TheSamba.com :: View topic - Thoughts on a Ragtop vs Sliding Panel Sunroof?

Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:52 pm

Bottom line: I would like a sunroof in my '70 bug. It needs to be done right because this car is my daily driver and I have no plans for letting it go. I've been debating on whether I should graft a ragtop or a sliding panel. Both seem to have their pros and cons. Some I've come up with:
Pro Ragtop:
-looks cool
-bigger opening
-good parts availability
Con Ragtop
-possibly won't fit with my original German rack
-fabric eventually wears out
-not as weather-tight?
-that's a really big hole in the roof
Pro Sliding Panel
-durable
-works with the roof rack
-weather-tight
Con Sliding Panel
-difficult to work on
-opening not that big
-not as fun
-narrow parts availability

If I went the ragtop route, I would use a real ragtop graft, not a fiberglass clip. Also, I have pop-outs so, buffeting shouldn't be a problem.

Opinions?

Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:06 pm

luvtheeluvbug wrote: Opinions?
A "Ragtop" on a "late-model" looks a little odd . . . . sorta like walking around the shopping mall wearing a rain boot on one foot and a flip-flop on the other foot.

Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:24 pm

I have never had a ragtop, but I did have the sliding sun roof. I found them to be great. Yes it took some doing to get it working, but once it was done, it was no problems.

Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:30 pm

Your con lists are both inaccurate- ragtops are just as weather tight unless you're in a hurricane. Parts are available and it only has to last another 50 years or so. Same goes for the rag if you take care of it. If you run a rag open with a rack- you'll scoop in fantastic things the road offers- bugs, leaves and bird parts all have poured into mine. If you run a rack on a ragtop car you can't hear yourself think.

Your pro list is just as flawed- You left out security. Also, the steel sunroof simply looks correct and doesn't scream, "hack." At least in a steel slider it's a little easier to have a conversation.

Neutral- racks for ragtops are easy to find. If yours isn't correct- trade it for one.

Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:02 pm

57BLITZ wrote: luvtheeluvbug wrote: Opinions?
A "Ragtop" on a "late-model" looks a little odd . . . . sorta like walking around the shopping mall wearing a rain boot on one foot and a flip-flop on the other foot.

I disagree

They do look goofy on supers . Or if you get some cheesy undersized aftermarket one. Mine came off a 59’

Rag top is a must have for me . They are great. Biggest drawback for me is it’s not bear safe.

Sun Nov 05, 2017 9:10 am

I had a '63 Ragtop. I loved it! 8) Too bad it was totaled by a Mercury Marquis. :x Still miss that car after 25+ years. :cry:

Sun Nov 05, 2017 1:23 pm

There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

Sun Nov 05, 2017 6:12 pm

Dwayne1m wrote: There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

I think those are totally different animals. I've never seen a sunroof/moonroof on an american car that was worth a damn, but I've had sliding panels in beetles, super beetles, rabbits and BMW 2002s that were great. I wouldn't have one without a sunroof and bought my super beetle recently because it had one.

Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:32 pm

Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

I think those are totally different animals. I've never seen a sunroof/moonroof on an american car that was worth a damn, but I've had sliding panels in beetles, super beetles, rabbits and BMW 2002s that were great. I wouldn't have one without a sunroof and bought my super beetle recently because it had one.

I agree you can't compare a convertible to a sun roof, but my point was to show that the bigger the hole in the roof, the more enjoyable it is.

Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:40 pm

Dwayne1m wrote: Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

I think those are totally different animals. I've never seen a sunroof/moonroof on an american car that was worth a damn, but I've had sliding panels in beetles, super beetles, rabbits and BMW 2002s that were great. I wouldn't have one without a sunroof and bought my super beetle recently because it had one.

I agree you can't compare a convertible to a sun roof, but my point was to show that the bigger the hole in the roof, the more enjoyable it is.

I was comparing american cars and german cars, but I don't agree with your bigger is better premise. I thought the comparison was a steel vs canvas sunroof, but no, a sunroof and convertible are very different. Converts are nice, but I think I would get more use out of a sliding panel sunroof. I remember driving from El Paso to San Diego one night with the sunroof open and tunes cranked, that wouldn't be so fun in a convert. The wind in those german sunroofs isn't bad. JMO

Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:46 pm

Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

I think those are totally different animals. I've never seen a sunroof/moonroof on an american car that was worth a damn, but I've had sliding panels in beetles, super beetles, rabbits and BMW 2002s that were great. I wouldn't have one without a sunroof and bought my super beetle recently because it had one.

I agree you can't compare a convertible to a sun roof, but my point was to show that the bigger the hole in the roof, the more enjoyable it is.

I was comparing american cars and german cars, but I don't agree with your bigger is better premise. I thought the comparison was a steel vs canvas sunroof, but no, a sunroof and convertible are very different. Converts are nice, but I think I would get more use out of a sliding panel sunroof. I remember driving from El Paso to San Diego one night with the sunroof open and tunes cranked, that wouldn't be so fun in a convert. The wind in those german sunroofs isn't bad. JMO

I have no problem with wind turbulence or noise in my 78 or 06 Bug verts. Driving on a warm night looking up at the stars and moon in a vert....can't beat that. :D

Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:49 pm

Dwayne1m wrote: Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: Skruffy2 wrote: Dwayne1m wrote: There is no comparison between a convertible and a sun roof. I find sliding panel sunroofs to be a waste. Had one in my 97 Cavalier and all it did was allow the sun to beat down on me. Minimal ventilation from it. There is a sun roof in my wife's Fusion. It never gets opened. I have never experienced a ragtop even though a have a 61 in my back yard waiting to be restored. You will enjoy the bigger hole in the roof much more then that useless little sliding door, and isn't that what it's really all about? If you doubt me, drive a convertible just once and you'll see what I mean. In this case, size does matter. 8) JMO.

I think those are totally different animals. I've never seen a sunroof/moonroof on an american car that was worth a damn, but I've had sliding panels in beetles, super beetles, rabbits and BMW 2002s that were great. I wouldn't have one without a sunroof and bought my super beetle recently because it had one.

I agree you can't compare a convertible to a sun roof, but my point was to show that the bigger the hole in the roof, the more enjoyable it is.

I was comparing american cars and german cars, but I don't agree with your bigger is better premise. I thought the comparison was a steel vs canvas sunroof, but no, a sunroof and convertible are very different. Converts are nice, but I think I would get more use out of a sliding panel sunroof. I remember driving from El Paso to San Diego one night with the sunroof open and tunes cranked, that wouldn't be so fun in a convert. The wind in those german sunroofs isn't bad. JMO

I have no problem with wind turbulence or noise in my 78 or 06 Bug verts. Driving on a warm night looking up at the stars and moon in a vert....can't beat that. :D

To each his own, I had a 75 convert and it was nice, but no comparison as to wind and being able to close on the go or just crack open. I guess that's why they make both.

Sun Nov 05, 2017 9:07 pm

This was my ragtop on a 70 Cal looker! It was great looking and was awesome to be able to open cruising down PCH! However, I had to remanufacture several parts to get it to close properly and keep out 90 percent of the water.

I would never install one into a daily driver or in a place that has several inches of rain.

Mon Nov 06, 2017 12:04 am

I have a sun roof in my '74 Sun Bug, and it works (although that took a lot to restore). I've only cracked it open a time or two, and it does little for me. Been there, done that, I guess.

My wife has a PT Cruiser with a sun roof. When you open it, the buffeting is terrible unless you play with the windows just right. What a waste. Although, you can just push the inner top back, revealing a tinted glass top. You can see the stars through the tint--sort of. But being the driver, I like to keep my eyes on the road.

Conversely, my '93 Honda del sol has a removable roof that you fit into the trunk. When driving, the two-seater has the rear window close to the back of the seats, so there is no wind turbulence to speak of. It's almost as though the top is still on. I keep it on.

The bad thing about true convertibles is that I like having a top above my head. My first car was a 1969 Karmann Ghia that I bought new off the lot. I didn't like the appearance of the Ghia convertible top, so I went with the sedan. A year later, I rolled my sedan, going 70 mph. If I had bought a vert, I'd have been beheaded.

Tim

Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:09 pm

I have no problem with wind turbulence in the front seat of either my 78 or 06 bug verts. However, sitting in the back seat is a totally different story. That is just plain awful sitting back there in either one. It's a bit better with the windows rolled up, but still not all that enjoyable. I have had only 1 person not enjoy riding in my verts and that was because she said "it messes up my hair". :roll: Even my 77 year old mother enjoys going for rides with the top down. My buddy enjoyed it so much that he went out and bought a Jeep so he could have a vehicle with a removable top. He's not into Bugs.