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Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac Solstice Pontiac Solstice vs 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
376 messages, Last post on Jan 17, 2008 at 3:20 PM
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Replying to: missilemax (Apr 24, 2006 8:04 am) again..this isnt your family car......I wouldnt even consider this a primary car for most people..but rather a cruiser or weekender.......we have packed for a long weekend without in problems in our solstice.....you learn how to pack.....and enjoy the car...as you have your miata...... |
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OK, I have read through this post, and I must comment. I even signed up on the Edmunds site to get my two cents in, since I will probably not be posting here very much. I am a nutty car owner. I have owned in the past an 86 Fiero GT, still miss it, best shot that GM ever had of producing a sports car. Killed after they started to get it right around 88. I also have owned an R package Miata. Miss it horribly to this day. Gave it up due to marriage and a baby on the way. Between the two, as much as I loved the Fiero, the Miata was a better proposition. Better engineering, better quality. The Fiero had almost 100K miles when I reluctantly let it go, and the Miata over 120K miles when it was traded in. Between the two, working on the Miata as an owner was much easier. Brake components, suspension, even spark plug and oil changes much easier. Let's not forget coolant flushes either. But, I still have in my garage a 1970 Triumph TR6, and a 74 MGB-GT. And, comparing the driving experience between the newer cars, and the old ones, I must say that the Mazda people got it closer. The old girls require time and effort, attention to details in servicing, and many gifts in terms of parts. Comparing the Fiero the the Miata, the Miata got much closer in terms of fun to drive while eliminating most of the ownership hassles. So, will the Solstice break the Miata's reigning championship of being the heir to the British invasion? I think not. Too many of GM's internal management/QC issues will eventually relegate it to a second cousin of the Miata Mk III. There may be some tuning going on out there for it, and the GXP will bolster sales for a bit, but having driven 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen Miata's, and the Solstice, Pontiac is getting close, but still hasn't taken the cigar. And, yes, I would choose my old grease puddling girls in the garage any day over the two newer cars out there. But, when it comes time to get my next new two seater, the Miata will beat out the Solstice. |
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We all know that Pontiac hit the proverbial "home run" with the Solstice, and that they are hard to get. The Pontiac dealer in my town has one left, and they have placed a dealer addendum on it for $3,500 and no test drive! I can't see paying $3,500 over sticker for a car I can't even drive! I am a Mazda dealer, and I can't hide the fact that the Solstice has out sold the MX-5 to date. Well, the good news for us Mazda dealers is that the MX-5 is now becoming tough to get. I sold a MX-5 today to someone who traveled very far because the two dealerships closest to him had none! Needless to say I made some money  My dealership only has 6 left, not many more coming in, and spring is here with lot's of interest in this vehicle. I suggest if you are interested in the MX-5, buy it now while you can still get the one you want and don't have to settle on a color or package you don't really love. Yes, you MX-5 buyers are very finicky, so get what you want while they are still out there.
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Replying to: jhershey (Sep 23, 2005 8:22 am) Cheers, Steve |
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Replying to: aviboy97 (May 02, 2006 1:35 pm)
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Replying to: d_hyper (May 08, 2006 10:45 am) |
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Did anyone see the latest Consumer Reports issue? They trashed the Solstice. Ouch. The MX-5 had an overall good review. The MX-5 scored a 99 and the Solstice 53. Ouch again. I guess it was only a matter of time before the Solstice started to show it's true GM colors. Others in the article were the VW GTI, Honda Civic Si, and Ford Focus ST
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Replying to: aviboy97 (May 09, 2006 9:51 am) THE SOLSTICE LINE Body style Convertible Drive wheels Rear Trim lines Engine & transmissions 2,4-liter 4 (177 hp); 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic Base price $19915 Pontiac Solstice HIGHS I Handling, headlights, styling. LOWS I Noisy engine, gear ratios, controls and displays, top operation, luggage space, visibility. The Pontiac Solstice has sleek looks but is disappointing as a sports car. It handles well and has a firm, but reasonable ride. Despite quick acceleration times at the track, poorly chosen gear ratios and an unpleasant sounding engine that doesn’t like to rev affect drivability Notable wind noise, a cumbersome folding top, poor top-up visibility and scant interior and trunk storage space make it a hard car to live with every day The Solstice and its near-twin, the Saturn Sky are new vehicles, so reliability is unknown. THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE The Solstice handles well with controlled body lean. But it is some 400 pounds heavier than the Miata and not nearly as nimble. The steering has appropriate weight, but could be quicker The Solstice posted a good speed in our avoidance maneuver, but tended to oversteer. Stability control is not offered. The Solstice’s ride is firm but not punishing. Pronounced wind noise and engine thrash drown out any road noise. It takes a lot of coaxing to get the 177-hp, 2,4-liter four- cylinder engine to perform. The five-speed transmission has large gaps between gears that stifle performance. The Solstice returned 23 mpg overall on regular fuel, Braking performance was very good overall. The halogen low-beam and high-beam headlights both illuminate a very good distance ahead. INSIDE THE CABIN The stylized interior has expanses of hard plastics and flimsy details. The wide center console and the door rob the driver of leg room. The steering wheel tilts but does not telescope, and it blocks the view of the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge for some drivers. The top and the humps on the rear deck lid block rear visibility and the top blocks the view to the sides in front. Short drivers have trouble seeing out from the low seats, which are unsupportive on long trips. You have to duck under the top to enter. Most major controls are easy to use. But door locks, power window controls, and the seat recline knob are difficult or impossible to reach whlle driving. There is no place inside to put a map or cell phone where the driver can reach them. You have to get out of the car and open the trunk to fold or erect the top. Opening the trunk requires releasing the roof buttresses, Likewise, closing the trunk requires going to both sides of the car to release the buttresses. SAFETY NOTES There is no spare tire, but there is a repair kit. Sidewall and other major tire damage require roadside assistance. Integral head restraints are tall enough for safety. Driving with kids. It’s not recommended that children ride in roadsters, but a sensing system will shut off the air bag when a child is seated in the passenger seat. There are no LATCH anchors, but child seats should be secure in the passenger seat. OUT OF REACH The flimsy cup holders in the bulkhead are too far back for the driver to easily qrab an item placed in them. There is also no front storaqe area for items such as maps, wallets, or cell phones. SCANT STORAGE SPACE With the Solstice’s top up, the poorly shaped trunk held a few slim backpacks but none of our soft-sided luqqaqe
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Looks like Mazda as a whole is pretty much at the bottom May 11, 2006 Results from the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey for new vehicles. Score is the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. BRAND SCORE Lexus 81 Jaguar 88 BMW 95 Buick 100 Cadillac 104 Mercedes-Benz 104 Toyota 105 Audi 106 Infiniti 109 HUMMER 110 Hyundai 110 Honda 112 GMC 113 Lincoln 113 Acura 116 INDUSTRY AVERAGE 118 Jeep 120 Mercury 120 Nissan 120 Chrysler 121 Chevrolet 127 Ford 127 Mitsubishi 129 Pontiac 129 Dodge 130 MINI 130 Scion 134 Saab 136 Saturn 136 Subaru 138 Kia 140 Volvo 140 Porsche 147 Volkswagen 147 Land Rover 149 Mazda 149 Suzuki 151 Source: J.D. Power and Associates its all a personal choice....do your research, visit, drive, and decide......cheers |
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Replying to: pao (May 11, 2006 7:34 am) May 11, 2006 Results from the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey for new vehicles. What does "initial quality" mean anyway?? Does it mean "this car looks great NOW, but it won't 3 years from now"?? Mazda as a company put's out a higher quality vehicle then a Pontiac. This is obvious once you sit in one. Also, Mazda has a much better reputation for reliability. I just don't get it.  J.D. Powers also rated the 2005 Chevy Malibu "most reliable" it it's class as well as the Cadillac SRX "best in class"....interesting J.D. Powers also rated 3 GM production plants as the the best. What the heck does that have to do with anything? Does that mean? They are clean? Happy workers? New robot's to build their vehicles? I've always thought J.D Powers was on GM's bank roll. Just my thought, I have no proof to back it up. I do not hold J.D. Powers to any high standard. Just as many do not listen to CR. |
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