Should I buy a GT-line with sunroof?

[Leonidas]

Thinking to order a 2019 Kia 2.0 GT-Line with Panorama Premium Pack. Should I avoid the sunroof option? Anyone here living in cold, climate like Canada or Sweden that can share his experience with a Kia sunroof?

Had a Mini Cooper S with sunroof and it started to rattle but only in the winters (used car). Was not keeping it in a garage. BMW quoted 1,700€ to fix it. Sold the car.

Had a Peugeot 207cc with folded panorama roof (new car). On its third year, it started to make a small noise where the plastic touches on the metal. Was keeping it in a garage. Peugeot was able to fix it with 50€ but not permanently. Sold the car later.

Please advise, as I am about to order the car in the next couple of weeks. Kia said the warranty covers the sunroof. The reason I'd like to have it is the dark-glass-look which I think looks awesome!

 

[ShannonC]

Depends on how often you will actually open it. If you only want to black glass look then maybe consider a roof wrap.

 

[Leonidas]

Thanks for the input - interesting thought!

 

[GenesisG70]

Order with sunroof will not disappoint you. Looks awesome and you can open it during summer.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I live in Canada and have the sunroof on my 2018. No issues to report and its nice to be able to open just the shade on nicer days to feel some sun rays. Also it looks cool when you just use the popup function to let in some fresh air.

 

[Leonidas]

Thanks for the replies - sounds positive and well build.

 

[twig2121]

I generally avoid them as another failure, leak, noise point on vehicles, but they are enjoyable if you want to take a minor gamble on those things. I also didn't want to pay thousands extra for the higher trim levels. I'm a fan of all stinger trims though the best fit for me was the base GT

I've heard more recent reports of noises coming from the sunroof surround, but it doesn't seem like a pervasive issue. You just have to know what you're getting into with more options = more potential issues. Sounds like you've already experienced similar (or shall I say common sunroof issues with other cars) and logic would suggest you may experience more of the same here. Depends on your tolerance for such things.

 

[SKStinger]

I would pass on it. I rarely open mine and it adds considerable weight to the car for little benefit. As you’ve experienced, they also have the tendency to creak in the cold, especially these larger panoramic ones as water gets into the drains and freezes.

There are also numerous owners who have complained about the Stingers panoramic roof making noises.

 

[MerlintheMad]

There are also numerous owners who have complained about the Stingers panoramic roof making noises.

I was waiting for this assertion. "Numerous" or many has to be qualified by how many sunroofs are out there and how many complaints are made. On this, by far the largest Stinger forum on the Internet, very few individuals have complained about noisy sunroof issues. So, the risk is there, certainly, but it is small. The way the sunroof is used will increase or decrease the risk of noises cropping up. Someone said "water freezes" inside the workings of the sunroof; well, sure, only if you let water IN. I didn't open my sunroof a single time all winter. I also did not close my sunshade a single time all winter. A sunroof lets in the sun regardless if open or pulled back. We are cautioned to not open the sunroof glass during dusty or wet conditions. But I am sure that many owners do not even think about it. Likewise, during freezing conditions, it is stupid to operate the sunroof. I'm sure that open sunroofs have been sent through car wash tunnels!? Absolutely positive of this, even though I personally do not know anyone who has done it. People are just that thoughtless/careless.

OP, if you want a sunroof for the look as top priority, you can just leave it closed most of the time. And operate it according to the manual's cautionary instructions. There is a high ninety percent likelihood that you'll have no issues whatsoever.

 

[SKStinger]

I was waiting for this assertion. "Numerous" or many has to be qualified by how many sunroofs are out there and how many complaints are made. On this, by far the largest Stinger forum on the Internet, very few individuals have complained about noisy sunroof issues. So, the risk is there, certainly, but it is small. The way the sunroof is used will increase or decrease the risk of noises cropping up. Someone said "water freezes" inside the workings of the sunroof; well, sure, only if you let water IN. I didn't open my sunroof a single time all winter. I also did not close my sunshade a single time all winter. A sunroof lets in the sun regardless if open or pulled back. We are cautioned to not open the sunroof glass during dusty or wet conditions. But I am sure that many owners do not even think about it. Likewise, during freezing conditions, it is stupid to operate the sunroof. I'm sure that open sunroofs have been sent through car wash tunnels!? Absolutely positive of this, even though I personally do not know anyone who has done it. People are just that thoughtless/careless.

OP, if you want a sunroof for the look as top priority, you can just leave it closed most of the time. And operate it according to the manual's cautionary instructions. There is a high ninety percent likelihood that you'll have no issues whatsoever.

It actually has nothing to do with operating the sunroof in the winter. The drains work when the roof is closed as well. What I said above is my experience with the two cars I’ve winter driven that had panoramic roofs. Both of which I never open in the winter. They creak and make noises that a car without does not.

Honestly though, I’d be more concerned with the weight it adds, especially to an already heavy car with a 4 cylinder engine.

 

[Leonidas]

What would be the weight difference, does anyone remember/know of a GT-line with sunroof and one without? +100kg?

 

[Thrashmetl]

If I had the option not to have it in my GT2 I would have opted not to get it. I personally don’t use it, it’s heavy, and could just have the roof wrapped instead if I wanted that look.

 

[Ucinn]

I use the sunroof on nice days, our last 3 vehicles have had the panoramic sunroofs and no noises, just pure fun shine in the sun shine.

 

[SKStinger]

What would be the weight difference, does anyone remember/know of a GT-line with sunroof and one without? +100kg?

Yep about that much. This article may help.

8 Reasons Why You Should Never Get a Sunroof

I wish it was an option here as I’d have passed on it.

 

[Ucinn]

That article is so FOS it's comical

 

[SKStinger]

That article is so FOS it's comical

You read it that quickly? It’s all true.

 

[Ucinn]

no, it's not all true..I use mine.. don't forget about it. Show me the fuel mile difference between the GT and GT2..there is no difference.. just the difference between the AWD and RWD...If it hurt the car's integrity to where it wasn't safe, they wouldn't have them. Anybody that's using the car for racing is not going to get a sunroof, so that point was also stupid. It has never kept me from having a conversation with anyone and is a lot quiter than my convertible which it also doesn't keep me from having a conversation. I've never had one break in any of my cars. Most sunfoorfs go up and over, so they aren't steeling headroom from the passengers when you open them.

There's a reason when you click on the link, it says "opinion", because nearly none of it is fact.

 

[GenesisG70]

At the end is your money, with or without sunroof is not the end of the world or a critical part of the car. You have a long warranty, enjoy the car and don't worry.

 

[Sime]

Yep about that much. This article may help.

8 Reasons Why You Should Never Get a Sunroof

I wish it was an option here as I’d have passed on it.

I didn’t even open the article, it’s probably one of those farsicle opinion pieces lke 5 reasons to not get ceramic coating.

 

[Ucinn]

I didn’t even open the article, it’s probably one of those farsicle opinion pieces lke 5 reasons to not get ceramic coating.

I wish I hadn't wasted the time to read it because that's exactly what it is.