1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Moonroof available in Seattle

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Bob Allen, Sep 24, 2004.

  1. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2004
    15,140
    611
    0
    Location:
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    Persona
    looks like you figured out a way.
     
  2. Starbug

    Starbug New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2004
    684
    0
    0
    Location:
    Redmond, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bruceha_2000\";p=\"41702)</div>
    Yeah, like if you go skiing. Those slippery ski bibs slide as well on leather as they do on snow :)[/b][/quote]

    LOL! Speaking from experiance, are you? :mrgreen: :lol: You might want to try a seatbelt... :lol:
     
  3. lucky

    lucky lucky

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2004
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hmmm.. I'm calling the New Mexico dealerships tommorrow to ask again about a moon/sunroof. I miss a moon/sunroof so much, I would make a drive and vacation in Seattle. Sounds much like I heard a few years ago, the American Sunrooof Company does the factory installs for many brands and uses the same equipment, techniques to do aftermarket installs. If not here, I'lll call Lake City.
     
  4. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
    1,843
    11
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    ASC (American Sunroof Company? I think they changed their name to something else but kept the ASC) and Webasto both do factory sunroofs. However, Toyota sunroofs are top quality, and if you look, you'll notice a distinct difference in the roof metal and the headliner between a sunroof equipped Toyota and a plain one. The one with the factory sunroof will have the sheet metal folding down over a frame around the hole where it is then welded in place. Factory sunroof cars are actually stronger in the roof than plain ones. Aftermarket ones are actually weaker! Paint is applied all the way throughout the edge and inside the in between area, completing the edge. The drainage system in factory sunroofs is spectacular.

    All aftermarket sunroofs have a gasket that covers the very ugly cutout in the roof. This hole is never perfect. The drainage system always sucks in aftermarket sunroofs; this is because the roof of the factory-equipped car has two layers of metal, the lower one slightly smaller than the upper, so the lower one can collect rainwater and channel it out the drain. Aftermarket sunroofs make no such provision, or at least do not do it as well.

    As far as headliners go, most newer Toyota headliners are rigid (sp?) and are shaped for a plain roof or to accomodate the glass panel. My 1994 Camry even has different mounting angles for the grab handles above the doors compared to the plain roof model.

    Aftermarket sunroofs require the headliner cloth to be torn from its backing; and it is always kind of loose afterword. They don't look as nice inside.

    Same roof as factory? Not quite.

    I didn't say I won't get one, though... ;-)

    Nate
     
  5. BobA

    BobA New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2004
    731
    2
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I'm with Nate on an after market sun/moon roof... I had a sun roof put in a van, twenty plus years ago... and remember it like yesterday.. I about drowned... that thing leaked until I calked it closed.. swore I'd never do that again...

    Bob Andersen
     
  6. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    moonroofs/sunroofs are good maybe for... letting heat escape in the summer while the car is in the parking lot. after all... heat rises.
     
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2004
    15,140
    611
    0
    Location:
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    Persona
    ummm sorry i dont think so... a car has too much glass and metal to keep cool in sunlight no matter what.

    keeping the sunroof open might also be inviting disaster.
     
  8. BobA

    BobA New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2004
    731
    2
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    only if you stand on the seat and wave with both hands.. :roll:
     
  9. Speedracer

    Speedracer New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2004
    378
    10
    0
    Location:
    Nagoya, Shanghai
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    it feel like this :mrgreen:
     
  10. BobA

    BobA New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2004
    731
    2
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Good one speedracer :lol:


    Thats what we (X and otherwise) Californians call an 'E' ticket ride... refering to the old Disneyland tickets... 'E' being the best and scariest rides... :partytime:

    Bob Andersen
     
  11. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2004
    2,843
    2
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    :lolup:

    Of course, waving with both hands increases air friction, and reduces your MPG... :lol:
     
  12. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You're car does not heat up in the sun?

    When you look in my car, you can see heat waves in the car....

    Definately doesn't keep cool.
     
  13. lucky

    lucky lucky

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2004
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Sunroof

    Well, I called the dealerships here in Albuquirky and they both use the same accessory place for aftermarket sunroofs (accessories Unlimited). I was quoted $1100. for a sunroof install, said they's done 'em B4 in an '04 Prius, and advised that it was labor intensive so it would take a few days. I scheduled for a few weeks out.

    I got a call about a week later... turns out they -may- have tried this once B4 and it didn't go well or maybe they just heard that from somewhere else -- all second hand info.. So, sunroof isn't recommended for this car and they won't attempt/try anymore.

    Sure glad I wasn't the guinea pig, but am thinking I may try to sell my slightly used White #9 on ebay for what I owe. I own my cars too long to not have that feature; just don't know what i'd go shopping for
     
  14. Canuck

    Canuck Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2004
    605
    2
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver Island,BC,Canada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    In our last vehicle, a Ford Taurus station wagon, we opted for a moon roof. It was kinda neat and a bit of a change for us but really we didn't really play around with it. Seems like the sun (not the moon) was always targeting us thru the darn thing so we kept it closed. Should have installed a "sun "roof as the moon is not that annoying. On one occasion I did use it as a pulpit to give a deserving driver a single finger salute but ducked quickly and sped off before he opened up with his machine gun. :guns: My wife would never let me use it for "mooning" because she felt at my age it would not have been all that attractive. I think I might be interested, instead, having the Prius stretched to thrice it's length and smoking the rear windows so that folks will wonder which VIP was the passenger. And, of course, I'd be flying the Prius house flag from the front right fender as I cruised slowly along. On third thought, I think I'll just leave things as they are. :D
     
  15. jeffn

    jeffn New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2004
    81
    0
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    So, no photos of installed moonrofs?
     
  16. RMunroe

    RMunroe New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2004
    48
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    moonroof sunroof or whatever. I have had three cars with these holes in the roof (two OEM, one aftermarket) Two out of the three leaked, and one refused to close when it started raining. What am I missing about their appeal? :roll:
     
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,901
    16,125
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I've had no problems with our moonroof on the Camry. I love the feature cause it allows you to let fresh air in but without the wind blowing at your face. Also with a moonroof, its extra glass makes for a brighter interior although people always seem to have the sunshade in the closed position.. that defeats the whole purpose
     
  18. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    26
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    I enjoyed it on my '99 SL2 saturn. Was able to get extra ventilation before or instead of using the AC.

    Didn't get to use it much for the romance factor though. :(
     
  19. Michael Maddox

    Michael Maddox New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2004
    47
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tallahassee, Florida USA
    Okay...the appeal:

    When you're seventeen and you have a new RX-7 Turbo (1987), you can drop the windows, open the roof, and drive fast with the stereo cranking. It's hot, the sun shines directly on you, the wind-noise is terrific, and you just don't give a darn, because you're young, you have a great car, you've got no worries, and life is wonderful.

    Duh.

    That said, I don't do that as much since I turned 35. To quote that 80's band, "I'm an adult now..."

    I never had any problems with my factory roof, and a factory moon/sun roof for the Prius would be great. I wouldn't install an aftermarket jobbie, though. Too many probable issues tied to high-school dropout potheads cutting a hole in my car.
     
  20. jeffn

    jeffn New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2004
    81
    0
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Try this link: http://home.primus.ca/~triton/asc/

    We have an ASC aftermarket in our 11 y.o. Mark 8(not bad,19-26mpg) with little to nil problems. ASC does the original Lincoln/Ford roofs, Saab ragtop, and many other factory convertibles. On the Lincoln forum about 1/2 the cars have ASC and 1/2 factry ASCs and very little problems.