After market sunroofs + Seattle oriented questions

[Kathy Kost]

I have been looking at the new 2004 Foresters and the only reason I'm asking
this
question is because, annoyingly, you can't get a 5 speed XT with a sunroof
in it (who
was the mastermind behind that great decision?! grrr...). The dealer I went
to see said,
no problem, we can put an after market sunroof in there for me, although it
obviously
won't be as big as the honkin' factory one. I was always told over the
years to avoid
after market sunroofs. Curious what the opinions are about this and if
anyone has done
such a thing to their Forester? I may end up getting an XS with premium
package in a
5 speed but I sure do like that turbo.

Other question is what dealer in the Seattle area has the best rep? Saw a
post saying Carter
was okay; wondering about Eastside in Kirkland and Chaplins in Bellevue.
Eastside told
me about the after market sunroof and I think they said "Auto Trim" does
them but I'm not
sure where they are located in the area.

Thanks for the opinions --

Kathy

 

[Jim Stewart]

I have been looking at the new 2004 Foresters and the only reason I'm asking
this
question is because, annoyingly, you can't get a 5 speed XT with a sunroof
in it (who
was the mastermind behind that great decision?! grrr...). The dealer I went
to see said,
no problem, we can put an after market sunroof in there for me, although it
obviously
won't be as big as the honkin' factory one. I was always told over the
years to avoid
after market sunroofs. Curious what the opinions are about this and if
anyone has done
such a thing to their Forester? I may end up getting an XS with premium
package in a
5 speed but I sure do like that turbo.

Other question is what dealer in the Seattle area has the best rep? Saw a
post saying Carter
was okay; wondering about Eastside in Kirkland and Chaplins in Bellevue.
Eastside told
me about the after market sunroof and I think they said "Auto Trim" does
them but I'm not
sure where they are located in the area.

Why would you want a sunroof in Seattle?

 

[Kathy Kost]

I tend to agree that they're better. It's been interesting however, that in
asking several
dealerships (and multiple people within the dealerships), that there is
about a 50-50 split
as to whether they'd do it to their car. So, I guess it's about whether or
not I want to take
on the possible risks of leaks, rattles, etc. I think I'm just going to
have to stew on it.

And to answer the question about why a sunroof in Seattle, we Seattlites
need sunroofs more
than anybody -- any bit of light on my head in the dreary winter is worth
its weight in gold!

Kathy