[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by DeniseK
Stop me if I'm wrong, but I thought the sunroof is going to be made of some kind of glass material, not cloth.

DeniseK, I'm pretty sure he's referring an internal moveable sunshade used underneath the glass inside the car to help block the light coming in through the glass.

Does the MINI have one?

[pbraun]

I don't care ...I love sunroofs and what it feels like driving with one open...... white roof and all, sign me up for the largest one possible!

[DeniseK]

Actually, I saw the press book from the Detroit show, and it only showed the sunroof surrounded by a white roof. I thought it looked pretty cool. The booklet also showed roof paint options of a US flag, the Union Jack, and Paris taxi black and white check.
Auto journalist Denise McCluggage told me since the Mini is so low, she would opt for a roof design featuring two nude people in the front seat, to be viewed from above, of course.
To answer Bruce K., I didn't see a cloth suncover as an option in the book.

[The Ultimate Driver]

Regarding my post. The sunshade is made of cloth (item which covers the glass to block out the sun), the sunroof itself is glass.

[pbraun]

Hey! Check out those pics MiniMoke posted from the Detroit Auto show in the General Discussion forum!

[The Ultimate Driver]

I have, there Great! Thanks MiniMoke!

[BI GAL]

Quote:

Originally posted by minicoopersgirl
Great thank you very much!
BTW, do you have one? What do you think about it?

Yeah, got one on my blue/black chilli Cooper! I think it lightens up the interior really nicely and should be fantastic once the weather warms up.....
It is a bit noisy when open at speed, but no worse than any other cars i've been in. The simple solution is to turn up the (excellent) boost radio
As for the extra weight/centre of gravity/chassis stiffness stuff blah blah, i doubt anybody would notice much difference unless you're on the track all the time!?

Whether i get the 'skylight' on my Cooper S, is a matter for discussion with my bank manager!!!

[Basil]

Can't have a subject thread, without a subject picture. Brightens things up a bit don't you think !

Looks like the internal blinds both roll out from between the two panes of glass.

Also, whats that little recess at the back of the rear glass. Is it just a slot for the blind buckle ?

(Hang on, theres a recess at the front too.......must be for the buckle)

[belfastcooper]

Bi Gal: Agree with you entirely. Unless on track 99% will never notice difference in car's handling due to sunroof.

Ultimate Driver: Silver / Black looks excellent, very grown-up. It was my second choice colour combination - each to his own.

Basil: Yes, it's for the buckle. I'm a short-a**e and i can operate front and rear blinds from the driver's seat.

Everyone: Sunroof brightens up the car 365 days a year. Really glad i got one.

[smiffy]

The split sunroof seems wierd to me. Its like the sort you get in a Renault Scenic where there is a 2 seperate sunroofs. One for those in the front & one for those in the rear

[minicoopersgirl]

Wow from the inside it looks totally different. From the outside it looks like all glass with out the seperating piece in the middle. I still want it.

[DavidB]

I have driven both and although the roof is nice it takes about 60mm off the interior headroom and then my head touches the roof (even with the height adjusted) so if you’re about 6’2 test both

Dave

[jontyONE]

Quote:

I have driven both and although the roof is nice it takes about 60mm off the interior headroom and then my head touches the roof (even with the height adjusted) so if you’re about 6’2 test both

You must be sitting high up mate, as i am 6ft3 and have no problems at all with my sunroof.

[Garry]

Now have experienced the sunroof...

* with the sunroof on tilt you get great ventilation inside the car and not much wind noise - also you can open the windows and surpisingly not much buffeting compared to opening the windows with the sunroof closed

* with the sunroof open - great for minor roads up to 55 mph, but a bit noisy and windy on motorways

* no rattles - I drove an early production Cooper with sunroof and it had some bad rattles

and yes, I agree in sun forsaken South-West it makes a dready day a little nicer!

[beej]

Even in the rainy UK its £500 well spent! It really lights up the cabin, and I love it

[kapps]

Yea, I'm 6'4" and have plenty of room in the MINI. The sunroof does get noisy in the 50's. I live in Florida and the sun does get sorta annoying even with the sun shade. I wish they had another solid shade for those unbearably hot and sunny days. If I was completely performance oriented, I would go without the sunroof but it is a nice feature to have on those fall days. The car handles like a dream with the sunroof.

[markjenn]

A sunroof is definitely a compromise:

Sunroof pluses:

1. A measure of "open air motoring".
2. Brightens interior.

Minuses:

1. Weight.
2. Cost (somewhat offset if/when you trade in).
3. Small loss of structural rigidity.
4. Potential source of leaks and rattles.
5. Reduced headroom (not too bad with Mini).
6. On Mini with only partial blockage unscreen, hotter inside in sunny weather.
7. Noise and buffeting when open.

On both my current cars, I have sunroofs and I've noticed I almost never use them. So for me it was a no-brainer not to get one.

I do think it is one of those things you either really like and can't be without, or you don't particularly want one, so the drawbacks seem like a waste. I don't think most drivers would notice the loss of rigidity and extra weight, but it isn't totally insigificant either. I think these are minor considerations compared to the big ones - cost, more rattles, loss of headroom, and the extra heat into the car as kapps just mentioned.

IOW, no right or wrong answer - totally dependent on your subjective interest in being able to look up and see the sky.

- Mark