I have read alot of threads about this car and have noticed that many people are trying to co-op this car or re-design it to be something else, or they have hopes that it will be completely re-designed to suit their wishes. I would like to re-focus everyone on what this car is, what it will be, and what we should look forward to.

1. The Solstice is a small car, a roadster, so if you want a truck please buy some other product. The Solstice will likely never tow a trailer and it won't have a V-8 so quit dreaming! If you want a V-8 convertible GM will sell you one, it is called the Corvette!

2. The Solstice is meant to be cheap. Yes I know some of you are laughing, this is GM after all, but they honestly want to keep the costs down. Why? Because they need halo vehicles with decent prices to draw in buyers (ex. VW new beetle, the PT cruiser, etc) also, GM doesn't like to have any internal competion for THE sports car at GM, the corvette. IMHO that is why the camaro+firebird are gone, and also why the Solstice will stick to it's intended role; a small convertible roadster, sporty and fun but NOT a flat out, heart stopping, hair-on-fire sports/race car.

3. The Solstice will not replace the camaro or forebird or corvette or the general lee. It is not, and never will be, a muscle car. Camaro fans are still pining for their car to come back, sorry but the Solstice is NOT that car.

4. The Solstice will have a normal hand operated top (my guess). Why woud they choose this? Simple, money! The Solstice target price for 2006 is less than $25000. I don't see how GM can sell this car if they include power options and unique features beyond what would be economical.

5. If you can't live without, and NEED to have: a power top, power windows, heated seats, power mirrors, power seats and power everything, NEWSFLASH! you might be shopping for the wrong car! The Solstice is a small, bare bones roadtser! It is NOT a Mercedes!

Sorry about the rant, but some of the posts i've read seem to focus on changing the purpose of this car. The Solstice has a unique identity and can fill the role as a niche vehicle for GM. I for one can't wait to buy a Solstice, but I am also conscious of what this car will be like, realistically it is impractical and not a perfect car, but I can forgive minor annoyances if it can live up to the price targets and the spirit of the original concept.

Well said! :cool:

I'm looking forward to the Solstice as a minimalist, affordable roadster and agree with most of what you said. I'm not sure I'd call it a small, bare bones roadster, though...that would be the Mazda Miata or Toyota MR-Spyder. There's probably a reason the Solstice is expected to weigh several hundred pounds more than those cars: content. For instance, interior photos seen thus far show switches for both power mirrors and power windows. I could certainly do without them, but Pontiac seems to be putting them in nonetheless. I also imagine we're getting power locks as well, mostly for the sake of keyless entry. The door handle on the "pre-production" (?) pictures doesn't have a key hole anywhere that I can see.

This is all no reason to fret, though...power windows, mirrors, and locks aren't huge hits cost or weight wise. I think the big offenders would be a power top or power seats, and seats are likely to be an option if offered at all. I don't think we'll see a power top. Here's hoping they can still hit ~2800 lbs and ~$20k

-Stephen M

What 20K and no trunk... :mad: .... :D

I agree for the most part.To me though power windows and door locks are a must.I'm sure they will be options anyway so it doesn't matter.I don't mind paying a little extra for some of those things.

I agree for the most part.To me though power windows and door locks are a must.I'm sure they will be options anyway so it doesn't matter.I don't mind paying a little extra for some of those things.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to dis you or anything, but how do you consider power windows and locks a must??? I can see it in a big van or something where you'll be hauling a lot of people, but in a little two seater I can't see it being justified as a must. How much more difficult is it to extend your arm and flip the lock for the passenger? Is it really that much easier or faster to roll the window down with a button instead of a crank? In my opinion, power windows and locks are just another thing to go wrong that costs a lot to repair.

You guys have got to be kiddin me.....this solstice better have power mirrors, windows and locks JUST LIKE THE MAZDA AND MR2 SPYDER..... :tongue:
If it doesn't, skip the wait, you might as well just buy a miata (never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) And it better have a trunk.....if i wanna take a chick away for the weekend in my panty dropper, i need some place to put her lingerie for the weekend............. :thumbsup:
remember what the solstice is up against, to compete with that it better have the exact features as those cars

I am sure that the Solstice trunk will be able to accomodate your GF's panties unless she wears beluga whale size thongs.

As for the power windows etc, I think they are all frivolous extras that add weight and cost to a car. I hope they are OPTIONS, because I for one don't want any of them!

I also agree with what you said "remember what the solstice is up against" my original post concerns people who have lost this focus.

The Solstice is likely only competing with the Miata, MR2 and maybe the S2000, that's it imho. The Z3/Z4, boxtser, Mercedes conv, are all out of this price range. We should NOT compare the Solstice to cars that are WELL above and beyond it in performance & price, those cars will have options and features that are simply unrealistic for the Solstice. And if you want a car of that pedigree then be my guest go buy one.

I dont know about the trunk, i like a chick with a big ass :blueblob:

seriously, based on the released pics, the reality of a trunk is slim... :fktardxpl

http://seriouswheels.com/images/2006-Pontiac-Solstice-Seats-1600x1200.jpg

I know this doesn't really count as the trunk, but I could see the panel there inbetween the seats opening up as some storage space.

that pic is great, looking at that hood, there should be another seam where the trunk would fold up. without that trunk, the car is gonna face a serious image problem when it tries to take market share from the miata.....and although i hate miatas, if the solstice doesn't have a trunk, it's gonna be a hard sale..... gm might as well sell the solstice alongside the honda insight........... :zzzz:

Boy do I feel bad!!!

I have around a quarter of a milliion miles under my belt driving a roadster that doesn't have a trunk, but then it doesn't have electric locks either, but it does have bolt on windows. But it's missing a arm rest. It doesn't have a remote fuel filler cover, or a delayed wiper system. The windshield wipers are only single speed. The dimmer switch is on the floor and the cruise control is my right foot.

What have I missed? I haven't missed anything.

I have around a quarter of a million miles driving a roadster!!!

Can't wait for my new Solstice

Steve

Boy do I feel bad!!!

I have around a quarter of a milliion miles under my belt driving a roadster that doesn't have a trunk, but then it doesn't have electric locks either, but it does have bolt on windows. But it's missing a arm rest. It doesn't have a remote fuel filler cover, or a delayed wiper system. The windshield wipers are only single speed. The dimmer switch is on the floor and the cruise control is my right foot.

What have I missed? I haven't missed anything.

I have around a quarter of a million miles driving a roadster!!!

Can't wait for my new Solstice

Steve

Yes, you are indeed a man!!! In fact, you are the man!

I back you up on having the dimmer switch on the floor, IMO that's where they should always be! I hate driving newer cars and flashing the brights whenever I try to flash the turn signal. lol

Do you have any pics of your car?? I'd love to see.

hey steve, do you not have brakes either??? just a hole cut out in the floor so you can stop the car with your feet like in the flinstones..... :confused:

all i'm saying is the solstice is competing against cars that have all the amenities of a trunk (i cant believe i just wrote that ) and power all....sorry if that's too needy for you, but the reality of the market is that the solstice better have it also ..... :soap:

Understandable that the Solstice should have all of the "amenities" as the other cars it will be up against, just give the options to have the manual stuff in there instead. I'd much rather have a lower cost "stripper" version than a higher cost super-duper cushy version. I want to control how my car functions, not a myriad of computers and sensors. I don't have a problem turning a window crank, flipping a lock or operating a drop top by hand. I'm comfortable without ABS, Power Steering or Cruise control. Give me a little, fast car with a manual tranny and a cd player (and I don't need one of those 10-speaker Bose deals either) and I'll be grinning ear to ear.

ditto what simmonsmb said, my sentiments EXACTLY

Alright psych and simm,

i understand that you two dont want anything but a motor, doors and seats...but what i'm trying to express is that gm is putting this against some serious cars, not sports serious, but serious in terms of meeting customer expectations. Now, i would never buy a miata, i would never drive or be driven in one, however, this solstice needs to match those same customer expectations if it wants to sell the car. it's like the saying from the untouchables - ...like bringing a knife to a gun fight.... although the miata is the less sporty car, it has the gun and gm better not show up with a knife to the fight..... :bandit:

I happen to own a 95 Miata, with leather lim slip, etc. and I can tell you it is plenty sporty. The Miata also has the "it" factor. It just feels right.
I work at a pontiac store in sales, and am able to order the first Solstice, if I choose. I probably will, but hope the solstice will have the "it" factor, and that they keep it simple and affordable. As soon as we get ordering info I'll post it.
Thank, Frank.

I'd much rather have a lower cost "stripper" version than a higher cost super-duper cushy version.

Yep. That's me too. I understand the argument for having some of the more ordinary goodies to compete with the competition, so hopefully they will be available as options from the beginning.

I remember the first Mustangs. EVERYTHING was an option. They had something like 63 options to choose from, and that was before they packaged them in bundles. No need to get that carried away with it on the Solstice, but I do believe the consumer should get what they want on their new car.

Frank, I know it could be a year or more, but I will definitely be watching for your information! Thanks, man.

I agree, Cheever, that they don't need to get carried away with a crazy amount of options, but they need to let you customize it more than they did with the GTO this year.

I too will be watching for you info Frank!! Well, for that matter, I'll be watching for any info posted by anybody with a dealer hookup. lol

I remember the first Mustangs. EVERYTHING was an option. They had something like 63 options to choose from, and that was before they packaged them in bundles.

Not to mention in '69 there were 10(!) optional engines for the Mustang. Nowadays it's rare for a car to have more than 2-3 engine choices, maybe 3-4 in a Truck/SUV.

-Stephen M

I happen to own a 95 Miata, with leather lim slip, etc. and I can tell you it is plenty sporty. The Miata also has the "it" factor. It just feels right.
I work at a pontiac store in sales, and am able to order the first Solstice, if I choose. I probably will, but hope the solstice will have the "it" factor, and that they keep it simple and affordable. As soon as we get ordering info I'll post it.
Thank, Frank.
:cool:
sorry frank, i dont mean any disrespect, but miata's aint for me.....

now to reply to the others, the solstice needs to have power features and a trunk like every other car...it's the way cars are sold today...if you would prefer them as options that's fine, but how are they gonna have a trunk as an option............ :angel:

Just as a quick reality check here:

The US Lotus Elise, which is about as minimalist of a sports car as you can buy outside of a kit car, comes standard with A/C, ABS, and "central locking", which I take to mean power locks with remote entry.

Power windows are an option, and actually weigh LESS than the manual windows.

So I think it's safe to say that a good number of the above features will be appearing on the Solstice, many of them standard, and they in and of themselves won't significantly detract from the sporting nature of the car. And remember, once you're handed the keys, you're always free to gut out any convenience items you deem excessive. You might even recoup some of the cost by selling the bits on e-bay or something. :)

-Stephen M

Alright psych and simm,

i understand that you two dont want anything but a motor, doors and seats...

Seats? Boy, you guys are soft. You might as well buy a Buick Bluehair :)

Ya'll have to distinguish between "nice to haves" and "deal-breakers". No Trunk? For most, even many enthusiasts, this is a dealbreaker (see MR2 Spyder for example). No electric windows? Wouldn't bother most enthusiasts, and I'd be many non-enthusiasts would be tolerant (sp) of it.

These are just my opinions.

-Andrew

One more thing....

The March 2004 Automobile article said the Solstice will have a manual top, so that's a few less electric motors to worry about. Also, an article on the upcoming C6 convertible I read recently mentioned that the power top option weighs all of 14 pounds more than the manual version. So it's not like it's a huge weight hit if they add one in the future.

At this point, I'm more concerned with them meeting the cost target than the weight target.

-Stephen M

Saw some posts about this car not having a trunk. Well, I looked around and found this pic:

http://www.fast-autos.net/pontiac/solstice12.html

Looks like the rear opens (the top has to go somewhere) and might
provide an area for a duffle bag or 2. Can't imagine this thing without
something to put a couple of things.

Allanon

I love that picture and hope that the top looks as good as the rest of the car. No one has really been able to snap a pic of the (production) top UP and the trunk space with & without top stowed, so it's quite a mystery right now.

As for the probable trunk space, I think you are likely right, not much more than a few small bags and/or 1 golf bag (MAX). I hate golf, but the bags are a legit measuring stick for trunk space.

I don't think that the solstice was designed or ever meant to carry 4 golf bags, 2 mexican "tourists" :bandit: , 3 large pumpkins, one planetary visitor :alien: , and a grandfather clock to take to the antiques roadshow. For those of you who ARE carrying this crap, buy an SUV if you NEED 103 cubic feet of trunk space!! Newsflash, the Solstice is not for you!

The Solstice is a ROADSTER, love it or hate, but don't bastardize it, please God don't ruin the car for the rest of us. Trunk? Who needs a stinking trunk! I'm just glad GM isn't making ANOTHER Godzilla class SUV, and for once is focusing on a GOOD SMALL CAR! :cool:

With potential Saturn, Chevy, and other possible versions of the Solstice, I think there's enough room for everybody. I'm not up on the latest rumors, but this is still GM, right? Sorry if I spoiled the rant.

And another thing, what's all this anti-Miata stuff? After 15 years, GM is finally making a Miata. What's so bad about Miatas?

And another thing, what's all this anti-Miata stuff? After 15 years, GM is finally making a Miata. What's so bad about Miatas?

you didn't just ask that did you.....have you even read this forum.....

:(

you didn't just ask that did you.....have you even read this forum.....

:(Yes, I did just ask that. Seems to me GM is finally making a small, light roadster to compete with the Miata.

While some understandably complain about the relatively modest horsepower on a stock Miata, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to add a supercharger, a very common mod for those who want faster acceleration. I also like the larger wheels on the stock Solstice, and would love to hear about any other advantages of the Solstice over the current Miata. Remember the basic design of the Miata hasn't changed all that much from it's debut in 1989. I expect more substantial improvements in the 3rd generation Miata due out in a year or so. If I were in the market for a new, light inexpensive roadster I would consider both the Solstice and the upcoming 3rd generation Miata. In terms of value and long term reliability, the Miata represents quite a standard for the Solstice to emulate.

I guess, the issue is that for as long as the miata has been out, i have never considered it as a car for purchase. When i saw the solstice however, i immediately was interested in it. :cool: After the miata was introduced, the german companies introduced some real roadsters but they tend to be a little out of my price range (new ones any way).
Another thing, the design of the miata is utilitarian ( i hope i spelled that right) , and that solstice is drop dead gorgeous....if you put the two side by side, you tell me which one is spoortier looking.....
:idhit:

i know that we are all just speculating, but the solstice looks kickass and i'm sure they'll sell like hotcakes if they are done right....and that means with a trunk pysch.......btw, i'm not looking for a suv with 103 cf of space, just for some place to put a weekend bag, that cant be too much space for you is it????
:hellno:

I happen to agree regarding the Solstice styling (except for Pontiac grille) but that's so subjective. If you're going to use it as a daily driver, there's something to be said for utilitarianism, great reliability, etc.

One of the utilitarian things about the Miata (and many other post Miata roadsters) is the hardtop option. This is great for Winter daily driving and I happen to think it is rather stylish, especially on the 1st generation Miata. Heck, even a Z3 looks good with it's removable hardtop.

I'm sure I'm breaking some kind of roadster code, but so be it. Take off the rag top, add the hardtop, and you can actually reduce weight and add some useful storage space in the Winter. That's actually closer to the traditional definition of a roadster. In fact, the Solstice (and the Miata) is a convertible, not a roadster.

Bottom line. I hope this forum doesn't become a my-car-is-better-than-every-other-sucky-car-out-there forum. The Miata brought back the popularity of the roadster and deserves its due. There wouldn't be any Z3&4s, S2000s, Boxsters, etc., if the Miata had not done so well in the early 90s.

In fact, the Solstice (and the Miata) is a convertible, not a roadster.

IMO anything small with 2 seats and convertible qualfies as a roadster.

[QUOTE]...except for the Pontiac grille...[QUOTE]
Not to worry, you can hide the Pontiac grille behind the license plate!

I don't think i ever said that the solstice doesnt need a trunk, it has one, but lets be realistic, it is likely not a very big trunk.

What I do get irritated about are the people who want station wagon size cargo space in a roadster! Hmmmm using their logic, why don't I go buy a minivan if i really want the sportiness of a corvette! :cool:

Hmmmmm maybe I have confused some people, please re-read my original rant.

I said that if someone wants a TRUCK (like a chevy silverado) then they ought to buy something else. Later on other posts mention a lack of a TRUNK, i dunno where this materialized, I am pretty sure this car will have a trunk as does every other car.

I am just surprised that so many people REQUIRE a massive trunk for a car or else they won't buy it. I buy cars based on many other (more important) criteria
such as, the test drive, handling, braking, price, value/$, etc. Trunk space is way WAY down on my list, heck it hardly even rates as something i would even look at, maybe only if i was checking the size+type of the spare tire! :bandit:

"maybe only if i was checking the size+type of the spare tire!":[/QUOTE]

Speaking of the spare tire? Where is it? Maybe it takes up all of the trunk?

Or they could go with run-flats which GM already uses on Corvettes iirc. The run-flats aren't perfect tires for performance but they would help to save weight and space of the traditional spare.

IMO anything small with 2 seats and convertible qualfies as a roadster.Sure! No point in arguing about archaic definitions. The Solstice will probably have a heater, right?

Not to worry, you can hide the Pontiac grille behind the license plate!LOL! Yes, the front license plate will spoil the design in some states.