Well written SoCool. Two points in followup. GM and no other manufacturer can control what a given dealership charges for a given item. Oh, they could punish a dealer by not giving them allocation in the next cycle, but that doesn't happen often enough. Often it is just a nod and a look in the other direction knowing that the stealerships are gonna do what the stealerships do. For me, the base Sol had a great marketing idea in trying to get dealerships to honor the MSRP pricing. Now, from what I have found out, smaller area dealerships were at a major disadvantage in this program because the Solstice marketing program resulted in charges of $7K to just get brochures, info, models and the like for Page Ranking at the dealership prior to the Solstice being produced. So, a dealer had to pay $7K to get a low volume car with a fixed profit below $1500 for a modestly equipped model. the numbers weren't there for the small dealers, I have been told. That was a shame on GM, if true.
Secondly, I agree with you that other manufacturers do consistently upgrade their products, even sometimes offering midyear improvements and newer options/option combos. GM does this to a degree as well. However, when Toyota or Honda introduces a new model, they seem to get it more correct out of the box, than say GM does. That is my issue with some of the problems mentioned by myself and others here on the SF regarding quality issues with the Solstice. I have had a few, and it makes me suspect regarding GM and this vehicle, which seemed to offer so much promise.
Points well taken Stevie, I hope GM takes a good look at this forum and does something for their customers. Quality and continuous improvement are a religion with the competition, no argument, something GM must learn and live by not give lip service or make an "initiative".
If I were having all of the problems others are having I would have a different view for sure.
HOPEFULLY my Sol has benefitted from the lessons learned from earlier vehicles, so far so good. 114433 built sometime in March 2006 ( would like exact date ). 2500 miles.
One big pat on the back to GM for going from concept to production in under four years and keeping the costs in line.
__________________ Cool, Sand/Steel, Loaded, Polished Wheels
No XM, OnStar or cough cough Smokers The reports of my disappearance have been greatly exagerated, I'm just teaching school.
what various transmission issues are you referring too....and if you paid above MSRP...its your fault and the base was never 19K..its was 19,995...and if you just bought one..you would find out that is slightly more now....and for some reason....most of us on this forum will probably not believe you even own a solstice....but if you do.........seems your best bet is to move on....if you can find a better car buy it....enough said.....
and since this appears to be your first post...it will probably be your last since your opinion of the car doesnt match the other several thousand members of the forum.....hope you are having a safe 4th of July....cheers
beware the troll......
I couldn't of said it any better !!! Great job Pao.
Think hard before you buy one of these things. The transmissions are crap. The website says $19,000 base, but in reality it's $26,000 minimum. Then there's the dealer premium of between $4,000 and $10,000. Add taxes and interest and you've got a $40,000 car with a crappy transmission. I bought my automatic 40 days ago. I've driven it 5 times. The rest of the time it's back at the shop for one more try at correcting the various transmission issues. Wish I'd never heard of the Soltice. It's an absolutely, positively, drop dead gorgeous piece of crap.
You should of bought the Manual 5 speed.
I have had mine since October, shifts like butter.
You should of shopped around, I paid $21,500 with Air, Cruise, Fog Lights.
No trouble here, No leaks, no clunks.
__________________
Sing along with Mitch Daddyo!
Took delivery Oct, 6th 2005
Presently 9,406 miles. Finally out of storage" See you in Mooseport"
"Note: I do not necessarily agree with every statement made by another author, other than myself, posted for your entertainment, even if the Author's name is not posted.
I posted here to see if I was simply cursed when it comes to Pontiacs (owned a 1984 Pontiac Fiero, you know, the one that cought FIRE), or if there were others out there who shared my plight. I will have to make a decision soon whether to accept a replacement, a buyback, or trust my dealer to actually fix the car.
I really did buy a 2006 automatic Agressive Red Pontiac Solstice on May 25, 2006. I checked with all of the Pontiac dealers in my area (South Florida). Maybe we got fewer cars than the rest of the country with a higher demand, but there were no dealers selling that car without a premium when I bought it. Also, there are no base models down here, only top of the line upgraded cars.
For those of you who were unhappy with my claim that my car cost $40,000, apparently you did not notice that I specifically stated that I was including interest in that number.
My beautiful Solstice's first trick was to occasionally refuse to leave 1st gear. I could manually shift it up to 4th, but hey, I bought an AUTOMATIC. I took it back to the dealer, who replaced the offending electronic shift control.
Sadly, the dealer didn't notice that although the car was now shifting, it was not shifting appropriately. (Third gear at 15 MPH in city traffic, downshifting on the freeway but failing to then shift back up) So, back to the dealer after one day.
They are still working on this problem. Although they think they know what's wrong, the can't get the part.
I also have a speaker that comes in and out randomly, and cannot use the A/C without my windshield fogging up. (???????)
I am happy to hear that most of you are overjoyed with your Solstices. Wanna trade?? Didn't think so.
First of all you don't add interest and Sales tax and dealer fee's when quoting a price of a car.
Second, there were dealers charging MSRP in Florida you have to do your homework and you didn't. If you just walked in and had to have it and paid more, that's nobody's fault but yours ! You should of ordered the car. We had our Mysterious for 10 months and no problems. And there haven't been alot of post regarding the Automatic transmission have problems, a few, but not that many. Some automatics ended up having recalls if you had certain vin numbers but nothing like your posting.
Check out the lemon laws in your state. Do your homework.
For those of you who were unhappy with my claim that my car cost $40,000, apparently you did not notice that I specifically stated that I was including interest in that number.
Kind of confused by this comment. "Including interest"? You are providing an inflated number on a car note that you probably only made one payment on, if that. And if your payoff after 5 years is 40grand then your interest rate and credit score must be bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Layne Lovett
I also have a speaker that comes in and out randomly, and cannot use the A/C without my windshield fogging up. (???????)
Sounds like you actually don't know how to use this function very well. May I suggest that you take out the manual and read it again.
Quote:
Think hard before you buy one of these things. The transmissions are crap. The website says $19,000 base, but in reality it's $26,000 minimum.
BASE PRICE = 19K
If you are talking about 26 minimum then you aren't talking about a base model car. Not only have you not learned how to clear your windows right but the basics of reading in general escapes you. Go back to the website and read it over again. There is this little thing called 'fine print' that will tell you that the car is a base model less options, or in so many words.
And what tranny problems are any of us having besides you? And before bringing up the leaking differential, take a trip over to the CTS site and see what people say that actually spent decent money have to say about the same leak.
Go away Troll. Come to the site to ask questions and share problems. Come in and bitch about a "piece of crap" and your words suddenly fall on deaf ears.
__________________
I visit here less and less nowadays. Leave a PM if you want but it may be days before I return to it.
What is wrong with you? I'm looking for answers and all you can do is get all defensive and sarcastic.
Layne please understand that from your original post one could misinterpret. You never mentioned wanting any *help*, you only ranted about a expensive piece of crap. Thus, many on the forum are going to suspect a TROLL - justifiably so.
Aztec was not being defensive with his post just observant - we've have too many Trolls come on here and do just exact what you posted, never to be heard from again. I am sure that he will offer you an apology.
Has your dealership looked to see if your vin # is one of the vins that had the contanminated tranny fuild. There was something mentioned about a TSB on the Auto Trannys..... let me see if I can find that... be right back.....
Okay, no TSB issued, but here is the info as posted by Windface and links to disscussions - pay attention to the posts by Small Dealer. List of GM Tech/Service Bulletins [TSBs]
HTH!
__________________ 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.
we all can apologize since you appear to actually own a solstice...as for you claim of 40k...one cant fault GM for finance charges...that is the price of the financial institution, not the car maker.....we paid cash for our car out the door, 25,015, yes for a fully loaded one......seems there are two issues you are mad about....one paying over MSRP......some members shopped the country for their exact car at MSRP..they did the research and were willing to go where they had to to get the car.....yes supply and demand.....cant fault GM for Fl Dealers price gouging their customers.....you could have walked away from any markup as many have on this forum...
as for the transmission issues....yours with the auto seems to be the first we have heard...also seems there is an issue with the service department as well....most of us have experienced..the service department arent familiar with this car.....or simply are too lazy to look up a TSB, or improperly lift it damaging it...or are simply offended when the customer comes in and knows more about the car and the symptoms/diagnosis than the service techs.....perhaps your trans falls within the vin range that needed inspection due to water intrusion....ask them to look it up.....
there are some issues with the car....I still beleive they engineered a great car in less than two years from concept to production..dont think that has ever been done before....and yes....its mostly hand built for 20-25K....I think GM got it right...and will make improvements in the long run to make it better....we have a clunk a whine and a pinion seal and a little wind noise...but we still love this car......
sorry you have the issues....stay on the service department to get it right..its under warranty...when you get it back..if you arent happy with it still...like I said earlier...if you find a better car..buy it.........good luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA(TM)
Founding Member-Vendor and Marketing Coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As far as what is wrong with me, most people would say my brain.
When you go into a community of enthusiasts, and in your first post tell these enthusiasts that the thing they are enthusiatic about is crap, you've got to be expect this. This is exactly what a troll wants, to stir up things, and we've seen our share.
I would get rid of the car, Let the Dealer take it back, Go to a Dealer that will sell you a GXP at MSRP.
If you have a Lemon, Give it back to the Dealer and make Lemonade with the money, and get an 07 GXP with a Standard. Mitch
The last G.M. I bought was a new 1977 Monte Carlo. Nothing but trouble,
I wish they had a Lemon Law back then. I hated G.M. untill I got my 06 Solstice.
Now I am one very lucky, and Happy, G.M. Customer. Mitch
__________________
Sing along with Mitch Daddyo!
Took delivery Oct, 6th 2005
Presently 9,406 miles. Finally out of storage" See you in Mooseport"
"Note: I do not necessarily agree with every statement made by another author, other than myself, posted for your entertainment, even if the Author's name is not posted.
Wish I'd never heard of the Soltice. It's an absolutely, positively, drop dead gorgeous piece of crap.
I would pop it on Ebay, I am sure you can get a good amount for it there if you really hate it, and if not, hey it is under warranty, if you are not happy with the tranny and the response from your dealer try another one.
Jim
__________________
Live everyday like it is your last --- one day you will be right!
"B.B." Is Mysterious with -
Leather (and I am a member of PETA! shhhh)
Conv. + Power pack
LSD (not the driver.. the car!) and ABS
Manual
No Onstar - No XM -- I got Sirius :)
One neurotic owner
