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Do keep in mind that the used market will bring some other potential cars into your market.
Audi TT
Saab 9-3
BMW Z3
And soon, add in the Mini Cooper Convert.
I assume you grandpa'd the Toyota Solara and Chrysler Sebring converts?
Are they done making those again?
And no storage space... well, we'll see if that's what killed the MR2 or not. I suspect not.
Ok I checked and the Miata weights 2440lbs, more than I thought. Where'd all this weight come from? My Tercel weighs 1950lbs and I didn't expect the Miata to outweigh that by so much. But 2860lbs, that's as much as a regular compact sedan. Well, if it works it works...
The lack of cargo storage has never bothered me with my Miata. I think of roadsters more as practical (and relatively safer) motorcycles rather than impractical cars.
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Smart weight equals better safety, from all I am reading and hearing. Just another sign that we are all being forced to Biggie-size our vehicles to stay compatible with the "other" guy on the road.
It's all a compromise, so drive what best suits you. No really drive what BEST suits you. If you have only two kids, no boat and don't go on a lot of outdoors trips where you need a ton of gear.... you don't need an Excursion!
I am not a fan of big SUVs and trucks...no need for them in my life at this point...hence the interest in a vehicle like the Solstace as a possible daily driver.
C'mon Pontiac, do me proud and give me a reason to actually believe that you build excitement!
Audley, you reading this!?
The interior, from pics - always a hard reference to use, at least looks superb. The cockpit is similar to my favorite cockpit of all time: the 2G Eclipse
except that on the 2G E, the center stack was angled slightly toward the driver (always loved that).
Looks good, IMO. Looks very good.
Like that interior shot. Looks good.
If that's really the mindset, then this may end up something well worth waiting for.
BTW, see those HVAC vents in the interior shot? If I had my way, the industry would be standardized with that vent design on everything! I had those in the Sebring LXi coupe, and the operation and design is perfect.
How's that for nitpicking?!
;-)
I think I like the exterior even more than the Solstice, although its pretty similar. They might have to do something to make it legal with those new "bumper" restrictions.
I don't think the Solstice will be exported, they're only making 20,000 a year and those will be hard to keep on dealer lots here.
How much bigger (in dimensions, not weight) is the Solstice than the Miata? The biggest reason I hear for not buying a Miata is its size, which makes it a little scary to use on roads shared by increasingly large cars and trucks.
Both of these cars are pretty dang cool.
DD
Lordy, that didn't sound good, now did it? Well, all y'all know what I mean...
;-)
Never been that hot-to-trot about roadsters before because...well simply that I can't fit in them comfortably at all, they're too expensive, or both. This sounds like a nice compromise. I don't need a ton of power, enough to scoot around and still get decent gas mileage would be fine. Actually very interested in this car.......did I just say that about a Pontiac?
Anyway, for a mass produced fairly affordable car, they handle pretty well and are sort of sporty. Even that wagon handled pretty decent, especially compared to the competition of the era.
The Fiero, rest in peice, was rough as its budget was limited. Typical GM they got it right just as they killed it. Too bad they did product testing and design as they were selling them.
I know the design processes have improved a great deal, and I am ready for this new Pontiac. I just won't be in the for the first year's. We learned that the hard way with the 80 citation.
DD
http://seriouswheels.com/2006-Pontiac-Solstice-Roadster-Hood-Trun- k-1280x960.htm
Here's the page with a few of 'em:
http://seriouswheels.com/top-2006-Pontiac-Solstice-Roadster.htm
The Sosltice is not going down the same road as the Fiero, to illustrate a quick history... (PS, I love my Fiero, I have an 88 Formula, the year they got it "right" and the year they killed it)
The Fiero was a Pontiac concept that grew out of the gas crisis of the late 70's. GM ordered each division to come up with a high mileage car to offer the public. POntiac penned a lightweight mid engine two seater "commuter" car. They really wanted a two seat sports car, and had wanted one for a long time (since the 60's) but could not get it approved. So they went the commuter car route.
GM was skeptical, but did give them a shoestring budget to pursue the project. Due to lack of corporate support, and numerous attempts by bean counters to kill it, they managed to get it into production by doing much of the design and engineering out of house.
What emerged from this low budget out of house project was a major compromise of a car. They had the knockout styling, the innovative plastic body which was put on the car in a way that eliminated fit and finish discrepencies between panels, and a very sturdy spaceframe that could easily handle the stresses of being a sports car. Unfortunately, that left little money for anything else, so they attached an X-car suspension to it, and dropped in the low revving 2.5L Iron Duke motor which maxed out at less than 100 HP. Also, no power steering was offered.
The engine and suspension just were not sporty in nature... by a long shot. The car was a knockout to look at, and left people wanting after they drove it.
Then some of the 84's received bad engine rods which were breaking, shooting through the engine blocks, and starting engine fires. Thats where the fire reputation came from.
In 85, they added a V6 engine which gave the car acceptable performance (8 sec to 60, 16 quarter with a couple in the high 15's if they didn't have many options, all decent times in 1985). Unfortunately, that engine was mated to a 4 speed manual which I have had the displeasure to drive myself. It was not a sporty transmission to use, and a gear short of what was accepted as necessary. So again it left everyone wanting.
Mid year 86 saw the addition of a better 5 speed getrag transmission and a fastback body style. Still, that X-car derrived suspension was hurting handling.
88 they gave the car a completely redesigned suspension which finally made the car drive fairly comfortably, handle as well as its looks promised, and it had better brakes. By this time, the engine fire problem had created a black cloud over the car, and too many people thought it was a poor handling and too slow car. Plus prices crept up due to lower and lower output. They needed to average 75K units a year, and over the lifespan came very close to that. But 88 saw only 26K units moved, even with the better suspension. So they killed it (with the much needed power steering ready to be offered too).
The Solstice on the other hand, is getting the budget money, testing time, and engineering talent it needs to make sure it doesn't need any of the compromises the Fiero got stuck with. The cars suspension is being purpose built and highly tuned and developed. Its going to have acceptable power in base form, and likely a lot more not far after introduciton. They are putting all the money it needs into it from day one. Its certainly not going to be another compromised parts bin car like the Fiero was. In respect to being a 2 seater sports car, it is similar. I think that is where the similarities end. GM is going to have a terrific car when they get this thing to market next year! I cannot wait!
Feiro + fire (hah). I witnessed this one with my own eyes. My uncle was driving and we saw a disabled Feiro. He stopped to render assistance. As he was talking to the owners, I pointed out that there was a icky looking smoke coming from the engine compartment. Sure, enough I saw a fire and melted plastic dripping. Not much we could do (long before cell phones) and there where a number of houses close.
The next day I drove by the spot and stopped at what looked to be an odd patern on the ground where the Feiro was the day before. I could actually see where the melted plastic had run down the frame and on to the ground, giving a nice "shroud of turin" effect.
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Turboshadow (calling Oliver Stone)
The Fiero was built from the 1984 to the 1988 model years. It used the mill & drill body attachment system in its Pontiac Michigan home.
The "dustbuster" family of vans were built from the 1990 to the 1996 model years in Tarrytown, New York. The vans didn't use the mill & drill body mounting system.
Just found this forum and wanted to say hello. Is there concern with availability since production is only 20,000 per year? Is there a set date when the auto will be in the showrooms?
William
They're saying 20-30K produced the first year - if it's a hot vehicle, then YEAH, there will be a concern about availability with that small number.
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I am a vendor at the GM Wilmington plant where the Solstice is being built. My contacts there tell me that they will be ramping up for full production in March 2005. Expect to see them in the showroom as early as June 2005. As with most changeovers they will work out the production kinks in a few weeks and will be up to full capacity by mid April/early May. I have seen one tooling around the plant grounds. I was hoping to get a ride in it today but it never happened.
It does have a nice fit and finish appearance even for a preproduction model. Get juiced they will be nice.
Stay tuned!
I want a Solstice in June of 2005. I actually wrote an e-mail to Pontiac customer care and asked if they had a program to pick up your care at the DE manufacturing facility. No such luck, it would have been wonderful to visit a auto plant in my backyard (I live in the Metro DC area) and pick up my brand new Solstice there. I guess only the Corvette customers get such red-carpet treatment.
I wish I could ride over the Delaware, and put down the MSRP and drive away with a car just off the assembly line. I'd rather do that myself than have it delivered on a auto truck to a seedy dealer and have them rip me off. I wonder if the auto manufacturers will ever do direct sales?
It does look like neat car, a bit heavy compared to others but it should perform well enough. The ecotec can be hopped up to near infinity (race ones make 1000 hp) so that should be fun to watch people go nuts over this thing.
My wife keeps looking at Mini's, but this would be american and just as fun to drive, perhaps cheaper as well. I keep looking for Edmonds to do some early tests on it.
DD
Which version(s)is being offered first, and is the convertible going to be priced at $20K base?