So finally picked up my Mean GXP last night, and after driving it home, to work, out to lunch, I have formed some very basic impressions of the car:
Engine: although this is brand-spanking new motor (less that 40 miles on it so far) I'm pretty impressed with it's smoothness and power delivery. That said, i've not used more than 25% of the throttle, and I have been short shifting at 3-4K. What is impressive is the motors pull at low revs, in high gear. It's very smooth if you let the revs drop to 1500 in fourth and then feed in throttle. I'll comment on the power and revs once I get past the break-in period.
Suspension: This is really the area where the solstice shines. Compared to my MY00 S2000, the ride is a lot smoother; the S2000 was very "jiggily" over small road imperfections, to the point where it was almost distracting. The GXP, in contrast, is extremely well damped, and it seems that the springs and dampers are extremely well matched. The steering is nicely weighted and very accurate. I've not yet cranked the car into a corner yet, but in driving on some back roads this morning I got a decent feeling of what the front tires were doing. My overall impression, so far, is one of stability and predictability. Stock S2000s were terrible with factory alignments - I'm going to take the GXP to my alignment shop and put a basic "performance" alignment on it and see how that changes things. In the spring the AutoX alignment will go on, and I'll really see what she can do.
Interior: Overall it's very nicely shaped, and quite comfortable. It is roomier than the S2000; however the seat bottoms could be longer (this is a complaint i have with nearly all cars, but at 6'2 i've learning to live with it.) The interior materials are hard; but at least the colors and textures match up well, and the impression is one of durability. And yes the power window and door switches are poorly located (but you knew that).
Exterior, Top, Trunk: OK, the exterior is lovley, and the panel gaps are very good. Infact the doors fit so well that I have to slam them a bit harder to avoid getting the "door ajar" message. The top looks good, and on mine fits extremely well. As for putting it down, or putting it up, well, um, yeah. Compared to the S2000 (which had one of the slickest power tops I've ever seen - 7 seconds from top up to top down) the GXP's top is not quick - I will certainly not be lowering it at a stop light. However the look of the car with the top down is fantastic - infact asside from some much higher priced convertables, it's just about perfect. I will be curious to see if any holes develop in the top - my S2000 developed a hole, just past the driver's side window, after about 3 years.
I do love the fact that the Solstice has a glass rear window and a rear defroster. The earliest S2000s had a plastic window which was the source of no end of problems. I had mine replaced after 4 years because it got cloudy; I had to buy a special pad for the top well to keep it from getting scratched; it was almost impossible to keep clean.
I'm not going to harp on the trunk. But it was a challenge to put my gym bag, breifcase, jacket, and lunch bag in it.
So what's the overal verdict? Excellent. Apart from the issues I new the car had going in, there have been no surprises. Once I get a few more miles under my belt I'll write a more detailed performance review.
__________________
If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning!
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Current Stable:
1998 Toyota FJ62 "Bruce"
2006 VW Mk5 GTI DSG "Ingraine"
2007 Mean GXP, Team Zissou!
Lowering the top at a stop light isn't too bad. It's putting it UP at a stop light that you'll have nightmares about. It's really hard to close the windshield latch while standing outside the car (at least until you get used to it), but it's necessary because you have to latch before you can close the trunk and then you STILL have to snap the b-pillars into place.
Nevertheless, I did it the other day at a somewhat longish red light. Amusingly, a convertible 325i pulled up behind me right as I jumped out of my car, and he saw what I was doing and backed up a few feet and moved into the other turn lane (a polite thing to do, I suppose). But I was done and back in my car with the seatbelt fastened a few seconds before it turned green. And this was three days after I bought it.
Still, I come from a Miata background, and in both my '92 and my '95 it was a matter of a simple hand-flip from the driver's seat (with optional window unzip). And you could even put it up from the seat if you had a good, strong right arm.
I kinda miss that, but I have to admit that the Solstice top looks really nice with those elongated b-pillars. It's also nicer material and with the premium headliner it gets real quiet inside, which is great for listening to tunes. (My Miatas had these tiny little speakers in the headrests, which was useful when the top was down, but in general the sound was always just awful.)
Well I' m sure I'll get some practice raising and lowering top once it gets warm again.
I also forgot to mention that the GXP has surprisingly good slight-lines, especially looking over my right shoulder - the S2000 was terrible with the top up and worse in the later models with the smaller rear window.
__________________
If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning!
---------------------------------------------------
Current Stable:
1998 Toyota FJ62 "Bruce"
2006 VW Mk5 GTI DSG "Ingraine"
2007 Mean GXP, Team Zissou!
Well I' m sure I'll get some practice raising and lowering top once it gets warm again.
You should be able to get the "over your shoulder reach in and pull the top up over your head trick" based on the height you listed in your first post. Then you only have to get out of the car to shut the lid and fasten the buttresses ...
__________________ #118042 11/18/06 GXP Mean Darkside loaded wo On-Star
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Lowering the top at a stop light isn't too bad. It's putting it UP at a stop light that you'll have nightmares about. It's really hard to close the windshield latch while standing outside the car (at least until you get used to it), but it's necessary because you have to latch before you can close the trunk and then you STILL have to snap the b-pillars into place.
I think I finally managed to do this - May be many here may have already done this. (Edited : Yes, it appears many of you have. I should have read the next few posts! )
Scenario: Sitting inside the car, wanting to put the top back up.
Steps:
1> Click the remote button for the trunk. Push the clamshell up and out of the way.
2> Still sitting inside the car, facing forward, slightly lean towards the center, raise both arms over your shoulder, reach into the trunk, search for the end of the ragtop.
3> Pull it up, and over and forward. This might be hard, but easily done with some practice. If not hit the gym to develop some of those crucial muscle groups.
4> Latch the lever. You and the insides are already protected from a sudden downpour the fastest possible way.
5> Get out, and slam the trunk close. Close the driver side buttress atleast, and wait for the next major pitstop for the passenger side buttress.
Get inside. This process shouldn't take more than 12-14 secs, if in a hurry.
I wonder how long it'll be before I spot a Sol driving along with the buttresses in the upright position.
(There was a thing like that with Miata owners as well -- if you saw a Miata with the back window apparently "missing", it meant that the driver had raised the top with the one-arm technique but not yet had a chance to zip up the window. I don't think this applies to more recent Miatas, though.)
To lower a Honda s2000 top at a stop light: Roll to stop, apply parking brake, undo two roof latches, hit button, 7 seconds later, release parking brake and drive away. To raise: simply reverse the steps, hitting button first, doing latches, and relaseing brake.
I think I'll do the getting out of car trick for awhile on my GXP...
__________________
If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning!
---------------------------------------------------
Current Stable:
1998 Toyota FJ62 "Bruce"
2006 VW Mk5 GTI DSG "Ingraine"
2007 Mean GXP, Team Zissou!
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