What's the diff between sunroof and moonroof?

[RonMAIDEN]

Back in the '70s I remember as a kid alot of custom vans had Moonroofs installed on them and those were just glass that tipped open and was completely removeable but what we know as a power sunroof today was very uncommon back then on anything except a few luxury cars.

The bottom line is they are the same and it's mostly the term "moonroof" has/is fading away.

 

[MikesToy]

I think it's an American term.

You think? I went to my Toyota dealership, a Honda dealership and an Acura dealership and they call it a moonroof. But when i went to a Ford dealership and a Chevy dealership, they call it a sunroof. WTF?

 

[firsttoyo]

I was told that a moonroof pops up for airflow and a sunroof opens fully.

 

[Uneek]

IMO:
moonroof=glass
sunroof=metal.

I remember first seeing it was called a moonroof on the '92 Camry brochure. There was a picture of the glass roof closed and Toyota says something about seeing the stars and the moon without having to deal with the weather.

So I relate to it as sunroof is metal, open to let in the sun and when weather is nice. Moonroof is glass, open the shade to see the night without letting the weather in.

In someways I do like sunroofs better, if it tilts, get the air in without the rays of the sun. Toyota's shade doesn't have vent holes in the back, so when it's sunny, tilting it doesn't help. Air doesn't come in with the shade closed, but opening the shade makes it hotter.

But in either case, I think it's universal, sunroof or moonroof means an opening in the roof and potential problems.

 

[97-4xFunner]

So basically you are proud to say you litter, there are other ways to discourage tailgating then trashing the road ways. If you were kidding I apologize, but littering is a pet peeve of mine.

Have to agree with you on that one. All though I will admit to keeping a fist full of pennies in the ashtray just for that reason. Then I don't feel like I'm littering because you can't see the pennies once they are on the road. Also very effective as a tailgater remover. I don't think anybody likes the sound of pennies hitting their vehicle. Oh yeah, I refer to mine as a moonroof, because of the glass. As opposed to only metal.