Summer, for those of us who live up north, is special. It raises hopes for the future, gets us outdoors, even encourages a change of wardrobe. It's also the beginning of the sunroof season. Thus I'm about to have a hole cut into my 2003 Focus ZX5 so that a pop-up sunroof can be fitted. Am I crazy?

The history of the sunroof is mostly European: Perhaps because Europe endures more rain and cool days, a sunroof was a popular and affordable alternative to the convertible. My first experience with one came during a spell as assistant sales promotion manager of VW Canada, when I selected a sunroof-equipped Bug (sorry, Beetle) as a company car. Like most sunroofs in those days it was made of treated canvas and rolled back a considerable distance from the windshield. So equipped, the car was a semi-convertible. This particular option may have been made in Germany by Karmann, however most 60s and 70s sunroofs came from Webasto, an English specialist firm.

All-metal sunroofs eventually took over, having the advantage of total weather/sound-proofing. Perhaps the most unusual example could be found in Studebaker Wagonaires during the 1960s. Instead of being situated over the driver's seat, the sliding metal section was at the rear. When the tailgate was lowered and the sunroof opened, it became an ideal viewing platform for watching motor races or soccer or polo or, for all I know, peeping into a neighbour's backyard. In truth, it was little more than a marketing gimmick.

Sunroofs are a popular option today although the aerodynamics of modern cars are such that considerable buffeting often results, which can only be modulated by opening each window to a precise degree. Former About.com test drive partner Colin Hefferon, when informed of my plan, wondered "why on earth would you want to spend money on a sunroof?" Colin, it raises 4" with a flip of a handle, improves the flow of fresh air without traffic noise, makes the interior brighter, and allows me, an ex-pilot, to briefly observe what's flying overhead. Except in rare circumstances I will no longer be tempted to use the fuel-consuming air-conditioner. I can also enjoy the sunroof in winter, balancing frigid air with the car's heater. It can even be left open in the rain as long as the car is moving. For $395 installed, that's my idea of a bargain.

Webasto, by the way, continues to offer aftermarket sunroofs for every type of vehicle, from compacts to SUVs, pick-ups to imports, exotics to specialty one-of-a-kinds. And some are still of the classic folding type, albeit now power-operated.