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Love the shots of the frame. This is going to be a great car.
Pontiac, thank you so much for that interior. It's given me hope for the whole domestic auto industry...
Bret
Powertrain and looks and handling are priority one and for a change Pontiac seems to have nabbed all three from the get go.
Of course we won't see the car hit market for like 2 years yet.
;-)
http://www.solsticeforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86&- stc=1
From this it seems that Pontiac is going to pull buyers in from other brands, or that they are making a mistake by producing a vehicle their fan base doesn't want.
I'd love to see them build a Kappa Cadillac with the 2.4L/2.8L/3.2L as options and styled like the Cadillac Sixteen. I think that would look pretty cool. Probably the easiest way for BLutz to get Sixteen styling on Caddy any time soon, as I think Art and Science would look too harsh on a car that size.
The people who are doing the bithing would most likely never buy a car like this anyway. Many of them went on to say that GM should have brought the Opel Speedster over instead of creating the Solstice. Right, if you hate the Solstice, what is going to make you want a VX220? If that car was available for sale tommorrow the same people would [non-permissible content removed] about how small it is and how hard it is to get in and out of it.
Put the Solstice base engine in the Vibe and I might take one home for my day to day hauler as well : )
I have often considered a Vibe because of its Toyota roots. After test drives I cooled on the Vibe because I realized it needs more motor (and you can't get the supercharger with the stick) and it has a mommyvan driving position. The mitsubishi Outlander is more appealing (although I hear its slow too).
170 hp 2.4 ecotec would be a fabulous engine in the vibe. I drove the matrix xrs and it sounded like it was gonna explde through its fart can muffler.
Solstice-winning exterior, winning interior. Athletic stance. Ample powertrains. Low price (supposedly). This is precisely the car Pontiac needs to shed the redneck image it has.
The best mod for the miata are the anti-sway bars. They add weight but really plant the thing to the pavement.
If 0-60 is your thing, pay extra for the supercharged version.
Has Pontiac made an official statement about making a supercharged version of the Solstice?
A little more on the weight issue. There are some excellent details of the Solstice frame in the linked photos in my post 55. The detail shows the Solstice is heavier than the Miata for four reasons:
1. Wheel base is about 6 inches longer;
2. It has big honking built in anti-sway bars,
3. It has a built in roll-bar; and,
4. It has 18 inch wheels.
1, 2, and 4 can only help driving dynamics. 3 may not necessarily improve driving, but I like my head well enough that the added security of a roll bar may improve the driving experience for me.
GM could have made the car lighter with aluminum components. That would also have upped the price.
I don't recall seeing a rollbar, is it supposed to be of the pop-up variety.
Are those 18 inchers supposed to be standard or optional. I don't think I need that much alloy on mine.
i wish they were making the coupe.
i hope chevy makes the nomad, or better yet, stretch the solstice chassis and make a new VEGA!!!!!!!!!
VEGA BABY!!!!!!
There is a large roll bar incorporated behind the seats. That is why the Solstice has the raised fastback look behind the seats.
Figure 70 pounds for the roll bar, 50 each for the antisway bars, more than 100 for the larger wheels, add in the extra steel for the 6" additional length, the weight of the larger engine, and there you will have the additional weight of the car compared to the Miata.
February Car & Driver says the supercharged will find its way into a Solstice, but does not say when. I believe the Cobalt SS comes out a year after the plain version. So maybe the 07 Solstice will have an SS option.
Can anyone else confirm this? Does it seem reasonable?
If they could get this thing to 18k, they'll have to up their estimated product numbers. What did they originally say? 20,000 a year?
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20040123/bs- _usatoday/gmtriestocutcordoncostlyrebates
Mini was that way, the MR2 was that way, etc.
I would argue that cooler heads prevail, and come out ahead. Let them cap production, let them gouge to the "me-firsts." There is a cost associated with buying the latest technologies.
Ask the guy who spent $1000 four years ago for a $100 DVD on the market today if he feels gouged?
Chances are he does, but he shouldn't.
I will take a wait and see, work hard to pay off the current ride and if this car is as good as it looks, it would merit some hard considerations.
Also on the current maps:
New Mustang
Audi A3
VW's own concept roadster (not sure of name, but could be in production by 2006) which is supposed to splash in at mid-20s and share some features with the Boxter.
The New Golf
The New Volvo S40
The Saab 9-2X
Funny, the Solstice is the second American car in the last 12 months to truly gain my interest, first was the Mustang redo, now, we will potentially have a truly good looking roadster for under $30k.
If I had $30k+, I would be hunting for the Z4 or a CPO Boxster myself. But I don't. $25k might fit a budget in another 12-18 months, if I can get into a better credit bracket.
Kudos Pontiac, you might live up to building some excitement after all...
After all, its the best style out there
I find the TT and Z4 especially ugly. The TT is soo beetle.
If GM uses this car well, and prices it appropriately and give it the right combination of style performance power and refinement, they could change the way Pontiac is viewed.
Its should be Tuned on Germany's treacherous Nürburgring racetrack
I think they'll sell alot of these as second cars, the Z4 is too expensive to be a second car for the vast majority of people. Even used.
The only real competition for this car is the Miata. The TT and Z4 starts at 34k and the SLK at 40k. I think Pontiac could put the SCd 240HP ecotec and a convertible hard top on the Solstice and still price it below 34k. Of course then the S2000 and MR2 become competitors...
Assuming it handles well, a $25K 240HP Solstice could be serious competition for the base 350Z and RX-8...
Will give me something to think about for the next few months, and a reason not the scratch the new car itch just yet.
However, the new Solstice is what I WANT. If it has about 2" more headroom and legroom than the Miata, that will satisfy me. I'll take the base 2.4 liter 170hp engine. Don't give me auto anything please. I want a true roadster. Keep the style as beautiful as it is, and GM has a new consumer.
I have avoided GM products ever since I got rid of my "break down once a month" 1988 Camaro in 2000. The Solstice, and some of the other beautiful cars from Bob Lutz have drawn me back to American designs, but the reliability is still a concern. However, with a NON-auto, base Solstice, I can't think of too much nonsense that could go wrong. The 2.4 liter 4 banger is proven, and I'm ready to buy, if the car handles even close to as well as the Miata. Give me a test drive soon Bob!