Sunroof | Do you use it?

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Always have mine open and back window down. It's great on those cool nights on my way out of town to my house. I won't buy another vehicle without one either. Had one on my '94 LE Pathfinder and that's what got me hooked on having one.

Damn, now that I think about it, I don't want another SUV if it doesn't have the roll down back window.

 

[t4r92]

Speaking from experience, not with 4runners in particular, but with older cars, sunroofs eventually become a liability. Most of the cars i've owned in my past have been sunroof equipped and all except two have developed leak problems after a while.

Not to mention the lack of structural rigidity the vehicle has when equipped with a sunroof.

The 4runner I'm looking at picking up this week is non-sunroof equipped and I think my wallet will be all the better for it a couple years down the road.

Just my two cents.

I did drive a couple of limited models while conducting my search for the perfect truck for me, they were nice, but I still can't imagine it staying that way for ever.

 

[XJeepguy]

I have it but dont really ever use it . I would rather have the headroom .

For those of you that have a 4Runner equipped with a sunroof, do you actually use it? Would the absence of a sunroof have influenced your purchase decision or change the way you presently feel about your rig?

I've been looking at LOTS of trucks and most have a sunroof. However, the majority of the deals I've come across are for trucks without one. After driving them with and seeing how large they are, seems to be it would be kinda cool to have one. Then again, it's just another thing to potentially break.

The collective's thoughts?

 

[BigFishAllDay]

As XJeepguy mentioned, there is a noticeable difference in headroom. My first 4Runner was my '97 and I've been driving it for 3 years. It has no sunroof. When I went to test drive my 2001 w/sunroof I actually asked them if they'd put lift brackets on the seats for better visibility. I wasn't used to it and I couldn't figure out why it seemed so confined.

I got used to driving the '97 w/no sunroof, so now that I have the 2001 I do find myself sliding the cover shut, especially on hot sunny days. I live in ABQ, NM and it gets into the upper 90's pretty regularly here. On hot days it defintely keeps the interior cooler to have the cover closed when you have the vehicle parked for more than an hour or so.

As far as use, I like to open the sunroof at night, or when it's cloudy, but if it's a hot day I have it shut along with the cover. I just bought the 2001 in July and I'm thinking the sunroof will get MUCH more use in the fall and spring when things are a bit cooler.

 

[Duhockey]

Not to mention the lack of structural rigidity the vehicle has when equipped with a sunroof.

?? LOL you intend on using your roof to park the truck on? :lmao:

seriously, though, I seriously doubt the rollover stats are any better with or without a sunroof. If you find some official safety stats on a 4runner being safer without a sunroof I would love to see it. so, im not quite sure on the whole structural rigidity thing...

 

[Duhockey]

Damn, now that I think about it, I don't want another SUV if it doesn't have the roll down back window.

I know! its like having an almost convertible! if you do all the windows and the sunroof and the back window, put down the back seat, its super open like a convertible! :surfer:

 

[COShadow]

Ours doesn't have one. I'm not too upset. I've had them in other cars and never really used them. I'm a gringo and I get enough sun hiking around the Rocky Mountains. :shrug:

 

[98_4runnerSR5]

Speaking from experience, not with 4runners in particular, but with older cars, sunroofs eventually become a liability. Most of the cars i've owned in my past have been sunroof equipped and all except two have developed leak problems after a while.

Not to mention the lack of structural rigidity the vehicle has when equipped with a sunroof.

Really? A sunroof does not create enough lack of structural rigidity to a vehicle to worry about otherwise they wouldn't offer it. Yes, it may affect it a bit, especially on smaller cars but We're talking 4-runners here, not sports cars. Like stated above, if you roll it, you're pretty much screwed either way!

Sorry to hear you have experienced problems with sunroofs in the past leaking. Never personally had the problem in the 4 vehicles I've owned with sunroofs and they've all had 100,000+ miles on them. Just my two cents

 

[Maritimer]

Damn, now that I think about it, I don't want another SUV if it doesn't have the roll down back window.

We'll have to watch out for the evil master plan to convert everyone to crappy CUVs.

 

[ralatkins]

ive always got it tilted and the back window down some

this is me, except back window all the way down. i could give up my ac first

 

[Qyota]

Another sunroof guy here. And leather. Won't own another vehicle without those things. The rolling back window is a bonus, and I'm starting to use it more frequently.

I just like having the option. I leave it closed a lot, but knowing that I can pop it open or slide it all the way back at any time is really nice.

 

[topdown4runner]

?? LOL you intend on using your roof to park the truck on? :lmao:

seriously, though, I seriously doubt the rollover stats are any better with or without a sunroof. If you find some official safety stats on a 4runner being safer without a sunroof I would love to see it. so, im not quite sure on the whole structural rigidity thing...

The guy who rolled this truck only had a couple of scratches & bruises, and he was tooling down the turnpike when he flipped.
The sunroof is still intact. In fact, I just removed it to sell to another guy.

I feel much better knowing these trucks can take a real beating and the occupants are pretty safe.

My .02 cents....
As my user name indicates, I am a convertible type guy.
All my 4Runners are sunroof equipped. My 67 Impala SS is a convertible.
If the T100's had a sunroof option, I would have it.

If you want a sunroof, wait for the truck that has ALL the options you want. Otherwise you will be jonesing for what you are missing soon thereafter.

Good luck on your search.

 

[dave_mcmillan]

Fall/Spring back window down (main reason I bought my 4runner), all 4 windows and sunroof open it is closest you can get to a convertable without actually having a convertable. The Summer and Winter it's best to keep the cover closed when it's parked to keep the heat/cold out.

Another great point is at the beach its really nice to be able to stand out of it to get a better view of the :girl:'s. It also helps when your securing down something to the roof rack or are waxing the roof. The list goes on and on spend the extra money you will regret not having it.

 

[GetOut]

Moonroof is the highest priority on any vehicle buying list, for me.

It is open all the time, unless it's raining. I shut the slider at night for security.

and agreed... when the sunroof is open with all the windows down, it feels like a convertible.

 

[adder70]

I am a 4Runner guy when it comes to windows. I love the sunroof combined with the roll-down back window. Do any other the 4Runner and Sequoia still have this? These open with windows closed (Hey, didn't see any Windows/Mac/Linux highjacks! Yay!) means 90% of cooling with only 20% of the noise of windows down on other cars.

All open is the next best to convertible, and maybe better overall with rare rear passengers due to security concerns.

I will sometimes go with sunroof closed and (gasp!) covered due to heat and glare concerns (migraines due to bright light), but I wouldn't get a vehicle without a sunroof unless it was far more savings than the difference in value.

I am not so sure I'd go with aftermarket sunroof. Less useful (usually flip or remove, not slide into the "ceiling") and (typically) more prone to leaks.

My $.02.

 

[Headly]

I love having sun roofs,my 4runner doesnt have 1 but what I can say is.. having the power rear window makes it bearable to be w/o one

when I have all 5 windows down,which I do frequently-it is a close 2nd to having a roof

I am budget aware as a shopper and all the 4runners I found w/leather and roofs were 2-3k more than what I paid for mine. yeah, those features would be nice but.. at some point I have to weigh need v. want .. and from experience,sometimes the prettiest vehicles are sharp but neglected,I have fallen in love with a vehicle for the options and found it wasn't the most well maintained,that is why i like 1-2 owner vehicles with service records v. small car dealer - large toyo dealers ask top $$ for 4 runners so I couldn't even dream of shopping at one unless I wanted to spend 10k or +

 

[SkidPalace]

What's with the shock and awe that people use their covers?
It gets freaking hot with the sun beaming down through the glass. I always close it and leave the other five windows cracked when I leave the truck in the sun. When I get back in, the roof is the first button pushed after the engine fires.
You all know that Jefe23 has been working on a mod over on YotaTech that closes the roof with one button press, right?

 

[t4r92]

Really? A sunroof does not create enough lack of structural rigidity to a vehicle to worry about otherwise they wouldn't offer it. Yes, it may affect it a bit, especially on smaller cars but We're talking 4-runners here, not sports cars. Like stated above, if you roll it, you're pretty much screwed either way!

Sorry to hear you have experienced problems with sunroofs in the past leaking. Never personally had the problem in the 4 vehicles I've owned with sunroofs and they've all had 100,000+ miles on them. Just my two cents

Well that's awesome to hear!

Nontheless, I do in fact come from a sports car related background and when I say "structural rigidity" I'm not referring to how the vehicle would react if it were to flip on the roof. I'm referring to chassis flex around corners. I'll rarely be traversing around corners in my runner at 60 miles an hour at all, I was merely stating the negatives about having a sunroof.

It's up to the individual to weigh whether the positives outweigh the negatives, or vice versa.

 

[spongerx]

I use my sunroof all the time. My parents rig doesn't have one and I drove it today and realized that not having a sunroof sucks. It really does! Get one. It's so much nicer on a hot day and it's great to be able to let more light in if you want to. I would hold out for one if I was you.

 

[WrexHAmm]

Guess I am the odd man out. I really don't like my sunroof. I always have the cover closed and rarely do I use it. To be honest the guy who I bought it from told me about it and I kind of just forgot about it till I was driving around. Have always had Toyota Trucks and Tacoma's before the 4runner so I guess I am not used to the fancy sunroof or leather for that matter! (good thing I have cloth) LOL

I am just happy when I can drive everyday and not have to worry about having my vehicle leaving me stranded. I get my Yota's for their reliability, definetely not for the comforts.