Based on some member discussions in another thread we are starting an index to organize owner reviews. Thanks to jimbo and others for the suggestion.
Wait until you have had your car for a few weeks before you review so you have a chance to get used to all the ins and outs. Write whatever you feel, long or short.
Here's what you do to write a review....
1) Start a new thread anywhere and make the title...Owner Review - your userid - VIN #
That's it, the mods will take it from there Others can reply to your review in your thread, that's fine. In this thread we'll link directly to your thread so it will be organized here as an index to all reviews.
That's it, good luck.
__________________ 2006 VIN #30, first 1000 series, black exterior, sand/steel interior
Index of useful threads: General, Tech
Here's my review of VIN 000030, black exterior, sand/steel interior, most every option (no XM and only single CD). There are 700 miles on the car.
I'm 5'7" tall, 160lbs for reference. Mine is a 2nd car and not primary driver.
Exterior:
Paint quality was excellent. I see no orange peel at all and only a couple of very small water spots which probably will come out in next spring's polish. Body panels fit well.
What can I say that hasn't been said about the style of the exterior. Seems like there are curves everywhere on this car that really don't come out in pictures! The road stance is set very wide, that surprised me the first time I saw one on the road. Looks wider than S2000, Miata etc.
I think we've all heard the stories of how people are reacting to this car on the street. Every trip I get a yell from another car, a wave from someone on the street or see someone in my rearview mirror trying to read the label on the back of the car. Kudos to the designers
Interior:
Clean and simple is the theme of the interior and I like it but it has some downsides. For the price point of this car the interior is wonderful. No clutter, dials are very simple to operate, the radio also easy to work with. Gauges are deep motorcycle style and I have no problem reading them from by seating position. Some part of the interior are plastic but they did a pretty good job of adding a textured look to the plastic surfaces to make them look better from a few feet away. The lines of everything inside mimic the curves of the exterior, a very nice look!
The interior feels very roomy for small car. Arms fall right to the center console and side panel of the door. Seat is very comfortable, I've been on couple 2.5 hour trips with no problem.
There are few negatives inside the cabin that seem to bother some people but really aren't too bad in the grand scheme of things considering the price point again. The seat belt is hard to get to when door is shut, it kind of gets trapped behind the seat a bit. It can be pulled out, just needs a little bit of feeling around to get to. Seat back adjustment knob is impossible to get to with door closed so adjust your seat back before you shut the door.
The power window buttons are set little too far back for left hand use but actually work well if you use your right hand instead (across your body, under your other arm). Does make some sense that left hand should stay on wheel and use right hand while not shifting...ok maybe I'm reaching here
In cabin storage is almost non-existent. That's the flip side of a clean minimalist interior I guess. Tough to find any cubby-like storage for sunglasses, cell phone, wallet, garage door opener etc. Be creative, I use the slot between the seat and center console for wallet, sun glasses, cell phone. There is a small pocket along front of seat. I bought a key chain garage door opener which took care of that problem
Driving:
Steering is the BEST! Not so sensitive that a sneeze will make you cross a lane but just enough to react to driver inputs and goes where you point it. Acceleration is fine for normal driving. I'm not a racer but certainly its enough to have fun with. As others have said, gears are nice short throws. Clutch engages at the high end of the range which is fine for me, I learned to put the seat way back and have my leg almost straight out which works great. I agree with those who have said ride feels very solid, doesn't get knocked around with every bump. On the highway again feels real nice and solid.
Exhuast note is great. It's just right for this car. Sometimes I just like to listen to the sound of the engine instead of the radio!
I think Pontiac out did themselves on the performance side of the equation. Kudos to the engineers
Top:
The first week you are a little puzzled but after a week you are pro. Order of operations and few tricks is all you need (see owners tips & tricks thread). 20-30 seconds, kind of fun to do. Love popping the buttresses with the keyfob..very James Bond! Inside it's an unlined top so you do hear some wind noise but heck it's a convertible not a Cadillac.
Trunk:
What can I say that hasn't been said. It's the flip side of the clean look you get with the top down. Trade-offs I guess. I'm really glad they carved out that space in the back under the folded top. It's an extra bonus space that's not accounted for in the specs. Golf bag does fit which is good.
Well, those of you that have read some of my earlier threads know that I have owned a number of racers, sports cars, and sports coupes over my driving life. At this point I havn't decided if the Solstice ranks at the top of these, but thus far, I can say that it is very, very, close.
One of the things learned from racing is that if you are uncomfortable (in various respects) the car forces you to think about things other than driving. In this respect, the Solstice hits very high marks. Everything works together like you would expect from a fine bread machine costing thousands more. Very much unlike a 1990 Z51 Vette I once owned that was unforgiving and made you consentrate on every move.
The Solstice is without question the best handling street car I have ever driven. Recently on a weekend country cruise I entered a sharp corner at a scarry speed that made me think: "Oh s-it the rear end is going to come around". The Solstice was perfectly neutral and stuck to the corner like glue. It seriously makes me wonder what its race track cornering limits might be!
Steering, brakes, driver position, seat confort, pedal -shifter - control placement, are excellent and contribute to the confident feel you have behind the wheel. The Solstice "feels" bigger than it is. With over a thousand miles on the No. 23, engine performance is smoother and the shifter isn't as notchy as when new. Although the 4-5 upshift is still a little ackward.
Yes there are some minor complaints which I have raised before. Lack of manual control of dash board lights, placement of power window switch, lack of power door lock button, lack of cubby holes in the console and dash. But these quibbles are quickly forgotton once you turn the key, shift into gear, and head down a twisty road.
All this car needs to it make truly phoenominal is little more power. But for me, I am satisfied with the performance, and these days, the MPG. For those who are waiting for a higher horse power version all I can only say is: Man, you will have one great car!
Here's my review of VIN 907, also known as Vicki, Sly exterior, sand/steel interior, most every option (no XM, Onstar, or Smokers). There are 1080 miles on her.
(yes, I'm using mceb's review as a template so I don't forget anything, his was an excellent review)
I'm 5'10" tall, 180lbs for reference. She is my primary mode of transportation.
Exterior:
The exterior on this car is amazing! We all know that. Mine has settled a little bit since driving her around. The front fascia is off by a couple of mm on the passenger's side and has no gap at all on the driver's side. I got the sly because I thought it would be easier to keep clean, it is. The only thing that kindof is a pain is the fact that water spots show up extremely easy on it. I know, it's a new shiny car and all but I work so I can't spend all day making sure that there are absolutely no spots on it.
This car sits extremely low. You will have the air dam scraped up probably the first time you drive it. (Unless you live in some weird part of like kansas where there are no speed bumps at all) Driving it up my driveway is sortof a challenge for me too, but as long as you approach it on an angle you'll be fine.
Interior:
The interior is a lot better than I thought it was going to be (not that I thought it was going to be bad or anything) It is extremely comfortable. I actually go sit in it when I'm taking a couple of seconds off at work because it's a lot more comfy than my $600 office chair. The power window buttons fall right where they need to. I don't know why everyone else was complaining about them. There is not a whole lot of room to put stuff in. I wish they had divided the side pocket things up so that your change would fly forward/backward depending on if you're stopping or going. (maybe I take it a little hard off of the line though)i also wish there was some sort of storge in the center hump. It seems like there could be. It could have a little flip-up cover. That would have been nice. The glove compartment is just that. basically designed for a pair of gloves, an owner's manual, and your registration. You could fit more in there but then it's stuffed. The waterfall compartment is nice, but not a very good place to retrieve things from whilst you're driving. Ditto to the cupholders directly underneath it. (which have a tendency to pop out during spirited driving (or spirited conversation) the cupholder by the passenger's leg is ok. A nice addition would be some sort of waterproof drip catcher to both sets. (Unecessary sexual innuendo taken out by request of the moderators)
Driving:
WOW! (read mceb's for my exact thoughts)
"I think Pontiac out did themselves on the performance side of the equation. Kudos to the engineers" -mceb
Top:
With a little practice you can put the top down without getting out of the car.. Very fun to do at red lights.
Trunk:
The trunk is big enough to fit a golf bag blah blah blah. Who cares. The trunk will hold my Xbox and flat screen. It will hold my mandolin. (the amp has to ride shotgun though) It will hold me. (if I break my hips, they're slightly too wide. The tip is to get in facing the back. One of Dori's Ethiopians will definitely fit back there though) Basically, you have to plan your outings carefully, big deal. I'm probably not ever going to use luggage with this car anyway. The way I see it my car is really expensive, highly mobile luggage.
Summary:
Vicki makes me cream my pants! Thank you GM for making me such an awesome car.
Here is my review of VIN #1491 Cool with Ebony leather and all options except XM, Smokers package, LSD, and Onstar.
1400 miles - 24.8 mpg 89 octane
I am 5'6" and 160 lbs and this is my mainframe transportation.
Exterior:
I declare the fit and finish to be very sanitary. The car has more curves than Angelina Jolie. The paint is perfect, I've washed it 4 times and put one good coat of wax on it. The only problem is I have to close the hood on the passenger side of the car or it won't close flush on both sides, something to mention when I take it in for service. I did change the antenna for looks.
Interior:
Seating and leg room are very comfortable. The gearshift is positioned so well it just calls for you to grab hold and let it rip, and the throws are tight and easy to shift. Mirrors are effective and I haven't had any problems seeing other drivers. I'm still getting used to the speedometer and small gas gauge. I often catch myself going 10 miles over the speed limit and not realizing it. The Monsoon sound is great and I listen to CD's almost all the time. I'm learning to put the windows down by using my right hand and I close the center compartment with my elbow. A little more storage would be nice but I'm adjusting.
Driving:
With the wide low stance and 18" tires this car handles like a big go cart and I find myself looking for curvy roads just for the fun of it. I'm used to shifting between 2,000 and 3,000 RPM's but this car does better at around 4,000 which has me watching the mirrors for the cops, but I'm having a blast driving it and can't slow down until I get stuck behind somebody.
Top:
I haven't had a convertible for a long time but it's alot easier than the T-tops I had on my Camaro. I did have trouble the first few days I had it but have it all figured out now and it's a breeze to put up and down. My latch was loose and rattled but after I tightened it, no problems. I do get a little wind noise but not enough that it bothers me. I drove though heavy wind and rain the second day I had the car (hurricane Wilma) and no leaks.
Trunk:
I think GM could make some improvement here but there is more room than what my saddlebags hold and I'm able to get the groceries home now alot easier. I'm playing golf tomorrow so I'll see how the bag fits in the back, if nothing else I'll put it in the passenger seat.
I've never driven a car without a spare tire, jack, nor even a lug wrench but only time will tell if this is a problem or not.
Summary:
Overall I am very pleased with this car and feel it fits my Florida lifestyle to a tee. Pontiac has put the fun and excitement back into my driving and I'm enjoying the ride immensely. The waiting was the hardest part but worth it.
Okay, I’ve been thinking about this for the past several days, and it’s hard to think of superlatives that have not already been used. Actually, I was going to wait until the honeymoon period was over before I posted a review, but I realized on my way back form lunch today that this is going to be a very long honeymoon! So, here goes.
Fit and finish on Pure 1642 is excellent. As a former autobody tech and painter, I know all of the things to look for. Gaps are all good and the finish is top notch (not perfect, I found a couple of very small dust specks, but I can find those on cars three times the price of the Solstice). There was a small ding in the trunk that I am certain was caused by someone trying to close the trunk lid improperly. If you have ordered a white Sol. Believe me, you will not be disappointed. I know a lot of people think that white is bland, but on this car I think it is actually flashy. It just looks really classy, and the black top looks really good with it.
Speaking of the top, I have decided that this car would be something less than what it is without the current design. I know that much has been made of the “waves”, but they are not the first thing that people see. In fact, I have yet to have anyone say anything negative about the top. In fact, I have gotten many compliments on it. As to the negative reviews about the hassle of putting it up and down, it’s really a non-factor. There is so little extra time involved. It took me longer on my ‘65 Malibu with a power top and manual window, than it does on the Sol. My top and deck lid seal perfectly. On my first full day drive to the north country (that’s northern Arizona, not Canada!), I ran into very heavy rain. Not a single drip any place. It was as dry as a June day in Arizona and, believe me, that’s dry!
After all of the comments about the “cheap plastic” interior, I am very pleased with the looks. I wouldn’t have ordered the steel and sand (which, by the way, my “steel” looks very gray, not blue tinged, so maybe that’s influenced by the exterior color?), but I think it looks super with the white exterior. It’s another item that I’m getting lots of compliments about. I have the base stereo, and I know there have been comments here about it not producing good sound or volume, but mine produce both. Maybe I got an accidental upgrade? ;-) The seats are comfortable and hold you in place around those inevitable sharp turns (and I’m talking city driving!). An all day trip left me none-the-worse for the wear.
Okay, I can’t make comparisons with the Mazda or any other roadster, because I have never owned or driven one. But for me the cars handling and ride is superb. The roads I was driving in the north country were roads that I have driven countless times with many different automobiles, and yet I felt that they were a first time adventure. There are so many that I can’t wait to try out! I know that there have been people here that have argued that you shouldn’t buy a roadster without trying the different competitors. The thing for me was that, based on looks alone, it was the Solstice or nothing. Each individual will have to determine if they need the comparison. I didn’t, and I don’t. The car has more than adequate power (and it seems to be gaining more of that as I put more miles on it).
Now, what Rodeo and his army of trolls have been waiting for: to see if I’m going to say anything negative. I count myself as an honest person, so I will talk about the negatives. First, the lack of interior and trunk storage space. The pockets on the seats are the only real practical space, aside from the glove compartment. As has been stated before, the cup-holders are pretty useless. Before I got the Sol I thought that maybe they could have incorporated cup-holders into the door panels. But after owning it, I’m not sure how they could do that. In fact, I’m not convinced that there is any way, at least with the current interior design, to add storage space. And I like the looks of the interior so much that I would hate to see them redesign it to accommodate more storage. I can live without the storage. The same applies to the trunk. If adding more storage means redesigning the exterior ascetics of the car, then I can live without more space (and clearly I will, regardless of what they do in the future!). Obviously I won’t be making trips to Home Depot to pick up sheets of plywood in my Sol. As this is a secondary vehicle for the vast majority of us, I don’t see it as a major issue. If they can find a way to add space without drastic redesigns, it will surely eliminate one of the big knocks on the Sol.
Something I’m really hoping they will do is to make sun visors that are more effective. Perhaps adding pull panels that extend the bottoms and the sides. As they are now, they’re mostly decoration.
It also seems that the power window buttons, and the non-existent power door lock button, could be incorporated into the center console.
One last thing, and maybe it’s something I need service to look at, but at low speeds my AC compressor is very noisy. The AC and the heat both work extremely well, but the compressor noise is very annoying if I don’t have the radio on.
Finally, the clunking sound. If I have it I either don’t know what to listen for, or I just don’t hear it. In either case, I guess it’s not an issue for me!
So, if you’ve gotten the impression that I love this car, you’re absolutely right. I think this is one of those cars that GM got right from the start (e.g., the 1st generation Camaro). Be prepared to do a lot of show and tell. It’s as close to perfect as a car could be. And at the price of admission, I think it is simply amazing!!!
I have had my NA Solstice (no turbo) for ten months and I still love driving it. None of the thrill has worn off. It hugs the road like it is on rails. The car can corner and take more than I have the courage to let it run.
Storage space for my wife and I is actually adequate. We have gone on a 10 day trip with my golf clubs and enough clothes where we did not have to do laundry and stowage with the top down was not a problem
(We used space bags behind the seats and a small golf bag with my driver on top of the small golf bag) I know have purchased a large stick on hook to go behind one seat for hanging clothes and the space bags will fit easily behind the other. My wife brought her curlers blow drier and makeup case, these fit on top of the golf club.
The car has a wow factor that you never stop experiencing. It always attracts a crowd. Before the solstice, a car to me was just a means of getting from one place to another but now I find myself compulsively keeping it clean and shiny.
I have the automatic transmission and it is very very responsive although when not in traffic I really wish I had the manual shift. When in traffic (and with an arthritic left knee) there is no way it could be a daily driver with a manual shift. (Actually still trying to convince my wife that it would make sense to buy a second solstice with a manual shift and turbo for the weekends). That should be a great indication of how much I love this car. Several times during the fall, while driving home from work, I got close to home and just looped around for another 20 minutes to enjoy driving the country roads.
The only complaint and it is really quite minor, is the paint job could be a little stronger as it tends to chip very easily. It is not the quality of my other car although the color deep is really a good look.
Gauges are also a minor problem to see in bright light with the top down.
The bottom line is this is a car that is meant to drive and drive hard
3K miles in 6 weeks of winter driving and all I can say is WOW. It seems that the car seems to be getting better with age. The engine sounds smoother and the shifting of the auto seems in tune with the way I'm feeling at the time.
I love the high red line but if I'm in traffic it just purrs along. I've moved past the babying stage and drive it hard when appropriate. For a little car it's amazingly stable at 90 MPH and just chews up the miles.It gets dirty (not as dirty as AspenRose's) and then I wash and wax it.
I spent a couple of days at the airport Hyatt last week and requested a room where I could keep an eye on the car. I still get a little sad when I get close to my destination if ya know what I mean.
Just can't wait for Spring as I've only had the top down twice so far. Oh, and I really like the way the gages look at night.
So far my biggest surprise is how it handles bumps and pot holes, it seems very solid for a little car. I had a Midget in the 70s and you thought the wheels were going to come off when you hit something with it.
In summary; it's fun enough to be a sports car and tough enough to be a daily driver.
OK, OK.... one year last week.. 13+K There hasn't been more than 2 weeks out of the year I haven't been in the car..
Perfect back country roads where I live the weather has been great (except last couple weeks) Top down in January on a 60 degree day !! Hands down.. I love this car.. Its changed the way I live my road experience.. Even bought an Ipod!.. Have more detailing stuff than I can use in a year..(thanks Gary) .. Luv pushing the performance, but it takes courage to max out as there are so many bad drivers and deer around..(well its Jersey).. If I had to put a front plate on it, I'd pay the ticket(s).. Haven't yet.. Still get turned heads and questions about it.. Its a blast to own..and at 55 I make it work as a daily driver.. (Does anybody else wear a back brace on long trips?? ) I do!
Styling 10
Fun 10
Handling 10
Power 8 could use another 20hp.. (GXP.. well I'd pay attention all the time)
Interior 9 good looking, but fragile
Here's where I breakdown and move away from it being a perfect car. Early release on the market has left lots and lots of cheapness issues..
We've all heard them and I am sure there are lots of owners that have experienced none of them.. I am not one.. Pinion seal, seat sinking, dash moulding buckling, 2nd gear more than stiff, top seam split, major cheap rattles, gas gauge inaccuracies, extended crank @ start-up, what have I forgotten..? Oh yea, the Clunk!
So, with the music up my driving experience is fantastic. No music...I'm very dissapointed in Pontiac and my dealership. Dealership has been nice, but not great and I think I am due a survey in the mail again.. Its my only leverage for them taking me seriously after paying what now it a ridiculous above MSRP premium..
I made my own bed by purchasing this car just as they put it on the showroom floor after someone had refused delivery back when there was a substantial wait. I could afford it and all the extras and I was in no position to bargin. But, I feel I got a fantastic $20 K roadster for $27K. I didn't get a $35 K sports car free of all the rattles and bugs.. But, at 40 mph with Jethro Tull loud, I feel like I did..
Mods and lots of love over the next few years....I'm happy and get to drive it tomorrow
PS.. this forum has been invaluable to so many.. including me..
__________________
2007 GXP mysterious
leather, monsoon, 6 CD, headliner, sport pedals, polished aluminum, custom front grille, stubby antenna, XM, no front plate (1 tix so far)
Vin#12,6404
I've had my solstice for a little over a year -- I use it as a 2nd car, so I only driven 6000 miles on it. And despite the fact that I'd love to drive the car more often, especially in nyc, I'm still in the stage where I'm too paranoid of dents to take the car into the city and park on the street or decks
I have a dark blue solstice with two tone interior and I don't regret the colors I got. IMHO it looks very classy in dark bl
Others can reply to your review in your thread, that's fine. In this thread we'll link directly to your thread so it will be organized here as an index to all reviews.
13+K There hasn't been more than 2 weeks out of the year I haven't been in the car.. 
.. Luv pushing the performance, but it takes courage to max out as there are so many bad drivers and deer around..(well its Jersey).. If I had to put a front plate on it, I'd pay the ticket(s).. Haven't yet.. Still get turned heads and questions about it.. Its a blast to own..and at 55 I make it work as a daily driver.. (Does anybody else wear a back brace on long trips?? 