2008 GTI and GLI, JETTA standard equipment, colors, options and trim levels

[AlphAZender]

To my understanding a moonroof retracts into the car while a sunroof retracts out of the vehicle. A sunroof is usually thinner glass because of this and therefor is not as nice.

A sunroof is metal and blends in with the outside finish of the car. The MKI and MKII had sunroofs. A moonroof is glass and whats on the current GTI. The distinction is you can see the "moon" at night when the roof is closed with a moonroof.
:wink:

 

[dpham00]

A sunroof is an opening in an automobile roof. Sunroofs may be either fixed or operable.

Historically, sunroofs have been opaque and open to the air to allow the sun to shine directly into the vehicle, while moonroofs have generally been transparent or semi-transparent and designed to remain closed while allowing muted light to penetrate the vehicle.

Variations have become the norm and often combine the features of the Sun and Moon types into a single device. It is not uncommon to see tinted glass that can retract fully like a traditional sun roof, remain closed like a traditional moon roof, or tilt to allow for airflow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunroof

 

[Rabbit GTI]

what alpha said, if it's sheetmetal then it's a sunroof, if it's glass...moonroof. but everyone calls them sunroofs, doesn't really matter.

 

[Lucidity]

It is indeed a Moonroof. Basically all moonroofs are sunroofs but not all sunroofs are moonroofs. If it is glass and is inbuilt it is technically a moonroof, which in turn is a type of sunroof. Man could they make it anymore confusing?