Thinking about Solstice GXP

Splinter · Post by **Splinter** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:31 am

Im selling the Baja, and Im trying to figure out what to get.

Ive got two legacy turbos, and I think Im keeping them both, so while a WRX would be nice, it'd be a bit superfluous...

Originally I was thinking an imported Baja Turbo, but the problem with the Baja is that I dont need the box that often, but Im stuck with it all the time...

I was thinking about picking up a beater Chevy K5 or something, and getting a Solstice GXP as a daily driver.

Splinter · Post by **Splinter** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:38 am

gt2.5turbo · Post by **gt2.5turbo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:40 am

i must say that i saw one of these at the auto-x yesterday and they are really really impressive... i havent decided what i think about looks but it def won its class and from what people were saying its the car to have this year for auto-x

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:41 am

Personally, I like the looks of the Sky better.

Haven't driven them, and I imagine with 260 turbo HP, the following statement might prove inconsequential, but they both have typical GM interior quality FYI.

Post by **DLC** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:42 am

I honestly like the Saturn more, but whatever.

I think Jezza said in an offhand comment that these were an aborted Lotus project. Either that, or my mind is making connections that don't exist.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:21 am

Sky redline FTW.

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:27 am

Everything I can find suggests that the Opel/Vauxhall VX220, pictured here:

... was an Elise with a different body style and a GM drivetrain.

I think the Kappa platform that we're talking about though is entirely GM.

Splinter · Post by **Splinter** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:54 am

I do like the Sky better visually, unfortunately it comes with a lot more standard luxury features that weigh it down a lot.

Like, .5 of a second in the quarter mile a lot.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:31 am

How could anyone who knows anything about cars purchase a GM product?

bmxkelowna · Post by **bmxkelowna** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:38 am

sky ftw!
i love them

Splinter · Post by **Splinter** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:56 am

magicmike wrote:How could anyone who knows anything about cars purchase a GM product?

The Solstice was largely designed by Lotus.

monty's legacy · Post by **monty's legacy** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:10 am

either one of those cars would be pretty sweet

Subtle · Post by **Subtle** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:24 am

Sky and Solstice both look good on a successful design.

Open cars are nice in good weather.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:22 am

I also like the Sky styling better, but that should still be a fun ride. Much faster than the Miata. Mazda needs to get their act together engine-wise with that car. I'm just not keen on the styling because it's what most designers doodle in a page margin whenever they're just daydreaming, not that it necessarily looks bad.

The Sky (Opel GT in Europe) is derived from the Vauxhall Lightning show car and replaces the Vauxhall VX220 which was a slightly more comfortable Elise that came with a 220HP turbo but didn't sell well at all. Don't recall Lotus doing anything with the GT/Sky/Solstace, but they do a lot of engineering work so I don't doubt it. Even my Mazda had a start with Lotus suspension design.

Other than the interior which looks bland I hear there's not much road feel. I can't imagine that's something impossible to fix and the price isn't bad if they're not being marked up.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:43 am

i like the solstice better than the sky especialy with teh gravana kit. i looked at them alot before i quit my job.

btw if your gonna mod them get a standard thats used and put a turbo kit on it. hahn has a kit they call teh stage 4 that uses a 20g and puts out a ton of hp over the gxp model. that and the standard model uses regular injectors and the gxp uses super high pressure direct injection.

oh and as far as interior goes its leaps and bounds over standard gm interior or the late 90's even. small steering wheel standard size radio witout the "my fingers are bigger than your palm" buttons and overall clean and sporty look. true its still a bit plastickly but as far as its form goes its really nice.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:17 pm

Yea, but GXP/Redline = Factory warranty.

Turbo a Mustang GT, and it'll beat a Cobra. But it doesn't have a warranty.

Mod a WRX and it'll beat an STi, but it won't have a warranty.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:52 pm

thats why i said IF your gonna mod asuming if there were that IF there a warnaty wouldnt matter.

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:31 pm

magicmike wrote:How could anyone who knows anything about cars purchase a GM product?

I'd still have a GM waaaaaaaay before I'd have a Ford.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:25 pm

Yeah, Ford sucks. Everything they touched in my Mazda is a PITA.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:38 am

evolutionmovement wrote: Everything they touched in my Mazda is a PITA.

So the whole car?

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:54 am

I've also heard the Solstice makes a mean autoXer.
And GM sells upgrades for the ecotec, so maybe some parts of the warranty could remain?

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:42 am

The bottom end of the 2.3 motor (oil changes - cartridge filter and the filter cutout in the under car aeropan is off by about 4" necessitating removal of the pan) and the brakes (they actually require a piston compressor). I guess that's really it.

The ecotec is a decent motor, but how does it sound in this application? I haven't been close to any of these while driving yet. Actually I see more Gallardos and Bentley GTs than these. The ecotec in the Cobalt I had to rent was seriously the worst sounding engine I've ever heard.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:24 am

i think it sounds alright. if its any louder its borderline terible. but with a turbo it sounds nice

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:28 am

Cant you stuff 315's under stock Solstice rear fenders? I thought I read that somewhere (either on the Solstice or on the Sky).

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:37 am

305 but yes verry doable. and its all 4 corrners that you can do it.

lets see a miata do that!!!

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Thinking about Solstice GXP

Thinking about Solstice GXP