I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
roofs.
Are they for ventilation, or just for show? When open, do they make a
lot of wind noise? Do they leak a lot?
I guess since I'm asking this, I better buy the LX-G which doesn't
have the moon roof....
O.
Randolph - 07 Jul 2004 07:11 GMT
My '94 Civic has a moon roof. I have had no leaks or other problems so
far. At highway speeds it gets too noisy to be comfortable, but driving
at 40 and below it is fine. I open it every chance I get, I really enjoy
the open-air feeling. I have found that air does not enter through the
open moon roof, rather it escapes there, and it does improve the flow of
air through the cabin somewhat.
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> O.
George Macdonald - 07 Jul 2004 13:11 GMT
>I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
>roofs.
>
>Are they for ventilation, or just for show? When open, do they make a
>lot of wind noise? Do they leak a lot?
I've owned 5 Hondas/Acuras with moonroofs and they do *not* leak and
require minimal maintenance: a rub of the rubber with silicone spray soaked
towelette and a spritz of grease in the slides and mechanism from time to
time . On an Spring or early Summer day, where A/C is not required, I
really enjoy an open roof - a matter of taste. It doesn't transform your
car into a sports car but it's the next best thing. Wind noise, even at
freeway speeds, although obviously increased, is not a problem for me but
then I rarely listen to the radio or CD player.
Only drawback I've heard is for tall folks, especially long-bodied - the
headroom is reduced by enough to bother them.
Rgds, George Macdonald
"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
Howard Lester - 07 Jul 2004 15:44 GMT
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
>
> Are they for ventilation, or just for show? When open, do they make a
> lot of wind noise? Do they leak a lot?
No leaks. It's a nice, relatively quiet way to get air circulation without
having to 'roll' down the windows (which *does* create a lot of noise). As
another poster said, it brightens things up inside, which *can* be good.
Howard Lester
Al C. - 07 Jul 2004 16:34 GMT
>> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
>> roofs.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Howard Lester
I'm in a hot, dry climate. When I park (in sun) I leave the moon roof open
about 2 inches. It helps cool the car.
ANC
motsco_ _ - 07 Jul 2004 16:16 GMT
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> O.
++++++++++++++
Like George said . . . avoid them if you're tall. A pain in the neck. :-(
'Curly"
kiselink@mindspring.com - 07 Jul 2004 21:24 GMT
Here in FL I rarely use mine.
In the summer its to hot. On the highway, its to noisy. On sunny
days, its to much sun.
It really eats up the head room. I wonder what the statistics are for
increased injuries in accidents.
J. - 13 Jul 2004 23:41 GMT
> Here in FL I rarely use mine.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> It really eats up the head room. I wonder what the statistics are for
> increased injuries in accidents.
I don't agree that "it really eats up the headroom." At 5'11", my three
Preludes have been fine. If you're 6'4", then it would be a problem in the
smaller cars.
Why would you think there would be more injuries?
-Head striking the padded roofliner?
-Debris falling through the open roof?
-Structural integrity of the roof (with that inner metal tray, could it be
stronger)?
J.
kiselink@mindspring.com - 14 Jul 2004 02:08 GMT
> I don't agree that "it really eats up the headroom." At 5'11", my three
>Preludes have been fine. If you're 6'4", then it would be a problem in the
>smaller cars.
Its an Accord that the original poster was discussing. My comments
only apply to the accord and not the prelude.
>Why would you think there would be more injuries?
Because if one leans forward with a straight back, the body pivots
around an axis resulting in the head catching the forward lip of the
moon roof. I suppose in a typical head on accident, the head just
flies straight forward and then down a bit as the seat belts and air
bag kick in. But suppose you have the car hit some nasty bumps where
your getting some up and down motion. Then the tolerances are going
to be less than with a non-mooned roof vehicle. I doubt if that
insurance organization that tests cars in accidents ever tested a
moonroof equipped vehicle.
Mind you the one I have is factory (not one of those dealer add ons
that just pops straight up). The factory unit actually lowers into the
car and then slides back. . The result is a lower interior roof in
the foward area of the vehicle. I also have the same height as
yourself.
>-Head striking the padded roofliner?
Its the ridge I am talking about. Thats where the modified roof has
been lowered to accommodate the added hardware. So there is a ridge
where the interior roof meets the open area. I dont think the padding
is going to do much if you hit that ridge.
>-Debris falling through the open roof?
I would think a non-mooned roof car would be more survivable in a
flipped vehicle accident.
>-Structural integrity of the roof (with that inner metal tray, could it be
>stronger)?
Mind you, its a luxury add on which accounts for a small number of the
vehicles. I doubt that there is much research that goes into
analyzing the behavior of the vehicle under accident situations for
moonroofed equipped vehicles. I suppose it could go either way on
structural integrity. But if the roof is getting crushed downward,
you'll have less inches.
I guess another way to look at it is what made the designers decide on
the original height of the roof? I would think safety is part of it.
Add that high profit luxury item.....what is the manufacture going to
do...add more height to the roof and retool their factories or just
stick it into the interior of the car and smooth it out with some
added foam / cloth.
Cliffy - 28 Jul 2004 17:11 GMT
Dude...
I really don't mean to sound rude, please don't take it that way but, If you
are that worried about the Moon-Sun roof you may want to consider trading it
in and getting a tank. Then you can just drive over what ever you would
have hit if you were in the Honda.
but then I don't think they pad the hatch lid either.
> > I don't agree that "it really eats up the headroom." At 5'11", my three
> >Preludes have been fine. If you're 6'4", then it would be a problem in the
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
> stick it into the interior of the car and smooth it out with some
> added foam / cloth.
J. - 07 Jul 2004 22:36 GMT
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
>
> Are they for ventilation, or just for show? When open, do they make a
> lot of wind noise? Do they leak a lot?
> > O.
I always have the shade open (except when parked on warm/hot days) even if I
don't always open the glass. Don't know if I could get used to not having
one after 20 years and 3 Preludes (84, 90, 99).
As far as leaking, occassionally check that the drain tubes do in fact drain
by pouring a little water down the 4 corners (at least the ludes have 4
drain tubes). Check that the water leaks out from the body, typically
behind the wheels somewhere. I had to clear the rear tube outlets (rubber
nipples) with a small screwdriver on the 90 Prelude after taking a surprise
shower upon the first turn after work one day. There was just a very little
debris plugging the outlets, but obviously enough to fill the rear tubes and
inner metal tray while the car was parked slightly uphill during an all day
rain.
Other than that surprise, I've only had a few drops in the inner tray on
all 3 cars after a rain or wash. If you plan to use roof racks, check the
mounting and clearance. I never had problems with Thule racks on all 3 cars
(critical positioning on the 84 since the radio antenna from the drivers
pillar had to thread its way past the roofrack crossbar and short roofline
adapter. And, the salesman did wonder what I was doing with cardboard
cutouts, rulers, and tape measurers before I actually bought the 99-the
first moonroof for me that slid up and out instead of down and in.
steve eddy - 08 Jul 2004 01:50 GMT
It is for pleasure.
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> O.
Randolph - 08 Jul 2004 06:46 GMT
> It is for pleasure.
That is what I thought about getting a wife too. Long story short, I
kept the moon roof, didn't keep the wife.
Hugh Graham - 08 Jul 2004 14:56 GMT
> > It is for pleasure.
>
> That is what I thought about getting a wife too. Long story short, I
> kept the moon roof, didn't keep the wife.
A truly wise decision :)
Hugh
JXStern - 08 Jul 2004 22:33 GMT
>Are they for ventilation, or just for show? When open, do they make a
>lot of wind noise? Do they leak a lot?
A little ventilation, but more of a fresh-air feeling, the resonance
of the internal space is affected, or something like that.
A little wind noise when open - I'm going to fool around with some
flow controllers like you see on (older) airliner wings, see if I can
quiet it.
No leaks.
I've gotten quite used to them on my last two cars, always have the
shade open, weather permitting generally have the panel in tilt mode.
Note that with the shade open, you may have *more* headroom than a
plain roof. Of course, with the moonroof all the way open, you can be
really tall, but you may get a crick in your neck.
And you can see the police choppers following you around.
J.
Jason - 08 Jul 2004 22:36 GMT
> I'm looking at the Accord coupes, and 3 models out of 4 have moon
> roofs.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> O.
Sarah loves the moonroof and I hate it due to the noise.
When she drives the car by herself--she keeps it open.
When I drive the car by myself--I keep it closed and use the AC.
It is has been the source of lots of arguments.
Just because a car has a moonroof--it does not mean you have to
use it unless you want to use it.

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rastapasta - 08 Jul 2004 23:16 GMT
I always thought it was for when you're cruisin' & want to burn your
favorite herb but don't want the windows down.
I also subscribe to what "Al C." said:---it's for venting the hot sir while
parking.
rastapasta - 08 Jul 2004 23:20 GMT
[snizzle]
...it's for venting the hot sir while
> parking.
Ok.ewwwwwwww!!
not the "hot sir"... ;{
sorry----that's "hot AIR".
rastapasta - 08 Jul 2004 23:23 GMT
moonroofs are also good for those cooler thimes of the year when it just
feels good to let in fresh air while not blasting it in with the windows
down.
Ernest Cassirer - 09 Jul 2004 08:36 GMT
Maybe it's good for venting both the hot sir and the hot madam while
parking.
In a secluded spot,that is.
> I always thought it was for when you're cruisin' & want to burn your
> favorite herb but don't want the windows down.
> I also subscribe to what "Al C." said:---it's for venting the hot sir while
> parking.
rastapasta - 09 Jul 2004 16:04 GMT
> Maybe it's good for venting both the hot sir and the hot madam while
> parking.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> while
> > parking.
Yeah, I almost went there with that, but oh well. You got the idea. ;}
richard48@webtv.net - 09 Jul 2004 15:36 GMT
The only problem I've had with the moon roof on my 98 Civic is that the
hot S. Florida sun is rotting out the sliding door for the moon roof.
rastapasta - 09 Jul 2004 16:07 GMT
> The only problem I've had with the moon roof on my 98 Civic is that the
> hot S. Florida sun is rotting out the sliding door for the moon roof.
I dunno, but did you check out "George Macdonald"'s advice (3rd post down in
this thread), saying something about putting on some silicone spray on it?
HTH
richard48@webtv.net - 10 Jul 2004 00:18 GMT
I think he is talking about using silicone spray to keep the door
sliding ok. That's not my problem. The front edge of the door on mine
is rotting away from the hot sun. i just taped it for now.
Anyway, at night its called a "moon roof" and during the day its called
a "sun roof". If it rains, and it leaks.........its jut a "roof".
Brian Smith - 10 Jul 2004 00:38 GMT
> I think he is talking about using silicone spray to keep the door
> sliding ok. That's not my problem. The front edge of the door on mine
> is rotting away from the hot sun. i just taped it for now.
If you had used the silicone spray on it from day one, as part of a
preventative maintenance regime, you wouldn't have the problem you have now.
> Anyway, at night its called a "moon roof" and during the day its called
> a "sun roof". If it rains, and it leaks.........its jut a "roof".
It would be more aptly be called a leaky roof ;^)

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