If the questions I ask have already been reviewed I apologize for the inconvenience, I'm new to this board and the Audi World in general. I'm seriously considering buying an A3 2.0T w/DSG ... Since you guys obviously love your cars and live with them everyday I have few questions that I'd like to pose to the board to help me with my decision.
* I really like sunroofs and the "Open Sky" option looks great but I'm concerned about the inability to `totally close the roof' and heat build up. I live in the Charlotte NC area and the summers here are very hot & humid and the sun can be brutal, when it's 100 degrees and the sun is beating down does the "Open Sky-sun screen" create enough shade to do the job or am I going to get a tan while driving? Are my concerns real?
* I've noted that many of you "chip" or "flash" your engines ... doesn't that void the AoA warranty on the car? If not that's great but I'm not familiar with the tuners that specialize in VW/Audi cars. Who are the players and is there a source that reviews/rates these products?
* Is there anything that you guys can suggest that is really a `must have' option on the car?
Thanks for your help!

Could be better I suppose, but It was no worse than in my old car with the completely covered sunroof.

I'm planning to do a tint on the side windows to make it better.

but so far can't notice difference between the open sky and traditional sunroof in terms of temperature

Beige interior and Open Sky. Granted, summers in SoCal are not brutal (though this past summer was hotter than normal).

That said, I didn't think that it was an issue, though I've gotten in the habit of raising the sunshades, cracking the windows open, and opening the Open Sky to the first setting when I park in the sun. That probably helped keep the temp down in the car.

I don't think you're going to get a tan, but I had to wear my shades a few times in the summer when I was driving while the sun was directly overhead.

It boils down to you. Some folks can live with not being able to make it totally block out the sun, others can.

Panaroma roof and it makes a difference!

depends on the dealership, but only thing that can get voided is coverage of a repair that was a result of having the car chipped.

I think most of the heat that accumulates while parked actually comes from the windows and front/rear glass not the sunroof.

I don't have it tinted and the shade is rather lame but I love having the sunroof so I live with it..

Also car is much cooler since I tinted all the OTHER windows. again my open sky is NOT tinted

its hot friggen sun here in So FL

Car that I was getting the good deal on had it so that's why I got it. It looks nice. Oh, and I am in TX.

The glass roof itself does not seem to let that much heat in compared to the untinted windows - windshield especially.

- Chuck

Any car with a sunroof is going to get hotter than any car w/o. But its certainly not unbearable, and with a sunroof the car will cool off faster, just by releasing the heat when you open it. The A3 IMHO is just not close to as apealing w/o opensky.

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It seems someone has already thought about this specifically for Open Sky but it's not available yet. I've dealt with Stratmosphere on my A4 and was very happy with their service.<ul><li><a href="http://www.stratmosphere.com/a3.htm">Look here</a></li></ul>

because the glass isn't as thick and will crack after drying/shrinkage?

I actually thought that the existing tint was dark enough not let too much sun heat.

I mean, yes, it is bearable and you get used to it. It's just the first week getting into the car that has been under the sun you go "wow this thing is hot!"

the Open Sky really didn't have much effect on things. Even on less hot days (I just can't call 110 cooler) the sun coming into the windshield had a dramatic effect on interior temperature while the OS shades did a competent job of knocking down the sun.

I'd buy the Open Sky again!

I recommend the factory windshield sunshade too.

I can dig up the thread over on fourtitude if you're interested.