What's new
By:

Glass canopy or Aluminum roof

Macgreiner

Macgreiner

Member

Joined
Feb 4, 2026
Messages
88
Reaction score
121
Location
MD/FL
I'm coming from a glass roof Model 3. I must say in summer that I add a mesh for a little more protection from the sun. Interested in hearing the pros/cons for owners (having followed socks' thread as well on this)
 
Macgreiner said:
I'm coming from a glass roof Model 3. I must say in summer that I add a mesh for a little more protection from the sun. Interested in hearing the pros/cons for owners (having followed socks' thread as well on this)
Click to expand...
I have a '23 Touring with the glass canopy. I had tint applied to all glass & with the Lucid mesh inserts for the canopy, I find that the a/c does the job on all but the hottest days. One vote in favor of the glass canopy. When it comes time to trade in my current car for an upgrade, I'll go with the glass canopy again.
 
Macgreiner said:
I'm coming from a glass roof Model 3. I must say in summer that I add a mesh for a little more protection from the sun. Interested in hearing the pros/cons for owners (having followed socks' thread as well on this)
Click to expand...
I had an AirGt with a glass roof, it was hot despite being tinted, noisy and hard to clean. I now have a metal roof on Air touring, the car is cooler, quieter and easier to clean. I would never go back to a glass roof.
 
Metal roof here in Miami after two prior Model 3s. It is such a relief in the summer. If you’re in a hot environment I would say metal. You’re also getting sun rays on you whether you like it or not even if you don’t “feel” it.

Also the Air AC prior to 2026 model year is not the greatest. It was supposed to have been outfitted with the Gravity’s larger unit for 2026.
 
I had a lot of problems with my glass roof and wish I had gotten normal roof. The sun visor situation I didn't care for. Passengers like it.
 
Glass roof in NY. It looks great, but I'd go metal if I could choose today. Besides in warm weather, the metal roof is also better in the cold. The glass roof tends to keep the top of your head a little cold.
 
I live in Phoenix and have had an Air GT with glass roof since early 2022. I love the glass roof and with the mesh sunshades that Lucid sells, the heat is not a problem. The glass really opens up the car and provides great visibility. I would go for glass again if I was replacing my Air.
 
Adnillien said:
I live in Phoenix and have had an Air GT with glass roof since early 2022. I love the glass roof and with the mesh sunshades that Lucid sells, the heat is not a problem. The glass really opens up the car and provides great visibility. I would go for glass again if I was replacing my Air.
Click to expand...
I'm also in Arizona and love the glass roof... I have the mesh which helps with keeping things cool, but the AC in the car is very good, and even in our hot weather the car is comfortable year round. Of course you can turn AC on with the app a couple of minutes before you get in which is helpful.
 
Glass roof with ceramic tint works for me. The ceramic tint helps with summer heat.
 
My other cars are a Camaro convertible, a Toyota MR2 with T-Tops, and a Model Y with glass roof. I think you can see where I'm headed with this.

Tinted the side windows on the Model Y and the LAGT. That will help keep things cooler. If I find that the sun is unbearable I'll get the shades, but I seriously doubt it will come to that for me.
 
Have there been any issues with cracking roof glass after applying tint? This is a thing in the Teslaverse.
 
Macgreiner said:
Have there been any issues with cracking roof glass after applying tint? This is a thing in the Teslaverse.
Click to expand...
Are you sure? I've been an active member on teslaownersonline for about 3 years now. Not that many threads on windshield cracks. Only two currently active threads on it so far in 2026. I would recommend for any vehicle with a panoroof getting a low deductible for comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy and make certain it includes glass. Some of the "budget" insurance companies make you actually add glass to the policy.
 
My take is that the glass roof is great for passengers, as it opens things up and allows them to see more. But I find as a driver that I'm just looking ahead, and the glass roof doesn't benefit me so much. There's a little bit of improved view for the driver forward and up, which I don't frequently find useful.
 
TahoeMichael said:
My take is that the glass roof is great for passengers, as it opens things up and allows them to see more. But I find as a driver that I'm just looking ahead, and the glass roof doesn't benefit me so much. There's a little bit of improved view for the driver forward and up, which I don't frequently find useful.
Click to expand...
Good point. In the Gravity, I feel the position of the sun visor makes you forget you have a glass roof unless you are in the 2nd or 3rd rows.
I kinda remember them mentioning that they wanted to use a Model X type, but Tesla has the patent for the format.
 
I love my glass roof, the wow factor is worth it for me. The extra visibility also makes it easier to see a few traffic lights around here that are normally obscured from view when in pole position. Wish there was a way to move the sun visors to the side. When not in use I point them directly at my eyeline to minimize their perceived size.
 
There is another reason why a glass canopy is a complete non-starter for me...

I've never understood the appeal of a huge glass roof on a car. I've spent most of my life living in Texas (sadly), and most of my dislike for them is based on heat and sunlight, but after last night's storms, I realized the other reason they are a terrible, terrible idea, especially in certain areas of the country/world.

Hail. We get hail here.

Not my photo, not my car. It's from /r/Dallas sub. And it's not a glass canopy roof, but I think it sufficiently illustrates my point.
 

Attachments

  • s0whtjysujxg1.webp
    s0whtjysujxg1.webp
    2.1 MB · Views: 90
doubletwist said:
There is another reason why a glass canopy is a complete non-starter for me...
...
Hail. We get hail here.

Not my photo, not my car. It's from /r/Dallas sub. And it's not a glass canopy roof, but I think it sufficiently illustrates my point.
Click to expand...
Back when I lived in Tejas, a big old hailstorm caught me borrowing my brother's Toyota which I didn't want to damage AT ALL.

I drove all the hell way up on somebody's lawn to get under a tree, then spread newspapers, spare blanket, floor mats all on the roof and hood.

Snuck off after it let up with only some odd tracks in their lawn. :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top