Sunroof or Moonroof?

Kinja'd!!! "DinoValentino" (dinovalentino)
08/23/2017 at 18:35 • Filed to: None

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DISCUSSION (36)


Kinja'd!!! Audistein > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:39

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I have always been under the impression that if the panel is metal or otherwise opaque it’s a sunroof and if the panel is glass it’s a moon roof. I don’t think the way it opens is relevant. I also remember back when retracting metal panels was normal and moonroofs were fancy (on non-luxury vehicles at least).

Some say that a moonroof is a type of sunroof, but I don’t know if there’s consensus on that. By the dictionary definition of these terms, it would seem that the definition of sunroof would include moonroofs too but I’ve also heard people make a distinction. I’ve always thought they were separate things.

Larger moonroofs or ones with second glass panels behind (panoramic glass roof) have to open outside the car because there is no space for the glass to retract inside. Those are often just “pano roofs”.

Unless this is some kind of eclipse joke I’m really not getting.


Kinja'd!!! Takuro Spirit > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:40

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NO ROOF

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Kinja'd!!! TheHondaBro > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 18:46

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I thought a sunroof is a glass panel that can’t be opened, and a moonroof can be opened.


Kinja'd!!! for Michigan > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:50

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But those are both sunroofs…


Kinja'd!!! TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:50

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I thought a moon roof was a giant sun roof.


Kinja'd!!! Audistein > TheHondaBro
08/23/2017 at 18:51

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I mean the dictionary definition for sunroof is “A panel in the roof of a car that can be opened for extra ventilation.” and that aligns with my understanding of the term.

Also the word sunroof has been around for a while but I can’t think of any production car older than a few years that has a main glass panel that can’t be removed or retracted. I know some recent range rovers have fixed glass roofs (with bisected mobile ones being optional), but that’s about it.


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:55

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To me, always a sunroof or funroof


Kinja'd!!! Rico > TheHondaBro
08/23/2017 at 18:56

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I’ve always assumed it was the opposite, moonroof is glass that doesn’t open like the old Altimas.


Kinja'd!!! DinoValentino > for Michigan
08/23/2017 at 18:56

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You’re not wrong.


Kinja'd!!! LongbowMkII > for Michigan
08/23/2017 at 18:56

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those are both moonroofs.


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 18:57

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I consider them the same thing now....

I prefer all solid roof

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Kinja'd!!! Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:01

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Here in Norway we usually just call them sieves, since they tend to let water through but filter out unwanted elements like leaves or pinecones.


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:04

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“decapitator”


Kinja'd!!! LongbowMkII > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 19:04

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Mk2 had a sunroof- metal panel

Murano had a moonroof- glass panel

a moonroof is good for when it’s chilly at night but still want to see the moon over your head.


Kinja'd!!! DinoValentino > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 19:06

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Apparently sunroof is a blanket term. Moonroof is meant to describe the ones that slide inside the cars roof, but I highly suspect its just fancy marketing. Its that special type of marketing that gets you to pay much more for the GMC over the Chevy version with 97% of the same equipment.


Kinja'd!!! Audistein > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:11

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You see, I think it can still be a moonroof if it slides outside the car. Regardless of GM marketing, the dictionary says:

moonroof

“a transparent section of the roof of an automobile, typically tinted and able to be opened.”

In my daily driver when I open the front glass roof panel it has to go outside and slide over the back. I still consider that a moonroof. Even the ones that just tilt could still be a moonroof.


Kinja'd!!! Captain of the Enterprise > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:12

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I don’t want anything that robs valuable headroom


Kinja'd!!! RT > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:15

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Everyone knows what a sunroof is - a moonroof is more of a nerdy technical or advertising term.

I guess you could say ‘moonroofs have more glass’ or ‘moonroofs are bigger’ - but even then you’ll find people calling them sunroofs - because that’s still the main word people use for this thing.


Kinja'd!!! DinoValentino > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 19:33

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You’re onto something there, check this out from KBB.com .

The term sunroof can loosely be used to describe any type of panel contained within the roof of a car that allows air, light, or both to enter the vehicle and is operable either electronically or manually. A sliding sunroof option often features a glass panel and may be advertised as a moonroof. A glass moonroof will allow more sunlight to enter your vehicle without the need to open the roof. This allows you to enjoy sunlight regardless of the weather conditions. With a sunroof, you are only able to enjoy sunlight if the panel is open , also allowing air to enter the vehicle from outside. A moonroof will also usually come with a secondary, interior sliding panel that is upholstered to match your car’s interior. Sunroofs were traditionally comprised of painted metal that would easily blend in with the car’s roof. The moonroof is technically considered a type of sunroof.


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:35

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MarketingRoof?

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Back in the day when my Dad had a Toyota Tarago (for some reason) it came with two openings in the top. Toyota called the small one over the driver a sun roof and the big one over the passengers, moon roof.


Kinja'd!!! Svend > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:37

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Grey area.

Panoramic glass roof, but not the roof-roof variety but the extended windscreen kind.

£1,995

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http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707257711468?advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1500&keywords=panoramic&model=ASTRA&sort=sponsored&make=VAUXHALL&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&postcode=ca25ll&page=1

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Kinja'd!!! Vítor > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 19:43

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 My Peugeot (208) has a fixed panoramic roof, and so does the 308, 2008 and etc. The Model 3 and S also have a panoramic roof.


Kinja'd!!! Svend > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:44

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Panoramic roof.

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Kinja'd!!! Audistein > Vítor
08/23/2017 at 19:54

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That might be close to the whole list. I can’t really think of anything much older than 10 years with this setup though.

The Tesla Model S is just like the Range Rovers I mentioned with a glass roof being standard and a split opening roof being optional. It used to be just the pano roof that opens or a solid roof on the earlier Model S. Most of the ones I see have the roof that opens.


Kinja'd!!! Maxima Speed > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 19:56

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Sliding inside is always better 


Kinja'd!!! 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 20:16

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Well I only use mine on hot evenings, I hate convertibles and I hate having the sun on me when I drive. So moonroof!


Kinja'd!!! Vítor > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 20:16

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The 612 is the only one that comes to mind. Actually, every V12 GT Ferrari since the 575M Superamerica has it.


Kinja'd!!! 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 20:17

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Yeah my old Merc is a metal one and my CRV is glass with an inner shade panel that slides back.


Kinja'd!!! Audistein > Vítor
08/23/2017 at 20:31

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Ooooh very nice.

That must be a special model though because I’ve never seen a 612 with anything but a solid roof. The 599, F12, and 812 Superfast don’t even get sunroofs, let alone a glass roof either. The Superamerica was super limited run too; I’ve only seen one that I can recall and it was for sale for $400k. Most 575Ms have a solid roof.

The FF/GT4Lusso definitely has an (optional) panoramic roof though. I guess in some ways that’s a more direct successor to the 612 while the F12 was the successor to the 599. Lines blur when going back to the 575M though because there was only one V12 front engined car in the lineup back then.


Kinja'd!!! Audistein > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/23/2017 at 20:34

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Some of those old Mercs had huge sunroofs too, way wider and longer than standard sunroofs from the 90s and 2000s. Really awesome.

My near new Mercedes has a twin-panel glass roof and the front glass panel is massive and opens quite far. Reminds me of those cool old Mercs.


Kinja'd!!! Eric @ opposite-lock.com > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 21:03

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A sunroof is metal, a moonroof is glass. Interestingly, moonroof is a Ford term and sunroof can theoretically apply to either.

Since you’re putting a big hole in the roof, it might as well be glass, so that’s my vote.


Kinja'd!!! Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Audistein
08/23/2017 at 21:05

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Moonroof was originally a marketing term by Ford for glass sunroofs.


Kinja'd!!! merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > DinoValentino
08/23/2017 at 21:23

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Those are both moonroofs. If they open, not just tilt to vent, they are moonroofs, if not opening, then just sunroofs.


Kinja'd!!! BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > DinoValentino
08/24/2017 at 06:23

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Neither. They’re both needless complexity which pushes weight further up in the chassis and serves no purpose other than to provide another weak point for rust.

Useless bloody things.


Kinja'd!!! You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
08/24/2017 at 07:26

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Useless? They are super effective at watering your interior.


Kinja'd!!! boxrocket > DinoValentino
08/29/2017 at 22:37

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It’s a temporary roof hole either way.