Hi,

im hoping that some can answer this for me; i have a friend who is looking for an RX and id ideally like to let him take mine but he mentioned that RX-8s with a sunroof are more rigid but i cant really confirm that since i never really looked into that factor. he tracks the car and is lookin for an answer to that one so i decided to look into it for him. anyway id appreciate any help in this as im interested in this topic now too.

Thanks

Will

 

After reading several other threads on this topic, I believe a properly installed sunroof (stock or a very very good job) will not effect the rigidity at all. An improperly installed roof where they cut cross members to make it fit will have an effect and will make the car unsafe to drive.

 

Cutting a hole in your roof and replacing it with sliding glass makes a car more rigid?

...ignornace is bliss?

You might want to tell him slappin gon a K&N sticker on his window adds 5 horse power, because that's about the same logic he's using with the sunroof.

 

on an unrelated note, the sunroof does take up a little headroom so if your buddy is going to track it, he would want one without the sunroof for more room for his helmet.

 

yeah, if anything, you would lose a little rigidity.

 

Owned you with my edit.

But yeah, that sunroof thing is

 

If he wants all the performance he can get, he shouldn't even be considering one with a sunroof (GT/Shinka right?.. in short, more weight) as the only one he should have is the base model (no leather, no sat nav, no powered or heated seats)

 

no sunroof for more rigidity.

Thread concluded, please lock.

 

i disagree... if it was less rigid, it would flex more, and last i checked glass doesnt flex all that well.

 

Maybe they should make a car out of glass and dominate auto-cross.

 

also with that glass roof and motor up there you have moved the CG up vs a base model car. for tracking it or autocross you want the cg to be low as possible, get the metal roof- less weight overall and less weight up high

 

lol, what i meant was if it flexed more due to not being as rigid, the glass would break.

 

They cut a hole in the roof and add weight with the sunroof. That adds weight and reduced rigidity.

Also, glass comes from sand, and sand is not very rigid.

 

Silica, not sand. And technically glass isn't the same as its ingredients, but its a moot point. Glass is brittle. So your original point is still valid

Sorry, I had to nitpick...

 

but sand comes from rocks.....

 

Damn......my sticker is defective! I'm only getting about 3 1/2....damn it!