Solar Roof Pkg - Worth it?

It's worth it if you park outside during the day. If you garage your car at home and park indoors at work, you won't benefit from it.

 

In my opinion, I think the crux comes down to how much would you enjoy a factory installed and warrantied moonroof, more than how much you would enjoy the potential benefits of the solar panel.

Most people who have purchased and own the solar panel, will tell you it's ventilation option is anything and everything from "neat" to "greatest tool ever!".

The only real reason I ever considered the solar panel, was it gave you a moonroof from the factory...

 

I agree w/ TEM above. Personally, when I bought mine, deals like you describe were not to be found ;( But, I've always had sun/moon roofs on my cars, and would have gladly paid an $800 or so option price for just a regular (factory) moonroof. So, if I were in your shoes (i.e., definitely getting the NAV), I'd look at it as getting the NAV with an inexpensive (but factory warrented) sun/moon roof thrown in at a great price. AFA the solar panel/ventilation thing? I could (and can and do) live without it and think it's more sizzle than steak. But if it really is only $500 more than you already plan to spend, I'd say go for it. It should add more than that in resale value. But enjoy it for its "moonroofdom" rather than its solar-powered ventilation high-tech solution to a problem you didn't know you had.

But most importantly, enjoy it.
~T

 

Options don't necessarily add more than they're worth in resale value, not even the Adv. Technology package. In fact, a stripped down II holds its value the best. However, it might be easier to sell or sell faster.

I agree with getting the SR if you just like having a moonroof even if you won't benefit from the cooling.

 

Sit in both. The sunroof certainly reduces headroom, I found.

 

Worth it is very subjective. If you live and park in a hot area, then it would be beneficial at least. We got one Prius with the solar roof package, and put it in the IV trim package, adding their Safety Connect system to the car. If you're going to fret about the money spent, I'd say forego it. But you can probably find really good deals right now as they try to sell the 10 models to make room for 11 models, so you might get the package for a really good price.

 

Living in Florida we LOVE having the solar roof when parked outside during the long brutal hot summer. Here in Florida I can attest to the effectiveness. If I lived in Chicago........Maybe not so much.

Craig

 

Love to hear that! I got mine because I love a moonroof. But I really like having the solar panel. West TX gets hot, but also like the wow factor.

 

If I were still living in Florida I would have looked harder for a solar package.

Our vehicles' interiors rarely feel hot here (certainly compared to FL), so it seemed a moot point.

 

When i bought my Prius III a few weeks ago, I sat in both ones with sun roofs and ones without and found that the sun roof used up to much headroom. I am 6'5" and my head was hitting the roof with the sun roof installed.

The solar panel only cools the car to the outside temp so it seems pretty useless when I can just crack the windows.

 

I know this is a very old post in a very old thread - but this is extremely useful! My partner is 6'4" and I'm considering vehicles with and without the solar roof. While I would love having the sunroof, one of the issues with my current vehicle is it's too small for him.

 

Yeah to see the headroom reduction (with/without solar roof) test by sitting in the front passenger seat, which is not height adjustable. Adjustable seat height just muddies the water if you're trying to compare.

I'm a shade under 6', and my (bristly) hair was uncomfortably brushing the roof in the solar model. Also, there's been lots of reports of the solar roof gaskets failing.

 

I've never had an issue with our solar roof, either head clearance, or with the gaskets. You definitely should check both, closely. I've been in Priuses without the sunroof, and I feel claustrophobic.

Be sure to learn about the EGR system problems in the Gen-3 Prius.