[quote=Gromit801]You forgot:
Leaking in the rain should any of the seals crack or break.
Easier to vandalize
One more mechanism to break.

So many things to worrie about:impatient
Maybe a bicycle would better suit your needs since there's no engine or other bits to break down I've got it! Even better ...a unicycle

 

I have owned 3 MINIs and all of them have been ordered with no sunroof. I just don't care for it for all the reasons previously stated above.

Here in Miami (specially this time of the year) is too damn hot to enjoy safe and comfortable motoring with an open sunroof. If I lived in the cool mountains of the American West that would be a different story, but if you live in the sunbelt states, skip it and put that money in a better place.

I love my solid roofs. My '05 MCS red with white roof proudly wears a full size Union Jack flag.

Don't let sunroof zealots tell you that you MUST order the sunroof to enjoy the car because that ain't true. I have yet to feel "Claustrophobia" in my solid roof MINIs.

And also as stated before, cars without sunroofs are lighter, are likely to have less rattles and the air conditioning/heating systems work MUCH better than on cars with factory sunroofs.

 

C4,
>>And also as stated before, cars without sunroofs are lighter, are likely to have less rattles and the air conditioning/heating systems work MUCH better than on cars with factory sunroofs.<<

How come the heating and ac works better without the sunroof. that's the first I've heard of that. Does air leak throught the sunroof ?

Thanks for all the input folks.

 

Honestly for daily driving the differences are negligible regarding heating and cooling issues,added weight.....If you want one and you think you may enjoy it just get it. If you are living in a hot climate area and/or are going to be tracking the car and have weight concerns then don't get it. Either way the car is awesome and sooooooooo much fun to drive.

 

also with a solid roof, racing stripes look much better as you can have them flow over the bonnet and over the roof with no breaks.

 

No. There are no air leaks. If there are any, then we are all in trouble

Actually, since the sunroof glass panels cover up 60% total roof area and add to that the lack of a real solid sunshade, the car on sunny/hot days will heat up much faster and consequently your A/C will work that much harder as well to cool down the cabin.

If you insist in getting the sunroof, the best work around is to tint both roof glass panels and this helps cut down the amount of light/heat somewhat.

But if you want a COLD cabin, your best bet is to go with a solid roof.

The majority of people that complaint about the A/C performance happen to be sunroof owners. Some food for taught, that's all

In the end is your money and your very personal decision. I would test drive cars back-to-back with both sunroof and without to see what you like best. This is what I did back in the day and was the first hand indicator that I would not waste money on a roof glass panel.

Good luck.

 

1 - Nope - though a leaking drain tube could cause a problem
2 - Huh? - If someone's going to bash in your roof, do you want bondo or a new panel?
3 - True

If you have the sunroof, she'll just bounce harmlessly in the air when the sunroof is open, instead of hitting the roof.
You've listed the pros and cons - now the decision is the tough part!

Personally I wouldn't get one without, though I understand those in the nether regions doing without because of the heat.
IIRC the sunroof/mechanism weighs ~60lbs, so in place of the metal, you get ~40lbs of weight penalty.

 

The sunroof adds weight in the worst possible place in the car..... THE ROOF. The Webasto MINI sunroof weighs around 55-60 pounds.

 

[QUOTE=promking]Have fun driving with a leaky roof! Why go out of your way to add potential problems? I'll bet you run with scissors too!

 

I love my sunroof. But then again I live in Virginia so it's not like we have 110+ degree summers. I love driving with the windows down and sunroof open, and have absolutely no regrets. I say sunroof, for sure

 

That shouldn't be a problem if running stock S-Lites as they should offset this concern with added weight down below

 

Weight is the enemy... especially weight up high...

 

[quote=promking]Ah.. sarcasim.. it adds so much...

Less is more.. especially when it comes down to weight, complexity and cost...
Nothing wrong with having a sunroof... but for the ultimate performance mini driving
experience... less is still more... except for HP!

 

no sunroof, no S-lites. MCS with 16in V-spokes...FOR THE WIN!

 

[quote=mikem53]Without it (sarcasm) the soup would be very bland indeed, otherwise agreed.

 

NOT, is my vote, I really don't want all that glass over my head for sunlight or in case of an accident. Roof can't be that strong when you cut a big hole in it, and they already flex enough as is.

 

Autocross. 60 seconds. Three runs. 20 events/year. That's an hour.
I spend that much time sitting at traffic lights enjoying my sunroof. And many times that washing my fine looking white S-lites.


Can I hold your trophy? Please?

Gotta love you-ification.

 

Hey if you're starting a "Solid Roof Owner's Club" sign me up!

My vehicle driving/ownership saga...I went from a solid roof car, to a moon roofed car, to a solid roofed car, to a sun roofed car...now to my solid roof MCS! I seem to be developing a pattern!

 

If you plan on autocrossing the car. Ditch the sunroof, EXTRA weight up high doesn't help.

MIB is a solid Tin Top. I had a loaner with the Sunroof and it is not that bad. BUT you do want to tint it or something because there is a lot of glass and it lets a lot of light in, even with the shades pulled!

 

I am very happy with the sunroof on my 05 MCS. The glass is tinted at about 50% from the factory, and the mesh retractible shade prevents overheating on those rare days when there are no clouds at all. I think the car might be a bit dark inside without the sunroof. And on a typical Oregon day it is wonderful to be able to glance up and see the clouds. It compensates for the design of the windshield, with the top edge rather low and interfering with a broad view of the sky.

 

No sunroof here. I was thinking performance versus luxury so kept extra weight and complexity devices to a minimum. And hate to dogpile on the smoking issue, but you cannot get the smell out of the car despite what you might think. Non-smokers can tell instantly if a car has been smoked in. I once passed on a pristine used Corrado because of the smell, the salesman who had stomped out a butt before we entered the car said he couldn't smell it, LOL.

 

Same here... had a minivan.. then a Jeep Wrangler.. took the top off from April through October, then the Z3.... I am wanting the keep the option but don't want a full convertible again (sun/skin issues). I'll be darkening the tint on the sunroof when I get my windows done which should solve the extra glare. I also still have some of the conditioner that is used on the seals of the softop for the Z3 so I'll use that on the rubbers for the MINI also.

 

Haven't had my MCs very long but I was driving one of them with the sunroof wide open and the mesh shade in place. The force of the wind had the shade flapping so wildly, I was worried it was going to tear. I wasn't even going that fast... maybe 70... 72.

Worrying about nothing ? What's the fastest you've driven with the shade in place and sunroof open ??

 

+1

I hate the MINI sunroof... with a passion...

1) it has no effective shade to block sunlight
2) it is a common rattle-source (hers does - especially in the Winter when things shrink a bit)
3) and worst of all, the thing is FREAKIN' LOUD!!!!

Seriously... when she had a MCC as a loaner, we noticed how that car with the top down was downright quiet compared to the MCS with the sunroof open.

She loves it despite all of this and she's making the payments, so it's not my call, but to me, a used MINI with a sunroof is worth a lot less than a comparable solid-roof car.

 

I, for one, prize the light that comes in through my sunroof. Whenever I'm in a car without one, I think, "It's really dark in here." I don't open it all that much.

I have a 6 year old Passat with a sun roof that lives outside. No leaks at all.