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Comments
The amount of work to build this car in just a few stations is less because there aren't that many welds. Adhesives and fasteners are used to join parts. GM designers met and used common-GM parts wherever they could. A lot of you have already read this article but for the benefit of those that haven't I'm reiterating it.
Hydroformed tubes-commonplace in body-on-frame applications like full-size trucks and the Corvette, take on a new type of application in body making with sheet hydroforming. It's rare in the car making business but used widely in industrial use for many years.
Here's something I thought interesting for those naysayers who are tagging the 2800-lb. Solstice as a fat pig and probably slow in get-up and go. The Ecotec 4-cylinder can be turbocharged or supercharged and is capable of delivering 250 hp. That would propel the Solstice from seven seconds for the base car’s zero-to-sixty performance down to the five-second range. It's the flexibility of the 4-cylinder that prompts Solstice designer's to exclaim the lack of a need for a V-6 for this car.
Can't wait to start seeing Solstice's on the road!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I don't think the new 325i are quite as compromised as the old ones "logic" is referring to.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=43935
But the solstice may be somewhat more fun to drive, albeit with 2 fewer seats.
They both are very close in price. Solstice starts at $19,995 and MX-5 at $20,995.
Neither one come with power windows or air.
Do you really need air in a small two seat roadster - I would not.
Fully loaded the Solstice comes in at just over $25k - again right on track with the MX-5.
As for the spare, if you're living out in BFE it would be a problem. Though AAA would be a good back up plan. I've been driving for 9 years and sliced my tire once, can't say I'm too concerned out it. That and there are so many auto shops around here its ridiculous. On the Solstice's defence though, where are you going to store the spare? On the back bumper? On top of the trunk? When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your spare?
GM will certainly sell a lot of base models in Northern climes and on the Pacific Coast.
Arizona is truck territory. No one is going to design a roadster for a market only interested in genormous behemoths.
you guys obviously don't own convertibles. I live in the SF Bay Area. T here are plenty of days when, mid-day, it is too hot to have the roof off. And you have to have the A/C on. That's just life. On those days, like today, I have the roof down on the ride to work and on the ride home. If I do an errand mid-day when it is 90, the roof is on and the AC is on. I have no use for a car without AC.
Now, if I lived IN the SF, I could see going without AC. I lived in the city for many years and almost never used the AC. (Hell, I'd use the heater on most summer days.) Of course, as soon as you drive 10 miles north, east, or south, you'd be sorry you didn't have your AC.
Still, that should only add 2K and a couple hundred pounds to the car.
In fact the one I ordered came in at $23,000 which included Convenience Pkg, Power Pkg, Premium Pkg, ABS, AC, and floor mats.
One of the things that I like about this car is you can order the options that you want based on the things that you think that you will use. I think Pontiac was very smart in letting the consumer choose the options they want (kind of like a custom built home).
As far as no spare goes I have been driving for 31 years (aroud 30K miles per year) and I think I have used a spare tire one time. If that is a huge concern buy run flats.
I live in MI and I would get a stripped model without air for a third vehicle.
I don't know where you live, but my TTL was less than half of your $1500 quote. I used to live in the mountains and most of my brothers and sisters still live in the mountains and I have never had a problem in making a cell call. I am buying this car as a second car and don't plan on driving it in the winter so I'm not concerned with winter conditions. I also know that small cities and towns can get tires. I used to live in a very small town (Pop 1200). We had 6 gas stations in which 3 of them were full service inc full time mechanics. We even had a Pontiac and a Jeep dealership. Small towns do have things to offer and I am sure regardless of where you may travel you probably will be able to find a tire.
If a spare tire is your biggest concern I wouldn't recommend this car to you. Maybe a Miata or Honda S2000. I won't let it be a concern to me. As I said earlier I drive a lot and I think I have used my spare once due to a slow leak.
I would think that when quoting prices for vehicles that we should only use the price charged by the OEM and then mention the others such as taxes, fees, etc. and dealer add ons?? These must vary wildly from state to state. There was a post earlier on that stated close to $30k for a loaded Solstice. As per an ealier post from someone who did have the opportunity to order one they could not have gotten the GM MSRP much over $26,000. Therefore whoever stated close to $30K must live in a state with what I would consider oppresive taxing since they were charged close to $4000 in other markups.
Soft top or not, i'm going to want AC. Heck, i burn so easily, i'd often have the top up midday.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Everyday cars need a/c, no matter where they are. If you don't have a/c in your car, then you are just a cheap SOB. The first step is admitting that to yourself, eh? The second step is shutting up.
:P
People who say "if I had a convertible, I'd have the top down all day" have clearly never had a convertible, so they should just pipe down. Us VETERANS understand that only rookies drive with the top down during the middle of the day. REAL convertible drivers have the top down in December, at night, in a snowstorm.
That's what the heated seats are for, eh.
For the (likely_) price of the new Volvo C70, I can probably buy TWO well-equipped Solstices. (Solsti?) Ofr course, I'll need two to carry my family, so....
Currently, I have no car. I had a first Miata then a second Miata - both in the Chicago area - for approx five years.
The first gen Miata I bought second hand. The AC did not work. I never fixed it. The second gen Miata came new. I never used the AC anyway.
Chicago is, I think, typically hotter in the summer than the Bay Area.
By the way, I use mass transit to commute to work. The Miata - and the Sol or Sky should I get one - was strictly an afterhours car. I almost never had the top up. I bike commute a lot too. Even less options to get AC on a bike. I understand Davis - a Central Valley community, has the highest percentage of bike commuters in the nation. Methinks the need for AC out West is greatly exaggerated.
I do not think modern ACs will add 200 pounds to the Sol/Sky. Probably less than 100.
To be sure, I probably would get AC and few other option with my Sol/Sky. I think especially tuners and the hard core will get the base Sol without AC.
Yeah. And there are fewer people in the entire state than in Milwaukee.
By the way, I did drive my Miata in the middle of the day on weekends and vacations. Guess since I was wearing shorts and a lighter shirt, no AC never bothered me.
For a niche car that will probably be most people's second or third car, my experience translates to others. Most people will not be in their Sol/Sky in the middle of the day every day of the week. They will be in it after hours, on weekends, and on vacation.
I travel to the Bay area frequently. I know people with money in San Francisco and Burlingame who do not even have air conditioning in their homes.
If someone can ride a bike in the middle of the day in Davis, why couldn't the same person drive without the AC in a convertible in Davis? In a car you are not expending the energy riding a bike requires with the requisite increase of body heat. Unless you are Lance, you are also getting more of a breeze driving a convertible than riding a bike as well. As you know, wind on your skin accelerates sweat evaporation, giving one the sensation of less heat. Seems rather logical to me.
I don't have AC in my home (SF-area), but I do in my cars. But my car travels to the south bay, to the central valley, etc. where AC is a must. I drove through 110 degree heat over the weekend. A buddy of mine did the same drive in his Porsche convertible. I forgot to ask him if he had the roof down. It woudl have been a sweet ride. 80 mph in 110 degree heat (at 5 pm). No high sun to drive you crazy. Just sweet summer air. But try that mid-day and you probably die as a result.
If the Solstice is only a weekend car, GM is in trouble. I'd be buying it as my primary vehicle (with our other vehicle - my wife's - being a people hauler)
If you don't want AC, why should you have to buy one that has AC?
Of course, this means the likely MSRP will be higher than 20K, but didn't we all assume that?
What is the likely delivery date of the first Solstice?
Yeah, the Solstice I speced is 23.65 if i recall. A great price for a Roadster. I imagine the Sky will be closer to 25 similarly equipped. Still a good price.
Reports in some of the other car sites today said first deliveries start in the first two weeks of August. Those will have to be the first 1000 which are already spoken for.
Unless you are one of the lucky lottery winners, you will have to wait until September or so to test drive one and see if they live up to the hype. Of course late September and October is often better convertible weather in the Bay Area anyway.
I am not. From what I've read, however, I understand that tuners prefer to get a vehicle with as few OEM power take offs as possible as they sometime get in the way of their aftermarket add ons.
When will we see the first production model performance data?
If this is going to be in the September issues, that means in just a couple of weeks. I fear as with everything else, we will be forced to wait another month or so.
and what do you guys think of Saturn vehicles? I hate to admit it, but I appreciate a vehicle with a bit of panache, and I'm not sure any Saturn vehicle will ever have that. (and, yes, I know my Sebring convertible has no panache)
The differences right now appear to be appearance, mainly. I've seen some speculation that where the high-po Solstice may use the 2.0 supercharged engine the Sky Redline may use instead the 2.4 turbocharged that Saab is working on. We shall see.
I agree current Saturns are not too exciting to look at. The Sky is the first of what GM says will be the Opel designed Saturns. In fact, the Sky will be sold with almost no changes in Europe under the Opel badge.
I like the design coming out of Opel lately. Saturn dealers are usually pretty good. I've always appreciated the no dicker sticker. Good design with a good dealership could be a potent combo. We shall see.
"I would buy a Solstice (actually, I am probably going to get the Sky if I get a Kappa) for dates or times I have other people with me in the car."
I meant to say I was going to get AC for dates or friends. (of course dates can be both dates and friends occasionally).
Both the Sol and the Sky will have the same interior and cargo figures. The difference will be looks and standard/option configurations.
does this sound right?
the Solstice would make a great everyday vehicle. Just do not expect to put a TV in the trunk.
As far as Saturn I read here that one of the press said Saturn is going to get a bunch more vehicles and they were very exciting looking and impressive. He said that with the Saturn dealerships and the new styling that Saturn is one to watch out for.
Yes, i've lived in milwaukee as well.
The point was, however, that it's not realistic to say that A/C is unneeded in "northern states."
Of course, when i was in ireland, none of the rental cars had A/C.
OOOOhhhh, man, i just imagined driving a solstice on THOSE roads.
:P
Americans want to smell good. That's our fault, perhaps. Am not sure it is a virtue. We wrinkle our noses at any body odors, whereas Europeans just take it in stride, I guess.
Convertibles are great...except when it's over 75 degrees F and sunny and you are barely moving and the sun is overhead....like in traffic in July in much of the U.S. (and Canada, I'd guess). VIVA LA AC! :-)
Do you guys like the Solstice or the Sky more? I like the pics of the Sky interior. But I like the Solstice exterior.
this only gives part of what I read. could not find any other links. I think it was Wall street journal
if you buy a car based on its resale value, then you should probably ALWAYS buy used, and you certainly wouldn't be buying a roadster to begin with
practical people aren't roadster people
well, maybe they are if they buy a Honda roadster, but I just don't see it. If you are gonna get all practical on me, then just buy an Accord and be done with it.