Sun Roofs?

[Stephen Edwin]

OED says.

Roof. noun ( plural roofs ). 1The structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle:

But dictionaries just record language theydon't dictate spelling.

[Paul240480]

My old GLT Saloon (MRV 860 Y) had a manual sliding metal sunroof. It was 'gaffer-taped' when I bought the car due to leaks. Sure that was a gen Volvo fit.

My first Volvo was a Torslanda (H 733 ENH), it had a tilt only (manual) smoked glass sunroof. I thought it was a 'Torslanda thing' but later learnt than some Tors models did and some didn't. No idea now if it was a factory or aftermarket fit.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

OED says.

Roof. noun ( plural roofs ).

You are quite correct Stephen, but it also says (at least, my copy does) 'or disp. rooves'.

When I replied to 'JackSpaniel's' original question I had no idea that my spelling would open another discussion - but it does illustrate the depth and breadth of our forum!

It seems to me that, while 'rooves' is equally correct, it is considered by the OED to be 'disp' (meaning not in current useage) and that, by implication, 'roofs' is the preferred 'modern' spelling!

As a relic of an earlier age myself, I'm not only sticking with 'rooves' but also hoping to have mine open today.

[Stephen Edwin]

Thank you. I was too lazy to get the paper full OED off the shelf, and I did not transfer my PC version to this PC. I relied on OED via Google.

I never really learnt the abbreviations et cetera. Does disp. (a latinism?) mean that rooves is an earlier usage? Do the OED example quotes indicate rooves as an earlier usage?

I rather like early usage spells.

Anyway, all of it is curiously interesting but none of it is definitive.



Edit: Oops. You have already explained disp.

.

[heckflosse]

Originally Posted by wooble

If a saloon has a sunroof it is probably factory, quite a lot of saloons were equipped with a metal hand-cranked tilt and slide roof from the factory. There was an accessory kit to convert it to electric operation (basically a blanking plate + motor that fit over the winder and a dash switch, this might even have become standard-fit later on? I've never owned a saloon, so I'm open to corrections.

A factory fit sunroof on estates is incredibly rare. I would have said nonexistent, but last time I made that claim somebody popped up and said they'd seen one. either way, 99.999% of sunroofs on estates are aftermarket, and worth avoiding.

The only factory roofs were metal tilt + slide, anything with a glass pop-up style one is a retrofit. Some were offered by dealers even, but they're generally still awful. I've stripped two cars out which were so equipped, and in both cases I found that the installer of the sunroof, finding the transverse reinforcing bar (which runs between the b-pillars and provides strength in case of side impact or rollover) was in the way, had neatly solved the problem by cutting it out and throwing it away. I don't want to thing what that must have done for the impact resistance of the car.

The official Volvo accessory roof instructions for a 240 told you to carefully chisel that strengthener beam undone, then refit about 6" back with self tappers.
I kid you not, I did this in the late 80s in a main dealers after going on the fitting course at Daventry.

Appalling.
And that was when Volvo was a high quality car( now it is merely a high price car?)

No sunroof is always best, they are the invention of the devil and devalue any classic.

[Stephen Edwin]

Three years later and....

Whilst replacing fuses 4 and 6 with inline blade fuses recently I found that the metal tilt slide sunroof power was from fuse 6 (Fuel Relay EEK) and with a 30 amp inline fuse "protecting" a modest capacity wire. Any fault in the sunroof electrics might have stopped the car. Consequently I conclude it is not factory fitted. I have changed the power source, and it is fused at 8 amps now.

It does inevitably use some of the area between the B pillars.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Paul240480

...No idea now if it was a factory or aftermarket fit.

A glass sunhatch/moonroof was offered in the Volvo accessory catalogue and some dealers may have fitted them to give the car more showroom appeal. I have a new old stock one still in it's box with instructions in my spares cache.

Jon.

[Clifford Pope]

I think there ought to be a distinction in name between a solid opening or sliding panel, which gives optional ventilation with sun, and a tilting glass panel which gives optional ventilation but permanent sun whether you want it or not.

Mine's got the latter, but I wouldn't have it from choice. On a very sunny day it would be nice not to have the sun beating down even when parked.

One use however is one can keep an eye on the security of anything tied on the roof rack.

[john.wigley]

My goodness, doesn't time fly?!

In addition to our V70, we also have a 1996 Saab 9000 equipped with an electrically-operated, factory-fitted, glass, tilt or slide sun-roof, that incorporates a blind which pulls forward beneath the sun-roof.

This feature not only enables one to enjoy the sun when the roof is closed, but can be slid forward in the circumstances described by 'Clifford Pope' in the penultimate paragraph of his last post, thus preventing the discomfort to which he refers.

Apart from a failed switch, now replaced, our roof has always been leak and trouble free and is, in our view, an attractive feature of the car.

Regards, John.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

A glass sunhatch/moonroof was offered in the Volvo accessory catalogue and some dealers may have fitted them to give the car more showroom appeal. I have a new old stock one still in it's box with instructions in my spares cache.

Jon.

Should have mentioned this is a genuine Volvo one. An aside, I do not like the factory fitted roof in the 700s/900s as it compromises headroom and the height of the door aperture - don't know whether it's the case with 200s - my 245 is sunroofless !

Jon.