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Pontiac Solstice vs 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata

376 messages,  Last post on Jan 17, 2008 at 3:20 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Solstice, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Coupe, Convertible


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#90 of 376
Re: on star required [logic1] by carlisimo
Jan 09, 2006 (10:03 am)
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Replying to: logic1 (Jan 09, 2006 6:24 am)

logic1, may I ask what went wrong on your NB? I'm looking into getting one.
#91 of 376
Re: on star required [mx5rules] by rorr
Jan 09, 2006 (10:11 am)
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Replying to: mx5rules (Jan 09, 2006 9:40 am)

"I personally can't wait to meet my first Solstice on the street or track to give the owner their walking papers."
 
A few comments:
 
First, you are comparing the performance of your supercharged Miata to a base Solstice. The results might be a bit different if/when you run across a Solstice GXP supercharged to around 260hp.
 
Second, a large portion of Solstice owners (and Miata owners for that matter) only want a nice looking, reasonably performing and inexpensive convertible. The track-worthiness of past Miatas was simply a bonus for them, and will be simply a bonus for that type of Solstice owners. I'm sure you'll have fun trouncing non-boosted Solstii on the track, but a large % of those you meet on the street won't care one little bit. All they want is the wind in their hair in a little convertible that looks really really cool.
 
And there's nothing wrong with that. Pontiac could have cheaped out and concentrated purely on price and style (that seems to have been their modus operandi in the past); but the fact that the Solstice actually performs and handles very very closely to the Miata says alot (to me anyway) about Pontiac.
 
You should give them their due. Mazda has had better than a decade to perfect the Miata; Pontiac seems to have built a very solid effort right out of the box. Given the fact that past Pontiac efforts have gotten substantially BETTER a few years after their introduction, makes me think Mazda should be worried about the state of the Solstice in '08 or '09.....
#92 of 376
Re: on star required [carlisimo] by logic1
Jan 09, 2006 (10:26 am)
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Replying to: carlisimo (Jan 09, 2006 10:03 am)

Computer and other electric problems.
 
Interior while attractive was very flimsy.
#93 of 376
Re: on star required [mx5rules] by logic1
Jan 09, 2006 (10:29 am)
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Replying to: mx5rules (Jan 09, 2006 9:40 am)

Better hope you do not meet some with a Mallett Solstice - or even the forthcoming Turbo, for that matter.
 
More power on a less skittish platform.
#94 of 376
Re: on star required [rorr] by audia8q
Jan 09, 2006 (10:41 am)
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Replying to: rorr (Jan 09, 2006 10:11 am)

Given the fact that past Pontiac efforts have gotten substantially BETTER a few years after their introduction, makes me think Mazda should be worried about the state of the Solstice in '08 or '09
 
Are you sure Pontiac will still be around in 2008 or 2009? GM is going to eliminate another division or two before their financial ruins improve.
#95 of 376
Re: on star required [audia8q] by rorr
Jan 09, 2006 (11:19 am)
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Replying to: audia8q (Jan 09, 2006 10:41 am)

Nope, not sure that Pontiac will still be around. However, given the up front investment that GM has made on the hydroforming process (and the fact that Saturn will be building the Sky), I think it likely that the Solstice would survive in some form with another division in the event Pontiac gets the ax.
 
The point remains; historically, GM has continually improved their models in incremental steps as the model gets further into it's life cycle. As good as the Solstice is today (and IMO the Miata is still a scooch better), I wouldn't bet against GM improving the Solstice over the course of the next 3-5 years.
#96 of 376
Re: on star required [rorr] by mx5rules
Jan 09, 2006 (11:39 am)
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Replying to: rorr (Jan 09, 2006 10:11 am)

Actually I bought the Miata because I live in southern california and just wanted a reliable, fun to drive top down car.....and I bought it despite the "girly" past reputation of the car. It was only AFTER I owned the car that I realized what a total blast it is and started looking into its "potential" in performance. It is only a matter of time before an aftermarket turbo or supercharger is available for the 2006 MX5 and the gauntlet will be dropped once again only to be won by the Miata. I'm not sure that talking about V-8 upgrades belongs on these pages...when you get to that point you're not even talking about apples and oranges anymore.....you have just built an entirely different car. I should have realized that OnStar was available for the new Solstice. It's the only way that people with GM cars feel comfortable driving long distances........knowing that help during a breakdown is close at hand.
#97 of 376
Re: on star required [rorr] by audia8q
Jan 09, 2006 (11:45 am)
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Replying to: rorr (Jan 09, 2006 11:19 am)

The point remains; historically, GM has continually improved their models in incremental steps as the model gets further into it's life cycle
 
According to Consumer Reports just about every mfg improves with time...even Honda doesnt look so great when you compare first year vs. third year....so what's the big deal about GM doing the samething everyone else does?? If they didn't get it right after a few years they would have been long gone instead of on life support. GM has a long shakey road ahead and GM buyers should take that into consideration.
#98 of 376
Re: on star required [audia8q] by fordforme
Jan 09, 2006 (2:33 pm)
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Replying to: audia8q (Jan 09, 2006 11:45 am)

Initial GM quality has been improving steadily over the past few years. Just look at the Buick division. Only time will tell. It is more important to look at longevity as opposed to initial quality. Just my $0.02.
#99 of 376
Re: on star required [audia8q] by rorr
Jan 09, 2006 (2:38 pm)
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Replying to: audia8q (Jan 09, 2006 11:45 am)

Generally speaking, the things that Honda/Toyota/Mazda et al improve from year to year are more along the lines of fit/finish items. The drivetrain remains essentially untouched through the length of the model run.
 
Case in point: the 2nd generation Miata (introduced as a '99 model?) arrived with a 1.8l four making 140hp and a curb weight of about 2300 lbs. The last year of the 2nd generation it was the same 1.8l four making 142hp with a curb weight up to about 2450 lbs.
 
The domestics are infamous (GM particularly) for continually tweeking the performance levels of their sporty cars in an attempt to keep the car 'fresh' and attacting new buyers. I'm actually surprised they will be releasing the GXP version as early as they are planning. Typically, they wait for the bloom to be off of a model before they start releasing higher performance editions to increase the buzz again.
 
Does GM as a company have a long shakey road ahead? I don't doubt that at all; but if they can continue to develop cars as good as the Solstice (which is NOT without it's own issues) the road will be somewhat easier.

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