As I came across the parking lot this morning (12 degrees, windchill of -10) I noted several cars with sunroofs (and frost or snow on the sunroofs). I found myself wondering - what is the purpose of a sunroof on a car? Any thoughts?

By My2cuties on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 10:59 am:

Star gazing on a romantic night, looking cool...lol. No *real* purpose I guess, other than one more option you can choose. Good question

By Trina~moderator on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:05 am:

I've never had a sunroof on any of my vehicles but DH has one. His is a sun/moon roof. His also has a shade on the inside so you can block out the sun if you want. It's nice to open it during pleasant weather. Not a priority in my book, but they're considered high on the "cool" factor! LOL! Pretty useless during winter months, unless you like the warm sun shining down on you.

By Kaye on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:14 am:

My hubby has one. It is the compromise to having a convertible. The wind blowing through your hair, etc. We love it. We also live in Houston where I am wearing shorts today..LOL. I would love a convertible, but there aren't many (one i think) that has 3 seat belts in back, plus the safety of them stresses me. But the accord with the sunroof open is good enough for me. My hubby drives this to work, he doesn't open it alot. My on the other hand anytime I am in it (except for rain) it is open!

By Kate on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:15 am:

They're not necessary, but they're handy. They are great for quickly cooling down your closed up car on a hot day. They're great when you WANT the sun to warm up your car, too. The sliding shade is great for that purpose....close it on hot days, open it on cold days. It wouldn't be the first option I'd choose (heated seats would be!!), but I wouldn't automatically write it off, either.

By Missmudd on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:16 am:

So that my dh can open it when he leaves for work and play oobi w/ my 4 yo out the sunroof as he drives away

By Vicki on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:26 am:

I agree with the posters above...they are GREAT for venting the car!! I love having one!!

By Trina~moderator on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:31 am:

LOL, Missmudd! Too funny!

Kaye, my DH also has an Accord.

By Rayanne on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:42 am:

I have one and I love mine. Mine is a sunroof/moonroof. It also has a shade inside, so if I don't want the sun to shine in, it won't.

By Breann on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:43 am:

We have sunroofs on our Sienna! Love them Not sure if there is a purpose. It gets fresh air circulating quickly though.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 11:46 am:

We've never had one, but DH is going to be buying a VW Passat and it already comes with one. So, I guess we will find out what it is like! I have a co-worker at school, who even opens hers in the winter! I think that is nuts, though! LOL!

By Conni on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 12:06 pm:

We both have them. It's nice to air out the LAndcruiser when the dogs are in the back and they let a stinker. Its nice in my minivan for cooling down / venting the van quickly on a hot day. Nice in the spring on a warm day when you dont want to run the A/C. Nice in the winter with the warm sun shining in like was mentioned above...

By Feona on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

I heard it increases the resale value of a car.

Our came with one. We use it sometimes to get air in the car. Or on a not too sunny day or at night.

By Mrsheidi on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

To put my little brother up through it to see the Christmas lights! Our botanical gardens put on a Christmas light show that you drive through slowly. It was GREAT!

Dawn, I sent you an email to your hotmail account regarding the VW passat...we bought one and REALLY regret it!

By Kaye on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 12:20 pm:

Oh and I forgot, we live near a small military airport and the kids think it is awesome to watch the planes fly overhead..LOL.

I want a sunroof in my minivan, maybe in 5 years when I finally get a new one I will look into that...heck maybe they will have the convertable mini van, heck the did it with a truck!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 03:39 pm:

Kristen, four hours later and I am still chuckling about your husband using the sun roof to play oogies. Heidi, your little brother runs a close second.

Thank you all. Now I know they have a practical use. I just though they provided all the inconvenience of a convertible without the glamour - I sit corrected.

By Unschoolmom on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

I LOVE our sunroof. The car doesn't have air conditioning so we can get a good breeze through it without cranking the side windows down and getting blasted.

By Pamt on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 05:03 pm:

Ummm...sorry to be so ignorant, but what is "playing oobi"?

By Trina~moderator on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 05:27 pm:

Pam, you've never seen Oobi?! LOL! It's a children's show on Noggin. The characters are actually hands.

Oobi

By Andi on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 05:38 pm:

We have a VW Passat..and we love it!!

As for the sunroof...here in CA we use ours all the time. It is a sunroof/moonroof like Rayanne and it also has a sunshade.

I also love it for looking at Christmas lights. My DS stands on the armrest of the car and sticks his head out the sunroof to look at all the lights.

By Feona on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 05:41 pm:

Hmmm... That doesn't sound safe...

By Andi on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 07:30 pm:

Where we do it, it's a horse race track, not on a busy street, we are driving about 5 mph, most of the time stopped and taking pictures of the lights. As soon as we are done DS is back in his very safe booster seat with his seatbelt on.

By Conni on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 09:28 am:

PAMT, I didnt know what it was either! ROFL! Now we know...