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Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac Solstice Article Comments - 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test
18 messages, Last post on Jun 14, 2009 at 11:39 AM
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2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test - Bottom Line: Maybe we expect too much. (more)
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When he complains about things that the car lacks, I have to laugh... "Comfortable cockpit with practical storage? All-day freeway comfort? We can't even stow the narrow hardtop inside the car?" I don't have these in my Lotus Elise either--the most fantastic care I've ever owned --which gets driven 90 miles a day, btw. It isn't the car for him; he wants something else (minivan, perhaps?)...it's not that he expected too much, but that he expected or wanted something different. |
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it's characteristic for GM to biuld not special 1 generation of the car and even if second, refreshed model comes with much better specs, it's to late:modern Pontiac GTO, Chevy SSR, Caddy Allante and XLR (yes, but thye same with Ford Thunderbird)... it's probably the same problem here: I love that rough "american" attitude..but if You cant hide your "targa roof" in your car ? - that's too much, they could improve interior too ! (370Z and Mustang got that !) although this cars has some flaws I really love the looks and drivetrain (specs) good luck Pontiac : I hope we'll see new retro-GTO Pontiac is a niche brand now, isn't it?  modern muscle debate ernwopr  wp.pl
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Replying to: jeffindfw (Feb 25, 2009 1:07 pm) I haven't driven either car, but from what I have read, it seems that the Miata gets high overall marks and the Solstice doesn't because of differences in refinement. The fit and finish, storage space, top operation, comfort and most importantly driving experience all seem to be excellent in the Miata. I haven't heard good things about any of those for the solstice, but then, I've never driven one. Those of you that own the Solstice seem to be happy, but then, few people will admit to making a poor decision on items as expensive as cars. Look no farther than the user reviews for just about any car on this site. Almost everything is 9.0+. Maybe the Solstice is a good car, I don't know, but I think that I would trust the opinions of those who evaluate vehicles for a living over those who have a great deal of personal interest involved by being owners. It's not that my opinion of the car is particularly important, but if comparisons are going to be made to the Miata, they should be done with perspective and in the proper context. I don't think that it is fair to compare an approximately $30k car with an approximately $20k one, especially on the track. |
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Replying to: ikana (Mar 01, 2009 8:50 pm) as far as the SCCA competition...both are special club edition vehicles and not necessarily a GXP vs a base.....the cars both race in the same division so meet the same specifications.....so I would stand behind the SCCA wins of the Solstice vs Miata.....since the first year it hit the track.....it began its winning ways... those who evaluate cars for a living do so out of strictly based on likes dislikes and somewhat of a personal bias in my opinion.....never make a choice based on someone review...make it on a personal, careful research of the product....regardless of what it is.....Im sure others will add there comments here as well....cheers
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Replying to: pao (Mar 02, 2009 4:34 am) I looked up the Solstice Club Sport package, it appears to be available for the GXP only: http://www.edmunds.com/pontiac/solstice/2008/review.html Please correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't that be pitting the Miata against a much more powerful car? I couldn't readily find information on an equivalent package for the Miata, but I doubt that it includes serious power mods that would make it competitive with the GXP. They may have modifications that improve handling and braking vs. a base model car, but that is a pretty significant power difference, so it doesn't seem like a fair comparison to me. |
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| Having owned a number of Opel GT's I think that the new Solstice Coupe, especially with it's rounded sides resembles the original Opel GT. The newer version of that car is nice, but misses the GT's essence. | |
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great debate.. i belive if Solstice would have more interesting interior (It's not so much $ after all) it would be much interesting ( I thing maybe sth more futuristic (Pontiac as a sport and futuryistic brand-remember futuristic adverts from 80ties?) Solstice is a special model and it should evething special.. thats the kind of car I'm expecting from pontiac.. angd pleas biuld sth 2 door with retro-futuristic design give GTO second chance ! oh yeah and put that 300BHP V-6 under the hood!
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Replying to: dyzio (Mar 08, 2009 1:33 am) the aftermarket is growing for the solstice.....and you can even put a V-8 in it now as well a several companies offering with S/C or Turbo upgrades, not to mention a few very good interior design shops specializing in the Solstice.... |
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Replying to: ikana (Mar 01, 2009 8:50 pm) "Writing about cars for a living" does not mean these people have a clue. All these writers say the Miata handles better than the Solstice, yet facts prove that wrong. I own a Viper, so I can afford to buy a Miata if I thought it was better. I have driven a TON of Miatas while being a driving instructor. It is a great car. But, the Solstice is a better car if you want performance. The Solstice handles better, and the championships PROVE it. I'm just telling you people to stop blindly reading the bologny written by these "professional" reviewers, and go look at these cars yourself. Drive them yourself. Have an open mind. The quality in my new Nissan Xterra is HORRIFIC, and if it was built by GM, the reviewers would raise holy stink about it. BUT, because it is Japanese, it gets a free pass and it is never mentioned. I bought it because I needed a strong off-roader, so I don't care about the terrible interior quality, but I *DO* think it is unfair the way all the automotive writers are SOOO biased against American companies.
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Replying to: jeffindfw (Jun 14, 2009 2:40 am) First off, solstices that race in SSB are equipped with an option called Z0K Club Sport, which offers several upgrades (including suspension) that are not found on the stock car sold to the average consumer. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/its-official-pontiac-solstice-goes-road-racin- g/ Regardless of whether a similar package exists for the miata is sort of besides the point, as you have gone past comparing cars that the average person can actually buy. You're not comparing a stock solstice to a stock miata at this point. Secondly, there is this article from Edmunds, which indicates that mazda attempted to produce an answer to the Z0K Club Sport option for the Miata: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Followup/articleId=124963 So without any more information than that, I can only conclude that the miata is losing to a solstice that is not a realistic representation of what is available to the average consumer. If nothing else, this might be a good indicator that SSB results are not a good indicator of what cars offer the best performance for the average consumer. Therefore, it is now on you to prove that the base solstice handles better than the base miata, as you seem to believe. I don't understand why you threw in a statement about having a viper, and thus being able to afford a miata if you thought it was better. You're comparing a very expensive car to a very cheap one, you'd be an idiot to take a viper over a miata if it wasn't a good deal better for your criteria. Are you just trying to show off by saying that you have a viper? So what? That isn't relevant to the discussion. Neither are any allegations about bias, since I believe that I have established that the cars are not directly comparable anyway, as at least one of them (the solstice) is not an accurate representation of the base solstice you see on the road. |
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