anyone have or had a Pontiac Solstice?

[weemonster]

is it any good?

[Raux]

it's a rebadged Opel speedster isn't it?

Opels in Europe are pretty dependable

[Speedbag]

An uncle had one. It was a pretty decent little car. Seemed underpowered to me though, the turbo one would be the one to have.

[Grampa]

yes and no

[duc_fan]

My wife and I have a Saturn Sky.  She's had it since 2008.  2.4L N/A automatic.  Same chassis/suspension/engine/drivetrain as the Solstice with different exterior sheetmetal.  GM's "Kappa" platform.

Reliable.  The 2.4L Ecotec just runs.  The auto is out of another GM car... one of the Caddy models, IIRC.  Typical slushbox, but it runs and drives.  Typically cheap GM interior... however, the canvas top with the thick liner is nicely done.

Handling is *very* nice, even with stock suspension hardware.  It didn't autocross worth a crap when we got married... but then I threw away the OEM Goodyear RS-A's (complete and utter garbage), threw on some Michelin Pilot Supersports, and had an autoX-biased alignment done based on specs from other autocrossers on the Kappa forums.  Neutral toe, 1 degree or so of camber on the front, and I can't remember the rear camber or caster settings.  Regardless, the realignment REALLY woke up the handling.  No more understeer, it slides out pretty evenly now.  The OEM Bilsteins do a decent job.  When those are toast, I will either go back to Bilstein or try Koni.  You can also get Eibach springs for it... but I can't lower ours, or it won't have enough clearance to get around out here in the sticks.

Some criticize the "numb" steering.  I'm middle-of-the-road on that.  My Outback has numb steering.  A Ford pickup has numb steering.  My old MkII GTI with manual steering has VERY lively, high-feedback steering.  The Sky is in the middle.  Could it have more feedback?  Sure.  But it's not totally numb.  The car does a decent job transmitting what's happening back to the driver.  Now, this could also have something to do with the alignment.  It would just ease into understeer with the stock settings, and I can see how critics would describe that sensation as "numb".

Interior is on the small side, but bigger than a Miata.  I'm 6'4" and I can cram myself into there reasonably comfortably.  Spent the better part of the day in that car before, and it hasn't been too bad.  The ergonomic layout of certain items is, well, terrible.  The window switches are close enough you gotta bend your arm awkwardly to reach them.  The main cupholder is right in line to get smacked by your elbow.  The secondary cupholder interferes with the passengers knees.  Rearward visibility with the top up is not good... the car has huge blindspots.  Top down, obviously, this is a nonissue.

If I had the money... I'd take it to Wade's Garage (makers of the Solbra) and have them drop an LS7 with a six-speed in it.  Then I'd go to a good upholsterer and have all the cheesy black plastic covered in real leather.  No goofy colors or patterns... follow all the OEM seams and do the OEM black/tan color scheme, just in high-quality leather.  My wife and I are slowly saving for this.  Dunno if it'll happen, but we're gonna try.

I would *highly* recommend finding one with a stick.  I love driving the car, I just hate automatics.  It'd even be fine with the 2.4L N/A motor... throw a nice aftermarket exhaust on it to get some growl out.  It's fast enough to get in trouble, but not kill-you-in-an-instant quick.  If you wanna go faster, you can always throw a turbo or supercharger kit on the 2.4L motor.  I haven't driven a 2.0 turbo, so can't comment on how that motor sounds or feels.  For rarity, I would recommend getting a Sky Redline or the Solstice GXP turbo.  For more rarity, get the Solstice GXP Coupe.  

[weemonster]

Cool

Saturn sky

Pontiac Solstice

Opel speedster

Vauxhall vx220 turbo roadster


hmm

[duc_fan]

Oh yeah, you're in the UK... lucky bastard.    we can't get the Opel Speedster or the Vauxhall VX220 here in the US.  Those are different from the Kappas, BTW.  The Euro Kappa was the Opel GT (a rebadged Saturn Sky).  The Sky/Opel GT were styled after the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept, though they never sold a Kappa under the Vauxhall brand.

Anyway... all four of those pictured are neat cars.  I happen to like the styling on the Sky best, but a Solbra is also dead sexy.  Check it out:
http://www.v8pontiacsolstice.com/



I am lusting after an LS7 swap in our Sky.  Ours is dark metallic blue over a black/tan interior with a tan top.  It's gorgeous, and it would be utterly spectacular with a 427 under the bonnet, a 6-speed manual gearbox, and GM's red "427" badge on the front quarter panels.    Even my wife wants that swap now.  We're slowly saving up the $35k it'll take to do the swap.  It may never happen (money getting diverted for other things around the house, inevitably), but we're gonna try.

[zooom]

  but a Solbra is also dead sexy.  Check it out:
http://www.v8pontiacsolstice.com/



I am lusting after an LS7 swap in our Sky.  Ours is dark metallic blue over a black/tan interior with a tan top.  It's gorgeous, and it would be utterly spectacular with a 427 under the bonnet, a 6-speed manual gearbox, and GM's red "427" badge on the front quarter panels.    Even my wife wants that swap now.  We're slowly saving up the $35k it'll take to do the swap.  It may never happen (money getting diverted for other things around the house, inevitably), but we're gonna try.

2 words fit that project..... "Vette Eater" !!!!

[the_Journeyman]

How much suspension work does it take to maintain the handling once you put the V8 in?

Jm

[MendoDave]

I always liked those. they are good looking fun looking cars.

[lethe]

How much suspension work does it take to maintain the handling once you put the V8 in?

Jm

probably not as much as you'd think as the LS engines are pretty light, no old school iron big blocks there

[duc_fan]

How much suspension work does it take to maintain the handling once you put the V8 in?

Jm

Very little.

Believe it or not, the Solbra conversion using the LS7 and T56 transmission maintains a near-stock weight distribution, and it's only 111 lbs heavier overall.


Spec weight distribution (full fluids, no occupants) is 52/48 for a Solstice GXP.

You could throw some stiffer-than-stock Eibach springs and Konis on there and have it ride as well or better than stock.

[lethe]

Just don't like the name.
The Solbra........sounds like something to buy as a bad gift for my wife while drunk and watching late night infomercials 

[duc_fan]

  I agree.

They were mashing up "Solstice" and "Cobra"... since the new fascia is styled after the legendary roadster.

Of course ours wouldn't be called that... 'cause ours isn't a Solstice, and would not get the Cobra-style fascia.  It'd just be a Sky 427.  Or a Sky Z06.  Or Sky LS7.  Or some other equally lame technical-sounding name.

[lethe]

Skys The Limit