According to this Automobile mag article, chief engineer Bruce Kosbab, who heads development of GM's Kappa platform says there won't be a Sky Coupe version. That sounds good to me!!
__________________ Serene will be a color! Even if only on one car.
I've been waiting to see as many pictures as possible before I sat down, chewed them up and made a decision as to whether I liked what I saw or not. The coupe is growing on me. I love my 'vert and will not be trading it in....ever. Maybe that is why I'm looking from a different point of view. I'll always have my original Sol to "drop the top." The idea of a Targa really appeals to me. The idea of a T-Top turns me off. I love the look of the old Porsche Targas, even the 914s which were, by most peoples opinions, nothing but ugly Volkswagens. Having the entire area over the seats open appeals to me. Having a T-bar in the middle is admitting you couldn't figure out how to make it work any other way. Having a one-piece top that won't fit in the back is wrong, all wrong!!! Even with the soft top option, it's wrong. The top could easily be made in two pieces with a cam lock and weatherstripping. Undo the cams and you have two pieces that would stow in the back. To not offer a top that will stow is a mistake that will haunt GM. It won't take too long for an aftermarket manufacturer to offer such a top option and it will make GM look very bad in the marketplace. This isn't like a stubby antenna or aftermarket rims, this is an essential part of the vehicle and GM is blowing it. If this is to really be a Targa design then make it a Targa. I think I read that the top section weighs 30 pounds. That would lead me to believe it's steel with a full inner frame and an acoustical liner. Offer the Targa in two configurations. The one we see now which has a one-piece removable top and a cloth soft top which would fucntion very well for so many of our Forum members in the warmer climates, and offer a two-piece composite top for those of us who would like to only work with one top year round. A composite top with a liner would be durable, able to be color matched to the car's color and could easily be stowed in the rear of the car. At this point in the design, it would be simple to have one system for anchorage of the top that would work for both a one-piece and a two-piece top. Now everyone is satisfied and GM looks like the hero in the picture. Why let an aftermarket company do what GM can do as an original purchase option? GM markets the two top options with some very "catchy" phrases and suddenly has everyone satisfied. It's just my opinion, by it does seem extremely simple to give just about everyone what they want and still not have to redesign or overprice the vehicle.
__________________
AKA xmm
First 1000 Order VIN # 000218 - Time Stamp 2:35:20 DEEP with Steel/Sand leather,
72,200+ miles on the odo - Silver side stripes - My wife named my car "Nittany" after Penn State, my Alma Mater
Reborn at the factory at 57,100 miles Proud Member - ICoD EHDoR&M WPASC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding Member #41
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's Going To Be A Girl......plus one more on the way!!!"
I agree with XMM on this. GM Could make a two piece top. The locking mechanism needs re-work tho, as it only has one tab in the back. It may be too late to get this done. Maybe a 3 piece?
__________________
2006 2.4 Solstice
Envious/Darkside/cloth int.
Limited Slip Diff, Sport suspension
GM Factory black mud guards
Alarm system
Airbag cover decal
Tony's slotted backup light covers
DDM Intercooler
DDM STAGE 2 Supercharger
DDM Stainless Coil Cover
DDM High Flow Catalitic Converter (still in the box)
Wish List
Aftershock side markers
Tony's Stripes
Solo SQR2 dual center exhaust
Norms Center Diffuser style rear fascia, fenders and skirts
Audi style headlights
DDM Backbone
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
Ex Miata Man,
I think this is a very minor issue, because GM offers a Solstice roadster. Between the roadster for those who want the top down most of the time, and the coupe for those who rarely or never want the top down -- GM has all the bases covered. Being able to remove the top on the coupe is just frosting on the cake to me. It would barely make a difference to me if the car was a true hard top, which I would have preferred as hard tops don't leak, don't whistle from wind noise when the seal breaks fails and increases chassis rigidity.
I personally don't want a 2-piece top. It is just another seam for potential failure, water leak, noise or maintenance and repair. No thanks. I MIGHT like the option to purchase a 2-piece hard panel for longer trips. But IMHO, I think the soft panel will suffice.
Frankly, if the coupe was a true hardtop and not offered as a targa, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Look at the Camaro. There will be no targa, no t-tops. Nothing. I really think GM has all the bases covered here with a drop top for those who want to be topless most of the time, and a coupe for those who will rarely if ever remove the top. I hear wind-buffeting is really bad in a targa, and I can't imagine removing the panel often or for long.
I respect your opinion, but I can't agree that "GM is really blowing it". I think they have all the bases covered. I don't see a major problem here -- just an opportunity for the aftermarket to fill a niche need with a two-piece top. If demand is as strong as you say it is, they should sell a bundle of them.
I would bet that those who like open air driving are way more upset over this issue than those who don't and who will be actually in the market to buy this car.
__________________ Solstice GXP Coupe You still don't need a trunk to haul ass...
even at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas!
I don't completely disagree with your perspective, but I also agree with XMM. But, then, I'm also one of those denizens of a climate similar to XMM. If I want to take off the top, I need to be able to stow it in the car for later in the day when it becomes necessary again. There isn't any reason to have to buy some optional cloth top in order to accomplish that.
So, I'm just so-so on the concept. I'll wait for the aftermarket to produce a two-piece composite, then I'll think about it.
Thanks, Xmm, for elucidating what I was too bummed to put on paper.
I guess those of us that live in inhospitable climates just have to remember that the biggest markets for a Solstice are in areas like Southern California, South Texas and Florida!!!
__________________ "If you haven't seen the future, you haven't driven fast enough" #000741, delivered 10/3/05
I guess those of us that live in inhospitable climates just have to remember that the biggest markets for a Solstice are in areas like Southern California, South Texas and Florida!!!
I suppose I have to concede the point that GM may have been looking at the warmer climates for the target market for the Solstice, but when I look at the Member Map on our Forum, I see a fairly even split of members above the Mason-Dixon line. I would not have a problem if the Coupe were just that, a Coupe that did not have a removable top. I think it would be a great vehicle and would answer the calls of so many people. My main point is that if it is going to be a Targa Coupe, then it needs to "do it right" which I don't think it's going to do in it's current configuration. I think it needs to make "our" lives as easy as those living in Florida, California, Texas or wherever the sun shines a lot more than Western PA or Wisconsin. It can be done, someone from GM just needs to say "do it" and it will happen. I like the idea of a soft top option, but for me it's just not practical. I need to be able to take panels out of the roof, stow them in a cloth bag and place them behind the seats where they won't fly around and take my head off if I suddenly have to do some aggressive braking. JMHO
__________________
AKA xmm
First 1000 Order VIN # 000218 - Time Stamp 2:35:20 DEEP with Steel/Sand leather,
72,200+ miles on the odo - Silver side stripes - My wife named my car "Nittany" after Penn State, my Alma Mater
Reborn at the factory at 57,100 miles Proud Member - ICoD EHDoR&M WPASC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding Member #41
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's Going To Be A Girl......plus one more on the way!!!"
Last edited by Ex-Miata Man : 03-23-2008 at 03:51 PM.
Do we know if the seats fold forward like the convertible or are they permanent?.
It seems to me since the convertible top width is the same as this targa top and I was able to fold both seats forward, that I would be able to fit the targa in the trunk through the front cabin.
What I think would happen is you now probably have less trunk space than the convertible once you open the back glass.
I had a few Vettes and can tell you and do not like the T-Tops, the better design is the new full targa panel.
I also had a 914 Porsche and can not remember if the targa one piece was able to be carried in the front or not.
I personally do not have a problem with what GM has done, since must of the time there would not be a top on. So the idea of having that cloth top is great.
__________________ Aggressive GXP at $25,995.00 shipping of $600, Manual Transmission.
Options:
Air, $960; Chrome Wheels, $545; PCQ, Premium Package (Leather), $525; Radio, 6-Disc with MP3, $495; Monsoon, $395; Premium Acoustic Headliner, $150; and Sport Metallic Pedals, $115; all totals $29,180.00. No XM/OnStar and NO Spoiler. MODS (RKSport/Magnaflow dual exit exhaust system, K&N filter, Ventureshield.
First 1000. Aggressive with everything, NO XM/OnStar. SOLD
~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding member
~~~~~~~
Last edited by LatinVenom : 03-23-2008 at 03:57 PM.
There are many places in the world where the weather swings from good to bad. Today I was out driving and it started to rain, so I stopped and put the top up.
My '78 Vette was configured a lot like the Solstice coupe. It had a tapered glass fastback (that didn't lift) and a T Top. I thought the T top was among the best features of that car. I really liked that I could bag my tops and stow them inside. Compared to the '77 which had a vertical window and a trunk rack for the panels, it was much better. It offered the security of locking the tops inside, which the '77 did not. In both cases, however, the driver had the "luxury" of deciding where and when to pop the tops. I believe the Solstice coupe deserves that luxury as well.
The tapered back will, I believe, make stowing the one piece top in the back impossible.
__________________
2006 2.4 Solstice
Envious/Darkside/cloth int.
Limited Slip Diff, Sport suspension
GM Factory black mud guards
Alarm system
Airbag cover decal
Tony's slotted backup light covers
DDM Intercooler
DDM STAGE 2 Supercharger
DDM Stainless Coil Cover
DDM High Flow Catalitic Converter (still in the box)
Wish List
Aftershock side markers
Tony's Stripes
Solo SQR2 dual center exhaust
Norms Center Diffuser style rear fascia, fenders and skirts
Audi style headlights
DDM Backbone
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBsZ06
Saw the coupe today at the nYshow..and its even better in person.
I'm not surprised. I didn't even want a Solstice until after I saw one in person. I was in the market for a Mustang GT when I stumbled across a picture of the Solstice on the net. It intrigued me, but not a lot more.
When I saw the Solstice at the San Francisco International Auto Show, I was mesmerized. I kept coming back to look at it. I stood there just studying every curve and detail.
I'm not at all surprised the car is better in person. Curves don't translate all that well in 2-D. You really have to see them in person, and the coupe has a lot of extra complicated curves that I can't wait to see in the wild.
I can't wait to see it.
__________________ Solstice GXP Coupe You still don't need a trunk to haul ass...
even at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas!
Location: Rosamond, CA - Home of Willow Springs Raceway
Quote:
easy as those living in Florida, California, Texas or wherever the sun shines a lot more than Western PA
I live in CA and buying a soft top would be no issue for me. I honestly think that Coupe buyers will rarely if ever remove the roof panel. I think GM added the targa for those of us that switch from the vert to the coupe.
__________________
2007 Cool GXP with Darkside Top, 5 spd, Ebony Cloth, Monsoon with Single CD, Sport Pedals, XM, A/C
Mods - Solo Street/Race Exhaust, K&N Drop-in Air Filter, EDAL
Here's what I've noticed on different import forums.
VWVortex loves it.
Miata forum has mixed reviews, but are praising GM for making a coupe and wish Mazda would step up their game with the Miata.
350Z has mixed reviews.
RX8 hates it.
S2000 has mixed reviews, but a lot are praising GM for making a coupe and wish Honda would do the same.
Thanks for this summary I don't get a chance to hit some of the other forums much.
__________________ 2006 VIN #30, first 1000 series, black exterior, sand/steel interior
Index of useful threads: General, Tech
I don't get a chance to hit some of the other forums much.