The Pontiac Solstice Was a Better Miata from General Motors
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Date: 2020-08-04
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Comments and reviews: 10
LS3ftw
My good friend had a 2007 Saturn Sky Redline (rebadged Solstice GXP) back when these were still in production. They were manufactured in Wilmington, DE. Every year the GM plant held an event called Mecca, where they invited Solstice and Sky owners to bring their cars to the plant for a car show, and tour the production facility. I went with him and we got to walk the active production line and talk with folks who built the cars. It was a once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes look at these short lived cars being built. This was around 2009, so they were even building the rare Solstice Coupe models.
I've been waiting for this review for a long time. These cars in turbo form are like Baby Corvette Miatas.
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My good friend had a 2007 Saturn Sky Redline (rebadged Solstice GXP) back when these were still in production. They were manufactured in Wilmington, DE. Every year the GM plant held an event called Mecca, where they invited Solstice and Sky owners to bring their cars to the plant for a car show, and tour the production facility. I went with him and we got to walk the active production line and talk with folks who built the cars. It was a once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes look at these short lived cars being built. This was around 2009, so they were even building the rare Solstice Coupe models.
I've been waiting for this review for a long time. These cars in turbo form are like Baby Corvette Miatas.
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Helder
I have the standard Solstice model that I bought for my wife. It's a fun little ride. My wife had the 1st generation Miata, and that was a peppy little thing but I felt it was a little underpowered and cramped in comparison to the Solstice. I didn't get the turbo model Solstice because I prefer naturally-aspirated engines instead. My wife and I have also always preferred the more classic styling cues of the Solstice (like a '50s or '60s Jag or something) compared to the more modern-looking Saturn Sky (or Opel GT for the European market.
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I have the standard Solstice model that I bought for my wife. It's a fun little ride. My wife had the 1st generation Miata, and that was a peppy little thing but I felt it was a little underpowered and cramped in comparison to the Solstice. I didn't get the turbo model Solstice because I prefer naturally-aspirated engines instead. My wife and I have also always preferred the more classic styling cues of the Solstice (like a '50s or '60s Jag or something) compared to the more modern-looking Saturn Sky (or Opel GT for the European market.
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Hazdazos
I love how all the car magazines back in the day would rag on this car, mostly because of their anti-American car bias, but nowadays reviewers who have revisited this car and the Saturn Sky finally admit that it is better than the Miata in many ways (power, looks, acceleration. I'm not knocking the Miata, but the bias in the automotive press is pretty pathetic that they couldn't admit GM could make a good car until after it was killed off and they took another look at the car some 12 years later.
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I love how all the car magazines back in the day would rag on this car, mostly because of their anti-American car bias, but nowadays reviewers who have revisited this car and the Saturn Sky finally admit that it is better than the Miata in many ways (power, looks, acceleration. I'm not knocking the Miata, but the bias in the automotive press is pretty pathetic that they couldn't admit GM could make a good car until after it was killed off and they took another look at the car some 12 years later.
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William
13: 58 And a Vauxhall here in the UK. The Vauxhall Tigra was identical to the Opel, but with a Vauxhall badge. Which is what all Vauxhall's are now, in all honesty. They are owned by the French, make rebadged German cars and yet they call themselves British. I mean, they don't even change the grille, just the badge on the grille. Seriously. If you have ever seen a new Vauxhall with the badge removed, the bit that clips onto the back of the badge is clearly designed to accommodate the Opel logo.
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13: 58 And a Vauxhall here in the UK. The Vauxhall Tigra was identical to the Opel, but with a Vauxhall badge. Which is what all Vauxhall's are now, in all honesty. They are owned by the French, make rebadged German cars and yet they call themselves British. I mean, they don't even change the grille, just the badge on the grille. Seriously. If you have ever seen a new Vauxhall with the badge removed, the bit that clips onto the back of the badge is clearly designed to accommodate the Opel logo.
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Subsonic1050
So, when you name your points for why you prefer this to the Miata, you specifically mention that you're comparing it to the worst Miata, and your first point is that the steering is nearly as good as a Miata. how is that better? The solstice doesn't look nearly as good as the new MX-5, and with the added weight of the Solstice it isn't any faster and it handles worse. Sure sounds like the solstice is better.
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So, when you name your points for why you prefer this to the Miata, you specifically mention that you're comparing it to the worst Miata, and your first point is that the steering is nearly as good as a Miata. how is that better? The solstice doesn't look nearly as good as the new MX-5, and with the added weight of the Solstice it isn't any faster and it handles worse. Sure sounds like the solstice is better.
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That
I had another student in my karate classes win a free Solstice back around 2008 in one of those mall contests where you stand with you hand on the car for hours at a time. I think he stood there for something like 30 hours straight (I think they were allowed a bathroom break every 5 or so hours. I thought it was pretty cool!
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I had another student in my karate classes win a free Solstice back around 2008 in one of those mall contests where you stand with you hand on the car for hours at a time. I think he stood there for something like 30 hours straight (I think they were allowed a bathroom break every 5 or so hours. I thought it was pretty cool!
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mike
The Saturn Sky looked way way better imo.
I worked for GM customer service back when this came out, if I remember correctly it had about a dozen recalls and such before they even shipped the first one. Which means they were all fixed before they got to customers but just shows how rushed the development was.
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The Saturn Sky looked way way better imo.
I worked for GM customer service back when this came out, if I remember correctly it had about a dozen recalls and such before they even shipped the first one. Which means they were all fixed before they got to customers but just shows how rushed the development was.
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LostParadise
The Aztek, the solstice. now we just need the GTO. Say what you will about it, but I love the styling of it. One of my obtainable dream cars. Too bad by the time I'll be able to purchase one, let alone another car, they will be antiques.
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The Aztek, the solstice. now we just need the GTO. Say what you will about it, but I love the styling of it. One of my obtainable dream cars. Too bad by the time I'll be able to purchase one, let alone another car, they will be antiques.
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Adam
The problem with Pontiac in the early 2000s is they tried to be different and appeal to younger buyers. And you try to be different and aim for the young folks and it doesn't work, and eventually you get shut down. Look at Scion
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The problem with Pontiac in the early 2000s is they tried to be different and appeal to younger buyers. And you try to be different and aim for the young folks and it doesn't work, and eventually you get shut down. Look at Scion
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Soravia
Better Miata? with crappy Interior, no space inside cabin, while weighing as much as RX-8 at 3, 000 lbs! Vs NC Miata at 2, 400 lbs with soft top. Much easier to fold, too. Anyone tried folding Solstice soft top?
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Better Miata? with crappy Interior, no space inside cabin, while weighing as much as RX-8 at 3, 000 lbs! Vs NC Miata at 2, 400 lbs with soft top. Much easier to fold, too. Anyone tried folding Solstice soft top?
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