Some automobile manufacturers offer the world when it comes to factory options for your sunroof. But choosing the vehicle with the best roof system comes with its own limits.
One automobile maker gives you the option of manual or electric sunroofs. Another advertises your choice of glass or fabric. But who needs limits when looking for perfect vehicle to fit your lifestyle?
With a little knowledge and education, you can make sure you get the right type of sunroof product that makes you stand out from the crowd.
As you might have already guessed, a sunroof is an opening in a car, truck or Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that gives additional light and supplies a flow of fresh air.
Your sunroof can either be fixed or operable, manually operated or electric. Plus they come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs depending on the make and model of the vehicle.
The characteristics of factory sliding sunroofs often cause them to be marketed as moon roofs. This terms was first coined by a Ford marketing manager by the name of John Atkinson for Ford’s Lincoln Continental Mark IV.
Nash Motor Company was the first auto maker to offer sunroofs as a standard option for a select few of its 1937 models. Since then, numerous variations of both factory installed sunroofs have automatically become the norm in a wide range of vehicles.
As stated earlier, your sunroof can be either manual or electric. A manual sunroof can be lever actuated for pop-ups or crank operated for sliding systems. Electric sun roofs are basically cable driven by a separate motor and boast some kind of sliding opening.
Nowadays, the vast majority of vehicles with factory installed sunroofs are electric and have a combined pop-up inbuilt or spoiler type configuration.
Sunroofs are most often installed at the factory but can also be installed aftermarket by a sunroof installation expert for car dealerships or at the request of a private customer. Once a vehicle leave the assembly line without a sunroof, it can not receive the factory option.
Here’s a brief description of the most commonly used sunroof industry based terms to help give you an idea of what your options are:
- Pop-up Sunroof: Fairly inexpensive and removable with manually operated tilting panels.
- Tilt and Slide Spoiler Sunroof: Brilliant combination of the popular pop-up feature and sliding roof system that tilts to vent and slides open above the roof.
- Glass Panel Inbuilt Sunroof: System that slides in between a metal roof and the interior headliner.
- Folding (Rag-Top) Sunroof: This European styled sunroof will give you the convenience of a traditional sunroof and opening of convertible.
- Top-Mount Sliding Sunroof: Also known as a rail mount top slider – the most attractive feature of this type of sunroof is that it has a wind deflector that gets rid of wind noise.
- Glass Panoramic Sunroof: Large, multi-panel sunroof that has openings right above the front and rear seats. It can be operable or fixed.
- Removable Sun-Roof: Referred to as T-Tops or Targa Roofs, this system has two removable panels and opens the car’s roof to the side windows.
Clearly every automotive maker has their own look and style but with the straight talk about sunroof products given to you here, you can make a better buying decision and discover how to get the most bang for your buck.