Let the Sunshine In or Sunroof’s in CA

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Donti, Feb 23, 2005.

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  1. Donti

    Donti Junior Member

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    Hello All

    I’ve been searching for a vendor that has performed sunroof installations on 2005 Prius. Yes, I’ve found one that has performed quite a few of the installations for a Toyota dealership in Southern CA. Even as we spoke on the phone, one of his drivers was going to the local dealership to pick up a new Prius for a sunroof install. So, I asked him to take some pic and forward them to me to share with us.

    Note that I have no relationship with this vendor. Just the desire to have some air, wind and sunlight in my car.

    There’s a total of four pic’s:
     
    #1 Donti, Feb 23, 2005
  2. Donti

    Donti Junior Member

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    Ops, missed the lasted pic.
     
    #2 Donti, Feb 23, 2005
  3. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    Hmm, doesn't look too bad. Is it just me, or have they actually flattened out the concave dip in the roof panel to fit it?
     
    #3 KMO, Feb 24, 2005
  4. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    That's what it looks like to me, too. I wonder what the mpg hit is...
     
    #4 Danny, Feb 24, 2005
  5. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    that's the first thing i noticed. they flattened the roof.
     
    #5 V8Cobrakid, Feb 24, 2005
  6. LeVautRien

    LeVautRien Member

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    Seems to me that it would be far, faaaar easier to flatten the roof than to make a custom-curving Prius sunroof. The MPG hit would be very fascinating to know, though, so do keep us posted.
     
    #6 LeVautRien, Feb 25, 2005
  7. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

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    How much does it cost?
     
    #7 rwithop, Feb 25, 2005
  8. smtrader

    smtrader Member

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    So, how much DOES it cost?? Flattening the roof should cost a few pennies!
     
    #8 smtrader, Feb 28, 2005
  9. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    That's what i've been wondering. Taking the roof panel off and replacing it. hmm. maybe they just made a new one. Dought that though. I see mini dips in the roof line as if they flattened it. *shrug*
     
    #9 V8Cobrakid, Feb 28, 2005
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Though it's difficult to see a car's sunroof/moonroof unless you are literally looking down at the roof of the car, if anyone sees a Prius with a flat roof, do what you can to catch that car and stop them. Clearly, no one who has read this thread has one or we would have heard by now. And while the dealer can answer questions about the roof and the cost, only a driver can answer questions about mileage.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 1, 2005
  11. JasonS

    JasonS Jason Siegel

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    Interesting mod. Does it move at all or close up, or it it just glass?
     
    #11 JasonS, Mar 1, 2005
  12. maykups

    maykups New Member

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    Wouldn't the sunroof void out the prius warranty?
     
    #12 maykups, Mar 1, 2005
  13. raf

    raf Junior Member

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    I asked my dealer about sunroofs today. They quoted my a price of $1195. The Auto Close on Rain Feature is $150. It's a third party that does the installation. They warrant it for the life of the car.

    The dealer is Antwerpen Toyota in Clarksville, Maryland.
     
    #13 raf, Mar 5, 2005
  14. jeepien

    jeepien Member

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    Only the roof warranty.
     
    #14 jeepien, Mar 5, 2005
  15. AMARCUS

    AMARCUS New Member

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    Sunroof looks great! I want one. If there's truly a vendor in Southern California, please share the name and address.

    Thanks.
    Alan Marcus
    [email protected]
     
    #15 AMARCUS, Apr 13, 2005
  16. elitman

    elitman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(raf\";p=\"69635)</div>
    Did you ever go through with this? I'm in MD, just bought a Prius today, and am looking to install a sunroof.
     
    #16 elitman, May 25, 2005
  17. catsbox

    catsbox Member

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    My dealer told me that in order to install a sunroof, one would have to cut through the roll bar and that would cause the roof to cave in if one were to roll their car in an accident. I was told that it would also impact aerodynamics and reduce mpg. My dealer said they had been instructed not to assist customers in obtaining sunroofs for these two reasons. I would sure do more research before jumping in and installing one.
     
    #17 catsbox, May 25, 2005
  18. elitman

    elitman New Member

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    Just called Antwerpen Toyota in Clarksville, MD, and talked to Jim Cascar (sp?), their Prius service tech. He said he has not seen an aftermarket sunroof on a Prius in his shop yet, which leads me to believe that the price they quoted was not based upon experience.

    I'm ready for my sunroof, but I don't want to be any shop's guinea pig. This would be a much easier process in Southern CA, I'm sure.

    FYI, I asked Jim how much he'd charge to install the XM kit and he quoted $325 in labor. I think I'd rather take the trip to Northern NJ and have Jim] PriusXM do it for $100.
     
    #18 elitman, May 26, 2005
  19. Silverstreak05

    Silverstreak05 New Member

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    There are only 2 major manufacturers of OEM type sunroofs in the US- the one I have used for 20+ years is:
    ASC - American Sunroof Corporation http://home.primus.ca/~triton/asc/ install sites.

    I found them in Orange & San Diego County around 1983 the Honda and Mercedes dealers near my home told me they outsource [aftermarket] the sunroofs to ASC exclusively. Evidently car manufacturers wanted out of the "sunroof" warranty business. :argue:

    Anyway, I've had the ASC 840 33"x19" installed on 2 of my Honda Accords '95 & '99, my Honda Civic'88, my Honda Pilot'03 - They do a BEAUTIFUL install, total headliner matching replacement - I have NEVER had a LEAK or malfunction. :party: They also do 'moonroofs' :sleeping: - immoveable tinted glass, regular sunroofs 8) -tilt and slid under roof or pop-up sunroofs 8) - tilt and slid above the roof.

    Yes, I too was worried :crazyeyes: about the structural integrity or 'flattening' out the aerodynamic grooves, but
    Mike Hankins [ASC Corp 7329 Quimby, Paramount CA 90723(562) 634-0466] assurred me they DO NOT CUT into the roof rollbar. They position it very carefully between structural elements - so no safety, structural compromise to the roof , thereby maintaining the crash worthiness of passenger compartment. Mine was the 30th Prius he had done this year, and it cost me $999.-- plus tax.

    They also were doing tons of SUVs, some exotic racing cars, etc. - So my lenthly relationship with their product/work confirmed my confidence in ASC sunroofs. Great Deal, :)
    I am very happy, happy, happy... :p :clap: :multi:

    P.S. I still cannot really pinpoint any mileage hit :oops: since I had it done at 500 miles -if anything I think it is less than running the a/c - maybe 1-2mpg at the most :?:

    P.S.S. They also installed 'Katzkins' perforated charcoal leather OOOOhhhh it is sooooo cool - I LUV my Prius :love:
     
    #19 Silverstreak05, May 26, 2005
  20. prius2006rocks

    prius2006rocks New Member

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    Can you post the pics again if they were lost?


     
    #20 prius2006rocks, Nov 9, 2005
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