Why doesn't the 370Z have roof options?
 

So, when it comes to cars, I'm not much of an engineer...

... but why is it the 370Z doesn't have some sort of sun roof / moon roof / glass option? Is there just .. too much chassis twist or not enough support or something? I'm kinda jealous of my CEO's glass roof on his GT500, and I know I'll miss the sunroof on my RX8... :shakes head:

couple guys have gone aftermarket and done their own, but I don't know. May be a rigidity issue?

That must be quite a modification. Do you know if any of them have reported any problems with the car once completing that mod?

I've seen a custom drop top. Don't remember where exactly but looks pretty sweet IMO.

The roof doesn't have anything in it, its hollow... The reason you have the little dip in the middle of the roof is so that the sheet metal doesn't flap around... And 50/50 they put that there so you can't install a sunroof... I know Camaro's come with a weird roof so that you can't install an aftermarket one

370ZilverZ has one, and its REALLY sweet, I've been in his car and it looks like and feels right at home... It made me sad that I couldn't afford it

I believe the roof is made from Aluminium. Maybe a sunroof would have been counter to what the engineers were trying to do w/ making lightweight components on top to drop the center of gravity.

I know of least one forum member who did this mod but sold his car. Sorry but do not remember who. It's at the tip of my finger.........

That would look even better with gloss black roof painted...^

one thing I wish they would do with the Z is drop the vert option and go back to T-tops

*cough* Convertible *cough*. That's one option. :tiphat:

There is cost and engineering involved obviously, and one of the big this is there needs to be space for it all. Given the shape of the roof and how it blends to the glass hatch, I think something with motors would be rather limited in size for useful ness.

I'm a child of the 80's and have a soft spot for the T tops of yonder years (though didn't love the leaky seals in some), but I don't see that coming back unfortunately :)

- b

My T tops from Nissan never leaked in 14 years on my old Z. I'd like this option more than my Touring package.

Id personally love to have a targa top z.

Yes we need glass top option like vette. I don't care if I can take it off, I just think the black roof looks so good on the z.

+1

Couple pictures of the T-top 370z
[IMG]http://s10.postimage.org/s8p8409hh/IMAG0216.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://s18.postimage.org/6j5w82dxx/IMAG0215.jpg[/IMG]

One off that I have only seen like 4 pictures of... And I don't know anyone who has seen it in person, or if it still exists or what is going on with the car... I wonder how much those guys WOULD charge to do this to another 370...



Edit: Now that I think of it, I lied, I THINK he was a forum member TopGone

More info:
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-p...rga-top-5.html

COSTS $9800

Doesn't look very safe. Looks like the windshield and a-pillars would just fold under an above average impact with no reinforcements.

I wouldn't think so, and evidently the chassis is was sturdy enough without it (they said they used one jack and the doors opened and closed no problem)

People put a lot more faith in our rooves (I think that's the first time I've ever typed that :rofl2:) than I think they deserve... The roof is made out of a very thin steel, and the A pillars and door frame are steel but they it's not like they're are I-beams, lol

If it were cheaper, I'd probably chop JUST the roof out and leave the door frames in place... But I bet the roof that's chopped out will have to be reinforced because it's pretty flimsy...
I'd actually consider the full targa top if it could be done for a reasonable price, not $10k

T-roof all the way..!!:shakes head:

A Smokie & the Bandit car!

t-roof would be nice on the 370z :D

I love the sun roof on my G37, I have often wondered why you couldn't have some sort of option for the Z other than a vert. T-Tops or Targa for the win!

+1 to this:tup:

I want to do this! A targa top Nismo!! But it costs $9800 Really?

I've never had a car with a sunroof, to me this is a non-issue

I have had many cars with a sunroof, and my DD has one (Altima). For me, the Z is just fine without it. However, that targa does look sweet.

I like the idea of the sunroof and even the T top option, love the fact that I can have mine of and my passenger doesn't have to. Miss it in my 96 300ZX and when I use to roll my moms 83 280ZX Turbo, if either were an option on the 370 I would have gotten it. :)

Correct....this car was TopGone's 370Z. Good guy based out of either North or South Carolina. I cannot recall honestly. A local shop down the road from us built the Targe Top. The car still exists I am sure, but I never heard a final verdict on the weatherproof-ness of it.

No room on the roof for a panel to slide back. Look at the roof of a G37 with a moonroof and try and figure out where that would go with the dimensions of a 370Z roof. Regarding a Targa Top or T Top panels they are a pain in the a** to store in the car. You think there isn't much room in the hatch now ? Try and fit a glass panel or two in their storage bags and tie down straps back there. I had an RX7 with removable steel roof panel and another smoked glass panel and it was nice to pop it off once in a while but a motorized, retractable top if the only way to go.

Gotta have a t for it to be a t-top :icon17:

I personally don't like having sunroofs in a sportscar. Decreases rigidity more than you'd think. I had an aftermarket one installed in my 240sx by PO and one day while driving it dropped out and smacked me on the head. Welded a plate in there afterwards. If you want a sunroof get a miata.

PS. Miatas are awesome and I want one.

I had a stock moonroof in my '94 FD. It made driving that car, that much more fun. I drive around with my Z windows open cuz i don't have moonroof and it sucks. The FD Rx7 is proof that the perfect sports car can be even more perfect with a sunroof.

Generally speaking, a car that comes out as a convertible typically does not have a sunroof/moonroof whatever (isn't the moonroof the one that technically opens while sunroofs are just glass windows?). That and you have to consider the obviously performance oriented nature of the coupe, which has been lightened quite a bit, even though you have to consider it's still 3300 pounds wet. Less weight on top = better, lower center of gravity. Plus, seeing that guy who installed the glass roof has to have the glass come out in a spoiler-style arrangement; most moonroofs I've seen push back into the roof, not come out of it.

I doubt it would actually be a rigidity problem because most of the roll tends to happen across the towers and the chassis. Perhaps it may actually be because the ability of the car to do 0.95 G's on a skidpad would create enough torque and moment to either pop out a roof mounted glass panel or shatter it altogether. (EDIT: I guess that actually would be a rigidity issue... lol)

That said, I hate convertibles and cannot stand them. Retractable hard tops look fine, I guess, but I would never use them. Always loved a hardtop.

Had targa, had T-Tops, everything squeeks and leaks when it gets old. I'm just fine without and would opt to go without it even if it was available. On a side note, my wife had to get a sun roof on her car. But... she's never used it. LOL
She doesn't even open the sliding cover to let the sun shine in.

Having rolled 2 cars, converitibles without a roll bar scare the hell out of me.