[Runion]

I have had my VOLT almost a complete year now and I enjoy driving this electric as much as I enjoy Driving my 98 Cadillac ETC.

I was reading some comments about the SUNROOF on the BOLT forums and it turns out GM decided to neglect the buyers choice of a SUNROOF or NOT with the BOLT as well.

Some of the comments, I thought, were crazy as to why the SUNROOF should NOT be installed in a BOLT. Reasons like weight, head clearance, structural integrity compromise...... I don't know. I have owned several cars that had a SUNROOF and I didn't notice any of the problems stated by the comments.

I am wondering if the VOLT forum users have also become complacent about the lack of a SUNROOF in the VOLT package.

I remember the VOLT showcase model with the glass roof, (the BOLT had this as well but production was a metal material), which was very sharp looking but I wonder how the suns heat would affect the car interior? I had some sun roof panel for an RV tinted with a reflective film which eliminated the heat transference so I am not sure this would be a big issue anymore.

I have considered adding a SUNROOF to my VOLT but it would not come easily as the roof has a couple of folds, or valleys, one on the left side, the other on the right, with a low point between them, that would be a sealing and mounting problem. As structure integrity is mostly part of the side frames, that would not become an issue.

For height limitations, my former SX-4 had a SUNROOF with no passenger compartment intrusion and the SUNROOF weight was hardly more then the metal cut out to be a concern.

One thought as to why a SUNROOF was not added to the VOLT was because of the VOLTS limited electric mileage and AERODYNAMICS. I think this thought is pulling straws but with the BOLT and its generous electric mileage, this really should not be a concern.

Just wondering if anyone has actually thought about having a SUNROOF put in their VOLT. It is still on my mind and if I can get around the roof valley, I may be forced to put one in as I miss the added ventilation. It's cheaper to have outside air ventilate the car than to run the AC.
chev bolt forum
Any thoughts????


Chevrolet Volt goes into production
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xz3iPmmbGo

Chevrolet Volt - Hamtramck Assembly Plant - Detroit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWPxVvUHsuY

 

[firehawk72]

Many on here have been begging GM to offer such items as a sunroof, homelink, and power seats with lumbar and memory. We just want the choice and are willing to pay for them; however, GM has its supporters of neglecting these items too. They will site (although I believe in poor taste) that these items simply add too much weight, blah, blah...

As a consumer, I enjoy having choices. GM is on the cusp of losing many potential customers to other players that GM should have already had. Having said that, I recently purchased a screaming deal on a 2016 Chevy Volt, so yes, I love it, but would enjoy some more amenities being offered, especially SAFETY as standard equipment.

 

[JRRF]

A sunroof, while nice does add weight -- and in the exact wrong place for good vehicle dynamics. A cheap aftermarket one might not weigh much, but a factory piece of glass weighs a lot more than a piece of metal that can be very thin since it's not structural. Aerodynamics is also an issue. As you noticed, they can sculpt the sheet metal, but not a glass panel. The Volt concept was for maximum electric range. A sunroof option could cause them to caveat that everywhere. No doubt that a caddy version of the Volt may offer more amenities, and maybe the range reduction won't matter given the different target market, and maybe as the battery technology progresses the issue will become moot. But for now it seems like the right decision. Now as for Homelink -- that's another story...

 

[llninja]

I had a sunroof in my Toyota Supra and my BMW 535i. I used them all the time unless the wife is in the car, she demands AC and won't even let me roll the windows down as it messes up her hair. Finally at about the 20 year mark the sunroof motors stop working. In my humble opinion they add thickness to the roof (both of mine slid into the rear passenger headliner, so there's at least an inch and a half to two inches of headroom lost to the sunroofs. So I don't miss the sunroof at all. If the volt had a sunroof, I wouldn't be able to comfortably fit my 6'3" body into the volt without leaning way, way back.

So if you really want a Voltec with a sunroof, I think the Cadillac CT6 is for you.

 

[Bacardi]

Half of all EVs/PHEVs are sold in sunny California...Many champion that EVs are "fun to drive" and many attribute a sunroof to "fun"...

If I could take a vegas bet, here's what I'd bet happened...GM made the mistake of listening to current owners vs folks who passed on the Volt for another green vehicle...Simply ask the Prius and Leaf owner why they passed on the Volt and you'll get your answer...Yet GM did indeed say they listened to current owners and their chief complaint was to "not enough range, add more!" so that means make it as light as possible and not adding fun but heavy items...

Outside of a MSRP haircut to $29,995 or a badge change to Caddy, a bump to 60 AER, powerseats/sunroof/homelink/hud, etc wouldn't have any real effect on sales...Yet as the Prime is proving, a MPG increase would...If GM could simply get to 53mpg, perhaps by utilizing the Malibu hybrid's setup it would be amazing piece of marketing the matching of AER and MPG...

 

[BAZINGA]

I can take em or leave em. I had the "removable glass top" on my Stingray along with the solid panel. Looking back I opted the use the solid panel most of the time. I had the large panorama roof on my 2009 SRX which I liked but it had a power sun screen making it easy to have the best of all worlds. But alas the roof jammed and I'm only glad I was under warranty as they had to remove the entire headliner, replace the entire track/motor assembly and put it back together. The reason I mention the roof liner is when I hit my car back it wasn't seated as nice and tight light from the factory and after two other visits for adjustments and then finger prints they finally ordered a new one. Afterwards the Service Manager making sure I was happy said they hoped so as this billed out to over $3200 if I had to pay.

I really don't miss it on our 2017 Volt but have the dual pane Sky Roof on our new 2017 GMC Acadia and so far both are behind the sun screens. Opened them once.

 

[Bacardi]

I can take em or leave em. I had the "removable glass top" on my Stingray along with the solid panel. Looking back I opted the use the solid panel most of the time. I had the large panorama roof on my 2009 SRX which I liked but it had a power sun screen making it easy to have the best of all worlds. But alas the roof jammed and I'm only glad I was under warranty as they had to remove the entire headliner, replace the entire track/motor assembly and put it back together. The reason I mention the roof liner is when I hit my car back it wasn't seated as nice and tight light from the factory and after two other visits for adjustments and then finger prints they finally ordered a new one. Afterwards the Service Manager making sure I was happy said they hoped so as this billed out to over $3200 if I had to pay.

I really don't miss it on our 2017 Volt but have the dual pane Sky Roof on our new 2017 GMC Acadia and so far both are behind the sun screens. Opened them once.

Personally I wouldn't use a sunroof unless I was going on a nice drive (that is not my gridlocked commute)...There are some who don't care to have it to actually open it, just enjoy the extra light provided...Sunroofs have been out for many decades, sucks that they can still break like anything but I can't see that as a reason not to offer it as an option...

 

[srmarti]

I suppose there's no harm in offering the option. While I can see some want a sunroof, in my experience, I have little use for it in my vehicle that does have one. Perhaps GM has estimated the cost versus sales and decided it simply wasn't worth it.

 

[madmike]

The Tesla forums seem to discuss this quite a bit and I think the conclusion is that a glass roof can safe some weight.

 

[Mr X]

Neither.


Solid roof with black headliner. I want black headliner. So stupid how they simply cannot just make the headliner and pillars black. Always has to be some dumb light color

 

[Runion]

Personally I wouldn't use a sunroof unless I was going on a nice drive (that is not my gridlocked commute)...There are some who don't care to have it to actually open it, just enjoy the extra light provided...Sunroofs have been out for many decades, sucks that they can still break like anything but I can't see that as a reason not to offer it as an option...

The SUNROOF could be an option, it isn't for everyone but there are those who are fans of the option.

My other car has the huge SUNROOF and in the summer, esp at night that roof is all the way open while driving. The car was designed well enough that even highway driving does not create a hurricane condition in the car, just gentle air flow. Very nice, and I miss that in the VOLT.

SUNROOFS, as does everything else, come in different flavors. There are the ones that take up ceiling space by hiding the glass under the roof but above the liner, then there is the one that puts the glass above the metal roof line, not my favorite. Then there is the manual one that can either be opened on the back side 2 or 3 inches or you can remove the glass. There are a couple of others but you get the idea.

I don't usually use the SUNROOF during a hot sunny day but when you get into a HOT car and open that SUNROOF, the heat just vacates,
just like that (SNAP).

It's just too bad my gasser has the great SUNROOF and the VOLT doesn't even have a consideration for one. And of course with the great mileage that the BOLT has stored in the battery, why the BOLT does not have a SUNROOF is really odd as it has ample est miles on the G-O-M to negate any reason to deny the luxury of a SUNROOF. Actually I think it would be great to have a convertible but that's a whole other stream....................

Well just wondering if anyone dared try to put one in and it is obvious not. With the odd shaped roof line, this is very understandable.
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll just enjoy my gasser that much more with the SUNROOF.

 

[jcanoe]

I don't usually use the SUNROOF during a hot sunny day but when you get into a HOT car and open that SUNROOF, the heat just vacates, just like that (SNAP).

I don't dispute the appeal of driving with a sunroof open but the remote start and preconditioning that the Volt offers just blows away opening the sunroof, doors and/or windows to cool off a hot car's interior. With a sunroof, you have to get into the hot car, start it, and open the sunroof also open the doors or windows. On the hottest of days, in less than the 10 minutes of one remote start cycle, you can cool the Volt's interior to a very comfortable temperature before you get in.

 

[Bacardi]

The SUNROOF could be an option, it isn't for everyone but there are those who are fans of the option.

My other car has the huge SUNROOF and in the summer, esp at night that roof is all the way open while driving. The car was designed well enough that even highway driving does not create a hurricane condition in the car, just gentle air flow. Very nice, and I miss that in the VOLT.

SUNROOFS, as does everything else, come in different flavors. There are the ones that take up ceiling space by hiding the glass under the roof but above the liner, then there is the one that puts the glass above the metal roof line, not my favorite. Then there is the manual one that can either be opened on the back side 2 or 3 inches or you can remove the glass. There are a couple of others but you get the idea.

I don't usually use the SUNROOF during a hot sunny day but when you get into a HOT car and open that SUNROOF, the heat just vacates,
just like that (SNAP).

It's just too bad my gasser has the great SUNROOF and the VOLT doesn't even have a consideration for one. And of course with the great mileage that the BOLT has stored in the battery, why the BOLT does not have a SUNROOF is really odd as it has ample est miles on the G-O-M to negate any reason to deny the luxury of a SUNROOF. Actually I think it would be great to have a convertible but that's a whole other stream....................

Well just wondering if anyone dared try to put one in and it is obvious not. With the odd shaped roof line, this is very understandable.
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll just enjoy my gasser that much more with the SUNROOF.

Good point which just points out words are very subjective...Ask 100 people how they would define a "sunroof" and you surely wouldn't get 100 of the same answers...

The most likely scenario would be it would get the Cruze's "flavor" of the sunroof...When you configure a Cruze on Chevy.com it's called "Power sliding sunroof"...The Cruze and Camaro both have a sculpted roof but when you order the sunroof option you get a regular roof...

With the Bolt not having one, the funny thing is during the Bolt EV's range reveal celebration they had a media event on the California coast...The Bolt was first rolled out to sunny California where half of all EVs are sold...This is exactly the type of drive you want a sunroof for...

I don't dispute the appeal of driving with a sunroof open but the remote start and preconditioning that the Volt offers just blows away opening the sunroof, doors and/or windows to cool off a hot car's interior. With a sunroof, you have to get into the hot car, start it, and open the sunroof also open the doors or windows. On the hottest of days, in less than the 10 minutes of one remote start cycle, you can cool the Volt's interior to a very comfortable temperature before you get in.

You're right, but ICE vehicles now a days have remote starts and automatic temperature controls...So even if the vehicle doesn't have a way to tinker with the temps on the app, you ideally leave the automatic temperature control on whichever temp you like the most, say 70f and then you're covered no matter what the temp is, year round...

 

[jcanoe]

Good point which just points out words are very subjective...Ask 100 people how they would define a "sunroof" and you surely wouldn't get 100 of the same answers...

The most likely scenario would be it would get the Cruze's "flavor" of the sunroof...When you configure a Cruze on Chevy.com it's called "Power sliding sunroof"...The Cruze and Camaro both have a sculpted roof but when you order the sunroof option you get a regular roof...

With the Bolt not having one, the funny thing is during the Bolt EV's range reveal celebration they had a media event on the California coast...The Bolt was first rolled out to sunny California where half of all EVs are sold...This is exactly the type of drive you want a sunroof for...



You're right, but ICE vehicles now a days have remote starts and automatic temperature controls...So even if the vehicle doesn't have a way to tinker with the temps on the app, you ideally leave the automatic temperature control on whichever temp you like the most, say 70f and then you're covered no matter what the temp is, year round...

Currently the remote start and preconditioning feature of the Volt does not enable the user to change the temperature of the Volt's climate control system. You need to remember to set/leave the temperature setting to a comfortable temperature and the Volt will heat or cool the car's interior as needed.

When you remote start and ICE engine you are wasting gas, adding to air pollution. In some jurisdictions you can get a ticket for idling an unattended vehicle. You could fight the ticket, maybe you would be exonerated.

 

[JRRF]

...With a sunroof, you have to get into the hot car, start it, and open the sunroof also open the doors or windows...

There are plenty of cars that allow you to automatically open the windows and sunroof via the remote.

 

[jcanoe]

There are plenty of cars that allow you to automatically open the windows and sunroof via the remote.

To really cool off a hot car you would want to be able to start the AC.

 

[Runion]

To really cool off a hot car you would want to be able to start the AC.

I'm not trying to perpetuate this but it just seems to me that if you aren't plugged in, you are using battery power to run that AC. Now you are cooling the interior, not moving and losing miles. With the SUNROOF, open it and I kid you not, the heat is gone "POOF", Just like that!! No miles lost, no battery drain.
Personally unless it was a tooling cost, I don't see the reason to NOT offer a SUNROOF.

 

[JRRF]

I'm not trying to perpetuate this but it just seems to me that if you aren't plugged in, you are using battery power to run that AC. Now you are cooling the interior, not moving and losing miles. With the SUNROOF, open it and I kid you not, the heat is gone "POOF", Just like that!! No miles lost, no battery drain.
Personally unless it was a tooling cost, I don't see the reason to NOT offer a SUNROOF.

What you really need is cooled seats ;-)

 

[jcanoe]

I'm not trying to perpetuate this but it just seems to me that if you aren't plugged in, you are using battery power to run that AC. Now you are cooling the interior, not moving and losing miles. With the SUNROOF, open it and I kid you not, the heat is gone "POOF", Just like that!! No miles lost, no battery drain.
Personally unless it was a tooling cost, I don't see the reason to NOT offer a SUNROOF.

Sure, you use some battery power to run the Volt 0.5kw + perhaps 2 to 3kw for the climate control AC to cool the car but it is not a big hit. A Volt with a fully charged battery can run the AC for 8 to 9 hours, 10 minutes for preconditioning will have a negligible impact on range. Maybe the reason I am such a big fan of AC is I once owned a VW Rabbit that did not have AC.

There is a story that has been circulated that way back in the 1950s or early 1960s, when Mercedes was trying to penetrate the US luxury car market, they kept getting reports from the US dealers that they needed the vehicles to have AC. This fell on deaf ears until finally Mercedes sent a team of their engineers on a cross country tour of the USA in a large Mercedes sedan in the summer. When the team returned and wrote up their report the very first recommendation they made was for AC.

 

[Bacardi]

Currently the remote start and preconditioning feature of the Volt does not enable the user to change the temperature of the Volt's climate control system. You need to remember to set/leave the temperature setting to a comfortable temperature and the Volt will heat or cool the car's interior as needed.

When you remote start and ICE engine you are wasting gas, adding to air pollution. In some jurisdictions you can get a ticket for idling an unattended vehicle. You could fight the ticket, maybe you would be exonerated.

Got it, I had a Volt, tried the remote start multiple times and it didn't seem to work but I never followed up...

What you really need is cooled seats ;-)

For whatever reason automakers are treating cooled seats as a luxury feature and only offering them on premium models and/or top trims (there are some exceptions like Kia/Hyundai)...12v fans are extremely cheap and light...If you tie them into the HVAC, have them turn on with the AC and you'll probably turn down your AC temps and therefore reduce your carbon footprint and even get more range in PHEV/EVs...