Probably a repost, but have you guys seen the Pontiac Solstice?

It's a Frankincar. Front suspension from the Grand AM, rear from the rendezvous, brakes from the Cadillac CTS, L850 2.2L supercharged 4cyl. They're a little confused on the HP. Their site lists 220 and 240, while C and D listed 230???? Great torque at 225. Manual everything, windows, door locks, top. Also supposed to be priced around 20K.
I don't know about you guys, but I like it. Nice lines, and the interior is very clean. I can't beleive I'm saying this about a pontiac, but I think I'd buy one. Don't know how much it weighs, but see as it is a pontiac, it probably weighs alot more than the S. Anybody have any performance specs on it? 0-60? 1/4mile? Pontiac still has it listed as a concept, but it sounds like it will be a production car next year.

 

This is the first i've seen or heard of the Solstice, but is sure looks
sweet! Where you did you find out about it(C&D)?
By the way, how are things up there in NE AL? I go up and play on
Sand Mtn. a few times a year.

 

Remember the Fiero...?

The Solstice looks great, but I remember the Fiero show car was equally cool, but the production car...,are there any still running?

I would like to see GM produce a decent sports car other than the Corvette. They always seem to change the final product and it becomes a POS... IMO.

George

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gfacter
[B]Remember the Fiero...?

 

I don't believe that GM is willing to make the kind of commitment to the car that is necessary. I suspect it will turn out to be a series of compromises. They will try to make it everything to everybody and end up with nothing.

 

GM's stupid.

Just bring over the turbocharged Vauxhall VX220, slap a Pontiac badge on it and be done with it.

With an Elise chassis and new turbo power, that is the ultimate roadster.

 

Guess this should be in "car talk"...

Here's what I know about the car:

Hasn't yet been approved for production, but decision is "close". They're trying to make a business case and hope to leverage the platform with some other vehicles (Saturn Sky is one possible). Though this will be RWD.

If produced, it will not be based on the current Sunfire/Cavalier platform. GM is putting out entirely new platforms that are much more rigid and advanced. I believe the thought is to base this on the new Delta which is seeing its first appearance in the Ion?

As to supercharger questions, the 3800 has been SC'd for years. I don't recall negative feedback on it. But this would be based on a SC'd 2.2L-4 (a current gen DOHC). I believe this will be first used in an '03 MY Ion? The non-SC 2.2 is used in all the Saturns, Cavalier, Sunfire, and various Opels including the Speedster/VX220. I've driven it and its quite a decent engine. Not Honda-class power, but decently smooth and nice sounding. It's been out about 2-3 years.

But I don't really see it as an S2000-type.

Hey, I'd love to see the Speedster brought to the US, but it would take a lot of certification work and it would really be a limited seller (I'd get one).

 

I saw it on car and driver while they were at a car show. They said it was not just foam rubber and clay, but a real car that moves on it's own power. Then I looked it up on pontiac's web site. They are compromising on alot of things which they admit to, ie luxary items such as power windows, etc as I stated earlier. They said they wanted a "back to basics" roadster with no frills. I saw them pop the hood on it on the show. The entire front end tilts forward from the door seams, so there are no seams on the entire front end. I like it, especially for around $20k, but I think I'll use some advice an old instructor pilot told me, "Never fly the Alpha model of anything." (Didn't listen to it when I bought my S, but there are exceptions to every rule)
BTW, one thing really stick out to me...the wonderful sloped windscreen! Gone will be the days of every little particale pitting and cracking the windshield!

 

It will be a challenge for them to keep selling price under $20k.

 

this maybe true, but with Bob Lutz leading GM, I think there is a good chance the actual product wont be to watered down when compared to the concept. i don't think it will be a real competitor to the s2k as a whole, i like gm cars ( i own one and love it just as much as the honda) but they still are playing catch up as far as reliability and build quality are concerned.