Seeking opinions on Passat wagon panoramic sunroof

[bagathon]

Hi all

I think my wife’s next car will be a B7 TDI Passat wagon. We are seeking opinions on the panoramic sunroof that seems to be fitted to the majority of vehicles available.

My wife has had a sunroof in her last three cars but they have all been of a ‘regular’ size (as opposed to a ‘panoramic’ size) and they have all had a solid, sliding cover which has been made in a insulating material and then lined in the same material as the car’s headlining – this usually formed a good insulating layer that prevented extra heat build-up in the vehicle’s interior (from the glass sunroof) if the cover was left closed.

The Passat wagon is a different story – that sunroof looks absolutely magnificent in the showroom and would be great during the night or on a cold, but sunny Winter’s day but we are a little worried that the retractable, slightly transparent sunroof blind will not provide enough insulation from the sun in an Australian summer – particularly here in Brisbane.

I would like to hear opinions of owners of B6/B7 Passat wagons with the panoramic sunroof on the following:

- With the sunroof shade blind closed, are there ever any situations when there is too much light and/or reflection from the sunroof

- When driving, does the shade blind allow too much heat to enter the vehicle’s interior (particularly hot Summer days)

- When the vehicle is parked in the sun, does the interior get to hot from heat entering through the shade blind

- Do you like the sunroof (and use it)

- Given a choice, would you option it again


Thanking you in advance for you answers

Cheers
Geoff

[FSI 220]

Hi all


1 With the sunroof shade blind closed, are there ever any situations when there is too much light and/or reflection from the sunroof

2 When driving, does the shade blind allow too much heat to enter the vehicle’s interior (particularly hot Summer days)

3 When the vehicle is parked in the sun, does the interior get to hot from heat entering through the shade blind

4 Do you like the sunroof (and use it)

5 Given a choice, would you option it again


Thanking you in advance for you answers

Cheers
Geoff

Hi Geoff... having numbered your questions, my comparison is with my old Forester XT Luxury turbo, the XTL was a larger than average size, about the size of the front - opening- panel of the Passat.

1) in direct sun, the rooflining is "lit up" the Fozzy XTL was completely opaque... I dont mind having the brighter interior. It doesnt seem to reflect in this arangement in anything... Roof open (however) it can flare out the touchscreen radio (but it can also through the side windows on the rear threequarters).

2) 90% of my time with it has been overcast or raining, but the glass itself seems to reject more heat than the XTL did with the glass shut and blind open, so it looks like the glass in the Passat does more of the work... having said that the weather has been fairly crook, on the handfull of hot days the aircon has coped.

3) Interior is no hotter in my white passat, than it is in our dark Graphite Kluger, when reversing both sequentialy to rake the leaves off the drive... My intention is to do the Rain sensor mod to close the roof for the coming summer, in otherwords i' intend to leave the roof tilted cracked open and have the sensor close it if rains...

4) I do and I do, the kids love going through tunnels with the blind open I have it open driving to work...

5) I would (at this stage) throw the Dynaudio out the window, but would definitely order the sunroof again

here 'tis said roof



Good luck with your decision (just get more opinions than mine) After the XTL four years without a sunroof was killing me, so I may not be unbiased.

John

[bagathon]

Hi John

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my questions in detail like you have. Your answers to our questions (particularly 2, 3 and 5) have somewhat eased our fears of regretting getting such a large sunroof. The sunroof auto close during rain sounds like it might be a good idea in the summer months.

Please let me know if you get a couple of hot days and your opinion changes (or even if your original opinion is reinforced)

By the way, we like your colour combination. We will be (attempting) to order a Candy White wagon with the Sports Pack (just not the V6 FSI unfortuantly). The white really sets off the black wheels with the machined spokes, the black detailing and the chrome trim of the car.

Thanks
Geoff

[FSI 220]

no worries Geoff... To be honest I was allways going to order the V6, but my last 5 cars have all been AWD... If I were going to go the TDI, i would be keeping an eye on the Passat Alltrack as well... Same interior, same sunroof, tdi and 4motion... but it would be a different look to a white passat sports pack... I like the look of the red one in the Alltrack thread...



Happy huntin

[Riker]

When I was test driving Passats I drove a black V6 wagon & night blue TDi wagon, both had the pano roof. I drove both cars on 3 separate occassions, 2 off which were hot sunny days. There was a quite a noticeable transmission of heat into the cabin with the blind closed. Open it increased obviously but it wasn't overbearing. I do recall however thinking to myself that I would have another UV tint added to the pano roof. On the 3rd occassion it was a cooler, overcast day & there was very limited heat transmission with the blind closed & open. I did notice a glare though on the sunny days with the blind open, but as FSI said, that also happens through the side windows etc..

I wasn't fussed whether I got the roof or not, & now I never realy wish I had it, but in the future I certainly would consider having the pano roof option. I would especially have it on the candy white Passat which I reckon is the best colour for the Passat & I am happy to admit I do stare at mine, often. Add the dark tint & the look is awesome as FSi attests to.

[cru22z]

FSI - do you know anyone able to do the rain close mods?

How to activate automatic rain sensing wipers feature on a 2012 VW Passat TDI

I'm interested in getting it done coz I have just been a victim of kids playing with the window and didn't notice it open a little and heavy rain overnight

[Riker]

What about the dealer if no one replies. I might get mine done as well...

Was it the rear window that was left open..? You can de-activated the rear windows so the kids cannot open & close them from the rear. There is a button next to the auto window buttons on your door that turns off the rear window operation from the back seat.

FSI - do you know anyone able to do the rain close mods?

How to activate automatic rain sensing wipers feature on a 2012 VW Passat TDI

I'm interested in getting it done coz I have just been a victim of kids playing with the window and didn't notice it open a little and heavy rain overnight

[cru22z]

What about the dealer if no one replies. I might get mine done as well...

Was it the rear window that was left open..? You can de-activated the rear windows so the kids cannot open & close them from the rear. There is a button next to the auto window buttons on your door that turns off the rear window operation from the back seat.

Yah the back window was left open a bit. I called VW Village and they said
they can do it for less than $100 and they keep the car for half a day .
Anyone deal this with company before?? Or would the dealer know or do the coding??

---------- Post added at 11:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:37 AM ----------

I rang denlo service centre and they said its not available and never been an option so in short the dealers don't do it.

[FSI 220]

FSI - do you know anyone able to do the rain close mods?

How to activate automatic rain sensing wipers feature on a 2012 VW Passat TDI

I'm interested in getting it done coz I have just been a victim of kids playing with the window and didn't notice it open a little and heavy rain overnight

I am not fussed until my next role in summer... currently in the corporate underground carpark, will be out in the factories in the glorious western sydney sun ... I am sure that will motivate me to search out the answer to that question ...

[bagathon]

Thanks for your thoughts Riker

Cheers
Geoff

When I was test driving Passats I drove a black V6 wagon & night blue TDi wagon, both had the pano roof. I drove both cars on 3 separate occassions, 2 off which were hot sunny days. There was a quite a noticeable transmission of heat into the cabin with the blind closed. Open it increased obviously but it wasn't overbearing. I do recall however thinking to myself that I would have another UV tint added to the pano roof. On the 3rd occassion it was a cooler, overcast day & there was very limited heat transmission with the blind closed & open. I did notice a glare though on the sunny days with the blind open, but as FSI said, that also happens through the side windows etc..

I wasn't fussed whether I got the roof or not, & now I never realy wish I had it, but in the future I certainly would consider having the pano roof option. I would especially have it on the candy white Passat which I reckon is the best colour for the Passat & I am happy to admit I do stare at mine, often. Add the dark tint & the look is awesome as FSi attests to.