Z0K me - Page 2

Rob · 01-20-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff

When they offer a real engine in the Solstice, not a slightly tuned Cavalier 4, I'll be genuinely interested in it.

How is that so different from the Miata? Everyone raves about the Miata.

lemming · 01-20-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

How is that so different from the Miata? Everyone raves about the Miata.

i ain't raving about a miata.

that was the 'Gal.

i'm excited about the Solstice. any of you suckers on a waiting list for one?

JST · 01-20-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

i ain't raving about a miata.

that was the 'Gal.

i'm excited about the Solstice. any of you suckers on a waiting list for one?

I have to say it doesn't pique my interest very much. The styling is great, and the interior seems nice enough, and for hard-core autox junkies like clyde the suspension set up might be the hot ticket (esp. with this option package). But *every* review I've read suggests that the Miata is more fun to drive, and unless you are competing, isn't that the most important character trait in a sports car?

Jeff_DML · 01-20-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

I have to say it doesn't pique my interest very much. The styling is great, and the interior seems nice enough, and for hard-core autox junkies like clyde the suspension set up might be the hot ticket (esp. with this option package). But *every* review I've read suggests that the Miata is more fun to drive, and unless you are competing, isn't that the most important character trait in a sports car?

interior looks good from far but nasty up close, hard cheap plastic. guess it only matters if you are a dash stoker like me

FC · 01-20-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

But *every* review I've read suggests that the Miata is more fun to drive, and unless you are competing, isn't that the most important character trait in a sports car?

Until I have the time and money to get a car for almost exclusive autox/track work, I'd only autox/track my daily driver ocassionally and not try to be competitive but just see what it can do and have fun.

Rob · 01-20-2006, 02:53 PM

I was impressed with the interior of the Solstice at the auto show. I really liked the shifter. I have no idea how well it drives, of course.

Jeff, what are you comparing the interior materials to? For a 20k car, I thought they were pretty nice.

but I would get the Sky, assuming the eventual more highly powered engien options are available in the Saturn version. I think it looks better.

lemming · 01-20-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

I was impressed with the interior of the Solstice at the auto show. I really liked the shifter. I have no idea how well it drives, of course.

Jeff, what are you comparing the interior materials to? For a 20k car, I thought they were pretty nice.

but I would get the Sky, assuming the eventual more highly powered engien options are available in the Saturn version. I think it looks better.

the money down is for a Sky turbo, when available.......and as far as metrics go, they don't apply to this car stringently since it won't be driven by me but for 2 days out of the year.

but you're also correct: if the miata (the benchmark) still handles better and drives (subjectively) better, then i still have to agree to purchase that car instead.

i bet GM's ZOK package is pretty awesome, though.

Jeff_DML · 01-20-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

I was impressed with the interior of the Solstice at the auto show. I really liked the shifter. I have no idea how well it drives, of course.

Jeff, what are you comparing the interior materials to? For a 20k car, I thought they were pretty nice.

but I would get the Sky, assuming the eventual more highly powered engien options are available in the Saturn version. I think it looks better.

sorry, you have a good point, not much out of sync with similarly priced cars. I dislike hard plastic dashes, even my rex has a soft one but rest of plastics are bad. Guess I was just disappointed since it look good in pictures. Rented a expedition last weekend and it has the same problem.

lemming · 01-20-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

sorry, you have a good point, not much out of sync with similarly priced cars. I dislike hard plastic dashes, even my rex has a soft one but rest of plastics are bad. Guess I was just disappointed since it look good in pictures. Rented a expedition last weekend and it has the same problem.

i've been in a co-worker's brand new Civic because i was extremely curious to see how that double decker IP thing works. the plastics, while better, are still dark and hard.

not much better than a new Cobalt or even that much of a step down from a brand new TSX. even the new rx330 which is supposed to be a fancy vehicle still had a lot of dark plastic everywhere.

John V · 01-20-2006, 06:47 PM

Josh,

Take any car review with a grain of salt.

I suspect the Solstice could be made to be a bunch more fun given a little suspension tweaking beyond factory specs. More camber and less toe up front and a bit of toe tweaking out back could go a long way to making the car more fun to drive.

I think it's a shame that it came in so heavy and relatively underpowered, but it seems to outperform its spec sheet.

John

01-20-2006, 02:53 PM	#16
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	I was impressed with the interior of the Solstice at the auto show. I really liked the shifter. I have no idea how well it drives, of course. Jeff, what are you comparing the interior materials to? For a 20k car, I thought they were pretty nice. but I would get the Sky, assuming the eventual more highly powered engien options are available in the Saturn version. I think it looks better.

01-20-2006, 06:47 PM	#20
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	Josh, Take any car review with a grain of salt. I suspect the Solstice could be made to be a bunch more fun given a little suspension tweaking beyond factory specs. More camber and less toe up front and a bit of toe tweaking out back could go a long way to making the car more fun to drive. I think it's a shame that it came in so heavy and relatively underpowered, but it seems to outperform its spec sheet. John