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General Glass vs solid roof

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General Glass vs solid roof

J

Juwlz

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Right,

I've got to finally make my mind up tomorrow which roof to have. I just cannot choose between glass or solid, so I thought I'd ask who prefers what, and why.

The opening sunroof has pretty much been ruled out because my husband sat in one today, he is 6ft 2 and his head just skimmed the roof (in the passenger seat that is, though he was okay in the driver's seat because it can be lowered).

Look forward to hearing your opinions.

Thanks
 
Personally in the few times I have driven it, the glass roof makes it feel much bigger inside. I think this is one of the reasons they put it on the car.

We have a Qashqai as well with the full length glass roof and that makes it feel much bigger.
 
I really wasn't keen on the glass roof, having had a smart with one years ago. But TBH I often have it open, and am glad it was standard. If you're getting glass roof, AC is even more useful, so lounge spec would be the way to go (if you were looking at pop that is).
 
I love my glass roof - and my ivory interior.

I used to have a dark leather interior in a very much larger cabin. Now in Bella even on an overcast day the cabin is nice and bright and feels roomy.
 
That's alot of votes for the glass, but I'm stll not completely convinced. Why is all the test drives are in a Lounge? i can't seem to get a test drive in a Pop.

I like the idea of the extra light but don't want it to be too hot. The dealer I spoke to yesterday said he thought the glass made it a bit hot inside... and that's why he has one with a solid roof.

The solid roof will also be cheaper so I need a really good reason to get the glass.
 
I like the idea of the extra light but don't want it to be too hot. The dealer I spoke to yesterday said he thought the glass made it a bit hot inside... and that's why he has one with a solid roof.

The solid roof will also be cheaper so I need a really good reason to get the glass.
Click to expand...


A lot of people like the light. Personally I don't. I'd pay money not to have a glass roof, and I have never bought a car with a sunroof. (Except lots of Citroen Dyanes and 2CVs of course, but they were different, and the roof wasn't an option). But people have differing likes and dislikes. The glass roof will inevitably add heat soak, and the blind will only be of limited use in filtering this out. Just walk into a conservatory, even one with roof blinds, to understand this. A/C though is essential in any of them IMHO.

The Pop is rare because by the time people have added the options they want to the basic car, they end up paying as much as if they's bought the Lounge/Sport in the first place. For this reason they sell less well and are consequently not available for testing.

For the personal reasons I mentioned I would always go for the Sport. This gives the solid steel roof with the shade and the headroom I for one like, and would give most my other preferences too. Anything else I'd add as options.

However, whilst I love the 500 to bits, I have now got it out of my system. Truth is, I need five doors, and ease of access, and decent storage; and a high seating position, and sliding rear doors (for shopping) and all the other stuff I have now and I know I would miss - even though I don't have family. I just have stuff, and I know the 500 wouldn't handle it. I took a ton of crud down to the dump this morning. . I am therefore looking at a Qubo, which gives me all of my requirements for not much more money, and is still a fun drive, and economical. I'll give Fiat until next year and see what developmentrs there are engine/spec wise though.

Good luck with your choice. Speccing a 500 is always going to be difficult ;).
 
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I test drove a pop and it felt very light and airy inside. This was on a very sunny day though and the interior had the ivory ambience -I'm not sure whether this makes a huge difference but I'm trying to be as scientific as possible! I then sat in a lounge which felt positively boiling inside. Well, maybe not boiling but I felt that you'd definitely be needing to make more use of the air con with the fixed glass roof option (well, if we get any more of the sunny stuff you would:)).

After much hmmmmming and haaaaarrrrrrring I went for the sport with the opening glass roof as I thought I could use the openability (I like making up words) instead of air con on sunny days. My boyfriend is just over 6 foot so he's working on strengthening his neck muscles for when he comes to pick it up with me!

But if I had the option of just the solid roof or fixed glass I'd definitely go for the solid roof:). I think the Pop's look better than the lounge's (Sssshhhh!)
 
The fixed glass roof in the Lounge is what sold it for us. More noticable in the winter but with ivory trim, it's so bright and open inside.

There is a blind that can be drawn on very hot days but we rarely use it.

Lounge spec and AC with Ivory trim has just got to be the winner.
 
The fixed glass roof in the Lounge is what sold it for us. More noticable in the winter but with ivory trim, it's so bright and open inside.

There is a blind that can be drawn on very hot days but we rarely use it.

Lounge spec and AC with Ivory trim has just got to be the winner.
Click to expand...

Glass roof here. I don't find it too hot at all. And on dimmer days it's lovely having the light come in. I'll never buy a car again without a glass roof. I think the ivory ambience helps it feel light too.
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As I said, it's personal. Some love the light, others like to keep the light out. And the ivory looks beautiful. However, I hate cleaning, and the thought of having to do more than wipe my steering wheel with an anti-bacterial every few weeks is just more than I need. The Sport has the dark interior, which some of us prefer.

As I said before, personal preferences. And the thought of having a sheet of glass just inches above my head really doesn't appeal either. I was in a badly rolled car once, and if it had had a glass roof :cry::cry::cry:
 
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It was one of the main reasons I bought the Lounge, it lets a massive amount of light in to the cabin and although it can get fairly hot in direct sunlight, you can have the air con on! :p

Everyone who gets into the car, especially in the back, comments on it and how it makes the inside a really really nice place to be. I also think it improves the looks of the car from the front if you go for white paint, as the black roof contrasts nicely with the rest of the bodywork.
 
Thanks so much for all the replies, they are very, very helpful.

I went back to the showroom and sat in a Pop that has the Ivory ambience. (I am getting the Ivory ambience come what may). It was fine. I also sat in a Lounge with the fixed glass roof and it just feels to me that it does something odd to the headroom that really bothers me. I am 5ft 7 so fairly tall tho not a giant, yet in the Lounge I couldn't get the driver's seat low enough to feel comfortable.

I do like the extra light the glass brings in and I can imagine it'd be fine but for the extra cost I feel that the ivory ambience will keep it light enough in there already. So I've decided to keep my order as it is with the solid roof on the Pop.

Oh, and I've added chrome wing mirrors, just because. :)


Thanks again!
 
danger girl said:
I test drove a pop and it felt very light and airy inside. This was on a very sunny day though and the interior had the ivory ambience -I'm not sure whether this makes a huge difference but I'm trying to be as scientific as possible! I then sat in a lounge which felt positively boiling inside. Well, maybe not boiling but I felt that you'd definitely be needing to make more use of the air con with the fixed glass roof option (well, if we get any more of the sunny stuff you would:)).

After much hmmmmming and haaaaarrrrrrring I went for the sport with the opening glass roof as I thought I could use the openability (I like making up words) instead of air con on sunny days. My boyfriend is just over 6 foot so he's working on strengthening his neck muscles for when he comes to pick it up with me!

But if I had the option of just the solid roof or fixed glass I'd definitely go for the solid roof:). I think the Pop's look better than the lounge's (Sssshhhh!)
Click to expand...

Completely agree with what you say there. And I also think the Pop looks a bit better than the Lounge, though they both look great to be fair, but for me its another reason to go for the solid roof.

Sounds like your boyfriend will fit in the passenger seat just fine. If my other half was just a bit shorter the electric sunroof would have been a contender! Its a pity but at least its saving me £££££s!
 
The main reason I ordered a Sport is I hate the glass roof! They make the car much hotter when parked in the sun. I also prefer the look of the car from the front, with a "solid" roof.
 
SOLID no question of doubt. Sun roofs are a nightmare (leaking creaking crap) and all the glass mularkey will very soon start to rattle. Dont even think about it!
 
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