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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: ateixeira (Sep 23, 2005 7:34 am) The Miata is a nice, cute looking little roadster for the masses. And it has won the hearts of many. But is clearly not in the same serious sports car league as the S2000. The only car I test drove that was competitive with the $33,000 S2000 when I bought one in late 2001 was the $55,000+ Boxster S. Even the $50k M Roadster and $55k SLK32 felt cumbersome and imprecise by comparison. Perhaps if you are defining the Miata as a "razer-sharp racer", you see things differently. And to each their own. But whether or not Honda continues to build the limited production, hand built S2000 beyond 2006 has nothing to do with competition from the Miata or Pontiac Solistice, IMO. I know of no one that would drive those two cars back to back with the S2000 and scratch their head in indecision. Certainly, I wouldn't have. |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 23, 2005 7:34 am) |
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Auto makers love to show horsepower figures and EPA numbers but are they really worth paying attention to at all? I had driven a few well respected cars before i.e. BMW M3s and M5, Ferrari 456 GTA, Porsche 911 Turbo and 'new' MX-5, Porsche Boxter S. I am sure any car guy can rank the horsepower figures, lateral-g and stopping distance of the cars in order. Among these car, of course, I would like to be seen in the Ferrari (major chick magnet) but the driving for daily around town use is awefully harsh! The Porshe 911 Turbo probably matches all of the so call performance figures of the Ferrai but it is as good fun (and easy) to drive it slow as to drive it fast (very fast) --but not as harsh as the Ferrari. Of the the above car I have driven, I would say the best balance car to drive both on track and daily around town was the BMW M3 (E36 body with only some 200 hp) and the E39 M5. It is balance that counts not performance figures. How many of the daily driver would rev the engine up to 3000 to 4000 rpm and drop the clutch in our daily driving. Isn't it that's how the 0-60 figues arrive by 'test drivers'. I have use the G-Force gadget on a few of these cars and the results were nowhere close to what was published because I applied the clutch normally. I have to agree, we do not buy roadster to drag race. We drive roadster to feel good in the wind when the top is down. To say the Miata feels calm in the cabin while driving top down is entirely missing the point. If I want 'calm' I would have the top up and close all my windows. I am sure MG and Truimp did not get to know to be the best roadster of their time because they drive like a quiet two-door. Now comes to EPA: I was given a VW Jetta TDI to drive for a week a few years back. Having been told (or should I say been brainwashed by VW's ad) that their TDI has great fuel economy, I was so excited to find out how good it was myself. After driving it (in the city and no highway cruising) for a week, I have to say it was not much better than any economy car (except that it was cheaper to fill up in diesel). For those who have highway driving everyday may it is worthwhile for them to 'test drive' the TDI to really find out how good the EPA figure is. (for their application) Whether MX-5 really has a 8 mpg advantage over Solstice, it all depends on how the driver drives his car. If we have a guy who wants to show how much 'smarter' he is to own the MX-5 than the Solstice and racing his MX-5 whenever he sees a Solstice on the road, I bet the 8 mpg would run out really fast. In terms of road handling figures, Solstice has all season tires and MX-5 is equipped with all summer tires by factory. Thus, comparing the road handling figures are not even relevant. So far all reviews I have read have said the margin of MX-5 over Solstice is so small that it is only relevant on figures and they are not vast. So what would happen if MX-5 is equipped with all seasons tires or Solstice is equipped with all summer tires by factory? Solstice is heavier but more solid which is very important in a convertible set up. In term of look, I have not heard from anyone who would say the MX-5 is as good as look as the Solstice. That may explain why it was the Solstice that was the 2003 best looking concept car and not the MX-5. I have heard people saying the 'new Miata' looks just like the first generation but with bigger "aftermarket" fenders. My response was " so why do you said it was 'new' " . It just looks like the oldest Miata with wider fenders. The Solstice is 'NEW'. Does the Miata (now the MX-5 and so called 'new Miata") looks like a bar of soap? I guesss only those who use bath gel or lotions would not see the resemblances. Some say the Solsitce looks like a rabbit (seem the pictures in, guess where -- Miata forum site). It does and it is very cute. If God one day says He would purnish me and turn be into a 'thing' and give me a choice between 'a rabbit' and ' a bar of soap', I would definitely choose to be a rabbit. (Just imagine the kind of sex I would enjoy being a rabbit and picture where would a bar of soap go in the shower ---Ahrrr.. the choice is obvious). For those who say he (or she to be fair) the Solstice look doesn't do much to him, just go to check out his wife or girlfriend and probably you can understand where he comes from. For looks, my choice is Solstice and any Ferrar other than the Enzo. For fuel economy, I will choose the Honda Civic. For handling, I will pick an old BMW For speed (and speed tickets), I will choose the Porsche and Ferrai. If I have to own a Miata or  the MX-5, I will have to chance sex because I have yet to see a guy to look good in a Miata. Miata was a girly car and the MX-5 is a girly car with 'try to look elegant' wide body fenders -- a contradiction in my opinion.
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Replying to: iloveit (Sep 23, 2005 6:07 pm) I do prefer the look of the new Solstice, and would possibly consider a hardtop version, which will come later, if they have more room inside. The Miata is kinda cramped inside. The BMW Z4 seems like the only one with some room. Loren |
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Some how people always believe we have to own a Miata. I guess my point in my last post was some cars are more appropriate if they are seen with female drivers (in terms of style and shape) than male drivers. If you seriously think a man would chance sex so that he can own a Miata, I believe I am not the person who has a problem. I did write "if" -- I just checked post my again. Sorry I never have the urge to be seen in a Hummer nor the wish to own one. I do like the first generation Miata but I only agree with Loren up to a certain point. First generation Miata (especially the special edition with British racing green and tan leather interior) was a good looking roadster that reminded car enthusiasts about classic convertibles like MG and Triump. But most people I came across still find it difficult to see a guy looking good in a Miata. Some cars somehow are more appropriate to a female driver than a male driver. Two other cars that come to my mind are: VW cabriolet and VW Bettle convertible. I can see both male and female looks good in a Solstice, PT Cruiser convertible, and Boxter. Thats only me. Note: I prefer women 'beautiful' rather than 'handsome'. I never like muscle car especially those junkyard dog and in-your-face looking kind. I believe for a car, it has to be "well balance". I didn't say Solstice is 'well balance' because not too many of us have driven one. But I have driven the MX-5 and I would not put it into a BMW M3 and M5 or 'sport car' category. A fast car does not necessary equal to a 'sport car'. If we put all summer tires on a Solstice, it stopping distance would probably be as good or close to MX-5's number. And we also have to consider the extra weight of the Solstice. Is the Solstice a 'well balance' car? I am waiting for my chance to test drive one. Why would we want to believe in so call test car drivers or 'editor' if he figures out the MX-5 is a 'billion' times better than the Solstice? A Ferrari is not a billion time nor a million times nor even a hundred times better than a MR2. And I certainly find it difficult to believe a $20k-$30k car can be a 'billion' time better than another similarly priced car. I have no choice but to doubt about this editor's ability to review car objectively. Yes, it was a 'figure of speech' but it was a 'billion time' overdone and very unprofessional for an editor to write that. In saying that, it means all other editors in Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Automobile magazine who said the MX-5 and the Solstice are only marginally apart were unaminously incompetent to see the astronical superiority of the MX-5. I guess for those who only like to focus on published performance numbers would never understand driving is an experience not a comparative chart or a table of numbers. To me good looking women can be slim or voluptuous with refined feminine features but can never look 'handsome'. I trust my own experience of test driving a car rather than the performance number posted by car makers. I am a firm believer in "People buy horsepower but drive torque". Power to Weight ratio only works if you get the peak hp at the standstill. And unless we push our car to the readline from stop light to stop light, why would we focus on peak hp figures. |
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Mazda missed an opportunity for additional sales. They should have made a new coupe for 2006. GM Solstice is going to really outsell the Miata. My guess is 3:1 or more. Would not be surprise if it sells 5:1. First the Solstice looks new, and more exciting, and thus will attract a lot of sales on looks alone. Second, they will have a coupe version to come later on. The first Miata was beautiful, graceful, and yes handsome. This remake of the original is a good effort to add those things missing in the first models, yet it is hard to see as better looking. It is almost like it is more a customized first version rather than a whole new car, which it technically is. All new everything, they say. Looks wise the first design still nails it. As a drivers car Miata will win & Miata will still be winning reviews. Sales will however lag those of the Solstice. -Loren footnote: Handsome stresses poise and dignity of form and proportion. |
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I finally drove a Solstice today at a GM test drive event similar to the one I attended for the '06 Mazda MX-5 last month. While it is definitley an exciting car and leaps ahead of anything GM has offered anywhere close to this price level, it was extremely dissappointing to drive. The following impressions are going to sound extreme because actual stopwatch and tape measure differences might be slight, but compared to the thrill of driving the new Mazda, the differences are glaring if performance is your goal. The Solstice felt heavy and over-tired compared to the new "Miata." Like all the grip was due to the 245s and not to any suspension development. They announced it as 177 hp but it felt like less than the 160 in my Mazda3. The steering feels really artificial and throttle response is terrible. The build quality of these was pretty awful too. Hard plastic on the doors rattled when the doors closed and the panel gaps were uneven all around, especially on the clamshell rear lid. The supposed extra 4 inches of width compared to a Miata must be on the exterior because it's hard to feel where it's actually bigger than the Mazda inside. The top is really complicated compared to the MX-5, and there is NO room when the top is folded down, but it does look pretty cool with the top up. Granted it's a roadster, but visibility was poor too. I wouldn't doubt that it could post numbers equal to or better than an '06 MX-5, especially on a skidpad, but living with all the other crap every day would be masochistic. If you only buy this kind of car for a fun motoring experience, or exterior styling, this might be fine for you. If you like the reward of feeling like you are connected to the road through a car's steering wheel, brakes, shifter and throttle, this is probably not the car for you. My overall impression was that it's a lot closer to the feeling you get driving a Crossfire than to driving an MX-5. Styling is good, it's relatively fun compared to a sedan, but not a really connected driving experience. So the 250 hp promised for the turbo GXP and perhaps a few less pounds to haul around might make it more worthwhile if they add some decent leather and better interior materials, work on the build quality, tinker with the steering and throttle feel, and keep the price down. Maybe by '08. Then again, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 might be out by then too. 
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It's a question I have to ask becouse I HAVE! And to kick it all,I drove an 06 Miata in the same price range. Guess what? Ok,here's a hint,the Miata didn't win. On the open road and on the test track,the Solstice won. And no,I'm not biased. I am really a German fan. But in all reallity,the Miata DID NOT out handle The Solstice(.92g's on the skid pad). And stopping? The Solstice out stopped the Miatta by 50 ft. from 60 to 0. But best of all,look at the damn car!!!!! Who in the world would think the Miata looks even come close to comparing to the Solstice? I have owned the old school convertables,TR4 Spitfire,TR6,Alfas,even a 914. But I would trade all for a Solstice,it's that damn good. Who ever did the testing in this rag test,needs to get off the crack pipe! 
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Replying to: paul38 (Sep 27, 2005 12:46 pm) Ummmm, the brake pedal is the one in the middle. Confusing which pedal is the brake is the ONLY way a Solstice will outbrake a Miata by 50 FEET from 60-0. Well, not the only way. I suppose you could run the Solstice into a brick wall 70' from where you apply the brakes. That's another way you could stop 50' quicker.....
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| I agree with your post...something isnt right. | |
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