There seems to be a portion of the Challenger community that prefers to not have a sunroof for their car. As I'm mentally building a new Challenger Scat Pack (waiting for a B5 Shaker model to be available for order) I'm considering what options I would like to spend my money on. My current R/T Plus has a sunroof and I enjoy it year round here in FL. I'm wondering if I can live without it and would like to know why some prefer not to have one.
When it comes to options, knowing that the shaker package will already be $2k+ I'd like to maximize my options (leather & Nav etc.) while still keeping my price below an SRT!
A couple things, I got my Scat Pack without one, even though I typically enjoy them, but I hated when my head hit the ceiling when I wore my helmet for drag racing, also, my roof rattled in my old Challenger, a first for the many cars I have owned with them.
Also, save money on the nav, your phone has it. IMO they smartly grouped it as a standalone option so it would be easy to delete and save money on.
I only got the leather, stereo and appearance group on mine. Standard features otherwise are pretty comprehensive...though I am not 100% sure I will get a backup camera and that it something I really want so I hope it's on there. Anyone know if it's standard???
sunroofs are nice... however
they are one more thing to clean, they can develop problems (not all but some will inevitably have issues)
had one in my dart, they have a little bug catcher thing that gets bugs in it lol.
that one worked nice, only buffeted at highway speed if you didnt have any of the windows cracked. if you opened all 4 windows 1 inch the noise would go away it was fine. with all windows sealed you got some nasty bass effect from buffeting
Because they can leak, malfunction, and affect the structural rigidity of the roof. And, many old schoolers believe that a muscle car should not have one, because they didn't back in the day.
I prefer to not have one on cosmetics alone, just don't like the look it brings on a challenger.
May want to brush up on your Challenger history, a sunroof was an option 1970 through 1972. I believe the code was M51 and they are some of the rarest out there.
Back on topic, I wouldn't get one since it is just another part to leak or break and finding parts 5-6 years down the road for them can be tricky. Plus I go to track days a few times throughout the summer and sunroofs lower the roof/headliner down a couple inches and my helmet rubs, or in some cars, just won't fit without me swapping seats or tilting my head. Not exactly the best position to go racing in.
1. More weight at very top of car, raising center of gravity
2. Cost $$$
3. Potential source for leaks
4. Reduced structural strength
5. Unconfirmed rumors of issues at 150+ mph advanced as reason sunroof currently not available on HC
I chose not to get the sunroof for the following reasons:
1) It makes the body more rigid
2) added headroom
3) I wanted it to be a true muscle car. Cloth interior, lots of space and power, and 3 pedals with no options.
Leaks (air and water) and repairs.
Mostly repairs.
Having worked Jeep/Chrysler parts over 3 decades, I know sunroof parts are among the hardest and most expensive to get, especially once a model year starts/ends.....and even worse when the car is 5+years old, as sunroof parts are the fist parts to be discontinued, and there is always little to no aftermarket support. And it REALLY sucks to try to find that stuff used in good shape.
They are like power windows. Expected wear will take it's toll, and when the motor or a track goes out (not if....WHEN), you are looking at an arm and a leg in cost, and often weeks of waiting for parts. Then when it gets fixed, you fight with the repair shop about the greasy hand prints all over your headliner.
To me, sun/moon roofs are more trouble than they're worth.
I could take it or leave it when it comes to sunroofs. It's one of those "nice to have on certain days" but otherwise I kept my Daytona sunroof equipped closed. Save your money, use it for something else you're wanting. On the other hand if you have everything you want, and $1000 is chump change for you, go for it.
I don't like them, myself. They reduce headroom, and even though I'm only 6', I like to sit fairly high in the car so I can see out. Also, I'm "follicularly challenged" - i.e. balding - so don't want to have to put sunscreen on my head just to drive. Also, I'm not a big fan of wind noise. Finally, the one car I had one in, the damn thing leaked - badly! - and we had to spend money getting it dried and the interior detailed.
I love sunroofs! I never had any problems with them on other cars, we'll see with this one. What I like about a sunroof is that it really opens up the cabin. In fact, I rarely open it, just the lighting that comes through it is enough to warrant one in my case.
However... every car I had eventually had a problem with it. In my Mitsubishi it would only vent, not retract after about yr 4. In my Cadillac the wind screen broke off and got stuck in the track jamming it partway open. My Durango is only 2yrs old and so far so good.
I actually wanted one in my Challenger but finding a 14' so late in the year with a 6spd and sunroof was impossible. However I do like the extra headroom.
One other thing I've considered is that I like the Shaker stripes. I'm thinking it may look better without the glass breaking up the roof portion of the stripe.
the sunroof also breaks up the roof striping on an SRT 392-they give you a little stripe between the windshield and the sunroof and then continue it after the sunroof-just doesn't look that good in my opinion
Well I ordered mine with the sunroof. Trade in a Wrangler hardtop in which you had to manually remove a piece of it for sunlight. The power sunroof gives you some fresh air and then push the button to close it. Weight difference is minimal so why not.
I did not choose to have a sunroof on my scat pack because it adds weight and reduces body strength. Both of which I don't need when trying to squeeze every tenth out when I eventually mod the hell out of my challenger
I have to laugh at the idea that a Challenger is more a true "muscle car" without a sunroof.
First of all, IRS, Brembos, and super track pack make a Challenger less of a true "muscle car" than a sunroof does. If you really want a true muscle car, rip out the IRS and take off the Brembos. Then your car will handle and brake like ****, just like the original muscle cars did.
Worse, it is just a flat lie that 60s and 70s muscle cars didn't have sunroofs.