When Was The Last Time You Used Your Sunroof?
Back in 1994 I bought my first and only new car. A 1994 Toyota Camry. It wasn’t anything special. 4-cylinder with a slushbox. No spoiler or leather. Nothing even remotely as advanced as a CD player or a premium sound system. But it did have one luxurious affectation that few other vehicles of the middling variety had at the time. A sunroof.
In the beginning I used it all the way long day. Sunny day in Atlanta? Plenty of them here, and a sunroof was the icing on the proverbial cake of a nice day. Open it up. Let the fresh air in. Enjoy the drive when the traffic is good.
But then I started long-distance commuting. Then I got married. Then we had kids. Pretty soon that hole on the top of my car was used as often as my old hiking shoes. It was there when the moment was right. Those moments though would stretch to months and eventually a year and change.
This reminiscing got me to thinking about modern cars and the value of a sunroof today. Recently I test drove two vehicles that are direct competitors to each other. A Chevy Cruze LT with leather… but no roof. And a Hyundai Elantra Limited with all the options which included a fairly small sunroof. About half way through driving the Elantra I realized something had finally turned in my vehicular taste buds. I no longer cared about having a sunroof.
Yes there are those panoramic dual sunroofs you may find in a Cadillac SRX, or even a skyroof that dates back to old Buick Roadmasters and beyond. Those several feet works of wonder offer a level of openness to the driving experience that make them a treat to drivers and passengers alike. But a 16″ x 36″ slit on top of a compact? That’s another story.
So today’s dangling conversation is this. Are sunroofs worth it to you and when was the last time you used one?
More by Steven Lang
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I love sunroofs. I rarely drive with it closed if it's sunny, which explains my farmer's tan, haha.
My last three cars (Honda Civic and two Accords, all "EX" trim) had factory moonroof, and I won't have one without it!! I use it as soon as the weather warms above 55 or so in spring, until the snow starts flying in November! I keep the vent open on the freeway, and the full roof open around town (and even on the freeway for short stretches). No leaks or cracks. The one Accord developed a rattle which was fixed under a service bulletin. My second (and current) Accord's roof has been flawless! It almost becomes a habit to open the thing in some way during spring, summer and fall when starting the car, along with buckling the seat belt.