# Why do you want a sunroof in your car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2026, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928 "2026-09-09T09:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/41 "2026-09-10T11:01:36Z")
From [this site.](https://www.cadillaclakeland.com/finance/car-buying-tips/moonroof-vs-sunroof-whats-the-difference/) > - Sunroofs generally are opaque panels made of metal or even canvas in some cases, that are installed in the roof of a car, truck, or SUV. They pop up, can be removed, or slide open to allow light and air into the cabin. > - Moonroofs, by contrast, are usually a clear or tinted glass panel that _slides_ between the roof and the headliner and can sometimes also be tilted open to let in fresh air. Moonroofs are sometimes, but not always, larger than sunroofs. (also, what @robby said upthread) mmm ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/42 "2026-09-10T11:03:27Z")
My car has a moonroof. I rarely use it. I use it: 1. Open it up to let the hot air escape 2. When camping, I will open the cover (but obviously keeping the glass in place) when sitting in the rain (I am a tent camper, when it rains I will often spend some time sitting in my car) Brian ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/43 "2026-09-10T11:07:27Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’ve always wondered, what is the difference? OK, I’ve checked four different sites, and [they all agree.](https://www.cargurus.com/research/articles/moonroof-vs-sunroof?px8324=p2&cp=22497360366&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22503905981&gclid=CjwKCAjwqonVBhA4EiwA9wYJ3cR0SCam8dGoOH-r5Q-qZ3VpmLmzTV7gteP38SFIoPMR7taHlusZxxoCrCsQAvD_BwE) A Sunroof has a metal panel that slides into place to close the roof of the car completely. A moonroof is a window in the roof, with no metal covering. Some also have a thinner cloth shade to obscure the sun. Then there is the panoramic roof, which is a really big roofwindow with no shade to cover it. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/44 "2026-09-10T13:28:20Z")
I hate the idea of sunroofs or moonroofs. I’m convinced that nearly all are going to leak. I didn’t consider buying cars that had them, until they became so ubiquitous that I couldn’t get a car I liked unless I accepted them along with the package. I would gladly pay an extra $1000 to NOT have one. My current, nearly new car has one and I have yet to try opening it; I hope never disturbing the seal will make leaking less likely. My spouse’s cars that had them all leaked and dripped on the driver’s cloth seat. In her last one, there were drain tubes that wouldn’t have passed a peppercorn, and a schedule and instructions for regularly cleaning and flushing them. I wish I could buy a car I liked that had an earthroof. An earthroof is a roof designed for use on Planet Earth, where it rains. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/45 "2026-09-10T13:32:03Z")
FWIW, my 2010 Lexus has a moon roof, and has never leaked. As mentioned above, I never use it, so perhaps if I had opened and closed it a lot it might have leaked. But if you never open it it probably won’t develop leaks. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/46 "2026-09-10T13:39:32Z")
I’ve had multiple cars with moonroofs; all were factory installed & used regularly, some for double-digit # of years. Never had water in the car that wasn’t operator error, as in, I didn’t close it. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/47 "2026-09-10T13:39:42Z")
FWIW I have owned at least 5 cars with a moonroof and I used them often. Not one of them ever leaked. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/48 "2026-09-10T13:44:04Z")
All of my vehicles for the last three decades have had sunroofs or moonroofs. Out of seven vehicles, only one developed a leak. That was a 2013 Subaru Outback that leaked and got a fair amount of water inside before anyone noticed, damaging some of the electronics in a unit on the floor. The potential repair bill was so high that we actually traded in the vehicle well before we would normally replace a car. So there was that. But I’ve also had two other Outbacks and a Forester that did not leak. Since the leak incident, we’ve always asked the dealer to check the drain tubes when we bring the Subarus in for service. And I’ve had a BMW and two Toyota 4Runners that have never leaked once. Never checked the drain tubes, either (assuming there is one). ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/49 "2026-09-10T16:25:47Z")
Yeah, I’ve been on team convertible for many year (with no leaks) but my eight of my wife’s cars going back 30 years have had sunroofs - no leaks ever, and much of that time was _in Seattle._ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/50 "2026-09-10T17:26:43Z")
Another vote for zero leaks in 50 years of factory sunroof / moonroof or full-up convertibles. The 1970s are over. Past time to quit living in them. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/51 "2026-09-10T17:38:26Z")
I have very definite views on sunroofs in cars: All sedans should have a sunroof. No full size SUVs should have a sunroof. (Small SUVs are tall sedans, see above). Only some coupes should have a sunroof. All men look ridiculous in convertibles. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/52 "2026-09-10T17:53:59Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > All men look ridiculous in convertibles. Heheh, I look equally ridiculous in all cars. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/53 "2026-09-10T17:56:11Z")
I had a sunroof on one of my cars. Liked it OK but never missed it when the car died. I also had a Subaru Brat with a “T-Roof”, clear panels that could be flipped up or removed as desired. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/54 "2026-09-10T17:57:07Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I look equally ridiculous in all cars. I think there was about a week in my 20s when I cared about how I looked. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/55 "2026-09-10T18:00:57Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > I think there was about a week in my 20s when I cared about how I looked. We know. People talk. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928/56 "2026-09-10T19:05:21Z")
Never much cared what people say about me either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-want-a-sunroof-in-your-car/1032928.md?page=2)