MS3 Sunroof

[englishmatt]

So, I love my new MS3...and want for nothing (now I have my CAI installed) except for the one amenity I know many users also crave...and that's a sunroof. I've done some research and have gotten mixed feedback on installing an aftermarket sunroof. Both places quoted me the same price (around $1k) with a full 3 year warranty against leaking etc. I really miss the sunroof I had in my Lexus and find myself looking towards the roof in my Black Mica Sport wishing I could see and feel the beautiful So Cal sun and sky

What do you guys think? Should I do it? Will it devalue the car? Will it compromise performance??

Your input would be greatly appreciated...

 

[DE31]

people say it'll decrease performance, think about all the weight up top for one, the glass the motors the rails etc all at the roof. then theres the structural integrity, cutting away a huge piece of the roof. i do have a moonroof in my p5 and i love it especially at night (hate driving it in the sun) and truthfully, unless your going all out track car, i dont think the center of gravity problem makes much of a difference. but the fact that the ms3 doesnt come optional with a sunroof (and they do have a stiffer chassis from what i can remember) putting in a sunroof can have negative effects (like most my posts i post late at night so my mind tends to trail off if none of what i just said makes sense... oh well )

 

[jbiird317]

i have seen a sunroof installed on an ms3 and I must say that i was unimpressed. I'm sure it was nice to have on those hot days when driving, but from the outside I felt like it really messed with the lines of the car

 

[UTEGANNOGMI]

I think it's been posted here before but whatever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oNoxjHlx4z4

It's pretty cool. No one really has one, it's really your choice!

Uteg

 

[jbiird317]

I think it's been posted here before but whatever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oNoxjHlx4z4

It's pretty cool. No one really has one, it's really your choice!

Uteg

yep thats the one i saw... looks about the same in person. great on the inside, only so-so on the outside

 

[SwampAss]

you cannot beat a factory installed sunroof.

I miss having one but I deal with it.

 

[Abaddon]

you cannot beat a factory installed sunroof.

I miss having one but I deal with it.

+1

I missed not having a sunroof in the ms3... and then I turned over the engine and hit the accelerator.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

I think it's been posted here before but whatever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oNoxjHlx4z4

It's pretty cool. No one really has one, it's really your choice!

Uteg

the guy who took this video made more of a tutorial on how to use his sunroof than how the thing actually looks. I AM NOW A SUNROOF GURU!!!!!!!!!!! (bow)

 

[uncletime]

the guy who took this video made more of a tutorial on how to use his sunroof than how the thing actually looks. I AM NOW A SUNROOF GURU!!!!!!!!!!! (bow)

haha +1

 

[Abaddon]

upon further thought.

Find a crashed Mazda3 Hatch w/sunroof w/undamaged roof

Remove roof.

Install on ms3.

Done and done.

*Advanced option: Find someone really good at fiberglass/carbon. Duplicate roof out of carbon. Laugh at 2008 BMW M3's.

 

[SwampAss]

Then everyone laughs at you when your car folds in half. (freak)

 

[Abaddon]

Well.. It was assumed that you would be making the roof out of Carbon/Aluminum honeycomb with additional cross supports embedded within the panel..

Duh...

 

[shockdoctor]

So, I love my new MS3...and want for nothing (now I have my CAI installed) except for the one amenity I know many users also crave...and that's a sunroof. I've done some research and have gotten mixed feedback on installing an aftermarket sunroof. Both places quoted me the same price (around $1k) with a full 3 year warranty against leaking etc. I really miss the sunroof I had in my Lexus and find myself looking towards the roof in my Black Mica Sport wishing I could see and feel the beautiful So Cal sun and sky

What do you guys think? Should I do it? Will it devalue the car? Will it compromise performance??

Your input would be greatly appreciated...

Why didn't you buy a Mazdaspeed Miata if you want the open skies? You might be happier.(flash)

 

[AllLostThings]

No sunroof is one thing with me. I really do miss having one but hey...the power. Same as with the WRX. There is a brace there where the roff would go. No big deal but I feel the same.

 

[englishmatt]

Sunroof

Getting some great feedback and input from the Forum members here...I'm really leaning towards the install, in CA a sunroof is well utilized given the year-round awesome weather conditions. Why is a sunroof offered in the regular 3GT and not the Speed? Is there any structural difference between the two cars? If they offer one on the 3GT, then surely its ok, with the proper parts, hardware and technical expertise, to install one in a Speed? What do you think?

 

[gr3y]

A/C > Sunroof.. If you're doing it just to see up.. then stop that. Keep your eyes on the road. If you need some wind in your face.. roll down your windows. If you want some extra weight in your car, throw a few watermelons in the back.

I had a sunroof on my old car, VW Jetta. I thought it was overrated and was more of a hassle to open and close that thing than any aesthetic, or practical purpose your got out of it. Btw, leaving your sunroof open by accident, overnight, in the rain, is not a good thing.

This is my opinion though.. it does make your car look different.

If you're a sunroof guy, no reason you shouldn't do it! I'm kinda just wondering about structural integrity.

 

[fourthmeal]

I can affirmatively tell you a sunroof is better then a Targa though. I had two Supras with targa roofs, and it was pretty sweet to pull the top off and drive. Very roadster-ish. The lack of rigidity is pretty severe, though. Not to mention the very nasty problem of forgetting to put the roof back on at times, especially during freak rainstorms. I can't tell you how many times I've had to sit on a bunch of towels with a plastic sheet on top.

I personally like the skyview thing that Maxima has, and other Nissans as well. I like top down motoring (motorcycling being the ultimate of this), so I definitely miss not having some sort of top on this car. It was the price to pay for practicality AND performance (unlike an S2000 or similar car)