Solstice truly comparable to a Corvette??

[SaskInfernoMan]

I did a Google search on Pontiac Solstice (bored waiting for kids on Hallowe'en), and this is what I found:

We're sorry, the Pontiac Solstice is no longer available. GM Canada currently offers a number of comparable vehicles in this class. We invite you to learn more by following the link below. Corvette Chevrolet Corvette And regardless of which Corvette you choose, you'll enjoy sleek, unmistakable styling, precise, agile handling and the kind of performance that leaves even many well-regarded competitors in the dust.

Do you personally believe that the Pontiac Solstice is or ever was directly comparable to the Corvette?? I can see the fact that it's a two seater, but that's pretty much where it stops. Would the Camaro not be at least closer to the Solstice, in terms of having a sports car that is less expensive than a Corvette? Just my two cents.

[AztekzRpurty]

Vettes are fantastic machines and I understand why those that love them, love them. For me personally, they just don't move me visually the way a solstice does. I'm sure many vette owners feel the same way about Solstices.

Different strokes.

[stevebad]

The comparison is more subjective than objective.

Yes, I do own a Vette. (My second one)



Surely, the Vette will outperform the Sol in most all categories.

But I have also owned Triumph TR-6, Lotus Europa, Miata, Capri II, Fiat 124and Fiero in the past. For sheer recreation of that "feel" you get behind the wheel of a true sports car, nothing comes as close as my factory Club Sport Sol. The Vette is exceedingly capable, but it lacks that "feel".......
With the Sol, it's almost as if you are wrapping the car around you rather than getting into it.

If I had to get rid of one car, the Vette would go. Yet if there was never a Solstice, it would be tough to replace the Vette.

So basically, I agree with GM's canned response to you.
I hope you can understand what I mean.........

[Radio Doc]

Originally Posted by SaskInfernoMan Do you personally believe that the Pontiac Solstice is or ever was directly comparable to the Corvette??

I had 3 Corvettes in the past and currently own an '09 GXP, so I feel I am at least slightly qualified to take a shot at your question.

First, in my opinion, your question isn't too focused and could have been more specific.

If you mean comparable in raw performance or in purchase price, the answer is probably 'no'.

However, if you are considering 'fun to drive', attention received while on the road, third party suppliers and sense of community (witness this forum), the scales clearly tip in favor of the Kappas.

Just my

[sandan03]

Originally Posted by stevebad The comparison is more subjective than objective. Yes, I do own a Vette. (My second one) Surely, the Vette will outperform the Sol in most all categories. But I have also owned Triumph TR-6, Lotus Europa, Miata, Capri II, Fiat 124and Fiero in the past. For sheer recreation of that "feel" you get behind the wheel of a true sports car, nothing comes as close as my factory Club Sport Sol. The Vette is exceedingly capable, but it lacks that "feel"....... With the Sol, it's almost as if you are wrapping the car around you rather than getting into it. .......

Agree that the Vette and Sol are not at all comparable in performance terms.

Little puzzled though, about the view that the Sol gives more of a feeling of a true sports car than a Lotus Europa.

True, the Europa was a creature of its era, very crude and very much a kit car feel.

But in terms of handling dynamics and sports car/race car/track car feel, even by today's standards my Sol feels more like a big boat with numb steering compared to any of the three Europas I owned.

Granted, my Sol is a base car with no mods, but I cannot imagine anything you could do to this platform to enhance handling or feel that would even come close to what the Europas , especially the Twin Cam Specials, were right out of the box. For starters, a Europa is half the mass..around 1500 lbs vs. nearly 3K lbs for the Sol. There really is nothing on the road today that truly gives the driving feel and sense of connectedness that a well sorted Europa does, unless it's an Atom or Catherham.

I wouldn't own another Europa, my days of spending a weekend a month going over a car to keep it running are far behind me. But when running right, the Europa easily out handles even today's Exige S.

[wspohn]

A Solstice is like a Camaro???? Back to sports car school for you.

As to the Corvette comparison, the other guys have it down pretty good. Sandan - I think we have to make a distinction between handling and feel, which often go together but not always. The Solstice has good handling and can be easily modded to have very good handling, but the feel with that horrid power rack will always be second rate for anyone that has ever slalomed or raced.

As for the Europa being THE handling machine, I don't disagree with you - almost bought a Twincam engine one, but there are others, including the Elan and the MG/Austin Healey Sprite/Midget that are really excellent.

[SaskInfernoMan]

I appreciate the input some of you past and present Vette owners have on this subject.

What I'm meaning is that the Vette, IMO, would not be a car that you would immediately consider if you were, say, in the market for an inexpensive, fun, sports car. Ignoring price, definitely I can see how the two could compete. Never have driven a Vette, I'll have to take your word on the sports car feel of one when compared to a Solstice.

I agree on the head turning capability of the Solstice. I know I get people still looking at every intersection because the Sol is unique. There are very few around in my parts. Vettes here are more common, and well, they've been around for over 50 years now, people know what they are.

All in all, if I was to ignore the sticker price, I can see how the two are in the same market. But, personally, if I was out shopping for one compared to the other, I'd have to lean WAY more towards the Sol, because hell, you can get two for the price of one Vette. I guess if GM had slapped an LS7 from the factory in the Sol, perhaps the price tags would have been comparable, and then I could definitely feel confident that the two literally did compete for the same market.

[Smokescreen]

SOLSTICE = half the price of a vette with all the fun and attention of a vette. Comparing them performace wise is "apples and oranges" However I'll bet the Mallett would give the vette a run for it's money.

[jinks]

You know its like the miata poll. The Solstice in stock or form doesn't compare to a Vette. I'm sure the GXP can do a better job than the NA, but the Soltice probably gets better milage, is less expensive to buy and insure. I bought the Solstice for it's great looks and the fact that it can get good mileage (my best 26mpg in the city). I love the Corvette, its looks and performance but I own the Solstice for it's affordability.

[info2x]

Originally Posted by Smokescreen SOLSTICE = half the price of a vette with all the fun and attention of a vette. Comparing them performace wise is "apples and oranges" However I'll bet the Mallett would give the vette a run for it's money.

I don't know much about the Mallett conversion, but it seems to me adding the extra weight up front might not help, although if the trans was to move back like in the vette well then it might not be too bad in the handling department.

Originally Posted by jinks You know its like the miata poll. The Solstice in stock or form doesn't compare to a Vette. I'm sure the GXP can do a better job than the NA, but the Soltice probably gets better milage, is less expensive to buy and insure. I bought the Solstice for it's great looks and the fact that it can get good mileage (my best 26mpg in the city). I love the Corvette, its looks and performance but I own the Solstice for it's affordability.

The LS3 vettes aren't too shabby on the mileage and the LS7 isn't too bad on the highway either.

As far as cost... I'd say the kappa probably wins, but I don't think it's a huge land slide. Insurance. The vette isn't too bad. Girl friend has a cobalt SS turbo and has to pay more to insure that than she would a vette because the average age of a vette driver is much higher than the cobalt ss.

Back to the OPs question...

The kappas are certainly up there in the fun department that's for sure, and personally I think convertible vettes look ugly. You can carry more stuff in a vette that's for sure.

I'd say get in one drive it around, the v8 power is very addicting.

[info2x]

Originally Posted by Radio Doc However, if you are considering 'fun to drive', attention received while on the road, third party suppliers and sense of community (witness this forum), the scales clearly tip in favor of the Kappas. Just my

Going to disagree a little bit. From my outsider POV the corvette owners that I know are all very much a community.

I've been fortunate enough to attend some HPDEs withe the NCM (National Corvette Museum) and they are one hell of a friendly bunch.

Like I said though maybe from the inside it's different, hopefully one day I'll find out

[larry4pyro]

I think this has more to do with the way GM groups their products rather than comparable performance. When I search their employee site for cars I noticed that they grouped all their roadsters (Corvette, Sky, Solstice) under the "Sports, Convertable" category.

Larry4pyro

[info2x]

Originally Posted by larry4pyro I think this has more to do with the way GM groups their products rather than comparable performance. When I search their employee site for cars I noticed that they grouped all their roadsters (Corvette, Sky, Solstice) under the "Sports, Convertable" category. Larry4pyro

That is probably why it was shown as a recommendation.

[stevebad]

Originally Posted by sandan03 Agree that the Vette and Sol are not at all comparable in performance terms. Little puzzled though, about the view that the Sol gives more of a feeling of a true sports car than a Lotus Europa. True, the Europa was a creature of its era, very crude and very much a kit car feel. But in terms of handling dynamics and sports car/race car/track car feel, even by today's standards my Sol feels more like a big boat with numb steering compared to any of the three Europas I owned. Granted, my Sol is a base car with no mods, but I cannot imagine anything you could do to this platform to enhance handling or feel that would even come close to what the Europas , especially the Twin Cam Specials, were right out of the box. For starters, a Europa is half the mass..around 1500 lbs vs. nearly 3K lbs for the Sol. There really is nothing on the road today that truly gives the driving feel and sense of connectedness that a well sorted Europa does, unless it's an Atom or Catherham. I wouldn't own another Europa, my days of spending a weekend a month going over a car to keep it running are far behind me. But when running right, the Europa easily out handles even today's Exige S.

Sorry....you misunderstood.......... What I was trying to say is that the Sol is more of a "sports car" than the Vette ever will feel like. Sports car, as defined by the TR-6, Lotus, Miata, Capri II, Fiero, etc.

Yet, if the Sol never was, it would be tough to find anything today to replace the unique thrill the Vette provides.......

Or, said differently, if I can't have a Sol, the Vette is my next choice.... So I agree with GM.


(Oh, and P.S...... As far as MPG, there's very few cars can compare with the Vette.... I can get 31 MPG with my 6-speed Vette all day long....nor I have ever heard any other late-model Vette owner complain about fuel mileage.)




( Wish I was more eloquent......... )

[jimbo]

No, not even close. The #1 reason I bought the Solstice was for the looks. The Vette is a better car all the way around. If I wasn't so put off by the looks of the Vette, I would have bought a 2 year old car and enjoyed the LS2 day in and day out. I have to admit, I am glad to get a great driving experience at 2/3 the outlay and maintenance cost of a Vette. There is something to be said for getting 8/10ths the joy from 6/10ths the cost.

That said, if the Solstlice never were, and if the C6 had been desiged with a longer more elegant version of the Solstice's body, I would have done EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE to get a Vette.

Period.

But I just can't stand the crushed lozenge, big-butt robot-eyed look of the current Vettes. I don't think they are very good looking at all.