Article Comments 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Full Test

42 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2008 at 11:55 AM

You are in the Pontiac Solstice Forum. Your Host is claires

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Solstice, Coupe, Convertible

Article comments for Full Test: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP - Those of us who drove the 2006 Solstice resigned ourselves to the fact that although the car could draw the lustful gaze of fellow motorists, we'd have to shy away from stoplight challenges. (more)

Outline

Messages Page 3 of 5: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; Prev; Next; Last

#12 of 42 Re: it's not just those "nits", though... [editor_karl] by spoom Mar 23, 2007 (5:33 pm)
Replying to: editor_karl (Mar 23, 2007 7:41 am) I dunno, Karl. Maybe a little nit-picky? It's ok if you don't like the car, you see a lot of good ones and that sets the bar pretty high. I have an '07 GXP.............. Did Pontic totally drop the ball on the interior design? Oh hell yes!!!!! I hope the constant complaints about the unusable cupholders, wasted console space, etc. etc. turn into such a wail that future owners will be rewarded by a new interior that actually works. I've got the auto, so no opinion on the std trans. Unusable top? No, that is a silly, elitest comment IMHO. It takes less than a minute to put the top up or down. Just because some cars do it at the touch of a button doesn't make mine "unusable". The top works just fine and the unique styling on those "flying buttress" wings give the car a little something extra over most ragtops that is worth it to me. To me, this is just a fun little car that would be awful at $40k but is more than a bargain at just under $30k. I looked at one last year and the 2.4 was just too weak. The new 2.0 turbo gives it the go to match the show and I had no problem picking one up. My best friend has a Crossfire, another buddy a Miata and I've driven both so it's not as if I don't know what's out there. The Crossfire is an awesome performer and the automatic top with all it's automatic trim pieces are a joy to watch in action. That said, I think it's a butt-ugly little car, looking as if it was styled by 3 or 4 people who didn't share notes or concepts. When my GXP is parked next to the Crossfire people surround the GXP to admire it The Miata is a better all-around vehicle than my GXP but I wouldn't have bothered to buy it because it doesn't really seem to spark anything for me. Kinda like Velveeta. Velveeta is great for grilled cheese sammiches but the GXP is my sharp cheddar. JMHO ¿spoom
#13 of 42 So many editor tears... by stuckinohio Apr 24, 2007 (7:23 pm)
from so much whining. Impressive article. Not.
#14 of 42 Re: Is it really that bad? [editor_karl] by trucktricks May 24, 2007 (8:59 am)
Replying to: editor_karl (Mar 21, 2007 8:16 am) 1. Get in the car and try to adjust the seat -- but can't because there's not enough space between the seat and the closed door 2. Reach over to open the door but can't, because the car already locked you in 3. Reach up to unlock the door so you can open it so you can adjust the seat -- but you can't because the doors don't have any external lock/unlock plungers 4. Paw around (if it's dark, because you're in a parking garage) for the power unlock button so you can get the door open, so you can adjust the seat, so you can finally DRIVE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPACE The above is not a nitpick when you deal with it constantly over a one-year period. I am not a seat adjustment expert, but I would have suggested that you open door, sit down, adjust seat, close door. Sorry I didn't get this to you sooner. I could have saved you a years worth of frustration.
#15 of 42 Re: I am not sure the reviewer knows what his talking about [eskanday] by jimc850 Jul 08, 2007 (2:26 pm)
Replying to: eskanday (Mar 20, 2007 5:48 pm) am thinking aaobut buying a Solstice. How does yours handle in rain and/or snow? How's your reliability? Jim Chamlee Replies to this message: trucktricks (Jul 10, 2007 7:27 am) pao (Jul 10, 2007 11:12 am) jimc850 (Jul 11, 2007 3:56 pm)
#16 of 42 Re: I am not sure the reviewer knows what his talking about [jimc850] by trucktricks Jul 10, 2007 (7:27 am)
Replying to: jimc850 (Jul 08, 2007 2:26 pm) I have a GXP coming early August. Due to rear wheel drive and almost no ground clearance, I will be parking it when it snows. Rain I would suggest is not a problem as long as you have good tread. Just slow down 10MPH. Rick
#17 of 42 Re: I am not sure the reviewer knows what his talking about [jimc850] by pao Jul 10, 2007 (11:12 am)
Replying to: jimc850 (Jul 08, 2007 2:26 pm) had ours since Dec 05....some minor issues...all covered under warranty......RWD..so careful in the rain and on curves......snow......park it....its a snow plow with more than 4 inches on the ground..due to low ground clearance... will it be your daily car...only car?? Replies to this message: jimc850 (Jul 11, 2007 3:56 pm)
#18 of 42 Re: I am not sure the reviewer knows what his talking about [pao] by jimc850 Jul 11, 2007 (3:56 pm)
Replying to: pao (Jul 10, 2007 11:12 am) My wife's only car---unless she keeps the '94 Miata (bought new and rarely used) or current primary vehicle (03 VW Bug convertible). Will probably sell or give these to relatives. Also have an old pickup we share--I also have a larger car. My wife has always had either sport or sporty convertibles. We both like them, but have the sedan for added room. Had a 300ZX turbo that liked to swap ends every time it snowed, hence earlier question. Miata handles reasonably well in snow. Attracted by Solstice styling, had short demo ride and seemed to handle well.
#19 of 42 Solstice GXP is a first class sportscar by augusto Aug 02, 2007 (3:03 pm)
Reviewer Caroline was either (1) Writing about an entirely different car; (2) Has a obsessive dislike of anything GM or: (3) Is not qualified to review automobiles. My guess is a combination of 2 and 3 and I lean toward number 3. I have owned 9 sportscars from a TR4 in 1963 up to a 2001 Vet which I gave up at age 66 for the GXP since a new Vet had a bit too much muscle and too high a price for a retiree. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised to find out just how much muscle this GXP has, as well as its agile ability to track like a cat on hard curves. I drove a 2007 Miata and it is a pleasant old lady's car (maybe that's why the reviewer loves it). Other than no space for luggage and dumb drink holders, I cannot fault the GPX...it is a fine automobile and an authentic sportscar.
#20 of 42 There Is No Rhyme Or Reason To Love by jbwilson1 Dec 20, 2007 (5:44 am)
Most of us who have been around for any length of time have come to realize that there is often no rhyme or reason for "like" and "dislike". I have been the back-seater in various tactical jet aircraft and driven sports cars starting with my 1966 442, going through the Mustang Mach I and the 1990 240Z and others as well as the standard assortment of trucks, SUV's, and family cars both foreign and domestic; but the first time I saw a Solstice I fell in love with it's style. It was a little too tame until the the GXP came out, but now it is my baby. Yes, it does have it's flaws and little annoyances; but like family that's something you learn to live with and adjust to. I looked at and test drove the S2000, Z3, and Miata (with convertible hardtop) and as usual did all of the online research on the pros and cons of each (including Edmonds review). But taking all of this into account, nothing rattled my cage like the Solstice GXP. So I now live with the random top squeeks, the low ground clearance, the close to impossible to use cup holders, the strict sequence of steps needed to raise/lower the top, adjust the seat (very rarely), and raise/close the hood as well as the minimum storage area (although a removable luggage rack helped). And guess what, I still love that car and enjoy driving it more than I've enjoyed driving in many a year. Sure it's not perfect, but it's got character and that's one of the joys of owning it. It's like learning to live with your spouse and their faults (assuming that they have them), it just helps to make you love them more over time. As I told my wife when she commented on the car being impractical, "marrying you was impractical at the time, but it has worked out nicely". Of course the car doesn't make me sleep on the couch either. Replies to this message: trucktricks (Dec 20, 2007 11:37 am) smogdung (Dec 20, 2007 6:26 pm) trucktricks (Dec 21, 2007 6:49 am) smogdung (Dec 25, 2007 4:11 pm)
#21 of 42 And, jbwilson1... by iluvmysephia1 Dec 20, 2007 (9:22 am)
you can use your brakes right away after starting your Solstice GXP, too, right? Pop over to the Saturn Sky forum and go in to Saturn Sky brake problem and you'll see what I'm talking about. They have to start the car, wait for it to warm up, then they can pull out and their brakes will work. If they take off too early their brakes won't work. Replies to this message: trucktricks (Dec 20, 2007 11:48 am)