof. To my knowledge, they're the same thing.

When we bought our black on black 2000 Chrysler 300M, it was the first car that had a power sunroof. We almost bought a white one that didn't have it, but it soon became our favorite feature. My mother had it open just about everyday, whether just in the vent position in the morning or fully open when coming home from work on a sunny afternoon. It was the one part of the car that we never had a problem with, and loved having it.

But, when I started looking for a Z66 with cloth seats, it was quite hard to find one in the color or other options we wanted that had one. So, asking my mother she said "Well, the back window comes out doesn't it? That's good enough." So, we ended up buying one without, and while I love just about everythign about the Av and there's a boat load of headroom without it (I'm 6'3" and could wear a large hat and still have room), I really do wish we had a sunroof. The interior, while quite open and airy, just seems a little cave-like without a sunroof.

I'd say, without a doubt, get it, and you won't regret it! Hey, maybe I can convince her to trade for a new 2003 with a Bose and a sunroof.....yeah right!
 
Git it! ;D I'm like the other guys who like clearing all the glass (except for the windshield of course) and hittin' the road. My kids love it too. It's worth the extra $$$ especially if you plan on keeping this AV for many years. Don't have any regrets. :6:

Truckman :B:
 
While I must admit I probably wouldn't have ordered one, now I'm sold on the sunroof for all the reasons mentioned. To summarize, yes its a little more noisy, but the open air effect and ventallation benefit for when you park in the sun are well worth the investment. Go for it.
 
jamie said:
As long as we're talking about them, is it a sunroof? a moonroof? or both ????
If it is daytime, it's a sunroof, if it's dark out... >:D

This is the first vehicle I have had with one. I almost went looking for an Av without one to save a grand, "but sometimes you just have to say what the $%#@"! Quick name the movie, RichUF! I really like it and I'm very glad that I ponied up the extra coin for it.
 
Steelheadchaser said:
If it is daytime, it's a sunroof, if it's dark out... >:D

This is the first vehicle I have had with one. I almost went looking for an Av without one to save a grand, "but sometimes you just have to say what the $%#@"! Quick name the movie, RichUF! I really like it and I'm very glad that I ponied up the extra coin for it.

Risky Business...had to think about that one for a while.

I say it is a sunroof and you should get one regardless of what it is officially called!
 
Here is what I consider to be the ultimate in av cruising

Sunroof open

Back window and midgate down

All windows rolled downed

All three bed covers off

Tailgate down

Ambient temp 70 to 85 degrees

 
I think sunroof vs moonroof is a regional thing. I always considered a moonroof to be stationary and just pop open, while a sunroof was powered and could slide open as well as pop open.


GM calls it a sunroof. The sunroof on my NB, which has all the same operations as the AV, is called a power moonroof by VW. So, the car industry has no idea either.
 
Get the Sun/moon roof,it just makes
the cab feel even more spacious!
 
Skidd:
I am 6'7" and have the sunroof...plenty of room but I would sit in one 1st. I liked it on my '99 Bonneville and that MADE me get one on the Av...I can crack it to get the hot air we tall guys feel on our head way up hi to remove that heat. Another plus is that with the shade back, the glass makes the interior airier and brighter.
Enjoy!!! :B:
 
I am like most others here; I took my Av as I found it, including a Sun/moon roof that I might not have ordered if I was building the Av from an order sheet, buuut now I really like the thing, It never ever has leaked and once I figured out how to close it (hold the switch down until it closes and everything stops for good) and it is often the first button I push when I get in my Av
 
silversport said:
Skidd:
I am 6'7" and have the sunroof...plenty of room but I would sit in one 1st. ?I liked it on my '99 Bonneville and that MADE me get one on the Av...I can crack it to get the hot air we tall guys feel on our head way up hi to remove that heat. ?Another plus is that with the shade back, the glass makes the interior airier and brighter.
Enjoy!!! :B:

Thanks Guys, This is some of the good info that I needed to hear (read). If someone who is 6'7" can sit in the thing with no problems I imagine my little 6'5" frame should be fine. Unfortunately I cannot just sit in one to check these things out. There has only been 1 Avy brought into Australia so far and that is in Perth, 5,000 miles away. I am going to have to decide on my options and order the one I want, then come over and pick it up. Makes the colour choice hard too :-[

My main reason for wanting all this information is based on the Chevy web site for the Suburban, you lose some features by having the sunroof:

Available Sunroof
Suburban can be equipped with an available sunroof. With the push of a button, its tinted glass panel can be fully opened, closed or set to a vent position. A retractable interior shade is included with the sunroof.

When this option is ordered, second-row redundant climate controls are not included.


There are not so many details on the Avalanche sunroof and thought I had better check before deciding. All of your comments and information provided makes it sound like there is no down side, so I guess the choice is made. :D

Skidd 7;)
 
I believe that the factory GM sunroof controls are not versatile. When I was first checking out the AV I knew I wanted a sunroof but I was not happy with the sunroof controls. If I recall, the control is similar to the power window control, which you only have the option of opening and closing your sunroof. I had an after market sunroof put in that looks like the factory GM Model but with more versatility. I have one-touch features for opening and closing the sunroof. Additionally, I have a button for venting the sunroof and one additional button that keeps the sunroof open if I turn off the car. If I activate this button when the sunroof is open, it stays open even after I turn off the vehicle, which normally closes automatically when I turn off the vehicle. This is one of my favorite mods. I think you should get a sunroof either way, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
 
The control does look like a window switch. When the roof is closed, pressing the front edge of the switch and holding it for a second raises up the back side for venting. When open like this, pressing and holding the back edge for a second or two closes it.

When closed, pressing the back edge of the switch slides the window down and into the roof. Like the driver door window, this has an express open feature: a short push and release, and it slides open all the way. To close it, press the front of the switch and hold it until it stops by itself. (about 5 or 6 seconds). If you let go too early, it will stop with the roof half open.

To go from vent to fully open, press the back of the switch and the vent will close and stop. Then let go of the switch, and press the back again, and it will then slide back. Same thing to go from open to vent, just press and hold the front of the switch twice. Kind of a slick way to get two features out of one switch, but it does take a little to get used to it.

When you turn off the ignition, the roof stays where it was, just like the power windows. You must close the window manually before turning of the ignition, although the reserved accessory power will still let you close it (until you open a door).

The sliding sunshade is manual, there is a handle to slide it open or shut, alhtough it will slide back with the glass when you open the roof.

So far as I see, the only thing you lose with the sunroof is some overhead storage as the sunroof console is shorter, and a little bit of headroom. As a bonus, with the sunroof you get the HomeLink garage door transmitter, which is normally only available through the convenience package.

Did all that make sense, or did it raise more questions?

-- SS
 
As you noted, the overhead console with sunroof is smaller and restricts options, particularly 2003's dual climate and DVD.

Incidentally, I've heard that with the sunroof the roof metal is galvanized but without it isn't. Does someone know for certain?
 
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