I love my sunroof. I wouldn't get one without. I also may be the only person on NAM that likes the mesh screen, too.

 

I wouldn't have a car WITHOUT a sunroof! I love 'em, and have had them on many cars. I use them spring and fall, even winter if it's not too cold (love the feeling of the heater on my feet and fresh air on my face!). Never had an issue with rattles, noise while closed, leaks, etc, on this or any other car...

As for the sun, I did put a tint on it--not a limo shade--just a "regular" tint.

 

I am sooooo glad I did not get a sunroof on Romi. I rode in one with a sunroof and there is no way I would enjoy it during the summertime. Romi cools off so much faster than the car with a sunroof. And being cool is very important to me. I an a wuss when it comes to heat.

Every car we have had in the last 10 years came with a sunroof and I have grown to not just hate them, but loathe them. I think it is one of the primary reasons I got a Mini. It is one of the few cars in the world you can get without a sunroof that is fun to drive.

 

It just depends on where you live. I've got the sunroof and could really do without it, as it lets so much sun in (even closed) that it makes the interior broiling hot, at least here in Texas. A more moderate climate, or one with milder summers, and it would be fine. But I sure love it on those five or so days a year when the temp is right!

 

I had the limo tint put on mine, and it made a lot of difference. I usually pop it open the minute I get in, and am really enjoying it as the weather cools off.

 

Where you live the answer is " YES ". I use mine all the time, if only to crack the roof to let the hot air out when I park it. I drive with it "lifted" almost all the time. Additionally, having the glass, makes it less claustophic to some.

 

Limo tinted mine and love it!

It's great to open at night and see the stars and moon.

 

It is totally subjective, but I love mine. I love all the light and I love to drive with it and the windows open. Wind is clearly not an issue for me - a lack of it is. (I attribute this to driving a Toyota pickup for 12 years with no a/c.) But if you're on the fence or don't think you'd use it much, you probably won't regret skipping it.

 

Extra cost, extra weight above the CG, less chassis torsional rigidity, wind noise, leaks, over-abundant sun, annoying sunshields: Too many negatives to make a sunroof worthwhile on a car which, by definition, is a minimalist solution. Excess.

 

This is my first car with a sunroof and I'm loving it. I'll let you know in the summer how I still feel about it. The NJ summers might not be as bad as the TX summers so I might be OK and I garage it when it's not on the road.

 

I have had either a convertible or a sunroof in every car I have ever owned....life is short.....

Today it was 70 something...I rolled the windows down in my MINI and opened the sunroof to feel the wind in my face...to flow thru that is left of my grey hair...and I felt alive. I cranked the jams and listened to the exhaust note in the background and I thought...damn it is good to be alive..and driving a car like this......'nuff said.

 

I don't have one on my R53 & when it's R56 time I still won't have one. I do track days with my car & I don't want that weight at the top of my car. I also want the solid structure the solid roof provides.

I'm glad MINI gives us the choice of a sunroof or a tin top.

 

I have one in my Mini and I love it. I use it almost every time I drive. Sometimes I just pop both vents open, other times I open it all the way. My daughter loves to wave at people by sticking her hand out the top when its open. I would order it again, perhaps alone instead of part of the premium pkg. I don't know if I like the auto AC. Ooopps does that start a new thread?

 

I sure ain't getting one. Not me man. Unh-uh. No way.

First off, I want my roof to be layered in Dynamat (sound damping for the killa audio setup). The sunroof would obviously interfere there.

Second, I don't like how Mini does their sunroof shade (that roller'o'mesh is bound to tickle me into some epileptic fit when I'm bussin' it through the canyon at a buck fifty).

Third. There is no third. The first reason was enough, especially when I heard some people had wind noise problems with theirs. I realize that many people have them, love them, and haven't had a problem with them. I tip my cap to those people and give 'em a Mini-wave out there on the diverse highway of life.

Cheers.

 

I love my sunroof. My kids sit in the back and have their "own" sunroof. If i had to park outside during the Texas summer I might have reconsidered, but I am very happy that I got it. Wolfgang

 

I think it might depend on where you live. Here on the NW coast, it's great. Really makes the car feel spacious. Great to be able to see the mountains out the "top window". Only hot for a couple of weeks in the summer. And, since I live in a rural area, can lock up the car and leave the top open (shade closed) without worry. Keeps those black leather seats cool. A luxury perhaps, but I think it's great.

 

Living in Arizona, at first the sunroof let in a lot of heat and it was only spring! However, simply cut up an old sunshade to fit between the mesh screens and the glass and no problem during summertime. Now it is October and the sunroof is fantastic. Let in air. Also when you pop it open, the hot air rises out of the car as the cooler air comes in. Highly recommended.

 

I decided not to order a sunroof for my MCS after reading all the issues in this forum. I do not want to deal with potential issues such as leaks, rattling mesh, must tint the glass because of heat, etc... We have sunroofs on our SUVs, but never heard of so many issues regarding sunroofs until I joined this forum.

Maybe next time when Mini decides to sell sunroofs that includes an automatic solid enclosure instead of a sliding mesh. For now, I am enjoying this ride and the power it delivers...

 

for those that argue that the torsional rigidity of the roof is compromised because of the sunroof... are you sure? i understand that obviously the roof shell is not whole anymore, but i would think that the cross braces are in between the two panes of glass so when it comes down to it, the rigidity is barely changed if at all.

 

own a 96 toyota Avalon since NEW - maybe used the SR 10 times over the past 11 years - Waste of $$$$$$$$$$ This is why I did NOT order it on my Mini

 

Have the sunroof in mine and LOVE it when you can get all the HOT air out of the car in the summer in about a minute after it's been about 110 outside during the day.

Great for stars in the evening too.. NOT good at freeway speeds since the deflectors gather a LOT of wind noise but LOVE this option!

Jim

 

I added the sunroof to my order later on and I'm so glad I did, it makes the car feel more open and sportier to me. It's great for letting in more light on overcast days as well, something we see a lot of here in the NW.

 

Wow i've got to say i wasn't expecting quite this many opinions, guess i hit a nerve. Anyway i think DSRH's comments have swayed me. I don't have the grey hair but i can relate to the feeling when motoring with the windows down and the sunroof popped and just listening to the car. This is one of the things I'd forgotten about driving my old car.

I'll probably get one as long as I can keep the price down.

Thanks again for all the input, you guys have really helped allot!

 

I test drove one with a sunroof and it was to bright ,I asked the MA if he could close the cover and he said it was closed .

 

Amen, brother!!

One of the reasons I bought the Mini was to get the option of NOT having a sunroof. Most of the other cars I was interested in included the sunroof as a standard feature.