Moonroof
 

Perhaps I should know this as I ordered yesterday?!

But what's a MOONROOF?????

...its a trendy name for a sunroof on the surface, but the official answer is :

"Sunroof" is the generic term used to describe an operable panel in a vehicle roof which can let in light and/or air.
"Moonroof" is a term created by Ford in the 70s, yet is now used generically to describe glass panel inbuilt electric sunroofs.

Hmmm, so all moonroofs are sunroofs, yet not all sunroofs are moonroofs?
"Sunroof" is the term originally used to describe a metal panel that would only allow light or air in when opened.
"Moonroof," on the other hand, is a glass panel that can allow light in even when it is closed

True sunroofs, those made just of metal, don't really exist any more - most "sunroofs" are really "moonroofs" - panels of tempered glass, usually tinted, that tilt up to allow a flow of air, or slide back into the roof entirely, giving the car occupants a brief but tantalizing glimpse of life in a convertible.

Very informative!!

I take it that it's an American term then?!

I've been warned off the sunroof (sorry moonroof) option due to height restictions. (I'm 6ft 2) Anybody got any comments / experience on head room??

...yep, American. However, I like the difference you can tell whether the roof allows light in or not...

Im 6'1 1/2 and I was warned off it too. So I haven't bought it...

still haven't sat in one with a moonroof though, although it was fairly tight (less than 1" gap) between my head and the roof, and if it means my hair touching the roof then it would really put me off the car (unless the roof was open!)

Si

Well if Clarkson can fit in one............................................... ........

I've got some experience of this.

I'm 6'4" and drive an FTO ( a Japanese import coupe for those few of you who don't know). I test drove one with and without a moonroof. Let's just say I bought the one without the moonroof.

The headroom disappears if you're over 6 foot and have the moonroof. FTO lost about 2 1/2 inches of headroom. That's a lot!

STU

There have bee a number of threads with mixed conclusions. It seems that taller people well over 6 foot can fit depending on their proportion (ie long or short legs).

I am nearly 6'2' with a moon roof on order (the black leather cabin woulkd benefit from the light) and I must admit I am slightly worried that I will not be able to take up my order.

rael

There have bee a number of threads with mixed conclusions. It seems that taller people well over 6 foot can fit depending on their proportion (ie long or short legs).

I am nearly 6'2' with a moon roof on order (the black leather cabin woulkd benefit from the light) and I must admit I am slightly worried that I will not be able to take up my order.

rael

rael - For what it is worth (i.e. naff all) I think you are right to be worried...

When I ordered my (moonroof-less) car , I actually have on my order form "deposit refundable if customer too tall".
Luckily blue car was fine !

Perhaps you will be lucky and your dealer will have 'speculatively ordered' a car the same as yours but no moonroof and you can swap ! ;)

I think you may be right Mr Rogers. Just spoke to my dealer who first said I would not fit as I'm just under 6'2'' but when asked if he had sat inside the car said maybe I would fit (ie he did not really know and to be honest it depends on ones proportions). He is now establishing if there is a car in the area I can try out or if I can change my order without lossing my number in the queue.

rael

It's even worse than I thought. Spoke to Mazda UK who advised me that all dealers were told not to order moonroof for clients over 6' tall. My dealers was very quiet when I told him this.

What to do; If I cancel my moonroof today I will move to the back of the queue with delivery estimated December or worse. If I wait until the car is delivered in October, find I don't fit and then order it will be even later. This may be my best call though (and hope I do fit).

rael

Rael

wanna do a swap for a moonroofless Silver ? :D

Question, when I bought my Mazda 323 (jelly mould), the moonroof was added upon entry to the country.
I take it that isn't happening here - I know the seats etc get done in Japan, but was less sure about the Savnav and roof...

Si

No, this will be a factory fitted moonroof so the whole order need cancelling.

rael

same situation as me rael,

dealer call in Feb said warning if over 6'2''

mazda information - including website - says over 6'.

i need to sit in that car with a moonroof

Judging by all that I'm glad i didnt know what a moonroof was when i ordered!!

I'm also glad that I didnt order a sunroof!!

I suppose the other option would be to get a couple of vertabrae removed. Do you think you can get it done on the NHS??

You could always cancel and then go to Scotland and reserve one of the 10 that Specman's dealer has on order - there's bound to be a few Titaniums in that lot!:D

At 6'4'' I have two fingers of clearance in the prepro moonroofless blue car that has been doing the rounds.
My comments

I cant find inside many cars even without a moonroof full stop

I can get inside the following cars (moonroofless) :
Mazda 6
Mazda RX8 - yippee
S class
BMW 7
LR Disco
Focus RS
VW Beetle

and that is about it.
So if you are tall and have an RX8 on order with a moonroof best wait and try one. I am sure the dealer would be sympathetic to you if you didnt fit.

Bugger-all headroom with "moonroof"
 

I sat in an RX-8 with moonroof (part of the "Grand Touring" package here in the US) for the first time today and was very disappointed by the lack of headroom (I'm about half an inch over six feet).

It wasn't quite skull-to-headliner, but my shortish hair was definitely brushing the roof and it wasn't comfortable. After suffering a very sore neck after three months in a Peugeot 405 with sunroof many years ago this was enough to put me off.

Unfortunately, the moonroof here comes with the middle of three option packages, so to get one without means Sport Package only (no leather, power seat, heated seats, BOSE stereo, auto dipping mirror, garage door opener etc. etc.)

I also found the back seats very tight for "sitting behind myself". My left knee was jammed between the seat and the door, and it isn't exactly overflowing with headroom back there either. I was able to get comfortable behind the passenger seat, but only with it set further forward than I would like to sit in myself.

Basically, it's not a very big car. Shame... :(