Solid Roof Retrofit?

[jwight]

Originally Posted by herbvdh

Max tint the roof I think it would be cheaper and less intrusive to the body of the vehicle than removing the top altogether and replacing it.

Fredvon4 (remember him?) looked into this early on - the tint places he checked with said the tint won't work on the Lexan top due to expansion with temperature changes.

[karen103a]

We have three cars, a Smart, a Saturn, and a Hyundai. This past month was hot here (high 80s, low 90s) and every time we got in any of the cars, we'd swear the other two were just as hot as the Smart if not hotter. We think the clear roof is psychosomatic (spelling?). It would be neat if someone did a temperature test on a hot day with a Smart and some other cars, and some thermometers.

[smart fortimo]

Originally Posted by karen103a

We have three cars, a Smart, a Saturn, and a Hyundai. This past month was hot here (high 80s, low 90s) and every time we got in any of the cars, we'd swear the other two were just as hot as the Smart if not hotter. We think the clear roof is psychosomatic (spelling?). It would be neat if someone did a temperature test on a hot day with a Smart and some other cars, and some thermometers.

Imperical Data? Sacrilege I say! Then, would we we have to blather on about....

FWIW, the sun feels REALLY warm with the cabrio top down, and REALLY warm with it up when it is sunny.

TG for Cal Pop Top

[jefferios]

Originally Posted by karen103a

It would be neat if someone did a temperature test on a hot day with a Smart and some other cars, and some thermometers.

I did this test last year:

Getting through the *Hot* summer.

[jmatero]

I think the issue isn't so much that the car sitting in the sun gets hot... The issue is... even with the shade closed... the sun heats up the interior (and your body) when you're IN the car.

[EdwardDennis]

I tried to get a hardtop on my '08 Passion when I ordered it in '07. In sum, I was told "no way" by Smart USA. So, I ordered the Passion and got the Pano roof. I've owned the car for almost 17 months.

My '10 Passion will have the lined hardtop roof, I assure you.

[BigWarpGuy]

I like my hard top on my Pure.

[VinceLA]

Quick update...

I posted an issue in the "crazing" or "frosting" or "glazing" roof thread. I discovered yesterday that the last two screws that hold the sunshade to the roof were loose. One screw was in fact missing. Tightening the screws didn't help because there is nothing to "catch" on the roof side. Think of the catch as a female threaded standoff that is part of the roof. Today, I brought the car to the dealership and what they did for the mean time is use a slightly larger and longer screw.

I reckon that the heat has caused the roof to expand and overtime, the female threaded standoff expanded as well and broke off from the roof. There are no holes on my roof yet.

I sent a letter to Dave Schrembi and also told my service advisor that should the roof needs to be replaced, I would like a solid roof. I am done with the whole panoramic roof feature. The SA wasn't against the idea and would ask for me as well.

But I want to thank jefferios for the work on measuring cabin temp with various setup.

I will post more update in a week or so...

[VinceLA]

Update:

1. Dealership says they need to replace the roof because the damaged female threaded standoffs are part of the roof. However, they can only replace with the exact same panorama roof due to warranty conditions/terms etc.

2. Coincidentally, smartUSA called me and Mr Schrembi read my letter. Currently talking to them.

[BigWarpGuy]

It would be neat to have a 'smart window' instead of a normal panoramic roof. One would just turn it off and it would keep light from coming in.