Panoramic Roof. Good vs Bad

[DerekS]

How did it happen? Just while driving?

Took a rock on a road trip.
It made a chip that I ignored. It spread into a giant crack.

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[Tooney]

Good.

 

[freinando]

I like how it contrasts with the exterior color of my car (silver). I also live in a hot climate and can say I never felt it was too hot when getting into the car. Note I have the insulated glass option, but I think that’s just on the windows.

 

[JenniATL]

I have the variable control roof so you can make it matte on a full sun day which was a must if I was even going to consider it.
Pros
- less claustrophobic for back passenger
- it’s fun

Con - nothing new to add

 

[sufcrusher]

Just to throw in one more pro:

In case you have a red interior: the rain drops on your roof lens the red light in a really nice and dynamic manner, resulting in a confusing red glow to each of the water drops.

And immediately a downside of the variable sunroof, which is grayed out when the car is off.

 

[uniqueMR]

Good

 

[Tpup]

Another positive. If you need a bike rack the SeaSucker racks mount perfectly on the glass....

 

[gnr3312]

I have the pano and wish it was the VLC kind.

 

[freinando]

In case you have a red interior: the rain drops on your roof lens the red light in a really nice and dynamic manner, resulting in a confusing red glow to each of the water drops.

Is this really a result of only having a red interior? I do, but I always thought this was just how the coating of the glass reflected light, regardless of interior color.

 

[sufcrusher]

Is this really a result of only having a red interior? I do, but I always thought this was just how the coating of the glass reflected light, regardless of interior color.

I'm pretty sure it's the reflected light from the seats that gets bent in unexpected ways. I've never seen it on other interior colored cars.

And (unfortunately) I haven't noticed it anymore on my new car with the variable roof. I kind of miss it, TBH.

I guess some more experimentation (shine a flashlight inside? put a dark blanket over your seats?) and comparison (to other interior colors) may be required.

 

[prj]

For heat transmission the VLC does not make any significant difference. It's only a party trick, don't be fooled. The glass roof actually transmits less heat through to the cabin than having a metal roof and have it heat up in the sun, as it reflects almost all the infrared light due to the special film.

For the driver and front passenger you will never ever see or pay attention to whether you have the pano roof, metal roof or even less the VLC. It's just not in your field of view even with the seat all the way back.

The only ones who will appreciate the pano roof are the rear seat passengers for two reasons:
1. Feels a lot airier and brighter back there.
2. More headroom with the pano roof.

But the VLC? That's the "I got f... you money" option. If you do, then by all means check every box. But the practical value of that thing to you as the driver is a complete zero.

 

[jk981]

Here’s a thought: I wonder how it affects sound quality, if you spec the higher end Burmester stereo. A giant reflective surface likely muddles sound quality vs a fabric covered roof.

But by how much? I’ll leave that question to the audiophiles

 

[CrazyINP]

For heat transmission the VLC does not make any significant difference. It's only a party trick, don't be fooled. The glass roof actually transmits less heat through to the cabin than having a metal roof and have it heat up in the sun, as it reflects almost all the infrared light due to the special film.

For the driver and front passenger you will never ever see or pay attention to whether you have the pano roof, metal roof or even less the VLC. It's just not in your field of view even with the seat all the way back.

The only ones who will appreciate the pano roof are the rear seat passengers for two reasons:
1. Feels a lot airier and brighter back there.
2. More headroom with the pano roof.

But the VLC? That's the "I got f... you money" option. If you do, then by all means check every box. But the practical value of that thing to you as the driver is a complete zero.

I think you are wrong saying those have very similar performance. I am trying to find the article that I read couple years ago showing some numbers. Although both have almost 100% UV protection, the heat rejection of VLC roof was close to ~85% TSER where was much less on panoramic roof. I am happy if you can provide some data in your comment of the heat rejections of both.

 

[prj]

I think you are wrong saying those have very similar performance. I am trying to find the article that I read couple years ago showing some numbers. Although both have almost 100% UV protection, the heat rejection of VLC roof was close to ~85% TSER where was much less on panoramic roof. I am happy if you can provide some data in your comment of the heat rejections of both.

There is no such percentages published.

Porsche only published this:

With a high-precision test setup that simulates 45 minutes of heat comparable to that under the South African sun on a summer day, the headroom remains nine degrees Celsius cooler than with the best roller shade available.

However, it's incredibly vague with no actual numbers posted.

"South Africa on a summer day" probably means the difference in the car was 41C vs 50C or something like that (if not more). I wouldn't call that significant.

There is another source saying that it blocks 85% of heat, and it's better than a roller shade. But a roller shade does very little for the heat entering the cabin, as it has already passed through the glass, it doesn't get reflected on the outside. Roller shades inside mostly help with light rather than heat, to reject heat you have to do that before it passes into the cabin.

We don't have the numbers for the standard one.

 

[CrazyINP]

someone should test it so we can put an end to the debate with numbers

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