Pros and cons of the hatch, panoramic roof and panoramic windshield car. All you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask: Facts and myths about panoramic roofs Is it possible to install a panoramic roof in a car

Modern motorists recently began to choose exquisite models of machines with a panoramic roof. Such a roof layout is much better than a convertible, because the top is closed from the effects of adverse weather phenomena: rain, snow, strong wind. But the feeling that you are traveling in the cabriolet remained. And it's great. Some models are equipped with panoramic windshield. It comes to the backs of the front seats and thus increases the visibility and penetration of light into the salon. Such glass perfectly replaces the hatch.

Concerns about the fact that the glass roof is continuing, completely inappropriate. The manufacturer well thought out technology, how to create superpower glass on the "Sandwich" principle. It is either tempered or laminated. Therefore, you should not worry about your safety. Panoramic windshield or roof is necessarily covered by protection against ultraviolet, so the "stove" effect in the heat is reduced.

What is the difference between the panoramic roof from the hatch

To date, car hatches are of different shapes, sizes, shades and styles. The presence of a hatch in the roof of the machine allows you to additionally ventilate the interior. In addition, it gets more light through the hatch in the car.

Interesting to know! The first car hatch was installed in 1930 by the German company Webasto. He opened manually. Only after 30 years the same company invented a hatch opening mechanism with electronics was invented.

Panoramic hatch gradually displaces its usual analog, as it has a large area of \u200b\u200bview, can be tinted or transparent. Panoramic hatch may consist of 1 - 2 panels. If a double-page hatch, then one panel automatically runs on the other, and then both fold in the back of the roof.

In the open state allows a person to stand in full growth. A panoramic roof is an improved huge hatch that allows the light to freely penetrate the salon. Passengers will be able to see the clouds on the sky or stars and the moon. Panoramic roofs do not open(Only the tissue curtain saves from the heat).

Did you know? Panoramic hatch in an open state allows a person to stand in full growth. For example, operators are convenient to conduct video shooting on the go.

Advantages and disadvantages of panoramic roof on cars

Pros:

Creates a feeling of a convertible.

Enhances visibility.

Does not take space in the cabin.

Slightly affects aerodynamics.

Allows you to see the signals of the upper traffic lights.

Minuses:

Pleasure is expensive.

Permanent careful care (bird litter, snow, dirt, fond of foliage).

The blinding sun falls right on the driver.

In severe heat, the salon is still heated.

Tinted glass more often than ordinary glass is subjected to different damage.

Sometimes water leak occurs.

Thaw and then freezing provokes freezing water on the roof curtains. The resulting ice coating cracks when driving.

If the roof curtains while driving to keep closed in winter, then warm air from the salon will fall on the curtains, but the glass will remain cold outside. As a result, ice crust inside the roof is formed.

Attention!In winter, panoramic roofs and hatches are better not to open, because due to the intentions they can fail the curtains that are controlled by electronics.

In the case of tipping the machine as a result of an accident, the risk of breaking the glass (rigid roof is much more reliable).

Warming the car in the winter takes more time.

In winter, the glass collects condensate over your head.

Air conditioning in the heat works more intense than in cars with a rigid roof.

Attention! Mode "Open - Close" may not work in the offseason due to fallen leaves, dirt, sand and dust.

The poor condition of our roads, permanent shaking on ughab, hitting numerous pits negatively affects the durability of the panoramic roof or electronic mechanisms of panoramic hatches. Remember!Keep the hatch open on off-road is a bad idea: damage control mechanisms cannot be avoided.

Panoramic roof, unlike the hatch, does not open.

Remember! Seals regularly require lubrication.

Independent installation of panoramic roof (forbidden!)

Independent installation of panoramic roof is strictly prohibited! This is due to the fact that each design is designed for a certain load. You will not be able to calculate all the nuances yourself, and this is the risk for your own life.

Auto-engineers do not cease to amaze car owners new and offering all new solutions for a more comfortable ride. Perhaps everyone is familiar with such an element as a hatch in the car, but panoramic roofs differ from the usual "submersions", as they occupy the lion's share of the "ceiling" of the vehicle.

They look very stylish, and the driver and passengers can enjoy the species due to the increased review. If someone is tired of looking at the beauty of nature or a person just feels uncomfortable, then the transparent roof can be closed with a special curtain - a false-head. Such a curtain can be equipped with an electric or closed manually. But, as many believe, glass has glass, and it simply cannot be more comfortable or as safe as a metal roof. Is it so? To understand, consider the main fears of car owners.

Li a glass roof is not safe and worsens the strength of the whole body

Before explaining that this concern is completely safe, it is worthwhile to ask the question, and from which the windshield is made? If the machine falls into an accident, it will turn over several times or the brick will fly to the "lobovukhu", does the person not suffer? But, for some reason, it was the opinion that it was the hatch or a panoramic roof that could cause the car to twist into the harmonica, and rain crashes from fragments to the driver.

Such a statement may be found only if the glass element has been added to the construction of the car with a handicraft method (which, by the way, is prohibited by law, just because of security measures). For example, the owner of the Zhiguli armed with a grinder, cut off the hole in the roof and installed the first glass into it. In this case, he violated the strength of the entire body and commemorate itself to the risk that even with a slight damage "stylish" hatch hurts him.

What is the factory panoramic roof

In reality, such elements can be installed in the construction of cars only at the factory. At the same time, the calculations of the strength characteristics of the same machine with a panoramic roof or without it will differ significantly at the design stage. This means that the power frame of the car does not become more harvester if the glass element is added to it.

An equally important point is the material from which glass is made. Many will be survived, but it is not just not inferior in its strength "Lobovukh", but on the contrary, exceeds it (both in thickness, and according to the characteristics). This became possible due to the composition of the glass, which represents the "sandwich" of five layers:

In the very center of panoramic glass there is a polycarbonate film sheet, which gives a transparent roof with the necessary strength. If we speak in a simple language, the polycarbonate is a polymer with high impact resistance (1000 kJ / m2). Due to this, a similar film is able to increase the strength of organic glass 60 times, polystyrene 150 times, and silicate glass and 200 times. Polycarbonate can be deformed, but it is almost impossible to break it (even if they beat a sledgehammer for a long time). In this case, this polymer is easier than ordinary glass. Polycarbonate retains all its properties at temperatures from -80 to +220 degrees.
The layers of a liquid polymer protruding the glue are applied on top and bottom of the polycarbonate film.
On top of them are glass.

The whole design passes the process of presses and drying at extremely high temperatures. As a result, the product becomes uniform and very strong. Panoramic glass thickness is 7.5 mm. At the edges it is thickened to 9 mm.

Useful! A panoramic roof of hermetic, so it should not be afraid that water will begin through it in bad weather. This is possible only with the handicraft setting of the hatch.

Metal compared to such glass can be called a more fragile material. In addition, it is pretty tough. If the machine falls into an accident, then the metal and glass are deformed, but do not break.

Interesting! Many specialists argue that the presence of such glass only improves the rigidity of the car body. Even if the glass is completely breaking, it will not split into small pieces.

Therefore, you can safely forget about the idea that the glass is fragile and beats for any occasion. But, since this is a relatively new trend, then it is likely that the repair of such an element will fly into a penny?

If you damage the panoramic roof, then will the repair be more expensive

In this case, again recall that this element can be deformed, but not crash. Therefore, if the dent on the roof does not cut the eye, then there is no need to immediately run into the car service (the glass is not subject to corrosion, so you don't have to fear that rust will begin to spread around the defect).

The repair itself will certainly cost it somehow. But, you need to understand that if Ice's lump collapsed on the car, most likely, the whole body was damaged. Accordingly, regardless of the presence of glass or metal on the roof of the car, you will have to perform expensive procedures for restoring the power frame of the machine.

Useful! The most expensive is the mechanism responsible for the movement of the glass.

If we dealt with myths and reality, then it's time to say about the rest of the advantages of such modern species of hatches.

Advantages of panoramic roof

First of all, the presence of such an element makes a trip more interesting. Passengers can enjoy beautiful views, look at the flying plane or the starry sky. A person ceases to feel himself in the rail case and it is easier for him to relax.

In addition, panoramic roof:

Visually increases the space of the car's salon.
Gives the car more stylish look (most of these glasses are toned at the factory).
It serves as noise insulation. If it rains began on the road, then the knock of the droplets on a metal roof is very annoying. The glass surface is devoid of this minus. Car owner and passengers will not hear winds and other sounds. The five-layer material will resist this.
Allows you to ventilate cars. No need to turn on the air conditioner once again.

It would seem, all is well, but there is no smoke without fire. Therefore, it will be fair to say about the shortcomings of such elements.

Is it true arising with glass heating

This is true. Most often, the problems appear during the high heat, or, on the contrary, under conditions of negative temperatures. If you leave such a car in the parking lot in a hot summer day, then the salon will turn into hell in hell. Even with the condition of closed curtains, the multi-layerness of the element and the presence of a toning material in the composition, the glass is quite heated (as it has a high thermal conductivity) and it cools down for a long time. In winter, the situation changes in the opposite direction. Glass flashes and remains cold all the time.

Important! In winter, the glass in the roof is covered with a layer of ice. In the process of driving, it constantly cracks. Not everyone will be pleased to hear such sounds above the head.

Because of this, car owners have to use the air conditioning system in more powerful modes. This in turn leads to increased energy costs (and, accordingly, fuel) and time for heating. But, even this does not allow to solve the problem. The fact is that engineers thought out the strength and other characteristics of the glass. But they did not take care that other, more powerful air conditioning systems were installed in machines with panoramic hatches. Therefore, in such cars there are standard stoves and fans, which are calculated only on the metal with a thick layer of the insulation.

There are such glasses and another drawback - the cost. If you compare two identical cars in one configuration, with a difference only - in the presence of a panoramic roof, then their price will differ significantly. For the completed frame and high-strength "Footer" will have to pay extra.

Also, do not forget that the glass has a package property. If wipers are present on the "lobovukha", the panoramic roof is deprived of such elements. Accordingly, the picturesque painting of the sky above the head can be easily corrupted by the flying bird that yielded to the call of nature. In order not to watch all the way to spreading faeces, you will have to stop the car every time and wipe the glass surface.

In custody

Thus, panoramic roofs are really safe and can change the feeling from riding a car. However, this does not mean that this item can be installed in any machine. By independently installing such elements to do dangerous. Therefore, it is better to either buy a car with a transparent roof from the manufacturer, or familiarize yourself with the disadvantages of such hatches and continue to ride a car with a standard "ceiling".

The fact that such a panoramic roof is now knowing almost everyone - such an option is provided for almost all modern cars. But, like all new, transparent hatches and roofs not only attract customers with taste, but also give rise to many fears and myths, sometimes unfounded. So what does it cost, place under the sun?

The advantages of panoramic roof

As soon as modern engineers of the world car industry, luring in their networks as many customers as possible. A fashionable new auto-designer is a panoramic roof, which is a roof of a standard configuration car, only made of heavy-duty composite glass. By virtue of its mechanical properties, this kind of roof is not inferior in the fortress of its predecessor of the metal roof.

A panoramic roof creates a feeling of a huge space in the cabin and is particularly impressive of those people who are first sitting in the salon of such a car.
This option gives an additional review and improves the visibility of traffic lights at intersections.
Of course, due to the dark shade of the roof, the car acquires individuality.
Even with a strong rain in the cabin, there is no drilling rain sound, which happens on standard steel roofs.

On this merits of this design and end.

Actual autonews

Disadvantages of panoramic roof

According to user statements, there is in such a design and their minuses.

The very first disadvantage that was marked by car owners who have cars with a panoramic roof are the lack of the power resource of the heating and cooling systems of the car. It was noticed that due to the fact that the glass is a good thermal conductory, in the summer period from strong heating of the glass it is thermally largely transmitted to the car salon. Also in winter: the salon absorbs the cold that accumulates and is transmitted by the roof glass. But it is possible to reduce the influence data using an electrical curtain, which can be closed with one touch of a button. Such a step will allow not only to hide from direct sunlight, but also create a certain effect of the insulation.
This roof due to the design features is not quite comfortable for people with growth above average.
It should also be noted that in the winter period of time with a constant closed roof curtain on its glass, an ice layer can be formed due to the fact that the area of \u200b\u200bthe inner surface is not sufficient.
By virtue of the features of the device, the mechanism of the curtain, it is very gentle and requires a neat relationship.
Pretty expensive option.
Requires additional care.
Bad roads, hitting in pits and permanent shaking on irregularities negatively affect durability.
Do not use hatch in off-road (extraneous noises may appear or and the mechanism of hatch will arise);
Carefully monitor the cleanliness of the mechanism, in order to avoid hots or leaks;
All seals and the mechanism itself must be lubricated 3-4 times a month.

The choice of panoramic roof or the conservative metal, every car owner argues in its own way. For someone, fashion is important, but for someone reliability.

Myth first: it is unsafe

According to him, with an accident, the car body with a panoramic roof is not as durable as the traditional metal design. In addition, there is little pleasant and in the fragments of the glass that roll on the head.

Reality: This is true only for hatches and panoramic roofs mounted by handicraft. The roots of such a delusion go back to the first attempts of garage craftsmen to put hatches on ordinary Zhiguli, cutting down the hole with a simple pilot saw. Do not try to repeat it! Better buy a car with a panoramic roof in the Motor Show: The manufacturer is still at the design stage calculates the consequences of setting such a design, which allows you to maintain the power frame of the body unchanged. The roof installation itself occurs directly on the conveyor, in compliance with all technological requirements, and its construction is used in its design, which does not injure passengers during destruction.

The Myth of the second: in bad weather through the hatch to the salon can fall

Reality: Again, this is possible only with the handicraft installation of the hatch of dubious origin, which now almost no one does. Panoramic roofs installed at the factory are completely sealed, which is guaranteed by mandatory tests in the raincams at the design stage. In fact, by its tightness, the hatches and panoramic roofs installed directly on the conveyor are not inferior to the usual metal roofs and retain these properties over time.

Myth Three: Such a roof can break the thieves and penetrate it into the salon

Reality: All just the opposite! Due to safety considerations, glass used in panoramic roofs is strong enough - it is not easy to divide this. On the contrary, the usual metal roof can be damaged by a large and sharp knife, just as we open canned food. But this method for attackers is too complicated - they prefer to get into the car through the door.

Myth Fourth: If an icicle falls on the car or something else, the cost of repairing a damaged panoramic roof will be very high

Reality: In part, this is true, but only partly. First, the panoramic roof is strong enough: a small piece of snowmage will not cause damage to it, while the metal panel may interfere in such a situation. Secondly, in the fall of a large ice block, not only the roof suffers, but also the power frame of the body, and in this case the repair will be very expensive, regardless of whether the ceiling is transparent in your car or not. Well, thirdly, it is really possible to imagine such a situation in which the replacement of panoramic glass will require high expenses than similar repair of the ordinary roof. But this is only special cases, unhappy confluence of circumstances, which happens not always. All panoramic roofs manufactured by Webasto are subject to numerous tests in the climate chamber, acoustic and vibration tests, and also checked for strength. Comprehensive tests confirmed full compliance with the requirements of the automaker, absolute safety, reliability and durability of the panoramic roof.

Myth Fifth: In the car with a panoramic roof, the driver feels "like in aquarium" and is experiencing psychological discomfort

Reality: This statement does not match the truth completely. Indeed, the glass tinting is very popular in Russia and other ways to stay inside the car imperceptible to others. But the panoramic roof (in contrast to the removable top of the convertible) here you will not hurt. According to the current legislation, its tinting is not limited, which in many cases is done already at the factory. And if you yourself tired of the look of the sky, then you can tighten the ceiling with a special curtain - in this form, the car's salon will almost not differ from the interior of the machine with a metal riding.