My girlfriend's lease on her Nissan Murano is coming to an end. She wants her next car to be a sports car. As much as I have tried to discourage her (living here in the Northeast) she refuses to hear it... I'm a little skeptical also. Drowning in my own giult to any blonde driving a sportscar...What's a guy to do but look Anyways, she likes the 350z or the solstice. She's never driven a sportscar so I feel the 350z might be a bit much for her. Soltice looks nicer and can she get in that much trouble with a 4 cylinder? Has anyone driven the car in the winter? Also, I'm a corvette and Big truck owner. At 6', am I going to feel comfortable in the passenger seat or hoepfully if she allows, the drivers seat?
My girlfriend's lease on her Nissan Murano is coming to an end. She wants her next car to be a sports car. As much as I have tried to discourage her (living here in the Northeast) she refuses to hear it... I'm a little skeptical also. Drowning in my own giult to any blonde driving a sportscar...What's a guy to do but look Anyways, she likes the 350z or the solstice. She's never driven a sportscar so I feel the 350z might be a bit much for her. Soltice looks nicer and can she get in that much trouble with a 4 cylinder? Has anyone driven the car in the winter? Also, I'm a corvette and Big truck owner. At 6', am I going to feel comfortable in the passenger seat or hoepfully if she allows, the drivers seat?
has she ever driven a RWD vehicle? It's the same trouble she can get in with a Z, s2k, miata... any rwd car s a different animal in the snow... But I drive mine year around (Virginia Beach)
On the subject of speed, even the base solstice can getup and go... it doesn't matter how powerful the engine but moreso how heavy the foot. We're not talking pure acceleration of a 'vette when talking about trouble in sports cars. It's the mentality. If she's a responsible driver, a vette would even be just fine. If i lived up north i would probably look into something awd (evo, wrx, s60r (). but now that I have my car i wouldn't trade it for the world.... or maybe a new 335itt
Oh, and for the seating arrangements, the passenger seat is almost out of the question as it's a good bit shorter in legroom than the driver. I am 6'1 and hve no problems in the driver's seat but can't stand sitting in the passenger's due to the room.
Where in the Northeast are you and how much snow do you generally get?
The Sol is RWD and as such will behave as a RWD in slippery conditions. Stability control may be a good idea for you, and it certainly makes a difference in slippery conditions.
The biggest limiting factor, IMO, on RWD sports cars is the ground clearance. The front of the Sol sits very low, so it wouldn't take much snow before you are plowing it. Those ugly ice chunks off of other vehicles also pose a risk to the front fascia and undercarriage on this car.
If she can leave it parked during major snow events, and then get by when there is only an inch or two on the roads she can make it.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
I have an 07 GXP, and I drive it everyday. I believe I am going to have to replace the tires when the snow flies, because the stock ones are not meant for winter. I also drove my 98 C5 Vette, and 04 GTO in the winter. Its not fun, but it can be done.
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2007 Aggressive GXP black top with headliner, Chrome Wheels, Leather w/Red Stiching, 6-Disc CD with Monsoon and XM. NO Smokers, NO OnStar. Purchased 05/12/07.
Location: New Diff, so no leaks; Brake clunk back, engine toast, but who cares?
This will be the 3rd winter coming up in mine, took delivery in Dec 05-the only days I didn't drive the Sol was when I made the mistake of putting it in the garage the first winter, because of a big snow storm rolling thru-took 2 days to dig a path to set it free
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06 NA...106k miles...burning oil, engine is toast. 08 GXP...20k miles...Starting to be more Solstice-like, sucking up $$
I have an 07 GXP, and I drive it everyday. I believe I am going to have to replace the tires when the snow flies, because the stock ones are not meant for winter. I also drove my 98 C5 Vette, and 04 GTO in the winter. Its not fun, but it can be done.
That's the easiest thing to fix winter tarction but not just with winter treads of the same size. One of the reasons that the rearend of Sols comes loose in hard-driving rain is that there is actually too much rubber on the road and down pressure disappears. Try a step 1 or step 2 downward in cross section, even if it means smaller rim size. You will be amazed at how much better a set of 225's will plow through the snow instead of trying to go over top of it with 245's
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Anyways, she likes the 350z or the solstice. She's never driven a sportscar so I feel the 350z might be a bit much for her. Soltice looks nicer and can she get in that much trouble with a 4 cylinder? Has anyone driven the car in the winter? Also, I'm a corvette and Big truck owner. At 6', am I going to feel comfortable in the passenger seat or hoepfully if she allows, the drivers seat?
). but now that I have my car i wouldn't trade it for the world.... or maybe a new 335itt 
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