Well, even if it's a Redline it works the same. Doesn't it?
Anyway, I picked up a Redline in St. Louis on Thursday. No, not the one I ordered here in KC. I had to pay the $1000 base price increase, but I have been #4 since I ordered it in June. Oh well. See, GXP's ARE like Redlines!!
I have the chance to drive it around some since trailering it back from St. Louis. Can you say TORQUE? Wow.
1) This little engine is smooth, responsive, and very quiet. With little exhaust noise, no vibration, and very smooth operation this thing will be a ticket magnet!!
2) After you get used to the Mosoon radio with XM it is GREAT.
3) The glove box is nearly as useless as the trunk. (What? It has a TRUNK?)
4) The top goes up and down pretty damn easy.
5) Buy an install some Fiamm electric horns. The factory hooter SUCKS.
6) Very little flywheel effect. This makes managing getting going, shifting, and smooth operation a bit of a challenge. Shifting? Five speeds is all you need. Fifth is truly an overdrive. I am already shifting 1-3-4. Yup - torque will 'set you free". Want to haul ass? Plan on shifting quickly. And when you hit third it is HAPPY time.
7) This is an amazingly composed car. In fifth 80 is loafing. Beware, it has two personalities. It will do MORE than you ask it to do, and THAT could be trouble.
8) Based on what this car is like, Z06's should NOT be available to the general public, just as Iran and N. Korea should not have nukes!!
9) It needs more gauges. The boost on the DIC is SO late to report as to be useless.
10) The engine will NOT rev past 6300. The limiter kicks in. But it pulls all the way to 6300. There is no real discernible power band. The last time I had that sensation was 12 years ago in a 93 Viper.
11) Complaints - some of the ergonomics are great, but the guy who came up with the power window switches must have had extra fingers on his elbows. NO meaningful storage. No power door locks on the one I bought. Ick. Wholesale blind spots. REAL fun backing out of anywhere! I wish the instrument cluster was lit all of the time.
12) Complements - does what it's supposed to do. This is a neat ride. Brake feel is firm and linear. Why are people bitching about the manual. It shifts really nicely. Firm, direct, positive. You must use most of the clutch travel to avoid "ah****z". Reverse can be a challenge; down to the right is odd for me, and can take a couple tries. SOLID as a rock. No cowl shake so far. With 1500 miles there are no squeaks, rattles, or odd noises. (It's a 1300 mile demo.) sound system is very nice. XM radio is fantastic. Seat are real nice and the interior (once you flop down IN it) is actually roomy. The Redline already has the premium headliner in it and the loudest sound other than the radio is the tires at 80 mph. Impressive.
13) Yes, the turbo engine has some fuel delivery noises when it's cold. Normal stuff. If you do a bad job of getting going there are noises coming from under the car. My guess is that it's the exhaust system flapping around. Do the same to anything else and it will sound ugly, too. Screw up the stopping procedure and the car might make a clunk-itty-cluck. Slap around a Mustang or a GM F-body car and they'll feel like the sheet metal is going bust it's welds. Driven properly this car is a hoot. I was afraid it was going to be a sterile American sports car with a zingy engine. NOT. This car has personality.
14) My differential was leak free when I picked it up. I thought I should add that in!
15) I need to go bang this thing around some to get a feel for the traction control, stabilitrac, and vehicle dynamics. Next Sunday I am going to slap the Hoosier A6s on it and trailer it to an autocross.
16) I have stated in other posts that cars are appliances. Well, it seems that I am going to have a hell of a lot of fun in my new toaster/over! The PermaGrin is setting in.
I am sure that I have missed some things. I don't want GM to build too many of these things. Not everybody should be entitled to have this kind of fun. Wait until I show up at the Saturn shop where I originally ordered a Redline. They know I have this thing and wanted me to stop by with it because they haven't seen one yet. Because I am an assh%*e I AM going to let them drive it!! No, I am going to let them drive it because they have been patient with me, and when other customers are complaining that they are waiting they'll be able to truthfully say ----
It IS worth waiting for.
And it is. If any of you (at any age) are near a race track that offers a performance driving school - TAKE IT with your Sky or Sol, whichever version. I have done that in the past. You'll learn a lot, and having a TRUE sports car under you will be even MORE meaningful.
HTH.
p.s. MomSol wanted to here about the car. How's that, Mom?
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
I suspected the DIC would be junk for a boost gauge because of the lag.
OK for showing you mileage and temps- crappy for fast changing data.
Looks like we need to tool up some pillar gauge pods to put a couple of gauges. There are some really nice stuff out now with fast response
digital readouts AND a fast led bargraph addon.
Very good report and I concur, with the exception of smoothness, it just takes a little time to learn the character of this little roadster. It isnt any quirkier than the TR6 my uncle had.
The new GXP has put mom back into the world of thinking driving a stick shift is fun again. My dealer has a GTO on the floor, hey if the GXP is so fun why not the GTO. We test drove the GTO today. Well it isnt the car the GXP is in the wife and I's eyes. Yes the GTO is faster, in a straightline, it is the typical too little car with too much engine package. The Solstice was so pleasant to drive after that experiance.
__________________
It is Cool, Leather, XM, Monsoon and different! :)
Very good report and I concur, with the exception of smoothness, it just takes a little time to learn the character of this little roadster. It isnt any quirkier than the TR6 my uncle had.
The new GXP has put mom back into the world of thinking driving a stick shift is fun again. My dealer has a GTO on the floor, hey if the GXP is so fun why not the GTO. We test drove the GTO today. Well it isnt the car the GXP is in the wife and I's eyes. Yes the GTO is faster, in a straightline, it is the typical too little car with too much engine package. The Solstice was so pleasant to drive after that experiance.
You can't possibly be comparing a TR6 to a GXP. I have GT6+. It has a stock 2 liter 6, while the TR6 has a longer stroke version of the same engine for 2.5 liters but hauls around more weight. The ONLY way a GXP or Redline is as slow as a TR6 is if the Kappa had four flats or the TR6 was so heavily modified as to be unstreetable. If you are comparing a good running TR6 to an N/A Kappa, then MAYBE. If has been a long time since you drove a TR6 you'll need a refresher drive. I have a TR8 (TR7 with a Rover 3.5 - Buick 215) that I extensively modified (can, compression, mild porting, balanced, headers, Edelbrock intake and 500cfm 4bbl) to bring the output from 135 to 220HP. The Redline weighs 3000 pounds while the TR8 weighs 2700. Both are five speeds. The TR8 is STRONG. It does stand a chance against the turbo Kappa. And a TR6 in MILD RACE TRIM has a hard time keeping up with my TR8. I get all hot and cross-eyed thinking about a Mallett!!!!!!!
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
You can't possibly be comparing a TR6 to a GXP. I have GT6+. It has a stock 2 liter 6, while the TR6 has a longer stroke version of the same engine for 2.5 liters but hauls around more weight. The ONLY way a GXP or Redline is as slow as a TR6 is if the Kappa had four flats or the TR6 was so heavily modified as to be unstreetable. If you are comparing a good running TR6 to an N/A Kappa, then MAYBE. If has been a long time since you drove a TR6 you'll need a refresher drive. I have a TR8 (TR7 with a Rover 3.5 - Buick 215) that I extensively modified (can, compression, mild porting, balanced, headers, Edelbrock intake and 500cfm 4bbl) to bring the output from 135 to 220HP. The Redline weighs 3000 pounds while the TR8 weighs 2700. Both are five speeds. The TR8 is STRONG. It does stand a chance against the turbo Kappa. And a TR6 in MILD RACE TRIM has a hard time keeping up with my TR8. I get all hot and cross-eyed thinking about a Mallett!!!!!!!
I said quirckier, not quicker. I agree the TR6 does not hold a candle to the turbo Kappa.
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It is Cool, Leather, XM, Monsoon and different! :)
Congrats on the ride and the review was excellent. For the window switches I use my right hand across my chest. Sounds weird at first but once you get used to it, it kind of becomes second nature.
Oh and GM ... Mine would be nice! VOMS below
__________________ #118042 11/18/06 GXP Mean Darkside loaded wo On-Star
MODS: ED IC Pipes, Dejon IC, Magnaflow Catback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA
Founding Member - Recording Secretary - Northeast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MomSol wanted to here about the car. How's that, Mom?
That is great Bob - thanks for taking the time to give us your view on the Kappa Turbo!
Also, please make sure to let us know how you do at the AutoX track - especially with the A6s.
IIRC the GXP has put some *whup* on cars that generally rule that class (A Stock?) - and that was on stock tires.
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
#106614 12/15/05 NA Sly Traded @ 35k Miles
Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
I said quirckier, not quicker. I agree the TR6 does not hold a candle to the turbo Kappa.
OOPS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Why, yes you did. "Never mind!"
Oh, man, you want quiRky. You want 1950-1980 British or Italian sports cars. But the Brits really had the corner on most of the world's supply of quirky. But when they are RIGHT, they are fun.
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
Great critique! I expect my Redline in January. Don't like the wait but I should get the power door locks and the power seats. My biggest gripe with my base Sky was that missing door lock button. What a pain to fish for the opener every time you wanted to pick someone up while the motor was running. I don't expect to use the power seat but nice down the road for resale.
I am glad everyone of the the GXP owners are experiencing the same things with this car.
__________________ 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
~~~~~~~
Thank you snaponbob for the great review. I didn’t think I could possibly be any more excited about my future GXP but this kind of assessment really fuels my enthusiasm!
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"Mac Daddy" DELIVERED! Sly/Ebony with the works...
Thank you snaponbob for the great review. I didn’t think I could possibly be any more excited about my future GXP but this kind of assessment really fuels my enthusiasm!
TORTURE ----------- ain't it??
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA
Founding Member - Recording Secretary - Northeast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks, snaponbob for the review of your new Red Line. Gets me excited just listening to all the glowing things you have to say about the character and performance of this little beast. Can't wait to get mine.
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#1 On my local GXP list at MSRP; Code 1100, Order#KCPDVV 04-28-06
Why, yes you did. "Never mind!" 
