I am somewhat torn on the issue myself. Ideally I would have the Sol as a summer only car. However, I am not sure that is how it will ultimately work out.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
The Solstice will be treated as a keeper, seeing 3 season duty only and being benched to protect it from the corrosive San Francisco Fog. When it is foggy out, the Solstice has to stay in and play. The same for rain.
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mceb
Wow, lots of 2nd car people so far.
The lack of trunk space all but precludes the daily driver and guarantees there will be lots of 2nd car people. I think there are going to be some great Solstice car clubs, because IMHO most who own one will own it for fun, not for work or for daily duty.
Why are you surprised at this? Making a Solstice a primary car would be difficult even if you don't have a family. The lack of a back seat and trunk space means that you need another car. Just doing your groceries could become a challenge with the Solstice.
I view the Solstice as a "toy" (yes, a very expensive toy, but really just a toy). The reason why it's a "toy" in my mind is that it should be fun to drive short distances but can't really use it for longer trips. I also can't use it to drive to work (from the sound of things, I couldn't even pack my laptop bag in the trunk). I also won't be able to use it to go to Home Depot unless I'm just buying nails or screws.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the fact that it is a fun car. At this time, I'm not looking to buy a daily use car, but rather a fun car to drive that won't cost too much that I can take out when ever it's nice outside.
You know, I see these guys (and girls) on motorcycles, dressed in what looks like black space suits, bikes strapped with gear, blithely motoring in the winter rain. Driving a roadster with the top up with the heater on can't be that bad.
Then again, I live in Texas.
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..Then again, I could be (f)lying.
I just looked at the results for this poll. What caught my eye wasn't the results themselves but rather the ads at the bottom. One of the ads was advertizing low prices for the 2005 Solstice.
I just looked at the results for this poll. What caught my eye wasn't the results themselves but rather the ads at the bottom. One of the ads was advertizing low prices for the 2005 Solstice.
I will be driving it all year around... Since I am selling my all year around car " 92 Civic hb with 99 Sir motor etc" and buying the solstice... What would you do??? Drive a 68 Firebird and ah Yamaha YZF R1 and put the solstice away, or drive the solstice all year...hahahahaha
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
Minimal ground clearance, performance tires and rear wheel drive will all conspire to make this car marginal or bad as a winter daily driver. I wouldn't advise it if you can afford a winter beater. You may be hoping against hope that folks will say it will be fine to drive in the snow, but I can't see it. How many folks drive their Corvettes in the snow?
I compare it more to the Miata which has a ground clearance of 4" and you see in the winter all the time. Obviously it will require winter tires though.
I will be driving mine year round--except on the worst snow and ice days. Those days will be so bad that my wife will have to stay home, so I will drive her front wheel drive minivan to work.
I'll be driving mine all year round. I've been driving my '79 Camaro all year for 6 years now and I would much rather have a RWD car instead of a FWD in the snow. It's all a matter of what you get used to I guess. I just throw some sand bags in the trunk over each wheel and I'm good to go. On the really bad days I'll throw an extra bag lengthways over the rear axle. Of course in the Sol they're going to have to be pretty small sand bags...lol I prefer the TubeSand from Lowes. I believe they're 40 lb (might be 60 lb) bags that are about 6" in diameter and about 2.5 feet long. Only about $3-$4. Could probably let half of the sand out to fit in the Sol's trunk easier.
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