Do internal temperatures of cars with sunroofs vary between white/black/same colored cars? Or does it even matter. I sure wish you folks with mini’s would check and report back say the outside temp at noon and the inside temp of the car without the A/C on.
Thanks

 

Hi,
Along those lines I wonder if there is a big difference between silver and anthracite too...temperature wise

 

From a physics perspective, the answer is probably "yes, the darker colored paint cars have a higher interior temp", but most likely only by a little. The vast amount of heating of the interior is due to u/v coming through the windows, and the interior colors can have a lot to say about whether that heat gets reflected back out or absorbed. Lighter colors tend to bounce the heat back immediatly (and can therefore seem hotter to the touch but cool faster), while dark ones tend to absorb a portion of the heat and send it into interior components (seat padding, dash innereds, etc).

The heat that reaches the interior from the exterior paint, so to speak, has to primarily travel by conduction, or through the metal/plastic/insulation of the car. It's a convoluted path, but it exists, and some heat is going to conduct through from the body. Probably most contribution of that sort comes from the roof, if you have a black or body colored roof.

If it's an issue, think about getting u/v reflective window tint, a front sun shade, and maybe a white roof. All end up looking nice on a MINI.

 

I've had a black sedan for many years and it is usually very hot in the car at midday even with tinted glass all around.
I have an indyblue MINI with white roof and it is quite a bit cooler in midday with the same grade of tinted windows. The MINI is also smaller volumewise inside so it can cool off much faster. Overall I would say that my white roof helps to keep the car cooler and even my Momo chrome shift **** is warm but not too hot in midday sun- I can use it to drive and it doesn't burn my hand like others report with their MINIs and hot shift *****.