Solstice being built

Who wants to bet that it'll weigh over 3000lbs. and drive like a . . . Fiero?

Wonder if it's got electric cupholders, OnStar and bigger wheels than an Escalade?

-- Steve McMahon Green JRSC '00LS

The last model year Fiero GTs where fast cars...

Maybe. I just read you can get 18" wheels on the new Chevy Cobolt SS. Little much... :P

But not quick?

C'mon Steve, you sound gratuitously cynical. It sounds to me like Pontiac/GM is aiming in between the Focus ZX3 and the Dodge SRT-4.

Dana

Of course, I should have added - aiming between the ZX-3 and SRT-4 in terms of *performance*. It's a major styling statement that makes both of those cars look pedestrian.

I rather like it.

Dana

The car is going to weigh over 3200 lbs. and be five inches taller and four inches longer than the car they've been showing us. It's also going to come with 18-inch wheels. The supercharged engine and six-speed won't come for a while and will probably be sorely needed.

And it's going to be a *Pontiac*. A *Pontiac*. I don't know that I'd even give it a second glance.

Depends upon the weight and the suspension as to whether it will be competitive with the Miata. It's not about going fast, it's about going quickly which are two entirely different animals. Many a car that can easily outrun me in a straigh-a-way, can't hang on a twisty road and can't turn anywhere near the autocross numbers. I do like the looks of it although I'm not wild about 18" wheels on small cars. And then, there is the quality issue to deal with but Bob Lutz seems to be committed to making GM a star player in the world market so maybe it will have many improvements. Be nice to visit the dealership and test drive one when they hit the streets. My 92 Miata has the best option in the world though - NO COUPON BOOK! As long as it continues to run and drive the way it does, it would be difficult to give it up until it dies (do they ever die?).

Tom

92 Red

Scott Streeter wrote:

Yah, I like the "styling exercise" that is a show car, but Pontiac? GM?

I think that GM/Pontiac would have to make 50,000 PERFECT CAR MODELS just to make up for past transgressions like the Aztek before I'd consider one.

Hey the same guy who designed the Azteck did the new Vette. And the new Vette is SWEET! Besides I kinda like the Solstice look. Not that I'm going to get one. I wanna see what the next gen Miata will hold for use. :)

Current report say 2800lbs fully optioned, and exactly the same size they have shown us.

I do not think I will rush to replace my Miata with it (hack, I did not replace my Miata with any of the newer Miatas, BMW Z3, Honda S2K and many other contenders) - but I think there is a chance that it will be a good car.

Competition is good.

Ron.

Told ya', again. The Solstice is another Fiero waiting to happen. Nice looking sheet metal (GM plastic?), bad paint, old, off-the-shelf suspension bits, bad off-the-shelf engine w/performance mods that will break alot,

25-lb. Escalade wheels w/rubber bands so it will drive like a . . uh, Pontiac.

It'll be gone faster than a Buick Riatta.

Concur.

-- SM

If the car that I've seen pictures of makes it to the market, it'll be very cool. Interestingly, the press, or Edmunds, seems intent on comparing it to a Miata, though the Pontiac grill on that car seems a little more BMWish to me. In fact, it seems a lot like a Z3 in spirit.

There's more than a chance that the Solstice will be a good car, there's a high probability it will be a good car. The interesting question is "will it be a *great* car?".

As much fun as it is to read and quite Edmunds, it's a lot like tasting wine by reading Wine Spectator. So, I'm witholding judgement until I've driven one myself.

Absolutely. Now, if GM makes good on the supercharged, 6-speed options they're taunting us with, that'll be interesting. It might even be as much fun as my supercharged, 6-speed Miata :-)

Dana '02 SE JRSC WI

I'll third that. Somehow I can't see myself saying "Hey, check out my new Pontiac...". The American auto makers have had their chance to excel and they have failed for way too long. Even if the American companies started finally getting it right now, it would take many years before I could consider buying one.

Pat '96M

Power to Weight ratio is more Miata like than 1.9L Z3 like. The price is also a bit more on the lower side of things.

Some interesting pictures at

-Looks better (as far as the technical specifications) than what I expectedit to be - it is not just a nice wrapper to old reused components.

Even if it is not as good as a Miata - it is a good thing to have it around, IMHO.

Ron.

Perfectly fair point of view, but you haven't driven a Solstice, how can you dismiss it so easily out of prejudice? It's a lot like my friend that snorted "Miatas are *chick* cars" but took mine for a spin anyway - and came back genuinely surprised at how sharp-handling and quick it is (just to get us back on Miata-topic, of course). He doesn't make fun of my Miata any longer.

So, we ought to reserve judgement until we drive the real thing.

Dana

Prejudging the Solstice, sure. But my judging of American cars in general comes from owning a couple of them and working on many more. My neighbor's relatively new Imapala is falling apart at 30,000 miles. The Pontiacs that I have seen have all been crap cars (maybe I am missing a good one that they made?). I guess that there is a tiny chance that the Solstice is a 100% turnaround for Pontiac, but I doubt it. Even if the car was somehow great, like I said, their broken trust would take many years to rebuild, probably much longer than they will be building the Solstice. Pat '96M

Wow. We had a 1998 Windstar (bought new in May 1997) that we sold with 110,000 trouble-free miles last summer. My daily driver is a 1998 Monte Carlo Z34, with no trouble other than an issue with poor stock brake rotors in 114,000 miles, though I'm starting to hear a little squeaking from the permanently lubricated front-end.

Perhaps it's the mild California weather?

Dana

...oink - flap - oink - flap...

absolutely gorgeous

170 hp DOHC modern I-4, (I believe) VVT optional (eventual) ~220-240 hp (hopefully) 2800 lb or less (stated to target)