2009 Audi S5: Sunroof or Moonroof?

The BMW M Coupe (based on the Z3) also had the Audi S5 style moonroof. Which is why I bought mine w/o it...

I was always taught that a sunroof was made of steel. It could tilt and open, but it would not let any light in unless it was opened, thus a sunroof was only usable when it was sunny. A moonroof was made of glass, thus allowing light in even if it was closed. I don't think there are any cars on the road today that actually have sunroofs. Of course, this definition could very well be wrong.

Sunroof is generally interchangeable with Moonroof. But the unofficial text book definition is that a Sunroof is manual operated OR electronic. A Moonroof is fully electronically operated. Term Moonroof created by Ford in the 70's

I never knew what the difference was and used them interchangeably. I would seldom use one fully open anyway, either just letting light in or using the vent position, so this wouldn't bother me too much. I figure to have an opening moonroof on a coupe would give you the ones the stack up outside, like the new Camaro or the RX-8, and that doesn't seem worth it to me. I can understand Audi's decision.

The term "sunroof" has been around a long time, and I take it to mean a tilting OR sliding panel that is made of steel. For example, my mom's '75 VW Super Beetle had a fully retractable (hand-cranked) steel panel, which the manufacturer called a "sunroof".

Adrean8j said above that it was Ford that coined the term "moonroof", but the first time *I* ever heard that word was in the marketing for the original, 1978 Honda Prelude. It was identified as a moonroof because it was made of glass instead of steel.

Obviously, the terms have become interchangable since the 1970's, so there's no point in being a stickler about it now. But as far as I'm concerned, the *original* definitions are: Sunroof=steel, Moonroof=glass

Who cares the terminology, no slide = fail.

I always thought that moonroof meant that the glass panel slid open and that a sunroof only tilted up... I never really paid attention though since I have never owned a car with either one and I don't really ever care to have a car with one in it. If it happens to be on a car I buy in the future, I'll take it but if there are two cars identical to each other in everything including price, I'd still take the sun/moonroof-less one. Even if the one with out a sun/moonroof was a little more money, I think I'd even pay the extra.

Sunroof == have to open to see any light (i.e. the roof is opaque)
Moonroof == can see the moon through the glass (i.e. the roof is transparent)

My 2000 Celica GT-S had a plastic moonroof. It popped up and, if opened, slid back while sticking out of the roof. Audi could have done something like this for the S5, but it looks ghetto.

I almost never open the moonroof in any of my cars, mainly I just do the vent thing.

Huh...

I always had it as: if it moves (regardless of material), it's a sunroof.

If it's fixed and clear, it's a moonroof.

I call it a waste of money, headroom, and weight.

Where would it go Donna? Unless it slides into the roof lining, it doesn't really fit that whole "luxury" thing does it?

Regardless of terminology, I have to agree with Texases. At 6'5", I need the space taken for these contraptions and have never found them to be any good anyways.

If you want the sun on your face or the wind in your hair, buy a convertible. Bet you a Miata would put a smile on your face as big as this car does.

I'd love to have a Miata but as I have two small children, it just can't match a Legacy wagon with a sunroof.

I love my sunroof, likely the best option on the car... works perfect everytime. I use it far more often then the AC.

Unless my next car is a convertible, it will have a sun roof.

No clue what a mooonroof is.

Mercedesfan explained it perfectly.

Man, I really hate to say it, but as much as I love this car this would be a dealbreaker for me. If it was a car for track duty, then no, save the weight. But this is a touring car and I need that roof to open.

I'd expect it to slide too, on a car like this. If there's no room between the headliner and the roof, then it could go along the outside of the roof. I have a Mazda which does this, and it has always worked well.

Mercedesfan and misterfusion are right:

A Moonroof is a glass panel
A Sunroof is a steel panel

Ostensibly, a moonroof was/is made of glass so that at night one could see, yes, the moon and the stars. I recall the cheesy print ads for luxury cars showing as much. In fact, Cadillac -- perhaps inspired by the country's early 1970s obsession with outer space -- called it an "Astro-roof", while most other carmakers, for example Lincoln/Ford and later, Honda, called it a moonroof.

Not to be too much of a car geek, mr. f., but the Honda Prelude debuted for the 1979 model year ; )

"I was always taught that a sunroof was made of steel. It could tilt and open, but it would not let any light in unless it was opened, thus a sunroof was only usable when it was sunny. A moonroof was made of glass, thus allowing light in even if it was closed. I don't think there are any cars on the road today that actually have sunroofs. Of course, this definition could very well be wrong."

You are absolutely right!

This should be a whack roof...

Wow, I guess my impression of a sunroof vs. moonroof was wrong all this time. I always thought that a sunroof opened outside the car (the glass was outside the car when it was fully open) and a moonroof slid back into the roof, leaving no glass sticking out when it was fully open. Wikipedia makes no mention of this, so I must have been wrong!

What - It doesn't slide open on the Audi?! What a rip off.

IMO moonroof = glass, sunroof = steel.

I think a panoramic moonroof is something like what you get with the B200 or R56 MINI Cooper (i.e. a large section of the roof can be open). Audi is clearly using marketing-speak for it's moonroof description.

I don't know what I would do without the moonroof on my MINI. Both glass panels tilt up and the entire front section opens - love it!

How about...

sunroof = daytime
moonroof = nighttime

Like others have said, Sunroof is solid, Moonroof transparent. Not sure what you'd call one that doesn't open? Greenhouse? Yep.

I understand why everyone says "Sunroof is solid, Moonroof transparent" but since every auto maker I can think of ( as well as every owner) refers to the glass ones as sunroofs I would say that is now the correct definition.

Since both sunroof and moonroof aren't real words (just marketing terms someone made up at some time in the past) their meaning is whatever the popular understanding is.

I think it's a cool feature. If it slid open, it would slide up, which is ugly. Since it's a coupe, obviously no room.

Think of it like the Ford Mustang's glass roof option. It's the same, with the exception that it opens a bit to vent.

I love sun/moon roofs. Mine opens nice and big and it's always open, even in the winter (on a sunny day of course).

I only car I wouldn't want one on is an M3 coupe. I love the carbon fiber roof, even if some people think it's gimmicky, it looks bada**.

Wow. That roof is weaksauce. If it were money I'd order one without it.

We had a couple Audi 5000's in the mid to late 80's that had a steel sunroof. I much prefer glass moonroofs however, and like a couple of the other posters, it will always be a must-have for me in any daily-driver I own (finances permitting, of course). I agree that in some cars it does take away tremendously from the headroom, but at 5'11" I don't have that much of a problem with it.

The CC has the same type of roof. I'm not aware of many other cars with this type of set up. To say this had to be done because any sunroof that opened would be a spoiler type is ridiculous. Many cars (especially smaller ones) have spoiler type units. They work just fine.