Nope, would not own one. Nice looking car plagued by GM's well known mediocrity. If you don't mind getting out of the car for a Chinese fire drill to put the top up or down. If you don't mind staring at cheap plastic from the driver's seat. If you'll never need a trunk. If a Neon SRT4 seems like helluva great performance car despite the interior. If you're proud to be seen smokin ricers in a Cobalt SS. Then you may be another DonEffect. Enjoy your Solstice. Otherwise look at some decent sports cars.

 

"If you don't mind staring at cheap plastic from the driver's seat."

Ummmm, do you own an S2000????

"If you're proud to be seen smokin ricers in a Cobalt SS."

The Cobalt SS is the most fun to drive FWD car I've driven, and yes I've driven an ITR and SVT Focus.

I wouldn't own one either but come on man, be real.

 

1. Made by GM.
2. Looks like an electric razor on wheels.
3. Made by GM.
4. Looks like an electric razor on wheels.
5. Made by GM.
6. Looks like an electric razor on wheels.

 

Wtf, so now your resort to this, way to have an objective argument with someone.
And you do understand that you're driving a Honda right?
Hmm, also I do recall telling you that despite the Cobalt SS being a better performer than the Civic SI, I'd take the SI right? Or did you just choose to ignore that as well.
I also recall telling you that the solstice is not a perfect car, matter fact when I began the whole argument I even said aside from the crappy top and trunk design, what makes the car so bad that it should have never existed. You then went on to criticise GM, avoiding the argument. You went on to talk about the diff, which was recalled and never was an issue with the turbo kappas. You mentioned the cupholders behind the elbows despite the s2000 locating them right where your arm needs to be to make shifts. Cheap interior, blah blah blah.
Have you ever disassembled an s2000 interior? I think you'll be shocked to know that when all the panels are removed... they're all just cheap plastic pieces as well, and that there's no gold behind there, jsut more hollow plastic. Honda was just smart enough to texture them in a much nicer way and used a nice soft plastic for the dash.
Way to draw the parallel between an SRT4 and the Kappas, because they have so much in common right?
Your descriptions also describes a Lotus Elise, and what does lotus got going these days?
But I guess everyone should evaluate sportscars based on their interiors, top designs, and trunk space, and forget the performance aspect, and since money is no object, forget about your own view on value.
I mean you do understand that the solstice gxp back in 2007 had an msrp of about 27K with all the high tech in the drivetrain right? Name a car that has a twin scroll turbo, direct injection, forged crank and rods, rwd, 260hp, and dedicated chassis with independent rear suspension for under 30K. The miata? You get the grand touring model.
So because GM chose to put the money into the drivetrain and not the interior they fail? Or would you rather have them do both and then charge well into the 30s for a miata competitor?

And the funniest thing about you is that you have no basis for your assumptions considering all the cars I have owned were all japanese, including your beloved S2000. Does that sound like the makings of a domestic fanboi? Unlike you though, I am capable of judging a car objectively, weighing both pros and cons, ignoring opinions when necessary and creating, and this may surprise you, my own opinion based on relevant facts.

 

[QUOTE=SpudRacer,Jun 1 2010, 07:23 PM]If a Neon SRT4 seems like helluva great performance car despite the interior.

 

A cheap, poorly designed, dead model from a brand that no longer exists - sounds good to me!

There are MUCH better options on the market.

 

Came for PedalFaster calling out the stupid points, left satisfied.

A friend of mine owned a Sky Redline for a while before he had to sell it for something cheaper. As a daily driver, it's probably the least practical car you could own, as it has next to zero trunk space.

Outside of that, it's a very fun car to drive. Not hardcore in terms of seat support or suspension tuning, and it seems a lot of people here will slam it for that. Then again, most people here own a hardcore roadster yet have never set foot on a track, so I'd take their opinions with a large chunk of salt.

The factory reflash for the turbo cars is GREAT. The torque that little engine puts out is fantastic, and you just can't beat keeping your warranty on top of that. The diff is actually spec'd out to take the power too, unlike our cars.

 

It must be staggeringly better than the base car, then. I drove one, wanting to buy domestic, and it was the steering that was the deal-breaker.

Just as well I didn't try a GXP, then, as if I had bought one I would be stuck with the dreadful top. I never, EVER see a Solstice or Sky with the top down, perhaps it's just not worth the trouble?

 

Probably one of the better posts here. The GXP/Sky have some definite strengths if you can over look the poor design of the trunk, roof, and cabin head space. The cars come with more power, more torque, traction control, non staggered tires, great sound systems, and are generally fun to drive.

That's great when driving it, but some ergonomics are just bad, the trunk design is really poor and the cost engineering shows. GM did these cars on the cheap, using existing parts, and the packaging falls apart because of it. If GM had spent the money to engineer a trunk that folds into the car ahead of the rear wheels and a fuel tank that doesn't sit across the entire trunk, it would be a different story.

As a second car, it could be great, but why not just buy an S2000?

 

I agree, I'd grab the S2000 over a Kappa turbo convertible. The GXP Coupe would pose a pretty tough decision though. A big turnoff for me personally is the inability to put a proper rollbar in the convertibles (without chopping the decklid to pieces which is not acceptable for a street car), and it has nothing in the way of factory rollover protection (surprising considering how new the car is). That means you're not going to be getting the car on most tracks. The coupe avoids this.

As for cabin headroom, the car definitely has a serious "chopped" look, but at 6'3" I found no issues with headroom. YMMV may vary of course.