Pontiac Solstice - Any Info?
Discussion
Roo said:
irocfan said:
wasn't the performance and boot/trunk size one of the issues with the Plymouth Prowler as well?
The boot on the Prowler is just about big enough to hold your sandwiches.But not in a lunch box though as that would be too big to fit.
As an earlier posted said, these cars were sold here in the States as Saturn and Pontiac models. The turbo models are great, fun little cars. No, they do not have much space, but will equal an S2000 on a handling course and came from the factory with 270hp with the optional GM boost upgrade(upgraded wastegate and ECU upgrade). The Pontiac came in a one year only fixed roof model(these are highly sought after and cost about 50% more on the used market). Like I said, very underated cars. Currently they go for about $14000US for a used car with about 45000KM on the clock. Non-turbo models go for about 20% less.
GM closed the Pontiac and Saturn brands during the great recession and fire saled these autos to try and clear them off of lots. I actually saw a new 2007 on a dealer's lot in 2010--he couldn't get rid of it because the $10000US discount that had been offered had expired. GM still uses the same engine in a number of vehicles including the Cadillac ATS.
GM closed the Pontiac and Saturn brands during the great recession and fire saled these autos to try and clear them off of lots. I actually saw a new 2007 on a dealer's lot in 2010--he couldn't get rid of it because the $10000US discount that had been offered had expired. GM still uses the same engine in a number of vehicles including the Cadillac ATS.
There is a real beauty of one going on eBay at the moment!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-PONTIAC-SOLSTICE-GX...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-PONTIAC-SOLSTICE-GX...
We had one as a hire car in Florida, they are very cramped with absolutely no spare space in the cabin and precious little in the "trunk" which as a previous poster said has a large hump in the centre to clear the diff. Once the roof is off luggage goes on the passengers knees.
They are also frighteningly low, it is disconcerting to travel along the freeway with your head at the same height as the hubs of trucks, never mind thinking about what would happen at an intersection if a truck turned across you.
The car itself seemed pretty well built and looked really smart but the mundane GM Ecotec four pot was uninspiring, handling and performance I can't really comment on as Florida is not exactly full of drivers roads.
If I wanted something like this I would probably go for a VX220 as it would be cheaper and easier to live with and RHD as well as having the same engine.
They are also frighteningly low, it is disconcerting to travel along the freeway with your head at the same height as the hubs of trucks, never mind thinking about what would happen at an intersection if a truck turned across you.
The car itself seemed pretty well built and looked really smart but the mundane GM Ecotec four pot was uninspiring, handling and performance I can't really comment on as Florida is not exactly full of drivers roads.
If I wanted something like this I would probably go for a VX220 as it would be cheaper and easier to live with and RHD as well as having the same engine.
kev b said:
If I wanted something like this I would probably go for a VX220 as it would be cheaper and easier to live with and RHD as well as having the same engine.
Where did you hear that? Totally different engine. The 2.0 turbo is similar to that found in the latest Astra VXR. It's nothing like the engine found in the VX220. The 2.4 naturally aspirated engine is also different to the Gen 1 Ecotec 2.2 in the VX220.
There were a couple of problems with this when it first came out in the US: the price point put it against serious competition from a used Vette (with a usable trunk) so for buyers like me it didn't make too strong a buying proposition. The second thing that killed it is that we were living in New Jersey at the time and my wife loved it. And all her girlfriends. And all the secretaries at work. It got a completely undeserved reputation as a chicks' sportscar, at least in the area we lived in.
Move now to the UK in 2013 and both these problems don't exist so if I wanted a GM roadster and found a good one, I'd go for it.
Move now to the UK in 2013 and both these problems don't exist so if I wanted a GM roadster and found a good one, I'd go for it.
Hey I know this is a late post but I have one for sale if anyone is still interested and here is the link to the ad...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?M=-1&M=...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?M=-1&M=...
Mustangman3000 said:
Hey I know this is a late post but I have one for sale if anyone is still interested and here is the link to the ad...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?M=-1&M=...
Was mentioned here.http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?M=-1&M=...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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