Pontiac: Solstice News
09-22-2005 | 11:30 AM
#245
'Big Daddy Diggler'
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 11,016
Likes: 4
From: Yonkers NY
People will do anything to be one of the first when it comes to owning a car. Give the car a year, not only will the first year problems be worked out, but the car will be sold for invoice.
10-03-2005 | 08:17 PM
#246
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: philly
Originally Posted by CanadianDriver
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articl...06solstice.htm
October 3, 2005
First Drive:
2006 Pontiac Solstice
By Richard Russell
Photos by Michael La Fave and Grant Yoxon
Discuss this story in the forum at CarTalkCanada
Photo: Michael La Fave. Click image to enlarge
Pontiac is depending on a positive reaction to the 2006 Solstice and the subsequent buzz that would create to help with the "renaissance of the brand." The good news is that this stunning sports car is an amazing first effort right out of the box. The comparison to the Mazda Miata is inevitable - and welcomed by GM. The Miata is widely respected as the perfect definition of a modern sports car. The fact the Solstice could emerge from the depths of GM and stand proudly beside such an icon, is nothing less than amazing.
The Solstice is the first two-seater based on GM's new Kappa rear-drive architecture. It will be followed by the Saturn Sky next year and a European version, likely from Opel, later on. After having the market to itself for 15 years with little if any serious competition the Miata has some company - serious company.
The Solstice is an eye-grabber. Devoid of bumpers front or rear and featuring a dramatic swept-under appearance at both ends, the style is stunning.
Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge
Unfortunately in many jurisdictions the front will be marred by a license plate and there was no provision for one so it is stuck smack dab in the middle of that gorgeous nose. The head-restraint extensions on the rear deck and massive 18-inch wheels lend a sleek, finished and upscale look, making the little roadster appear larger than it actually is (it casts a shadow almost exactly the same size as a Miata, albeit slightly wider).
The Solstice is all metal and those shapely panels are formed by hydroforming (squeezing the steel into the desired shape against a mould under massive pressure), instead of stamping by press. The engineers devised a large and very stout centre tunnel to provide the Solstice with amazing rigidity - also using hydroforming which allows shaping difficult contours.
Here is a case where beauty is more than skin deep. Dynamically, the engineers were as successful as the designers. This little sports car is agile and a treat to drive. Response to throttle and steering inputs is quick, linear and direct. The ride is comfortably supple, yet you can toss this little demon into the corners at speeds that would have almost anything else leaving the road or shredding tires in protest.
Photo: Michael La Fave. Click image to enlarge
A fully independent suspension, four wheel disc brakes and monster tires allow the Solstice to stick to the road like chewing gum to hair. Unfortunately, ABS is a $600 option on a car that is both capable of and likely to be driven energetically. There are a few other instances like this where it is apparent sacrifices were made to meet the $25,695 base price. You can get it over $32,000 with some effort but a really well-equipped one will not reach $30,000.
GM's twin-cam 'Ecotec' four cylinder engine, with four valves per cylinder and balance shafts, has found a welcome home under the hood of a variety of vehicles and appears here in 2.4 litre guise, presenting a healthy 177-horsepower. The sound is not particularly pleasing at high revs, but it is smooth and offers decent torque low down where it is needed. The sole transmission offering is a five-speed Aisin manual. We prefer to call it a four-speed with a very tall overdrive. There is a monstrous gap between fourth and fifth gears making the top cog all but useless except for long flat or downhill stretches. Obviously ratios were chosen to achieve high fuel mileage ratings in laboratory conditions. The clutch is light and direct with progressive take-up. The shifter is similarly light and direct with well-defined gates, very short throws and a well-placed lever. A five-speed automatic will be along next Spring.
Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge
There is ample space for two large people inside, but little room for anything else. One cupholder is in the way of the passenger's legs and the other difficult to reach and use behind and between the seats. Due to the structural centre tunnel there is no provision for coins, glasses, mobile phones or the usual "stuff" people carry with them, but there are slots in the seat bottom cushions. The Solstice comes with an all-dark or two-tone interior. We preferred the latter. The seats are terrific with lots of lateral support above and below the waist, which was especially appreciated during our frequent attempts to explore and enjoy the considerable handling limits of this car. Taller folks might find the lack of recline room bothersome.
The top is our chief gripe and an area where we feel extra time and money would have been well spent. It is weather-tight but when in place the tiny (heated glass) rear window restricts visibility and there is considerable wind noise at the rear corners right beside your ears.
Neither is particularly worrisome in a canvas top. But the real problem comes when the top is lowered. When down - and it goes up or down with minimal manual effort - it completely fills the trunk, leaving no room for anything larger than a small purse or bag.
With the top up, Pontiac claims 107 litres of space in the trunk, but that must be liquid measure because a monstrous lump where the gas tank lives atop the rear differential takes up most of the space leaving a small perimeter slot for storage.
When folded, the top is hidden completely by a very slick rear-hinged full metal cover, resulting in a very finished look, much better than having all that canvas showing. But that means you have to stop and get out to raise or lower the top.
The Solstice is a truly amazing first effort. Hats off to GM and those within who managed to keep it so close to the original show car. It comes up a bit short because of the top, lack of space and poorly-chosen gear ratios but each of these issues is easily addressed! With such stunning style and exceptional driving dynamics this is still an amazing product at an impressive price.
Richard Russell is technical editor for Carguide magazine, a regular contributor to the Halifax Herald and Globe and Mail newspapers, owner of Advanced Driving Concepts driver training school, and a founding member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
October 3, 2005
First Drive:
2006 Pontiac Solstice
By Richard Russell
Photos by Michael La Fave and Grant Yoxon
Discuss this story in the forum at CarTalkCanada
Photo: Michael La Fave. Click image to enlarge
Pontiac is depending on a positive reaction to the 2006 Solstice and the subsequent buzz that would create to help with the "renaissance of the brand." The good news is that this stunning sports car is an amazing first effort right out of the box. The comparison to the Mazda Miata is inevitable - and welcomed by GM. The Miata is widely respected as the perfect definition of a modern sports car. The fact the Solstice could emerge from the depths of GM and stand proudly beside such an icon, is nothing less than amazing.
The Solstice is the first two-seater based on GM's new Kappa rear-drive architecture. It will be followed by the Saturn Sky next year and a European version, likely from Opel, later on. After having the market to itself for 15 years with little if any serious competition the Miata has some company - serious company.
The Solstice is an eye-grabber. Devoid of bumpers front or rear and featuring a dramatic swept-under appearance at both ends, the style is stunning.
Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge
Unfortunately in many jurisdictions the front will be marred by a license plate and there was no provision for one so it is stuck smack dab in the middle of that gorgeous nose. The head-restraint extensions on the rear deck and massive 18-inch wheels lend a sleek, finished and upscale look, making the little roadster appear larger than it actually is (it casts a shadow almost exactly the same size as a Miata, albeit slightly wider).
The Solstice is all metal and those shapely panels are formed by hydroforming (squeezing the steel into the desired shape against a mould under massive pressure), instead of stamping by press. The engineers devised a large and very stout centre tunnel to provide the Solstice with amazing rigidity - also using hydroforming which allows shaping difficult contours.
Here is a case where beauty is more than skin deep. Dynamically, the engineers were as successful as the designers. This little sports car is agile and a treat to drive. Response to throttle and steering inputs is quick, linear and direct. The ride is comfortably supple, yet you can toss this little demon into the corners at speeds that would have almost anything else leaving the road or shredding tires in protest.
Photo: Michael La Fave. Click image to enlarge
A fully independent suspension, four wheel disc brakes and monster tires allow the Solstice to stick to the road like chewing gum to hair. Unfortunately, ABS is a $600 option on a car that is both capable of and likely to be driven energetically. There are a few other instances like this where it is apparent sacrifices were made to meet the $25,695 base price. You can get it over $32,000 with some effort but a really well-equipped one will not reach $30,000.
GM's twin-cam 'Ecotec' four cylinder engine, with four valves per cylinder and balance shafts, has found a welcome home under the hood of a variety of vehicles and appears here in 2.4 litre guise, presenting a healthy 177-horsepower. The sound is not particularly pleasing at high revs, but it is smooth and offers decent torque low down where it is needed. The sole transmission offering is a five-speed Aisin manual. We prefer to call it a four-speed with a very tall overdrive. There is a monstrous gap between fourth and fifth gears making the top cog all but useless except for long flat or downhill stretches. Obviously ratios were chosen to achieve high fuel mileage ratings in laboratory conditions. The clutch is light and direct with progressive take-up. The shifter is similarly light and direct with well-defined gates, very short throws and a well-placed lever. A five-speed automatic will be along next Spring.
Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge
There is ample space for two large people inside, but little room for anything else. One cupholder is in the way of the passenger's legs and the other difficult to reach and use behind and between the seats. Due to the structural centre tunnel there is no provision for coins, glasses, mobile phones or the usual "stuff" people carry with them, but there are slots in the seat bottom cushions. The Solstice comes with an all-dark or two-tone interior. We preferred the latter. The seats are terrific with lots of lateral support above and below the waist, which was especially appreciated during our frequent attempts to explore and enjoy the considerable handling limits of this car. Taller folks might find the lack of recline room bothersome.
The top is our chief gripe and an area where we feel extra time and money would have been well spent. It is weather-tight but when in place the tiny (heated glass) rear window restricts visibility and there is considerable wind noise at the rear corners right beside your ears.
Neither is particularly worrisome in a canvas top. But the real problem comes when the top is lowered. When down - and it goes up or down with minimal manual effort - it completely fills the trunk, leaving no room for anything larger than a small purse or bag.
With the top up, Pontiac claims 107 litres of space in the trunk, but that must be liquid measure because a monstrous lump where the gas tank lives atop the rear differential takes up most of the space leaving a small perimeter slot for storage.
When folded, the top is hidden completely by a very slick rear-hinged full metal cover, resulting in a very finished look, much better than having all that canvas showing. But that means you have to stop and get out to raise or lower the top.
The Solstice is a truly amazing first effort. Hats off to GM and those within who managed to keep it so close to the original show car. It comes up a bit short because of the top, lack of space and poorly-chosen gear ratios but each of these issues is easily addressed! With such stunning style and exceptional driving dynamics this is still an amazing product at an impressive price.
Richard Russell is technical editor for Carguide magazine, a regular contributor to the Halifax Herald and Globe and Mail newspapers, owner of Advanced Driving Concepts driver training school, and a founding member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
10-03-2005 | 08:46 PM
#248
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: philly
It doesn't seem like it is the better overall package as compared to a Miata though-more like personal preference. Sure it has a newer look but the Mazda really seems to be the more refined of the two with more attention paid to details.
10-03-2005 | 09:29 PM
#250
Registered Abuser of VTEC
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,542
Likes: 115
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Originally Posted by The Sarlacc
They admit the miata is more "athletic"
10-03-2005 | 09:31 PM
#251
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 49,477
Likes: 5,142
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Originally Posted by youngTL
The Miata also has a real trunk. Did you see that HUGE lump in the Solstice trunk? That was an engineering blunder IMO.
10-04-2005 | 01:16 PM
#253
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by charliemike
Supply v. demand, okay ... But I still hate dealers. Such a stupid, antiquated system.
I like the car, like the Sky (looks) better but have driven neither. That said I have never owned a open top car as primary transportation and as a result if I were in the market for one now I would buy a used Boxster (one of the best chassis on the market) or a used S2000, you can get a lot of car from each in the low 20s and though you wouldn't be the kid with the new toy on the block you would have bigger grins on a mountain road. Even in the new market though the Miata (MX5) isn't the most masculine car it has proven generation after generation that it is indeed a drivers car.
Someone paid $32,900 for a solstice?
10-05-2005 | 08:35 PM
#255
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
i went into a pontiac dealer to check out the coupe GTP (i'm probably going to end up getting it), and saw that they had the solstice in the showroom. I just told the dealer, casually, "i was actually considering the solstice but it's too impractical for me."
he just laughs, and replies, "well, we only have 1 right now, and there's already a wait list of over 100 people, and the top 10 or so people are willing to pay double MSRP."
so i reply, "so yeah, how about we give that GTP a test drive..."
anyway, what do you all think about the '06 GTP coupe? anything i should know about it before making my purchase? i'm getting a pretty good deal on it..
he just laughs, and replies, "well, we only have 1 right now, and there's already a wait list of over 100 people, and the top 10 or so people are willing to pay double MSRP."
so i reply, "so yeah, how about we give that GTP a test drive..."
anyway, what do you all think about the '06 GTP coupe? anything i should know about it before making my purchase? i'm getting a pretty good deal on it..
10-06-2005 | 01:48 AM
#256
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Originally Posted by the_Osk
i went into a pontiac dealer to check out the coupe GTP (i'm probably going to end up getting it), and saw that they had the solstice in the showroom. I just told the dealer, casually, "i was actually considering the solstice but it's too impractical for me."
he just laughs, and replies, "well, we only have 1 right now, and there's already a wait list of over 100 people, and the top 10 or so people are willing to pay double MSRP."
so i reply, "so yeah, how about we give that GTP a test drive..."
anyway, what do you all think about the '06 GTP coupe? anything i should know about it before making my purchase? i'm getting a pretty good deal on it..
he just laughs, and replies, "well, we only have 1 right now, and there's already a wait list of over 100 people, and the top 10 or so people are willing to pay double MSRP."
so i reply, "so yeah, how about we give that GTP a test drive..."
anyway, what do you all think about the '06 GTP coupe? anything i should know about it before making my purchase? i'm getting a pretty good deal on it..
10-06-2005 | 11:55 AM
#257
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,399
Likes: 8
From: Washington DC (NOVA)
Car News briefs: GM confirms Solstice, Sky will get supercharged engine - - Source: Autoweek
Boosted roadsters
That a Vauxhall version of the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky is in the works is nothing new. What is: We have confirmation of a supercharged high-output engine for the 2007 Vauxhall Lightning as well as Solstice and Sky.
Jon Lauckner, General Motors’ global product planning boss, says the Vauxhall two-seater will come to market with a 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder. The engine is expected to produce in excess of 200 hp and peak torque of 200 lb-ft, according to insiders. Look for the boosted engine in Solstice and Sky late next year.
That a Vauxhall version of the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky is in the works is nothing new. What is: We have confirmation of a supercharged high-output engine for the 2007 Vauxhall Lightning as well as Solstice and Sky.
Jon Lauckner, General Motors’ global product planning boss, says the Vauxhall two-seater will come to market with a 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder. The engine is expected to produce in excess of 200 hp and peak torque of 200 lb-ft, according to insiders. Look for the boosted engine in Solstice and Sky late next year.
10-16-2005 | 11:03 AM
#259
Suzuka Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,516
Likes: 1
From: Lakeway, TX
2006 Pontiac Solstice: A Ray of Sunshine Amid G.M.'s Gathering Clouds
2006 Pontiac Solstice: A Ray of Sunshine Amid G.M.'s Gathering Clouds
By JAMES G. COBB
BEFORE Botox or Cialis, before reality shows provided cathartic humiliation before an audience of millions, a shiny red roadster was all it took to drive the midlife blues away. Will that time-tested cure work for a corporation in crisis?
General Motors is having a rough year. Its credit rating and stock keep falling. Sales tumbled after it stopped giving employee discounts to anyone with a pulse. The bankruptcy of Delphi, the big parts maker that was once a G.M. subsidiary, may saddle the company with obligations of $11 billion. Kirk Kerkorian, the billionaire investor, is circling like a raptor. And G.M. will soon serve up new trucks and S.U.V.'s in heaping-portion sizes just as the car-buying public is getting a yen for dim sum.
Paradoxically, amid this gloom G.M. has brought out some of its most interesting cars and trucks in years: the Chevrolet HHR retrowagon, the Cobalt SS coupe, the latest Z06 über-Corvette and the unexpectedly likable baby Hummer, the H3.
But nothing quite compares, in style or as a symbol, with the Pontiac Solstice roadster that recently went on sale.
Done right, the Solstice could be one of the "gotta have" cars that Robert A. Lutz, vice chairman and chief of product development, promised when he joined G.M. four years ago. But critics who have noted the company's longstanding tendency to overpromise and underdeliver - and have memories of underwhelming G.M. two-seaters like the Buick Reatta, Cadillac Allanté and early Pontiac Fieros - were not optimistic.
What's more, the Solstice, which starts around $20,000, is a direct challenge to the most successful sports car ever, the Mazda MX-5 Miata - and it comes to market just as Mazda is bringing out a new third generation of its beloved two-seater (with the Miata nameplate removed, in an effort to make the car more manly). The MX-5 works because it is light, agile and simple; G.M. can make a mean S.U.V., but it hasn't been very good at light, agile and simple.
So I packed a load of healthy skepticism into my Solstice test car. I went looking for flaws and quickly found some. I groused about the lack of storage for cellphone, P.D.A. and tape recorder. I mused that it felt 300 pounds too heavy (noting later that the MX-5 weighs some 400 pounds less). Trying to raise the roof in a downpour, I remarked on the multiple steps required, in contrast to Mazda's one-hand, one-step operation.
And then, on my third day with the Solstice, I was smitten.
I remember the exact moment. I was barreling up a familiar mountain road near my house. At a hairpin in loose gravel, I turned the wheel, downshifted to second gear and gunned the engine to climb the steep incline to the left. Suddenly and surprisingly, the normally well-planted back end broke away, sliding rightward toward a precipice.
A bit shocked - most test cars, with front-wheel drive or fancy traction controls, whipsaw a bit at this spot and then groan on - I backed off the throttle. The rear end fell neatly back in line; there was no danger really, just a cheap, addictive thrill.
Like an 8-year-old who has discovered a scary roller coaster, I came back for more. I spent the weekend revisiting the gravel hairpins to play, sending the back sliding out by gunning the accelerator, then tucking it in by lifting off the throttle. Why should rally racers have all the fun?
From that point, the car's faults receded and its charms loomed larger. When I visited the same road a few days later in a new MX-5, I was disappointed to find that despite its considerable appeal, we failed to establish the same man-machine connection.
So I think the Solstice will do just fine. It might sell even if it cornered like a Rambler Classic, simply because it looks so good. Athletic and organic, with more bulges and curves than RuPaul, the design is both muscular and feminine, but not truly cute and not retro in the least. The 18-inch wheels are pushed to the corners. Details, down to tiny scoops behind the front wheels, look right.
The Solstice story started in 2001 when Mr. Lutz, new to G.M., dusted off his dream of a no-excuses American roadster in the European idiom. He happened upon a sketch by a young designer, Franz Von Holzhausen, and ordered up a full-size model.
Just 13 weeks later, the Solstice show car rolled into the Detroit auto show, its paint barely dry. The reaction was so positive that G.M. developed a new vehicle platform suitable for such a small rear-drive car. The Saturn Sky roadster, due early next year, will share this foundation.
Not only did the show car design make it into production without dumbing down, G.M.'s engineers seem to have had free rein to make the Solstice perform. That they accomplished this in a $20,000 car is not just remarkable; given G.M.'s recent history, it is almost inconceivable. In a recent interview, Mr. Lutz pronounced himself "98 percent" pleased with how the car turned out.
G.M. used a trick to make the Solstice happen. Under its Crunch Gym skin, the car is a parts-bin Frankenstein. Its Ecotec four-cylinder engine was pulled from the HHR, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Ion. The five-speed manual transmission is from the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado pickups. The fog lights are from the Pontiac Grand Prix, the backup lamps from the GMC Envoy and the air-conditioner controls from the H3. Donations were accepted from foreigners: the air vents and outside mirrors came from Fiat, the seat frames from Mexico's Opel Corsa.
Somehow, the car doesn't feel cobbled together, as if the parts were speaking in different tongues. True, some bits of the cockpit look a bit cheap, but no worse (and probably better) than many recent G.M. interiors. The curving driver-oriented instrument panel, which sweeps down to meet the shifter, complements the exterior. The gauges are attractive and the three-spoke steering wheel, a design that has begun to appear in other G.M. cars, feels great.
I mentioned flaws. While there is a glovebox, pockets on the seat cushions and a cubby on the cabin's rear wall, there's no place to toss sunglasses or gadgets. I kept wondering why a couple of shallow trays hadn't been molded into the blank plastic covering the driveline tunnel.
Of the three cup holders, two are hilarious. They pop out of the back wall of the cabin, keeping your coffee handy at your elbow. When the top is down, hot liquid blows on your arm.
The off light for the passenger air bag is glaringly prominent. The seatback adjuster is wedged in so tightly you can't use it when seated. Annoying power locks won't let you out until the key is removed.
The trunk is missing in action. The fuel tank intrudes, chopping up the space, which vanishes when the roof is lowered. If you're planning a sunny weekend getaway with a close friend, figure on sharing a thong - or check into a clothing-optional resort. (Pontiac is working on a luggage rack for the deck lid.)
At this price, the performance is hard to fault. Yes, more power would be nice. It's a safe bet that a hotter engine will eventually be offered.
A sixth gear wouldn't hurt, given the big gap between fourth and fifth. The shifter, while not as crisp as, say, the Honda S2000's, works just fine. An automatic gearbox will come in the spring.
The brakes are emphatic and the tires are grippy, with excellent traction. From its proportions to its handling, the Solstice seems balanced, and it accomplishes this without slavishly copying Madza or MG.
Given that Detroit has little roadster experience, and that the Solstice looks and feels rather American - in the best sense - the car should be a point of pride for a company on edge. In Mr. Lutz's view, "It is a graphic demonstration of General Motors' capability to a skeptical world."
When you buy a Solstice you don't pick a color but an attitude. In Pontiac's paint scheme, red is called Aggressive, silver is Cool, gray is Sly and black is Mysterious. Then there is Envious. That is green, and it will be the color of your friends.
INSIDE TRACK: American beauty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/au...pagewanted=all
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/10/16/automobiles/16auto.inline.jpg
By JAMES G. COBB
BEFORE Botox or Cialis, before reality shows provided cathartic humiliation before an audience of millions, a shiny red roadster was all it took to drive the midlife blues away. Will that time-tested cure work for a corporation in crisis?
General Motors is having a rough year. Its credit rating and stock keep falling. Sales tumbled after it stopped giving employee discounts to anyone with a pulse. The bankruptcy of Delphi, the big parts maker that was once a G.M. subsidiary, may saddle the company with obligations of $11 billion. Kirk Kerkorian, the billionaire investor, is circling like a raptor. And G.M. will soon serve up new trucks and S.U.V.'s in heaping-portion sizes just as the car-buying public is getting a yen for dim sum.
Paradoxically, amid this gloom G.M. has brought out some of its most interesting cars and trucks in years: the Chevrolet HHR retrowagon, the Cobalt SS coupe, the latest Z06 über-Corvette and the unexpectedly likable baby Hummer, the H3.
But nothing quite compares, in style or as a symbol, with the Pontiac Solstice roadster that recently went on sale.
Done right, the Solstice could be one of the "gotta have" cars that Robert A. Lutz, vice chairman and chief of product development, promised when he joined G.M. four years ago. But critics who have noted the company's longstanding tendency to overpromise and underdeliver - and have memories of underwhelming G.M. two-seaters like the Buick Reatta, Cadillac Allanté and early Pontiac Fieros - were not optimistic.
What's more, the Solstice, which starts around $20,000, is a direct challenge to the most successful sports car ever, the Mazda MX-5 Miata - and it comes to market just as Mazda is bringing out a new third generation of its beloved two-seater (with the Miata nameplate removed, in an effort to make the car more manly). The MX-5 works because it is light, agile and simple; G.M. can make a mean S.U.V., but it hasn't been very good at light, agile and simple.
So I packed a load of healthy skepticism into my Solstice test car. I went looking for flaws and quickly found some. I groused about the lack of storage for cellphone, P.D.A. and tape recorder. I mused that it felt 300 pounds too heavy (noting later that the MX-5 weighs some 400 pounds less). Trying to raise the roof in a downpour, I remarked on the multiple steps required, in contrast to Mazda's one-hand, one-step operation.
And then, on my third day with the Solstice, I was smitten.
I remember the exact moment. I was barreling up a familiar mountain road near my house. At a hairpin in loose gravel, I turned the wheel, downshifted to second gear and gunned the engine to climb the steep incline to the left. Suddenly and surprisingly, the normally well-planted back end broke away, sliding rightward toward a precipice.
A bit shocked - most test cars, with front-wheel drive or fancy traction controls, whipsaw a bit at this spot and then groan on - I backed off the throttle. The rear end fell neatly back in line; there was no danger really, just a cheap, addictive thrill.
Like an 8-year-old who has discovered a scary roller coaster, I came back for more. I spent the weekend revisiting the gravel hairpins to play, sending the back sliding out by gunning the accelerator, then tucking it in by lifting off the throttle. Why should rally racers have all the fun?
From that point, the car's faults receded and its charms loomed larger. When I visited the same road a few days later in a new MX-5, I was disappointed to find that despite its considerable appeal, we failed to establish the same man-machine connection.
So I think the Solstice will do just fine. It might sell even if it cornered like a Rambler Classic, simply because it looks so good. Athletic and organic, with more bulges and curves than RuPaul, the design is both muscular and feminine, but not truly cute and not retro in the least. The 18-inch wheels are pushed to the corners. Details, down to tiny scoops behind the front wheels, look right.
The Solstice story started in 2001 when Mr. Lutz, new to G.M., dusted off his dream of a no-excuses American roadster in the European idiom. He happened upon a sketch by a young designer, Franz Von Holzhausen, and ordered up a full-size model.
Just 13 weeks later, the Solstice show car rolled into the Detroit auto show, its paint barely dry. The reaction was so positive that G.M. developed a new vehicle platform suitable for such a small rear-drive car. The Saturn Sky roadster, due early next year, will share this foundation.
Not only did the show car design make it into production without dumbing down, G.M.'s engineers seem to have had free rein to make the Solstice perform. That they accomplished this in a $20,000 car is not just remarkable; given G.M.'s recent history, it is almost inconceivable. In a recent interview, Mr. Lutz pronounced himself "98 percent" pleased with how the car turned out.
G.M. used a trick to make the Solstice happen. Under its Crunch Gym skin, the car is a parts-bin Frankenstein. Its Ecotec four-cylinder engine was pulled from the HHR, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Ion. The five-speed manual transmission is from the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado pickups. The fog lights are from the Pontiac Grand Prix, the backup lamps from the GMC Envoy and the air-conditioner controls from the H3. Donations were accepted from foreigners: the air vents and outside mirrors came from Fiat, the seat frames from Mexico's Opel Corsa.
Somehow, the car doesn't feel cobbled together, as if the parts were speaking in different tongues. True, some bits of the cockpit look a bit cheap, but no worse (and probably better) than many recent G.M. interiors. The curving driver-oriented instrument panel, which sweeps down to meet the shifter, complements the exterior. The gauges are attractive and the three-spoke steering wheel, a design that has begun to appear in other G.M. cars, feels great.
I mentioned flaws. While there is a glovebox, pockets on the seat cushions and a cubby on the cabin's rear wall, there's no place to toss sunglasses or gadgets. I kept wondering why a couple of shallow trays hadn't been molded into the blank plastic covering the driveline tunnel.
Of the three cup holders, two are hilarious. They pop out of the back wall of the cabin, keeping your coffee handy at your elbow. When the top is down, hot liquid blows on your arm.
The off light for the passenger air bag is glaringly prominent. The seatback adjuster is wedged in so tightly you can't use it when seated. Annoying power locks won't let you out until the key is removed.
The trunk is missing in action. The fuel tank intrudes, chopping up the space, which vanishes when the roof is lowered. If you're planning a sunny weekend getaway with a close friend, figure on sharing a thong - or check into a clothing-optional resort. (Pontiac is working on a luggage rack for the deck lid.)
At this price, the performance is hard to fault. Yes, more power would be nice. It's a safe bet that a hotter engine will eventually be offered.
A sixth gear wouldn't hurt, given the big gap between fourth and fifth. The shifter, while not as crisp as, say, the Honda S2000's, works just fine. An automatic gearbox will come in the spring.
The brakes are emphatic and the tires are grippy, with excellent traction. From its proportions to its handling, the Solstice seems balanced, and it accomplishes this without slavishly copying Madza or MG.
Given that Detroit has little roadster experience, and that the Solstice looks and feels rather American - in the best sense - the car should be a point of pride for a company on edge. In Mr. Lutz's view, "It is a graphic demonstration of General Motors' capability to a skeptical world."
When you buy a Solstice you don't pick a color but an attitude. In Pontiac's paint scheme, red is called Aggressive, silver is Cool, gray is Sly and black is Mysterious. Then there is Envious. That is green, and it will be the color of your friends.
INSIDE TRACK: American beauty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/au...pagewanted=all
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/10/16/automobiles/16auto.inline.jpg
12-16-2005 | 04:38 PM
#266
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,399
Likes: 8
From: Washington DC (NOVA)
Lease guide forecasts high residual value for Pontiac Solstice - - ARLENA SAWYERS |
Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
The Pontiac Solstice will keep its value better than any other new 2006 domestic-brand vehicle, Automotive Lease Guide predicts.
The guide, which sets residual value standards for the industry, predicts the Solstice will hold 54.0 percent of its sticker price after three years. The roadster has a base price of $19,995, including shipping.
Among domestic vehicles, the Solstice is second only to the 2006 Dodge Viper. The guide projects the Viper to retain 60.0 percent of its sticker price after three years.
A residual value of more than 50 percent is considered outstanding.
The guide predicts that two other new 2006 cars - the Ford Fusion and Dodge Charger - both will hold 45.6 percent of their resale value after three years.
A residual value is a projection of a vehicle's worth at the end of a lease, typically three years. It is expressed as a percentage of sticker price.
Residual values help determine monthly payments for new-vehicle leases. Higher values allow lower payments. They also can improve perceptions of a vehicle or brand.
Another closely watched vehicle, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic, has a resale value of 53.0 percent after three years, the guide predicts.
'Curb appeal'
Raj Sundaram, president of Automotive Lease Guide in Santa Barbara, Calif., calls the Solstice "well packaged and well priced."
"It's got curb appeal," Sundaram told Automotive News. "The best thing is its reasonable volume target."
General Motors spokesman Jim Hopson says Pontiac expects to sell about 16,000 Solstices in the 2006 model year. It has the capacity to take annual Solstice sales to about 20,000 units, Hopson adds.
The guide is scheduled to release its annual residual value rankings by brand on Wednesday, Dec. 14. It predicts that 2006 vehicles from nonluxury brands will retain an average of 44.5 percent of sticker price after three years. That's 2.0 percentage points more than the guide's 2005 prediction. It's 2.5 points more than the 2004 prediction.
Honda and Toyota retain their guide rankings as the top nonluxury brands. The guide projects Honda's residual value at 53.0 percent, unchanged from the 2005 prediction. Toyota's brand residual projection is 51.8 percent, one percentage point below its 2005 projection.
As a brand, Pontiac is expected to hold 42.1 percent of its sticker price after three years, up from a projection of 36.9 percent for 2005 models. Hopson attributes that improvement in part to Pontiac's strategy of curbing fleet sales.
Buick at bottom
Buick is at the bottom of the brand rankings. Its projected residual value for its 2006 vehicles is 37.9 percent.
Still, that's up from 35.5 percent for Buick's 2005 models. GM's Hopson says new vehicles such as the Lucerne sedan should enable Buick to boost its residual values further in the next 12 to 18 months.
Automotive Lease Guide predicts that 2006 luxury-brand vehicles, on average, will retain 49.4 percent of their sticker price after three years. That is 0.5 percentage points below the guide's prediction for 2005 luxury brands and 0.4 points above the 2004 prediction.
Among luxury brands, Land Rover shows considerable improvement. Its 2006 residual projection is 51.2 percent, up from a projection of 49.6 percent for its 2005 models.
The Chrysler group would like a higher residual value for the Dodge Charger, spokesman Kevin McCormick says. But he notes that the value the guide assigns the Charger is higher than those given previous Dodge sedans.
"We've made some dramatic improvements," McCormick says. "The whole LX platform has done a good job in the residual-value market."
The guide, which sets residual value standards for the industry, predicts the Solstice will hold 54.0 percent of its sticker price after three years. The roadster has a base price of $19,995, including shipping.
Among domestic vehicles, the Solstice is second only to the 2006 Dodge Viper. The guide projects the Viper to retain 60.0 percent of its sticker price after three years.
A residual value of more than 50 percent is considered outstanding.
The guide predicts that two other new 2006 cars - the Ford Fusion and Dodge Charger - both will hold 45.6 percent of their resale value after three years.
A residual value is a projection of a vehicle's worth at the end of a lease, typically three years. It is expressed as a percentage of sticker price.
Residual values help determine monthly payments for new-vehicle leases. Higher values allow lower payments. They also can improve perceptions of a vehicle or brand.
Another closely watched vehicle, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic, has a resale value of 53.0 percent after three years, the guide predicts.
'Curb appeal'
Raj Sundaram, president of Automotive Lease Guide in Santa Barbara, Calif., calls the Solstice "well packaged and well priced."
"It's got curb appeal," Sundaram told Automotive News. "The best thing is its reasonable volume target."
General Motors spokesman Jim Hopson says Pontiac expects to sell about 16,000 Solstices in the 2006 model year. It has the capacity to take annual Solstice sales to about 20,000 units, Hopson adds.
The guide is scheduled to release its annual residual value rankings by brand on Wednesday, Dec. 14. It predicts that 2006 vehicles from nonluxury brands will retain an average of 44.5 percent of sticker price after three years. That's 2.0 percentage points more than the guide's 2005 prediction. It's 2.5 points more than the 2004 prediction.
Honda and Toyota retain their guide rankings as the top nonluxury brands. The guide projects Honda's residual value at 53.0 percent, unchanged from the 2005 prediction. Toyota's brand residual projection is 51.8 percent, one percentage point below its 2005 projection.
As a brand, Pontiac is expected to hold 42.1 percent of its sticker price after three years, up from a projection of 36.9 percent for 2005 models. Hopson attributes that improvement in part to Pontiac's strategy of curbing fleet sales.
Buick at bottom
Buick is at the bottom of the brand rankings. Its projected residual value for its 2006 vehicles is 37.9 percent.
Still, that's up from 35.5 percent for Buick's 2005 models. GM's Hopson says new vehicles such as the Lucerne sedan should enable Buick to boost its residual values further in the next 12 to 18 months.
Automotive Lease Guide predicts that 2006 luxury-brand vehicles, on average, will retain 49.4 percent of their sticker price after three years. That is 0.5 percentage points below the guide's prediction for 2005 luxury brands and 0.4 points above the 2004 prediction.
Among luxury brands, Land Rover shows considerable improvement. Its 2006 residual projection is 51.2 percent, up from a projection of 49.6 percent for its 2005 models.
The Chrysler group would like a higher residual value for the Dodge Charger, spokesman Kevin McCormick says. But he notes that the value the guide assigns the Charger is higher than those given previous Dodge sedans.
"We've made some dramatic improvements," McCormick says. "The whole LX platform has done a good job in the residual-value market."
12-16-2005 | 08:40 PM
#269
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: philly
I can't see this 'wonderful' residual value once sales kick into high gear, it will be like the 350z. The volume of cars sold, whether its a nice car or not, will bring the used values into a respectable range.
The car looks outstanding as a hard top, as usual.
The car looks outstanding as a hard top, as usual.
12-16-2005 | 11:32 PM
#271
i saw a solstice yesterday. It looks stout and butch. like a bull dog. I like it. the only thing that i thought was weird is the way the top fit over the two humps...i forget what they are called. that can't be air tight.
12-23-2005 | 10:29 PM
#272
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: philly
Solstice Gxp
.
Originally Posted by http://www.laautoshow.com/2006/debuts.aspx
Pontiac Solstice GXP
The sleek new two-seater gets more power with the debut of the Solstice GXP, which features GM’s all-new Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo, the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family. This turbo with direct injection kicks a V-6’s worth of power out of a four-cylinder engine, an estimated 260 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It will arrive in dealerships this summer.
The sleek new two-seater gets more power with the debut of the Solstice GXP, which features GM’s all-new Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo, the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family. This turbo with direct injection kicks a V-6’s worth of power out of a four-cylinder engine, an estimated 260 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It will arrive in dealerships this summer.
12-28-2005 | 11:43 AM
#274
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,399
Likes: 8
From: Washington DC (NOVA)
Turbocharged Pontiac Solstice GXP to pack 260 hp; Hummer H3 gets dressed up - - Source: Autoweek
The much-anticipated, high-performance variant of the Pontiac Solstice roadster will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, packing turbo power as we predicted six months ago (News, July 11, 2005).
A 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder making 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque will power the Solstice GXP. Look for the boosted Pontiac in showrooms this summer as a 2007 model—at a $4,000 to $5,000 premium over the naturally aspirated Solstice.
A 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder making 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque will power the Solstice GXP. Look for the boosted Pontiac in showrooms this summer as a 2007 model—at a $4,000 to $5,000 premium over the naturally aspirated Solstice.
12-30-2005 | 08:57 PM
#279
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: philly
Originally Posted by Doom878
Now we can see if it competes with an S2000 since it'll be closer in price now.
I'd take a Sky w/260hp/260lbs over an s2k without even thinking about it, power/looks/ and already proven handling.
