Summer only. Alright, spring as soon as the salt is washed off the roads until the first snow in November. Since I have 2 4x4 pickup for winter and hauling the Solstice will sit otherwise. Will save miles and matinence on both!
This will become my main car - no weekend driver. With 2 teen drivers in the house come summer, all other cars will be taken, but on the worst days ( there are VERY few in N. AL), I'll be driving my son's Grand Prix (my son = ). I'm looking forward to good gas mileage from my sol, and hubby will be parking his full size pick up (our only non Pontiac) to my Firebird, when he can get the keys from the kids .
Nice part about Florida is riding my bike year round and I believe my wife will be enjoying her car the same way. She only puts about 50-60,000 miles on a car a year so I will report on any thing that does not hold up to mileage. I don't expect weather to be a problem unless the roof leaks during our little rainstorms.
I drove my Fiero, which had a 50-50 weight distribution, in the winter. Traction was ok but when it went into a spin it was like a top. Forget trying to correct, just let it spin to a stop and carry on.
I drove my Fiero, which had a 50-50 weight distribution, in the winter. Traction was ok but when it went into a spin it was like a top. Forget trying to correct, just let it spin to a stop and carry on.
The Fiero actually was a little rear biased, which is why it spins so easily and keeps on going. The front end is light, and the front tires don't bite so well, meanwhile there is a huge lump of iron over the rear wheels, which pulls the rear end around once it breaks loose! Its not too bad, but the Sol should have a weight distribution closer to 50-50. The short wheelbase is a big contributor to how easy they can spin too. However, all in all, I think Fieros are pretty good winter cars. They could be higher, but they are not bad as far as RWD is concerned.
I would prefer not to drive the Sol through winter. It would be torture getting into/out of driveways that have not been plowed well, or managing if you get caught out in a snowfall. Snow tires would help a lot and would probably be a must. However, I think the ground clearance is the biggest issue that will have to be dealt with.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
year round for me (as long as it's top-down weather!). Living in NC we get snow a few times a year, but nothing major. Mostly cold during the winter months, but we get days in the 60s and low 70s - so I can dig it. This won't be my primary car, so no biggie. I'm changing to the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 tires, so I don't want to be anywhere near snow.
Definately year round for me. I grew up in northern Wisconsin and went to school in the U.P. (390" of snow/year!) driving a V8 RWD the whole time. After I moved to Michigan, I broke down and bought a FWD GP thinking it would be better in the snow...I HATE IT in the winter. Gimme a RWD that I can hang the rear end out around corners any day. They are so much easier to control in snow if you know how to drive them.
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Honest... I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD
i would love to drive mine year round. im not worried about the snow or anything like that. what i dont like... grrrr.... salt. my mortal enemy. i really dont want any salt to touch my car. id rather have a powerful RWD car for the ice than a weaker FWD.
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come summer, all other cars will be taken, but on the worst days ( there are VERY few in N. AL), I'll be driving my son's Grand Prix (my son = 
). I'm looking forward to good gas mileage from my sol, and hubby will be parking his full size pick up (our only non Pontiac) to my Firebird, when he can get the keys from the kids 
.
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