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if this will be your main vehicle or daily driver...you also have to consider space....its not meant to haul much...and you definitely will not carry any large objects.....there are plenty of michigan drivers over at the solstice forum.....you can check over there as well
I have driven my dream car" fro only 2000 KMs. However, while everything about the car is as wonderful as i expe3cgted it to be, there are several engine noises that the dealer's performance staff have indicated is "normal' on may of the Solstice a and Sky' turbos and that after 15,000 or so kilometers the sound usually will fade away or lighten. There are more noises at start up than when the engine warms up. One is a clicking type of sound and the other is a like an old windup clock sound. Does anyone have the same type of sounds an dif so, have the y subsided over time?
I'm also planning to installl some performance enhancements such as the Kappasphere cold Air Intake and KS1` Sports Exhaust which are to increase the HP by 30. Any suggestions for me as to the sound, torque and HP from the types of installations?
John
I'll delay moving too quickly to do the performance upgrade and do more research, based upon your advice.
Do you know if the motor sounds fade away with use?
John
Also, i know there was a discussion on warranty i have no idea what to get as well.. I desperatly need some advice. My plan is to buy it tommorrow but i want to make sure i am making the right choice.
Because it has an included GM 100,000 powertrain warranty an all vehicle warranty past 36K should be reasonable?
you can get a better deal searching for the GMPP extended warranty plan on line vs your dealer as well if you are interested in that...
I'm wondering if my golf clubs will fit in the trunk space of the Solstice/Sky with or without the top down? Will 2 bags? I'm not talking the huge cart bags, just asmall stand bag.
Thanks
Again, I really like the car design. I hear that a hard-top is in the future...anything to that rumor?
www.solsticeforum.com
www.nassoa.org
My wife has a Mini convertible, and 15 minutes after the top is raised (other than on a cold winter day) almost any sign of a wrinkles has disappeared. I also look at other cars on the road, like Miatas, BMW Z-4's, etc., and I rarely see wrinkles in their convertible tops.
I am considering a vehicle of this type, and really like the body style of the Sky/Solstice, but frankly, I'm not sure that I would feel comfortable buying one with this condition. Surely, I haven't seen only vehicles with the top recently raised...
but then, when i saw it in the (correct me if im wrong) st paul auto show and sat in the driver seat, i absolutiy fell in love with it all
and now im seeing Pontiac beating almost every won
LOVE PONTIAC AND SATURN! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
My story is similar. I saw the Solstice, liked it generally and left it. Last year I was in a place called Whitecourt Alberta doing my consulting work. AS I approached the school I was going to, I noticed this absolutely striking yellow car - I put down my briefcase and went to see this beauty. It was a solstice. I fell in love with it. Within 2 weeks I bought by red 2008 Solstice GXP which is now not only my love, but also my mistress. I replaced the exhaust and turbo air intake to increase the HP by around 30. It is an absolutely fabulous car. Enjoy yours!!!!
Johnnie Boy
any car can spin out and slip and slide...the solstice is a bit more prone to it...under full power.....in winter conditions...LSD will help along with traction control as well.....there are other solstice forums that you can ask as well...do a google search.....I cant advertise it on here.....they can give you more personal experiences
The Pontiac Solstice gained popularity after the 2007 blockbuster hit Transformers, where the Pontiac Solstice was the autobot form of Jazz. The sleek little sports car is as quick as it looks. So if your debating buying a car from this class I would recommend taking a look at the latest American design in the group.
This report is intended to compare the Pontiac Solstice with its nearest competitors in its class and make the argument that pound for pound and dollar for dollar that this is one of the best roadsters that a sports car enthusiast can purchase. The nearest competitors that the Solstice has are the BMW Z4, the Porsche Boxter, and the Mazda RX-7.
Overview
When benchmarked against these close competitors in its class the Solstice has a better price tag and out performs these cars. It also gains style points amongst Americans because it is the first American roadsters of its kind entering the market in this price range. Typically American sports cars are pictured as the high end V-8 mustangs and corvettes. The Solstice being one of the first performance four cylinders made in America by an American car company.
The Pontiac Solstice hit the market in 2006 with that year being the first year of production. For the price which ranges from $24,000 to $31,500 it performs remarkably well when compared to the rest of its class. The five main categories to look at when evaluating a car are; power train, suspension, exterior, interior, and performance.
Performance
The first thing to look at when grading any sports car is the power train which is of course the engine. The Solstice has two engine options available through the production year of 2008. Both of them are inline four engines built by eco-tech. The base Solstice has a 2.4 liter regularly aspirated motor while the GXP version houses a 2.0 liter SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) turbo charged generation II motor. The base car can hit 177 horsepower at 5100 revolutions per minute while the GXP’s 2.0 liter can muster up 260 horsepower at 5100 rpms. While the GXP has substantially more horsepower both of these solstices have an admirable pound to horsepower ratio. It is rumored in late 2009 the Solstice GXP will have an optional 300 horsepower small block V8 available.
Engine
The Solstice GXP’s generation II ecotec engine block which produces 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch is what is impressive. GM thought of everything when designing this engine. The fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber, which is a characteristic of diesel engines and uncommon in gasoline motors. However, by doing this it increases fuel efficiency and increases the power output of the car. The newest technology was applied to the turbo aspiration system. It has a dual scroll turbo turbine that is fed by the dual exhaust coming off the engine. This allows for quicker turbo boost and less lag in the turbo system. When needed an impressive 20 pounds of forced air can be pushed into the cylinders on only 2900 rpms being made by the engine. All of this engineering allows this new 2.0 liter Ecotec engine to be one of the leaders of all of the four cylinder engines in production in the world today in both power and fuel efficiency. (New Ecotec 2.0L Direct Injection Turbo Engine, 2006) The picture to the right is of the 2.0 turbo engine by General Motors from worldcarfans.com.
Suspension
General Motors did not skimp on the suspension of the vehicle either. The car has four wheel independent suspensions with the power being distributed to the rear wheels. The car gets off the line efficiently because the rear wheel drive also is linked to a limited slip differential which is standard on the GXP model. Four disk brakes are connected air cooled high density steel rotors for maximum braking. Also, each wheel is suspended by an adjustable Bilstein mono tube shock absorber.
Exterior
The exterior catches the eye of many sports car enthusiasts by being smooth and soft. At night the car is noticed from a distance with high output xenon head lamps and fog lights. Another noticeable characteristic is the standard 18 inch, five spoke chrome wheels with silver polished wheels available. The car comes in 9 colors ranging from pearlescent white to mysterious black. All of the paint colors are shiny and bright, which is appreciated on all sports cars.
Interior
There are only a few interior options that are available on the Solstice, everything else is standard. Of these available options is an upgradable sound system, leather seats, and chrome pedals. All of the power options are standard.
The interior is easy on the eyes as well. Motorcycle style chrome driver assist gauges are one of the characteristics that remind you that you are in a sports car. At night the entire dash and control panel are lit up in a sporty red, even the turbo boost gauge that gives a constant readout on the air pressure in the engine.
The one drawback of the car is it is small. When the top is up the solstice can bring about a cluster phobic feel on the driver and one passenger. If you are a tall person you may have an issue with the 5 cubic meters of cargo space which includes the driver and passenger cabin. If you are planning on going on a trip there is no storage room in the trunk which is only big enough to house the fold down cloth top. With all of that being said, in the summer with the top down there is no feeling better than being free, low, and quick in the Solstice.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Pontiac Solstice is light and quick with its turbo charged inline four engine. It can get up from stopped to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds. This beats out its near competitors of the RX-7, Z4, and the Boxter. The braking and cornering comes in just average. The turning and feel on the suspension is more what the driver likes, but if you like a hard sense on the steering the Pontiac is right for you.
When compared to its class the average price for the Solstice GXP is around $28,000. You are getting a lot of zip for your buck in the Pontiac Solstice. Compared to the Z4 BMW which has 225 pounds of torque and 255 horsepower comes in at $39,000. The Mazda RX-7 has 212 horsepower in its rotary motor and comes in at the same price as the Solstice GXP. Among the biggest bragging rights of the Solstice is that it is faster than the Porsche Boxter which has a 245 horsepower inline 6 engine and a hefty price tag in its class with the average starting price of $42,000. The Pontiac Solstice with a competitive price and performance engine has the bragging rights on the streets against these high dollar German and Japanese imports.
When compared to its class the Pontiac Solstice excels in almost every category and for this reason I feel that it is worth the money if you like the styling for this little sports car. The best part about this car is that it is built here in America and is 100% American. I recommend the S
Have wanted one since the 2004-5 concept cars. Sold my beloved 2002 Firehawk, which I tired of owning---taking care of that rare 'Bird and using it for carshows and only fair weather driving was getting to be too much. The GXP should fill my adrenilin needs just fine.....
Will be installing the new GM Stage II Turbo upgrade to lift the car to 290hp and 340 torque.
I already own a 2007 MX-5, so I know what a road-hugging 2-seat roadster is all about, but my test drives in the GXP tell me that this car will provide a different experience altogether.....
dealers in my area have plenty of 08s on the floor...and even a few 07s not to mention their influx of 09s.......should be able to get some great deals out there in 2010 as the line phases out....
we own an 06 since Dec of 05 and love it....looking to pick up a GXP now.....and keeping our 06 one as well.....
uneven tire wear and replace rear tires at 5k....that does seem a bit excessive, how uneven was the wear....trunk lids are problematic if you force them close the wrong way or stuff too much in the "trunk."..Wind noise is subjective since it is a convertible, most involve tweaks to the top or replacement of seals, replacement of the transmission...that seems the major item with such low mileage on the car....again...you seem to perhaps got a bad one off the line....
we were extremely happy with the car during the five years we owned it and we would certainly recommend it, if you could get a good maintenance history for the vehicle..as far as trade in values go.....cars certainly arent an investment, and depending on the time of year and location, pricing for convertibles can be problematic, also consider the brand no longer exists, which also impacted values IMO....we traded ours in Dec 10 for $10.5, which was auction pricing at the time...just under KBB...
I own two other GM cars as well...04 Chevy Malibu Maxx with 180K on it and running strong and an 09 Cadillac CTS with 36K, with no concerns as well...The Solstice was traded in on a 11 Outback Subaru.....
it does cut wind turbulence down on the highway with the side winds up...much below 35 MPH you cant tell a difference.....at highway speeds you can actually carry on a conversation...hear the stereo....and feel the heater working...as needed....
as for selling the sol...it is certainly a niche car...and most people dont use it as a primary driver...you didnt say what part of the country you are from or when you tried or finally sold the car..in what month....all make a huge difference for a two seat convertible...
again...sorry for the bad owner experience.....most of us enjoyed it while we owned it..and many loyal solstice fans are still out there attending a national meet each year.......