Panoramic Glass Roofs. Are they safe.

almillar

The weight/COG issue is real, the strength one is not. As has been said, there's no strength in the steel above you anyway, on loads of cars you can bend the roof by pushing down in the middle. Random shattering is slightly different matter though!

Hoof_Hearted

The wife has one of these on her car. She didn't really want one and, personally, I can't see the point as they don't open. I guess people on buses can see you picking your nose....

Gloomendoom

My wife has one on her car. It was one of the reasons she bought the car. It makes the interior wonderfully light and airy... and it does open.

PJMardy

Gloomendoom wrote: »

My wife has one on her car. It was one of the reasons she bought the car. It makes the interior wonderfully light and airy... and it does open.

My partner has one on his car and I'd echo the above. His doesn't open but it does make the car feel more spacious and as a passenger at night it's lovely to be able to look up at the stars

Strider590

Great until they're covered in seagull 5hit.........

PJMardy

Strider590 wrote: »

Great until they're covered in seagull 5hit.........

Ha! Yes indeed... regular washing needed :rotfl:

Jamie_Carter

almillar wrote: »

The weight/COG issue is real, the strength one is not. As has been said, there's no strength in the steel above you anyway, on loads of cars you can bend the roof by pushing down in the middle. Random shattering is slightly different matter though!

Most people buying a car with a panoramic roof are more concerned with cosmetics than handling. Just like buyers of people carriers aren't concerned about the centre of gravity.

RichardD1970

Strider590 wrote: »

Great until they're covered in seagull 5hit.........

Better to have glass covered in seagull 5hit rather than painted metalwork.

smcculloch

Contrary to what has been said on his forum - panoramic roofs are not laminated like windscreens. They are designed to shatter. As someone else mentioned on this post when they shatter you will have glass showering the passenger compartment.
KIA are being investigated in the US by their roadssafety agency for this issue.
KIA have investigated other issues in this country but are now hiding behind insurance companies who have to foot the bill for their unfit for purpose roofs as it is cheaper than issuing a recall. Audi have already done a recall on Panoramic roofs. Auto Express magazine run an article this month regarding a Mercedes Benz where the panoramic roof imploded and the insurance had to pay.
My KIA roof imploded showering glass. Aparently KIAs 7 year warranty does not cover roof which has a 2 month warranty !!!. KIA would not recovery car and advised to drive to garage with glass falling from what was left of roof. You can read my story below by going to "this is money" - ( the financial section of Daily Mail who run an article) and looking in their car section ( cannot add link here), but the upshot I do not feel safe in a panoramic roof and I am selling KIA sportage as their customer care is awful.

bryanb

smcculloch wrote: »

Contrary to what has been said on his forum - panoramic roofs are not laminated like windscreens. They are designed to shatter. As someone else mentioned on this post when they shatter you will have glass showering the passenger compartment.
KIA are being investigated in the US by their roadssafety agency for this issue.
KIA have investigated other issues in this country but are now hiding behind insurance companies who have to foot the bill for their unfit for purpose roofs as it is cheaper than issuing a recall. Audi have already done a recall on Panoramic roofs. Auto Express magazine run an article this month regarding a Mercedes Benz where the panoramic roof imploded and the insurance had to pay.
My KIA roof imploded showering glass. Aparently KIAs 7 year warranty does not cover roof which has a 2 month warranty !!!. KIA would not recovery car and advised to drive to garage with glass falling from what was left of roof. You can read my story below by going to "this is money" - ( the financial section of Daily Mail who run an article) and looking in their car section ( cannot add link here), but the upshot I do not feel safe in a panoramic roof and I am selling KIA sportage as their customer care is awful.

Can you explain the picture in post 21 then?