It looks like the soltice is in direct competition with the mx-5!!!!!!
Will it succeed in taking market share?

 

ultimately it will come down to how it performs.

methinks miata will be a overall better car

 

Looks will play a part of it. First thing I thought about when I saw that Pontiac's grill was

 

mx-5 weight = 2522lbs
soltice weight = 2859lbs

 

jeez that shot of the solstice makes it looks like the front wheel camber is off.

 

This was the first thing I thought when I saw the Miatas front end.

 

You are entitled to your opinion blueeyes, but my opinion is you're on crack if you really have that imagination and was able to find it online. Mine was genuinee.

Funny, just got an e-mail from Mazda about the 2006 Miata. http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...gMX5Miata&bhcp

 

Since GM owns Opel why didn't they simply offer a Pontiac based on the midengined Opel Speedster?

Now this would be a nice alternative to the Miata.

 

well when the supercharged version gets released, it's performance probably won't be questioned.
near 50/50 weight ratio, 2850 lbs, and 220ish hp with decent torque will be pretty impressive. And it looks pretty sweet in black.




and if it comes with this interior....

 

check out the pontiac website, they have a new preorder section up with a 360 view, you get to see the top up there. looks a little Viperish to me.

 

Hm, anyone feel like photoshopping that grill on the black solstice to match the car? I suspect it would look MUCH better with a black grill in there rather than that constrasting silver.

 

I think the Miata is going to take a decent hot from the Sky and the Solstice. When it comes time for me to get a new car the FI version of the Solsice and the Sky will get a testdrive, I don't the the Miata will even get considertaion. If nothing else the Solstice and the Sky have the Miata whooped in the looks department. Some people buy the Miata because it's fun little sportscar that can be auotoxed and tracked, but many many buy it's because it's an attractive roadster and those people will certainly be swayed by the new offerings from GM.

 

I agree that the Sky has the Solstice beat in terms of looks - both inside and out.

And that Opel image is HUGE....so HUGE that it's making it hard to view this thread because it's making the window scroll.

 

that front grille is ugly as hell, it'd need a hell of a lot more power to make me want that monstrosity

 

The Solstice/Sky at the end of the day will still be a GM product. I'd take the Miata any day over GM's "shot" at a 2-door roadster. Mazda had it right way back in 89 and still has it right today, 16 years later. GM is 16 years too late...

 

My thoughts exactly

 

GM's been known to do things right on occasion. I'll reserve final judgement based on a test drive or 2. As far as taking market share though, I think they have a winner, or winners on their hands, just based on looks alone. Factor in the price, and it'll be a decent share. I'd say maybe 50% of Miata buyers are enthusiasts (just a guess, based on all the Miata drivers i've met), the rest want a sporty convertible and will be easily swayed by GM's ability to rebate the hell out of their cars. I think the true success of the Solstice/SKy will be those who'd never consider a Miata (still has the girly car stigma). This is the only other option. I personally hope it does well, because I'd like GM to use the chassis in other models, namely something LSx powered :p

 

I saw a silver Sky at the Denver auto show a few weeks ago. It looks terrific in person, my favorite styling cue on it were the bumps that raise above behind the seats (don't have a better way to describe it). They remind me of the Carrera GT!

 

The Solstice has a cheap look to its interior. You can bet it will feel cheap in person as well. Something no one has mentioned is how initial magazine reports affect perception. The first several comparos will no doubt have the Miata beating the Solstice in just about every category you can imagine. The magazine results will all reinforce each other. In the end, the Solstice will go the way of the MR2. It will never reach the lofty sales goals, whatever they are. The Miata will reach its lofty sales goals. The Solstice will have a faithful following but that following will remain small. I can already see this future. And I'm ready to place my bets.

 

It will be an interesting year no doubt. The Solstice interior doesn't look cheap to me, but i've yet to see it in person so... I've noticed that the Miata's price tag has been going up with every new model, disproportionate to inflation. Now granted, the new one has many more amenities than it did 15 years ago. But if Mazda isn't careful they're going to price it right into cross-shopping with the S2000, or at least close enough that it won't matter. $25-26K base price is way too high. Fully loaded, maybe, but not base.

I have noticed, that those who talk down the Solstice here, with little to no basis other than opinion, are the same people who usually talk down domestics in general. Personally, I feel that a lot of effort was focused on the Kappa chassis cars. The Solstice is not meant to be a flagship for Pontiac, but it is to be an icon. Something to guide future products. So I think/hope it will be a new step toward higher standards overall at GM.

 

I think it's going to be kind of like the Grand Am and Fiero, only not quite as bad. It will not succeed as an icon. It will guide GM's future only a little better than the G3 (Or as they say "the first ever G3." They should change that to "the first and only G3 ever, hopefully, thank God."). Its mechanicals are full of compromises. Thus enthusiasts who take the plunge will be unforgiving. It's not about being biased against domestics. It's about seeing the reality of the future. I see it the way I do for many reasons. I may end up being wrong but I'm ready to bet on that future. Have some faith.

 

Uhhh... yo mean the G6?

 

The Solstic and Sky win hands down on looks alone in my book. However, I think the build quality, driving dynamics, and resale will be much better with the MX-5.

 

you can't say a car looks better until you are standing next to it.