glassetcher

I'm starting to look at RX8s. I've seen references to both a moon roof and a sun roof, but haven't seen any detailed description anywhere. Are these two different options? Can someone please describe?

Thanks

Rhawb

They're referring to the same thing. Touring and Grand Touring packages get what should be called a moonroof (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). It's a tinted glass roof with a slide to cover it up when it's too sunny or parked. Slide open and tilt up features abound.

No More Oldsmobiles

Rhawb's right that it's just one thing on the RX-8. On the RX-8, the glass slides up over the roof.
My Mazda salesman told me that they call it a moonroof because it does not slide into the roof but over it.

Then I was looking at an Accord with a moonroof that slid inside the roof. The salesman there told me they call it a moonroof because it also has tilt features.

Rhawb

I think moonroofs are glass and sunroofs are metal, again, I could be wrong. Seems like the definition varies wildly, though I don't think I've seen a production car with anything but a moonroof (as indicated by the sticker) and I've also never seen a production car with a sliding metal roof (sunroof by what I've been told) so this seems consistent with what I've been told...Er, I hope I'm making sense. I've been doing school work all night and I'm a bit whupped. :o

glassetcher

Thanks for the quick response.

So, as I understand, there is glass panel in the roof that will just tip up for some small fresh air venting, or will slide back over the roof for full open air. There is also a sliding panel inside the cabin, manual I assume, that closes under the glass panel to keep the sun out if you want. Sounds just like the unit in my wife's 93 Camry (except the glass slides into the roof, not up and over it)

Does that about sum it up?

No More Oldsmobiles

Makes sense.

Bottom line is that these terms have been used and misused interchangeably. So whatever car you look at, you have to see exactly what that roof does.

Spring's comin'. Time for a moonroof tan.

Rhawb

Yup, you've got it right on.

Haha, no matter how much I try and get the moonroof tan, I always just end up with a really horrible trucker tan. Left arm's all crispy and dark from the sleeve down and the right arm is all pasty and white. Oh well, maybe I'll actually go to the beach or something, seeing as I live in FL...I never actually do though.

socalightning

This is how I understand it...

Moonroof = sliding transparent glass panel
Sunroof = sliding opaque panel

I remember my friends VW had the sliding metal roof panel (sunroof) with a hand crank.

Mr. Ed's rx-8

my sister lives in sarasota...
her husband is a cop

draco067

Until 2 days ago I would have said the same, until I was in a friend's 2nd gen 325is, and it had a red-painted metal sunroof

khoney

Then I guess you've never seen a 2nd gen RX-7 with the sunroof option.

That's what I used to drive - I prefer the moonroof of the RX-8, though.

StewC625

Interchangeable names for a device that opens a hole in the roof.

Supposedly in marketing parlance a "moonroof" is one that's made of glass rather than metal ... whatever.

I thought a moonroof was one that was big enough to hang your *** out of ...

No More Oldsmobiles

FYI: I just used google's dictionary feature, answers.com. When I typed in "moonroof," it came back with an entry for "sunroof"!

sun·roof (sŭn'rūf', -rʊf')
n.
A roof on a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, having a panel that can be slid back or raised.

dwynne

That is my understanding as well. Had an 83 Rabbit GTI with manual, metal sunroof.

The OEM advantage VS those cheap "cut a hole in your car" items eveyone use to get is the sliding panel to block the sun. That and power, fit, and finish :D

Dennis

glassetcher

Thank you all for your replies.

Before having actually seen the RX8 today (more later) I was worried this was some inferior example of an electronically moving sun roof (ie. a hole in the roof that lets in air, sun, and rain (if you're not paying attention, or have left it open in the driveway while you are taking a nap)

What I saw on the test drive today looked perfectly reasonable, if not a bit small (alhough this is perfectly reasonable because of the curvature of the roof)

Thanks again!