Sunroof Poll

[citroenxm]

I will roll my eyes!

That's my point exactly Paul, unwanted additional complexity that you'll
need to find workarounds for - and are you going to tell me you get the gas
professionally removed at £$ cost first when you need to split the circuit when
an engine needs to come out for a clutch etc?

Or do you work on the engine with the damned pump, evaporator and
exchanger in the bloody way stringed up as best as possible?
A bloody nuisance I don't see a sunroof causing...

Whats so complex.. I cannot see anything complex with it... Its nice and simple.. To me anyway..

Engine out for a clutch??? They dont need to come out on any xantia..clutches can be done with engines in place... HDi 110's included.

Most XMs are autos, so when they die the cars dead anyway.. so thats a no argument for me aswell...

Paul

[andmcit]

All I can assume is you have a 2 or 4 post lift, change dozens of clutches
every week so can change them blindfold and also partake in brain surgery
whilst simultaneously pot-holing? I learned to spanner on GS's and CX's where
the engine was fully extracted, laid bare and completely worked on before
refitting never to need overhauling again not by grovelling around in the
wheelarch or working at arms length to slide the box out through the front
hub/arch. Stuff in a damned big heavy pump and metres of rigid pipes too
and I'm walking away.

[addo]

My AC bloke looked at the XM/605 hose layout and commented that newer style flex hose was far more flexible.

This meant that he could (theoretically) use a 90° natural radius bend in rubber as opposed to our "there and back" hose loop.

[Sid_the_Squid]

I like having both, but if I had to choose id say AC is essential.

[lexi]

Sunroofs limit my headroom in every car I have had. Only the Japs make sunroofs that work and do not leak. I hate air con as well. I am in Scotland so none of this needed.

[CitroJim]

Gosh! This is close!!!

Split down the middle....

[myglaren]

I like both! Where's the option for that? Unconcerned/uncommitted doesn't really cover it.

[Deanxm]

I'm probably a nominee for the "Al Gore Global Warmer of the Week Award" for occasionally driving cars with sunroof cracked open and the AC on.

The dark grey dash on a Xantia - here, at least - pumps out a lot of heat that came through the windscreen, in summer.

Yep me too, sunroof and windows open but when its really hot at low speeds i put the A/C on too so i get the warms with a cold blast to keep it comfy.

couldnt live without A/C in the winter though, not that bothered in the summer but we never sit in traffic over here like some of you lot would.

D

[andmcit]

I've never found noise/draught is remotely troublesome with a fully
retracted sunroof and any noticeable effect can be effectively controlled
with 'balancing' the opening of the door windows etc. I guess I can be
quite 'selfish' doing this as many journeys I don't have passeners or
those that I do have don't mind.

If the draw of air into the cabin through an open sunroof troubles you,
with the roof tilted up instead there's marginal additional noise compared
say to the AC blower chugging in chilled air or an open window; for total
peace and quiet close the internal roof blind more if you really must!

There's no draught yet a superb effective means of extracting any trapped
cabin heat. A tilted sunroof is definitely a 'trick' you guys with solid roofed
AC cars are missing out on!

All year 'round I run with my sunroof tilted up during the day even
throughout the winter day only closing it at night and varying the opening
of the internal blind or windows with the full opening of the roof when
there's actually some decent sun/daylight to bring into the cabin to lighten
the cabin and my mood!

I understand the benefit of demisting during the winter with AC but never
suffer any misting issues anyway - I don't like leaky cabins or have soggy
wet dogs/passengers and a tilted roof works just as well anyhow where
there any trapped mositure on wet clothing etc.

[R9UKE]

To be honest I'm not that fussed on the cooling benefits of a sunroof, more on the light it lets in to the cabin! So I much prefer full length glass roofs that don't open, or the double one on the Mégane:

The black leather would make the interior really dark otherwise



So on the likes of a Xantia, C5 or Laguna, with a pretty small sunroof, I wouldn't miss it if it wasn't there.

In saying that, I have it open A LOT. There's something really refreshing about a sunroof wide open on a winters morning with the heated seats on

On these days that we're having at the minute you just can't beat climate controlled air conditioning! Got mine regassed by Kwik Fit today and my God it's awesome. I really don't like heat (much prefer winter) and this AC just puts me in a much better mood in the sun!

So... Sunroof for winter, AC for summer

[Toby_HDi]

I like the extra light they give in the car, from the experience I've had of cars with sunroofs, they really don't provide much in the way of cooling. AC does and is a must for me as I get too hot even in the middle of winter. My AC is always on.

Sunroofs also take too much headroom away for my liking, if you're a shorter person this doesn't matter so much though.

AC all the way for me.

[DickieG]

I can take it or leave it with sunroofs, yes they add light but are useless at speed due to the racket not to mention the amount of headroom they take up which causes me to bang my head against the frame. Take into acount the issue of leaks and some car sunroofs have wind noise such as my previous estate, I spent many hours adjusting the roof without success but my present estate is fine. Apart from A/C being very good at demisting it also helps you keep fresher and more alert on long journeys due to dehumidifying.

On the subject of A/C causing increased fuel consumption I've experimented on many cars fitted with fuel computers and have yet to see any noticable difference in consumption with the A/C on/off, of course opening a sunroof or widow greatly disturbs the airflow over the car causing additional drag which I'd reckon will be the equivilant of turning on the A/C.

I will buy cars without sunroofs (unless its really old where there isn't the choice) but no A/C is a deal breaker for me.

[citroenxm]

Its very close 50/50 everyone has their reasons... Mostly noise or draft noise...

I dont think a blower is as annoying as a window open and the awfull row every time a car passes the other way... That does annoy me...

Paul

[pug_owner2002]

I went "Non concerné". I do love a sunroof, but whan sat in traffic air con wins hands down.
Our scenic has the best of bot worlds. 2 sunroofs & climate control.

[Chlorate]

Been meaning to mend my sunroof for ages. It tilts but doesn't slide back.
Got the wrong colour car for this weather and lack of air con.

-Alex