Black or White contrasting roof?

[AussieBrad]

I recently took my Donny Grey Trialmaster with Scottish White roof on a Grenadier group ride on the beach, and was surprised to find mine was the only vehicle with a contrasting white roof. But there were several that had gone with a lighter body paint (including white), with a black roof. In my mind the whole point of a white roof harkens back to the old Defenders in Africa and down here in Aus that were trying to keep cool. So in that sense, a black roof is not a logical choice. I'm not suggesting the black roofs don't look great, but still...Any thoughts on the topic? Especially from those of you with black contrasting roofs?

 

[Rok_Dr]

I recently took my Donny Grey Trialmaster with Scottish White roof on a Grenadier group ride on the beach, and was surprised to find mine was the only vehicle with a contrasting white roof. But there were several that had gone with a lighter body paint (including white), with a black roof. In my mind the whole point of a white roof harkens back to the old Defenders in Africa and down here in Aus that were trying to keep cool. So in that sense, a black roof is not a logical choice. I'm not suggesting the black roofs don't look great, but still...Any thoughts on the topic? Especially from those of you with black contrasting roofs?View attachment 7881460

Agreed from a practical perspective to keep things cooler my preference is always White. Black is fashionable though and in this age of air conditioning, dark colours are less of a problem in the heat. That said I noticed Henry in white is significantly cooler in summer than my old dk red discovery.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Michael H.]

I recently took my Donny Grey Trialmaster with Scottish White roof on a Grenadier group ride on the beach, and was surprised to find mine was the only vehicle with a contrasting white roof. But there were several that had gone with a lighter body paint (including white), with a black roof. In my mind the whole point of a white roof harkens back to the old Defenders in Africa and down here in Aus that were trying to keep cool. So in that sense, a black roof is not a logical choice. I'm not suggesting the black roofs don't look great, but still...Any thoughts on the topic? Especially from those of you with black contrasting roofs?View attachment 7881460

Clearly, you were the only one with any common sense on that trip … to Stockton Beach … last weekend.

 

[trobex]

White roof - the only logical choice!

 

[TheDocAUS]

I choose Scottish White all over to keep the car as cool as possible in hot weather.

I also recently learnt window vents help keep the car's interior much cooler (than windows up or windows slightly open). It should help any colored car stay cooler as well.

 

[Nevada Grenadier]

I think it depends on the local environment you live in. If we lived in a cooler climate I would consider a black roof. They looks great.

 

[Tinerfeño]

I like white as LR used it up to ~2000 in Defender and in earlier Series vehicles. For this I have repainted two of my cars (Range Rover 3D -80 and Discovery -93) to light blue with white roof

And in most countries white roof makes more sense. My IG is Magic Mushroom without contrast color.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I recently took my Donny Grey Trialmaster with Scottish White roof on a Grenadier group ride on the beach, and was surprised to find mine was the only vehicle with a contrasting white roof. But there were several that had gone with a lighter body paint (including white), with a black roof. In my mind the whole point of a white roof harkens back to the old Defenders in Africa and down here in Aus that were trying to keep cool. So in that sense, a black roof is not a logical choice. I'm not suggesting the black roofs don't look great, but still...Any thoughts on the topic? Especially from those of you with black contrasting roofs?View attachment 7881460

I’ve seen a couple in the wild (off the dealer lot that is) - and they do look really good. But I can’t think of any functional benefits. I’m not sure how much of a DISadvantage they serve in terms of heat - maybe a little. The white contrast is definitely more of a classic “old school” look. I just skipped over it, because I wanted the contrast nose and rear door, like we could select when the configuration tool was originally launched (and they dropped before production). I thought that with a contrast roof of either color would be visual overkill. I had an unplanned trip to the dealer on Saturday (was taking a roadtrip with the family when my check oil warning went on). They had almost 100 on the lot (!!!). While I was waiting for them to check on the issue, I looked at some of the inventory. What I would say is that there is a “city/refined” look and a “country/workhorse” look. The black contrast roof tends to be paired with certain colors (almost always the metallic paint colors) and usually alloy wheels - more of Fieldmaster look. The white contrast roof is usually on the non-metallic colors with steelies - more of a Trialmaster look.

 

[Ovrland Bill]

Because windows, especially if tinted, usually ‘read’ as being black, they blend nicely with a black roof (or entire car, for that matter).
(As I live in the California desert, a white roof was essential for my Grenadier.)

 

[C-Mack]

So long as you have a can of contrasting color spray paint to spell out “SOS” on the roof when stranded some place remote like in the movies is all that matters right?

 

[pgar171]

we have a green with a black roof. you can only tell the roof is a different color in just the right light. which doesn't happen very often. So I would keep the white roof.

 

[DaveB]

Mine is Donny Gray all over with Safari windows and I don't have a problem with the inside getting too hot.
I think though if you plan to park stationary for a fair while with the engine off basic science proves that a light roof will keep the interior cooler than a dark one.
Important if you have food, fridge etc inside.
Mind you if you plan to add a roof rack/platform then the roof colour is irrelevant.

 

[Rok_Dr]

Mind you if you plan to add a roof rack/platform then the roof colour is irrelevant.

Indeed, a platform would perform the same function as the old tropical roof option that was fitted to land rovers.

 

[IslandFalconer]

I’d say if you’re really not set/sure on the decision, you can always order the same color roof, and vinyl wrap it. If you do decide painting the roof isn’t the worst on the pocket book

 

[WanderingSniper]

My salesperson pointed out to me that if I was putting on a roof rack, as I intended, then the black top looked a little better as it all blended together. Now I have an MM so a white roof might have looked weird anyway. Had I gone my first route of a light blue than white would be the right choice for me. As for heat I think my roof rack mitigates most of the improvements the white would have helped with.

 

[saltydog188]

Living in Florida, anything to limit the heat inside the vehicle makes sense so when I ordered my Grenadier in Magic Mushroom, a black roof was NOT something I considered... (if white was an option I probably would've ordered it). Unfortunately, I lost my Grenadier to Hurricane Helene but fortunately my insurance company replaced it and luckily my local dealer had one pretty close to the one I originally had, (Magic Mushroom with all my preferred options plus a few) but it DID have a black roof. So far, that has not seemed to make much difference. (I DO pop my safari windows open when I park in the sun and that REALLY helps vent out any hot air....)

 

[Psignore00]

Because windows, especially if tinted, usually ‘read’ as being black, they blend nicely with a black roof (or entire car, for that matter).
(As I live in the California desert, a white roof was essential for my Grenadier.)

So do safari windows, that’s part of the reason I chose black was to keep the safari windows more low key.

I also thought it matched all the other black accents on the Grenadier.

I live in Florida and have the black leather interior too, no issues with overheating or not being comfortable inside.

 

[AngusMacG]

Here’s my Eldoret Blue w/Black Contrast roof and rhino grey frame. Wasn’t sure about the black roof at first but it has grown on me.

 

[Güero]

So to take the cooler white roof theory to it's logical conclusion, Angus, my all Scottish White Grenadier, is extra cool