Not really off-topic. It was a picture in Esquire a few months ago that reminded me that I needed a sports car again. Started checking out the Solstice and pretty soon went to the car that I'd always wanted (but never admitted) since the first one that I saw-- the RX-8 of course. (I still remember seeing the first one on Market Street in San Francisco.)

Anyway, tonight's Apprentice is all about designing a brochure for the Solstice. Check out solsticeforum.com to see how nuts these guys are about a car that doesn't even exist yet. (Not like us, of course.)

 

I watched the show. While we were watching I kept commenting to my wife that these contestants are idiots. If they would have just gone to the Solstice forum they could have researched everything that the prospective buyers want and what is getting them excited. I'd have fired all of them.

 

Very true beachdog, but I find the majority of people aren't involved on car internet forums or even know they exist.

 

It's the same story for the Gran Turismo episode. These people seem to lack research skills.

 

the Solstice is freakin ugly!

 

Magna Corp did do a good job with the brochure though...well...their project manager did a good job anyway.

 

they said that the thing at stuck out about it was the honeycomb grill, but the GTO looks the same.

 

You're insane! I could care less about GM overall but the Solstice is a great design aestheically and you will never convice me otherwise. We've had the troll awards, I think it's time for the fanboi awards, and you're the first entry.

 

why is this thread in the RX8 Information section?

 

I started this thread and wondered whether it would get moved. In my mind, it's a related topic (another interesting sports car), and not far enough out to be OFF topic. Figured I 'd leave it up to the moderators to move if they wanted.

I pretty much agree with the other responses here. The contestants could have looked at solsticeforum.com (I'm going to check there soon to see what those guys thought of the show, although they're all probably camped out at Pontial dealerships waiting to order a car).

I checked in San Francisco and the Pontiac dealer said that they're allowed 2 cars, both base models. The forum guys are all salivating about which colors they want. Wonder if they know that they'll be lucky to get a car at all, never mind color.

When the show started I told my girlfriend that these guys are nuts with their "text". IMO the car is beautiful and sells itself. All they need is pictures. Just let guys (and girls) see the pictures and then check out the specs later. Lexus, Mercedez, Toyota, Chevrolet, all need text because most cars look alike. Who can tell the difference at a glance between a Lexus SUV and a Nissan? (That's one of the major things about the RX-8, nothing looks like it.)

The girls on the show did a great job, although it's the grill that I'm least crazy about. (Let's see how it looks on the real car, though.) Even guys on their forum are talking about painting the grill or covering it with black mesh.

And that guy-- the idiot who thought that they'd lost because they hadn't used his idea of using the Solstice symbol from the placque on the cover of the brochure-- dumb! Also arrogant.

Anyway, I hope that the car is as gorgeous in real life as it is in pictures. I'd love to test drive one, although that seems unlikely for the first 6 months or so. But, who knows, maybe nobody in SF wants one? It's not a big market here for GM cars, mostly foreign.

Perversely, that's one of the reasons that I was interested. Foreign cars here are the norm, except for Corvettes (at least I never buy American cars), and it seemed like fun to get an American car. That's also one reason that I test drove a Crossfire, but mainly to rule it out before I bought an RX-8.

 

I hate that The Apprentice has turned into a total corporate sponsorship show. All the activities they do are to make awareness of a new product.

 

you've obviously never seen the car in person...it is hideous...but then again you think the WRX is somewhat attractive so I will ignore your analysis

 

Ike I'll give you that the back looks nice but the car is so cheaply made...I expect no less from Pontiac so feast your eyes on this nastiness:

 

Solstice nose doesn't look bad to me, now the nose on the new Miata, that's a different story.

 

That's how they set up the competitions, and they get paid for it. Seems like a good idea to me. It's kinda funny to see how they can market a product in the wrong way too. I dunno if you watch, but i do and it's funny sometimes.

 

The Saturn version of the Solstice is a better looking car.

 

Notice the RX-8-esque interior?

http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa

 

ditto but the build quality of any of the 3 GMs based on this architecture is just miserable

 

yeah I noticed that too... no research skills.... they surveyed a bunch of people but they could have done a much better job. Also.... they should have got a professional driver to drive it and put it through the ringer and report back; that would have given them some good stuff to go wth....they didnt even DRIVE the damn car for themselves

 

Just did this comparison for another board where people were going on about how much power this thing was gonna have, particulary about how the 240hp version was going to kick some *** on everything on the street. The extra 30hp over the '05 Miata sounds great, until you see the car has more than 300lbs on it to go with it. And even the base '06 MX-5 coming out at the same time will have a significant power/weight advantage.

(all numbers are approximate)

2005 Miata -- 17lbs per HP
2005 MS Miata -- 14lbs per HP
2006 Solstice -- 16.5lbs per HP
200X SC Solstice -- 12.5lbs per HP (240hp Ecotec version)
2006 Miata -- 14.5lbs per HP
200X MS Miata -- 11.8lbs per HP (presuming the % increase in power is same as '05 MazdaSpeed increase over standard)


The thing is a boat. It's got classic Pontiac bloatedness (weighing 15% more than a Miata) with, undoubtedly, classic Pontiac "handling". Pontiac is relying on pure sex appeal to sell the car. Not that there's anything really remarkably bad about that. I just don't see the type of enthusiast on this board getting so worked up about it. This is definitely not a car targetted at the driving enthusiast, as if the Pontiac badge didn't tell you that already.

 

First time i've ever heard a 2850lb (slightly heavier than a 2005 S2000) car called a boat :D . It's a rear while drive, relatively lightweight (lighter than an Rx-8 by about 150-200lb), good weight distribution car with a wider track than the Miata. All these things plus the stated .9g skidpad (Eagle F1's) makes me willing to bet it'll handle pretty darn good. If it's a boat, then so's the S2000 and the Rx-8. But until we get to drive one it's all speculation (biased or unbiased).

 

After reading this post I checked out Apprentice on my TiVo. That Solstice is friggin GORGEOUS!!! (to me at least based on the pictures shown on TV). I'm totally in love with my RX-8 and wouldn't think of trading, but my wife has been talking lately about buying herself a two seater...hmmm. Its half the price of the SUV she's also thinking about. On the other hand, I don't know if I can trust Pontiac's reliability on a first year car like I did Mazda.

 

I don't think I'd trust Pontiac's reliability on a tenth year car either. :p

 

I think the Pontiac really is a nice looking car. I'll even go as far to say that they'll sell very well. You dont get that kind of styling for $20k. But, at the same time, you're definately not going to get the handling to go along with the styling for that price. All in all, to me... its a very very nice looking sunfire convertable.

 

When i first saw it and didnt know anything about it i assumed that it would carry a waaaaay higher price tag than it does.

That car is going to make a killing for Pontiac (.. and the Sky for the Saturn).