Does the color of the car, in particular the roof, really affect the temperature of the cabin?

 

I know a white roof should reflect sun and heat better than black that I know absorbs heat.

 

I live in Scottsdale Arizona, I did a test where I put a thermometer inside the vehicles on the dash with the windows up. I did it in the following color vehicles on the same day, red, silver, black and olive. The temperature out side was 104. The inside temperature on the vehicles was 143-148. The black vehicle was the hottest. But as you can see the temps aren't that far apart. In my opinion after you reach 115 it's hard to tell a difference in temperature. The temperature did fluctuate by one degree. My vehicles that had sunroofs had solid closures so that was not a factor. Hopefully this helps.

 

We have one with a White roof, one with a Black roof and live in Sunny California. I've never noticed a difference.

 

I thought this thread was going to be about how Chili Red always makes cops pull you over. Or that the MINI BRG isn't true, but metallic. Or that black is more stealthy.

Check out this: Black Roof + Warm Climate = bad idea?

 

Those are FACTS, not myths!
:-)

 

Didn't they test this on MythBusters?

 

I did this several years ago during a club event. We did a white roof/black roof comparison of several MINIs and found the black roof MINIs got around 2-3 degrees hotter.

 

yes they did.

 

Busted, plausible or confirmed? Do you recall?

 

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode38

 

Honestly anything over a 100F does not matter you really are not going to be able to feel the difference. Now if it is like 90F in the cabin with a black roof and 80F with a white roof then that matters.

 

Exactly^

However, you're still most likely facing that temperature gradient either way. It would be good to see a graph of the two cars and if there is a linear increase in temperature. If that was the case, the color would be something to consider. If it ramps up at a much higher temperature (above 100 as Porthos said) then I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

This is a really subjective conversation......of course the darker colored car will attract more heat, but does that heat actually radiate through the insulation and metallic surfaces?

The point or location of thermometer would be the variable to take into consideration. If the thermometer was placed on the dash, it really would depend on the location, color of dash and how long the sun is in contact with the thermometer.

If you were to place the thermometer on the headliner directly below where a sunroof would be, then this would be the best test

 

There was a news report I watched years ago about exterior car color and interior car color. If I am not mistaken the interior color has more to do with it then the exterior. Well really the combination of interior and exterior color as a lot to do with it. I really wish I could remember everything or where to find it because they were reporting 15f to 20f differences.

 

Found this interesting link in another NAM thread:

http://www.racq.com.au/__data/assets...re_in_Cars.pdf

 

the Mythbusters did this one and came up with about a 10 degree difference

check out episode 38

 

I live in AZ as well, and when it's HOT as HELL outside, it don't matter no more what color your roof is! I have a white roof with a sun roof too lol

 

We deal in opinion here. We don' need no stinkin' data

Actually: that's a very interesting, thorough study. I can say that because it vindicates my black-roofed MINIs

 

I think the sunroof is a bigger factor......my '03 had one and it was hot in there, my '09 Clubby does not and it's much more comfortable on a hot summer day - both had/have body colored roofs - electric blue on the '03 and lazer blue on the '09.