SWEET!!!

 

you knew someone was working on this already

 

C&D did a quick comparison between the Solstice and MX5. C&D choose the Solstice as the winner even though the MX5 looks better on paper. Surprised me to say the least. Can't wait to see the redline Sky.

 

You're in Central Florida and you've already seen one? That is odd because none of the dealerships here have got a single shipment yet.

By the way I know for a fact these things will sell well because they're already presold at all my local dealerships..like I mentioned in the thread I created last month.

 

Heard from a review on TV that the interior is horrible. Not so much looks wise but quality! That's not good in my eyes...........

 

Yeah, I didn't think they were out yet, but I KNOW that's what I saw. Red with the top down and a 30ish year old guy driving on Gemini Blvd. If I see him again, I'll try and grab a pic with my camera phone.

 

The one that I sat in and saw was on a dealer lot but was a pre production model that no one but the dealer was allowed to drive. Most likely the car you saw was the same sort of deal. I don't quite understand how those claiming to have driven one have done so unless they work for GM.

 

I test drove one off a bridge and as you can tell, the car is very safe.

 

Not according to MT...it's more like 20/28.

I really like both the Pontiac and Saturn (while I like the Saturn a bit more) and I hope they do great for GM but they will have to give it more power to gain more customers.

Note: I hear that SC is coming within a year

Also...I'm not impressed by their fuel economy numbers (20/28)...I mean, this is a dang 4 cylinder. Their 500HP 427 small block V8 gets almost the same fuel economy numbers (19/28)...come on GM, you can't beat out your own V8's????? (just goes to show you that they build the best V8’s in the world)

But, I'm very happy they had the guts to build them and hope they do great!

 

I hope good luck to both the Solstice and MX5. The more roadsters out there, the more people will get interested in cars like this. I think that will mean sales to both they might never had had. Couple points that may affect sales and/or long time happiness between the two are:

1) Solstice has no space for anything apparently with the top down, so I've read. That's tough to deal with, I mean, you want to have the top down, yes? The Miata may not have alot either, but it does hold stuff which is useful for living and enjoying the car.

2) GM has a bad habit of building a car for a few years, then killing it, or changing it all out of proportion to its original design (think Z06 engine with super 80/20 weight distribution). Miata = stability of design. Result is people with an old Miatas don't totally feel like they're driving an old out of vouge design in a year or two...well not til now with the MX-5.

3) The Solstice is a parts bin car to a fair extent. This doesn't bode well for durability and design goals like weight, built-to-purpose function, build quality, and exclusivity.

Nevertheless, time will tell...

 

I think part's sharing is a great for business but I agree that if you do it too much you end up with cars that are everything but unique. Especially for sports cars...they not only have to look good and perform good...but they have to have a soul making the car fun to drive.

You don't want to compromise it's main attributes as a sports cars by making it do too much stuff that other types of cars are designed to do...but at the same time you can't build a sports car that is unbearable to live with. (Thank GOD for the RX8!)

Like you said...time will tell...

 

WTF

 

Yeah, I don't get that either... explain Spin9k!

 

You know, do like do what US manufacturers do ...take any hot car, 1 year into the sales for an added boost, shoehorn in some humungous V8 (giving the requisite 80/20 weight distribution), then hailing it as a 'performance car' (heh it goes 0-60 in 4.5 sec doesn't it?) and then charging a super-premium price (the 'Hemi' marketing effect). Result is leaving all those 4 banger owners feeling like they bought yesterdays stale donuts.

If that happens it'll certainly light up the christmas tree at the local dragstrip - something an MX5 will never do - but will that improve its DNA? Dunno will it? Anyway that's what I was thinking about. Just a thought...

 

So you think the new Z06 has an 80/20 weight distribution?

PS. The Z06, basically just a c6 with a "humungous V8" shoved in weighs 150 lbs less than the C6.

 

I saw the Solstice yesterday and I must say that the new Miata's interior is much better than the Solstice's. Hopefully the price, styling, and driving experience will help it compete against the Miata.

 

btw, anyone else realize the 5 spd in the Solstice came from the Colorado/Canyon? and the front fogs are from the Envoy?

 

and not to mention a near 50/50 weight distribution

 

Sorry, guess I wasn't clear...I'm talking about what GM may do to the SOLSTICE - putting a Z06 V8 in it at some late date to juice it up - get it? Then it will have (the Solstice will have - noting whatsoever to do with the Corvette) an 80/20 weight distribution... little hunmor there ... Hope that clarifies

 

and the backup lights are from the grand prix

 

The Z06 engine only weighs ~100-150lbs more than the Ecotec that's already in there, so I don't think dropping the LS7 into that car would really mess up its weight distribution that much. Ah, the beauty of pushrods :D

 

Besides that it will end up getting a supercharged or turbocharged version of the ecotec so I have no clue where Spin9k is coming up with this stuff. GM isn't stupid enough to put a Vette engine in a car like the Solstice, it would canibalize Vette sales in a big way.

 

My friend got a special edition Grand Prix, the last year in production. The car looks sweet, feels awsome. However after 1000 miles the transmission blew up. He got it fixed, but then after about 500 more miles, it blew up again!... He then sold it for a WV Tourag.

 

Yea, that's a big no-no for GM. It would be similar to bringing the focus RS over here. It will steal a ton of pony sales methinks. They need to think about making money ahead of making cool *** cars. The chitty part of the car business :D

 

You may be right- Car and Driver, FWIW, picked the Solstice over the MX-5 in a comparison test. It was still pretty close though- the cars have different personalities .