starkmaster03 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I've test driven two Pontiac Solstice's in the past two days and I'm pretty confident that I want to get one. I haven't heard much about these cars and wanted to hear from people that have had them or know about them. What are the pro's and con's? Is there any differences between the years? I haven't driven a GXP model and wondered if it is worth the extra money. Any information would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I've test driven two Pontiac Solstice's in the past two days and I'm pretty confident that I want to get one. I haven't heard much about these cars and wanted to hear from people that have had them or know about them. What are the pro's and con's? Is there any differences between the years? I haven't driven a GXP model and wondered if it is worth the extra money. Any information would be appreciated. Unless they have gotten markedly better, I recall them being on the top of the most unreliable car ever scale for a few years. You've got to get a turbo one, or at least turbo the N/A one, will be boring otherwise. :no: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Fun as hell when in Florida. ZERO cargo space. KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Where's our local Solstice/Sky owner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) Solstice plus LSx and not only will CR love you, but you'll love the car even more than you thought. Edited November 12, 2011 by TTQ B4U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkmaster03 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Unless they have gotten markedly better, I recall them being on the top of the most unreliable car ever scale for a few years. You've got to get a turbo one, or at least turbo the N/A one, will be boring otherwise. :no: One of the things I'm looking into is if it would be better to turbo the 2.4 NA motor or get a 2.0 turbo GXP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murse Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 My grandmother has the Sky Redline, fun to drive but everything is placed weird, like the handle and window controls, and the passenger side footwell area is halfway taken up. It wasn't at all comfortable, at least not enough to drop the money on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkas Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Chad, please don't.... PLEASE, don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkmaster03 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Chad, please don't.... PLEASE, don't. Care to explain? When I drove it, reminds me a lot of the Fiero which I love, just more modern and better handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRD2BDF Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/spedponcho/hardtop4ge.jpg Just give me one of these minus the graphics and I'll be happy as a bug or whatever that saying goes. oh and in N/A because I'm not going to need all that power. Too bad they're too small for me (6'5") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Four cylinders :dumb: no turbo :dumb: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverMaker Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Four cylinders :dumb: no turbo :dumb: 260HP Turbo LNF in the GXP's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versluis Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 went i went and visited the lingenfelter museum jon lingenfelter had one of these but with a cammed ls7. unreal. get one and swap a LSX in it and you will love it. small car, light and LS would be fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkmaster03 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Yeah I didn't realize the turbo version was almost a 100HP more then the NA. I think I"m going to go test drive a GXP tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) The GXP is worth it IMO. The early years are more problematic, but they fixed some of the problems in the later models and the GXP. Before the GXP none of the Kappa's had TCS or ESC, afterwards (so I think that's the 2008 MY) they all got it. It's a good thing to have on a car with that short of a wheelbase. All cars have an alignment problem of the rear clamshell "trunk lid" to the body. Some are worse than others. The 2.4L's take boost well, but you have to spend more in order to upgrade it. There are 450 HP 2.4L's out there...but there are also 400-450HP 2.0L's that got there much easier. When the GXP was introduced they came with a backbone brace that stiffened the chassis and tied the trans and rear diff together. Before that there were a lot of rear diff problems. The GXP's also got a different suspension and stiffer rear brace, different transmission ratios, different front bumper with brake cooling ducts (which looks better IMO), and dual outlet exhaust. There is very little cargo room in the convertibles, but one friend commented that he thought the passanger seat of my Sky was roomier than his S2000. The coupes are baller but you'll never find one and you'll pay more for it. You can get a fiberglass coupe replica top though, if you want. The 2.0L takes mods well. There are people up arond 400 HP with just a turbo and intercooler swap and a reflash. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Edited November 12, 2011 by Mallard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 260HP Turbo LNF in the GXP's Cool, that's worth the low low msrp of $30,000 or http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2012_ford_mustang_gt_premium_blue_in_glen_allen_virginia_93319705681657930.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Cool, that's worth the low low msrp of $30,000 or http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2012_ford_mustang_gt_premium_blue_in_glen_allen_virginia_93319705681657930.jpg new maybe, you can pick then up used for under 20K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 If I were to buy another, I would buy a coupe and keep it forever. But the convertables are a lot cheaper. 2.0L Coupe Manual http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=294921833&dealer_id=66074073&car_year=2009&systime=&doors=&model=SOLSTICE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__Y291cGU%2C__&keywordsrep=099111117112101&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1321111656876&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=coupe&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DETROIT_NE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=48094&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=PONT&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=1154&standard=false Coupe, Auto http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=298781836&dealer_id=66240801&car_year=2009&systime=&doors=&model=SOLSTICE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__Y291cGU%2C__&keywordsrep=099111117112101&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1321111656876&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=coupe&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DETROIT_NE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=48094&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=PONT&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=990&standard=false 2.4L COupe, Auto http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=295792194&dealer_id=66112449&car_year=2009&systime=&doors=&model=SOLSTICE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__Y291cGU%2C__&keywordsrep=099111117112101&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1321111656876&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=coupe&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DETROIT_NE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=48094&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=PONT&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=196&standard=false 2.4L Coupe, Auto http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=305693098&dealer_id=70478&car_year=2009&systime=&doors=&model=SOLSTICE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__Y291cGU%2C__&keywordsrep=099111117112101&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1321111656876&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=coupe&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DETROIT_NE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=48094&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=PONT&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=652&standard=false Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowbalt Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I don't have the car but I do have the LNF engine in mine and I have to say that is a remarkable piece of engineering. I don't think you will be happy with a non turbo if you want decent power (more than 177hp) but the turbo models respond VERY well to mods so long as you can tune it with HP tuners or the like. If you do not tune it, any mods will still make 260/260 after some driving. There is a turbo fanatic in southern ohio that turbos and tunes mustangs all day and he drives a SKY RL. He ran low 12's with a tune, intake and exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkmaster03 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Well I drove out to Zanesville today to drive one of the only GXP manuals around and I'm no longer interested in the NA motor. The NA was fun but nothing like the turbo GXP. I perfectly agree and think that the 2009 GXP hatchback coupe is the best all around but can't justify the price difference. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=310316418&dealer_id=104553&car_year=2007&systime=&doors=&model=SOLSTICE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=&rdm=1321108086487&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=COLUMBUS_OH_EA&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=Manual&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=43068&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=PONT&seller_type=b&num_records=100&cardist=41&standard=false Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 One thing to keep in mind: The ECU monitors the engine torque output. So if you mod it without an accompanying ECU tune, the computer will compensate for the mods and do its best to return you to stock power. But who mods a modern turbo car without a tune these days? :dumb: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Haha, I had a feeling you would be kicking yourself if you got the n/a version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirks5oh Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 my father in law had one, and had some mods as well---tune, exhaust, intake, and some appearance mods. i must say it was pretty quick for what it was, and i was impressed--i would honestly consider one if i didn't want to fork out the extra dough for a bmw/merc/porsche two seater. obviously, the turbo is THE only way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkmaster03 Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 I've found a GXP model that I like and will most likely pick up later this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted December 6, 2011 Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 I've found a GXP model that I like and will most likely pick up later this week. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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