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Comments
The decals can be deleted.
V-8-powered Solstice
No mention of weight distribution.
I'd buy a used Corvette before paying that much for a Solstice.
Though I see the niche as a richman's specialty toy.
Loren
Can't wait to buy one! (but I won't pay markup)
Time will tell. benefit of doubt goes to early production cars.
believer
I find that hard to.....believe.
I find that hard to.....believe.
I do not. Beliver has done some amazing things. :P Read his posts!
Actually the car I saw was black so the "grand canyon" door gap was not too obvious but on a lighter color it would really look tacky.
vette: please list the amazing things I've done. I really need to make some points with the Mrs Believer. LOL !!
Heck, I'd buy a solstice in a second. The obvious slippage in assembly quality will no doubt be addressed sooner or later.Shoot, I would not feel like I was driving one of the General's products If everything fit well
I think "vette" and "ror" are just suffering from "turkey hangover"
believer
However, the latest issue of Autoweek has a comparo article of Solstice v Miata (MX5). They picked the Solstice over the Mazda overall. They did have a question about "a nasty driveline noise" that was also noted on the other one they drove back @ intro time. A "clunk" as they put it. GM engineers are aware of this and are working to correct the problem.I seem to remember intro time was pushed up due to fit and finish concerns on the first 1000 cars being built.
believer
I, too, was on the "I need to touch and feel and drive it first" bandwagon. Two months of visiting dealerships in Minnesota only to find that the one they got in this morning is now sold (once after just 2 hours), all within one day. And of course nobody left them sitting around for others to test or touch (But then again, neither would I!).
Finally saw a Red one in a parking lot at a local mall. Looked sharp, nice fit and exterior finish. Yesterday, a local dealer, only 15 miles from me emailed her clients (including me) that they had gotten another allocation number from pontiac for one solstice (it had been 1 month since their last allocation). I have been on the wait list for a dealer with an allocation number for nearly three weeks since deciding to just order one without the test drive. The best part of it was that she had a customers car in the showroom. same colors I was thinking of (Blue with two-tone leather Sand/steel seats). While the owner said no touching, I guess it was OK for serious buyers as they let me sit in it for a while, play with things, and check out the radio. I am 5'8", 200# and it fit me well (I even had my conceal carry weapon with me on a hip-belt holster and no problem buckling in).
Ordered mine on the spot.
Several other dealers tried to get me to place an order without them having an allocation number, I wouldn't do that. I just wanted to be sure there was something definitely on the works instead of just in the air...
What now, 4-5 months? The one they just got was ordered Sept 1st. A Sept 28th order they have is slated for production next week, and the two others they have on order, one in October and one in Nov, do not have production dates yet. 3 months would sure be nice.
Paying MSRP, $1000 down.
abotu 2800 delivered so far..so not many on the roads or sitting at the dealers.....as you so noted above...join the rest of us....google for the solstice forum.....lots of us chatting over there..sharing ideas....and venting frustrations on the wait as well.....cheers and welcome!!!
MSRP $500 down..never cashed the check...fully loaded cool less onstar and 6CD player
They seem to be already working on the High Performance version of the Solstice! I think it's the GXP...GXP solstice with pic it says 2007!
Has anyone out there taken delivery lately and driven in snow? Oh what fun it is to ride...
LOL,just kidding I'd take the Solstice snow and all AND I live in Florida.
Happy holidays
believer
Solstice gets Design of the Year award
:shades: Loren
Value
I finally spotted two Solstice cars at a shopping mall yesterday. My first sighting. Not bad looking car. Would have been more special if I was not burned out waiting and having seen so many photo previews. I owned the first Stealth in my area, and it got lots of looks. I am sure people will be amazed by the Solstice as well. Still like the Stealth/3000 Dodge/Mitsubishi - low and wide sports car. Most all new cars now-a-days have that high door window sill syndrome - not good.
Loren
I'd would imagine a 443 hp Cadillac XLR-V with its hand-built engine would become more of a classic than a CTS.
Red
it was cloudy, so he had his roof on. (HA! I had MY roof down. Poseur!!)
it didn't look great with the roof up. The driver looked "trapped" in a little space. Of course, that's how any such car is going to look.
Am I still a virgin until I drive it?
cheers
Here are my thoughts:
* Car looks good, of course.
* It is REALLY SMALL. I didn't like that feel about any of the Miatas I have been in, but for some reason, the Solstice pictures seemed to make it look bigger than a Miata. It's not.
* Really low on the ground. I drive an RX8, but this Solstice was LOW when you sat down.
* Kind of cheap looking on the interior. The "handle" or grip thing on the passenger's side kinda threw me. I imagine that the seat would be so far back to allow for legs of any significant length that the grip thing would be out of reach. And, when you can reach it, what's it for?
* The paint looked BAD. The back boot or trunk had a ton of small scratches (maybe not scratches, but marks) and swirl marks (I don't think the dealer had done any mop 'n glo on it).
* Overall, the car didn't do as much for me in person as it appeared in the photos.
* It didn't even tempt me to buy it.
Please don't crucify me - this is my opinion only and I can see why others love this car, it's just not for me. But, I probably wouldn't buy a Miata either.
I think that is the reason it doesn't do as much for me in person.
* Kind of cheap looking on the interior. The "handle" or grip thing on the passenger's side kinda threw me. I imagine that the seat would be so far back to allow for legs of any significant length that the grip thing would be out of reach. And, when you can reach it, what's it for?
----------------------------------------
My GF uses it a lot of time. That grip and the one on the door act as two "Oh sh...t" bars and two are better than one when taking a corner fast.
My wife and I went to look at them. Very arrogant salesperson. However that's the dealerships fault not GM's.
Anyway, he said he had one on the floor,"don't touch it" it's sold! "We have 22 more on order but won't get them until Oct. I asked about the $19,995 price and he laughed.
"There is no such car. They aren't making any $19,995 cars. We order only the $25,000+ cars. If you want one that's going to be the window sticker.
Sorry GM, but if your selling that many you sure don't need my business! (and I think you do need my business)
I read a review, I think here on Edmunds, and it was right on. The Solstice is a car you like for about a week, then you tire of it quickly.
Nothing more than another "Jelly Bean on Wheels"
CK
We compared the two..and went with the Solstice due to more room in the cockpit......I use that term because that is what it is.....if you have never been in a true roadster...it is a shock the first time you sit in it..low and lean..and surrounded by the car....we have found plenty of useable space in the "trunk" and have packed for a long weekend in it...again..you have to know how to use the available space...you arent going to get a overnight suitcase in it......
This car will not save GM...its low production...13k this year along with the Saturn Sky..around 7k for the 06 model year mean about 20,000 or so.....that is small numbers...and sorry about the dealer experience.....there are bad ones..but just as many good ones as well....ours was great during the entire process
This car isnt for everyone...its a niche car just like the Miata....dont quite know what you were expecting ....but we love ours......we both are in our late 40's and having a blast with this car!!!!
Nothing more than another "Jelly Bean on Wheels"
I fear the currently 'on again' status of your relationship with Lana has your mind elsewhere (not that I can blame you, what big brown eyes you have Kristen
The Edmunds review of the Solstice is very positive.
Solstice is not a daily driver. No Roadsters are. I had a Miata for almost ten years. The car is for fun, and not at all practical.
As for the $19,995.00 price. You certainly can order a stripped down model if you chose. If the dealer you visited refuses to place your order for a base model, then go to another dealer.
It is not likely, however, that a dealer will order a base model to keep on the lot for walk ins. Dealers need cash flow like any other business. When they order cars for the lot, they order what they think will sell the fastest. No sense ordering something without what the dealer expects the market to buy.
On the looks issue, I differ with some of those above. I have seen five Solsti in person: two silver, one black, one red, and one white. In my opinion, the Solstice looks even better than its pictures.
I somewhat prefer the Sky's interior over the Solstice. I think both the Solstice and Sky look better than the new Miata inside and out.
You make it sound like there's this big difference in interior room when it's really just your perception. The MX-5 is actually better on shoulder and leg room, they're even on hip room, and the Solstice is about an inch better on head room. All these specs are very close.
As far as cargo space, If I'm going on a short weekend trip I want to throw my bag in the trunk and go, not have to solve some sort of logistics puzzle before I hit the road. You can do that with one of these cars but not the other.
I prefer throwing my travel bag in the passenger foot well. You can do that with both.
I want a roadster where the top folds out of view. You can do that with one of these cars but not the other.
I do not get the legendary reliability part. Pontiac is only about average for 3 year reliability per JD Power. basically unlegendary. Of course it is better than Mazda the vehicle you were referring to.
As far as interior room dimensions are great but they can be misleading. Sitting in the car can be a better measure. For instance they measure shoulder room at a certain point. Forward of that point it may dive outwards and give a much more spacious feeling and room. I would trust the person who actually sat in the cars than some specs in Consumer Reports (whose dimensions are very suspect in a few cases I have looked at and have knowledge of)
This is a good point.
I have not sat in the new MX-5 yet. In the 2d Gen Miata, and in the Mazda3 (which Hertz has rented me over the requested Ford Focus the last three times) the center console drops into the floor of the car in a way that does not give allow the right leg much lateral movement at all.
The specs for both cars show decent leg room. And in fact, it is easy to slide the seat back in both cars where you can barely reach the pedals. But that side panel always against my right knee really gets annoying after a while. It is nothing something I would want during a 500 mile cruise.
I just looked it up and you're right. I just haven't seen any in real life yet.
I think the G6 sedan looks decent too. I didn't mention it because it's not unquestionably good looking like the Solstice, and its center console... to me it is truly ugly. (Not to everyone, but I'm not the only one who thinks this.)
While I prefer the MX-5's interior to the Solstice's, I don't think the Solstice's interior is bad at all. So it doesn't bring the car down in my eyes like G6's interior does.
I don't know what the deal is with the G6 Coupe. I've not seen many on the lots at all. Indeed, a local mega Pontiac/GMC/Buick dealer now has one Solstice on the lot (according to the sales person the original buyer backed out after he learned his wife is pregnant - he says he already has three offers over MSRP, so I told him I would wait), but no G6 Coupes.
I know GM is having problems with a wheel supplier. But I thought that was just for Cadillac. Otherwise, I cannot think of any reason not to have some coupes on the lot.
Between the Solstice, MX-5 and Sky interiors my favorite is the Sky.