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.
Layne,
I also bought mine in S. Florida. However, I got mine at MSRP.
My dealer was in Palm Beach County? How about yours?
And I'm sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble with yours.
Thankfully,my problems (so far) have only been minor.
solsticelover
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Mysterious with Premium Pkg, Convenience Pkg, Power Pkg, A/C, ABS, LSD, Polished Alum. wheels, Radio with cd & mp3, floormats
Looks like Layne came on here loaded for bear. At 2500 miles and one month old, I LOVE my AUTOMATIC Aggressive Sol and my only problem (so far) is keeping her perfectly clean since she must be driven daily.
Sorry you had problems. And your replies didn't meet your liking, but your first message was antagonistic. And I agree with the others that it's your own fault for paying that much mark up. The dealer in Chesapeake, VA had several Solstices for 34,900....but I didn't fall for it and found mine over 500 miles away in Tennessee. Although still marked up, it wasn't nearly that much and I was still satisfied with the car I got for the price I paid.
I hope it works out for you. Even tho you didn't ask, I'll give you some advice: after 15 years of doing customer service training, I can tell you that you may get better results by not calling a car so many people love "crap." Keep your cool and be positive, but pursue your warranty; that's what it's there for. Good luck!
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Aggressive, Ebony. Premium Package, Power Package, Convenience Package. AC, Monsoon, XM, Floor Mats, HeadLiner, Polished Wheels, LTD Slip, AUTOMATIC. vin #115831 Found in Tenn on 5/30/06, Delivered home to NC 6/1/06!
Sounds like the tranny problem you have is very fixable! Just give the dealer and GM a chance to find the specific problem and you will once again be a happy camper.
I have over 4,000 miles on mine SOL (got it Feb 23, 2006) and it was worth the 6 momth wait! Thsi car is a guts and run roadster and I woudn't have it any other way. For the price you can't find a car that is sooo beautiful and so fun to drive anywhere in the U.S. car market.
Loved it the first time I laid eyes on it and I hope yours doesn't turn out to be a "love to hate" relationship.
But, the Solstice forum has no way of guaging how significant these problems are. What percentage say nationally of the produced Solstices are having these problems? It is easy for me and you to think that our problems are indicative of problems for all Solstices, but that thinking may be flawed. I am suspect, as I guess you are, but I have caution as well in ASSUMING that the complaints written here in this forum are indicative of a majority of owners nationally. Suredly, if you have problems and have to visit your dealer, than it is your belief that this car is failing you. No problem with that. But, you or I cannot extrapolate that all or a big proportion of Solstices are afflicted with the same problem we have.
The fact that GM has a service bulletin out to addresses the clunking drivetrain issue suggests to me that more than just a few people are having problems with their drivetrains. So in the case of the drivetrain problems (clunks, whines, leaking differentials) I think it's a safe bet that these are real issues for a lot of Solstice owners.
I too bought mine in Palm Beach County, though I did hear of premiums being asked south of me, and a dealer in Stuart had a $5000.00 premium. When he told me that I said, thank you have a nice day, I can wait till next year.
Then I found not all dealers were trying to pad their pockets. I have had issues with mine - I swore never to buy a car the first yr. it came out...
But mine dropped in my lap (sorry all you waiting) and it was too hot looking to resist. So far I think Pontac is trying to fix the problems.
Sorry your not happy, it isn't the car for everyone.
I think it sucks that Layne is having problems with her's but the dealership should replace it after so many times of being in the shop.
Sounded like maybe two trips to the dealer. And correctly diagnosing a problem but not having the parts of a "new" transmission in stock to fix that day does not chalk up one for the lemon law. Three failures, not just attempts at fixing the exact same failure and placing the vehicle out of commission for 30 days is usually what is involved. You could have a car that every day something different fails and is fixed properly, never to fail again and it is not a lemon by law. It can be as frustrating as hell, but assume the engine seizes up one day and is replaced, the pinion seal and diff carrier get repaired, and then the dreaded water in the hermetically sealed automatic transmission rears its ugly head. That's just bad luck, not lemon.
LL, I would assume from your post that your 84 Fiero DID in fact burn up? The ones that did unrelated to accidents was caused by con-rod going through side of engine, hot oil hitting exhaust and catching fire, but go back to what I just said, con-rod failure. You had to blow the engine to catch it on fire (even in accidents it was related to breakage of the engine. GM issued a fix at no charge fo reach and every potential catastrophe - there surely are Fieros out there without the fix but find one and GM will still fix it. Recalls are like that.
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When more than one friend wants to ride shotgun
No, I do not work for GM or any subsidiary or supplier.
[quote=deluke
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 ! [/QUOTE]
As consumers, unfortunately too many of us have lost our backbone. If you are about to get shafted, stand up and don't let it happen.
When I told my dealer to "wrap it up and I'll take it home," he quoted me a price that was $7,000 over MSRP. My response was, "Not in this lifetime!"
He looked at me for about three seconds and then said, "Well, you can't blame a guy for trying..."
Please note that while poor Layne did pay too much for her Solturd, which we all hope will be fixed ASAP, it did not cost $40,000. After taxes, tag, title and INTEREST it may well be close to $40K. But not knowing what kind of rate the bank gave her or what the length of the loan was, or how much money she put down, we won't know exactly what Layne paid.
And she takes hairpin freeway exits at 50 mph (my hero ).
These are first year cars, most of us have wanted this car since seeing it either at Detroit in 2002 or as a concept write-up in one of the rags. Sorry if you bought one and are having problems, you obviously will be much happier with a more established sports car with an automatic like a Mustang, Corvette, or Porsche.
Sorry you had such a terrible experience and I'm sure the GM/Pontiac folks that monitor this forum would like to have your feedback and document this experience in an effort to stop other occurences.
One thing is for sure, Mr. Lutz said he did not approve of upcharges, if your listening do something about it.
If on the otherhand you are not an owner and just want to bust our chops and wait for vile comebacks, hopefully our members will not give you your wish.
Oh, one more thing, Why does Porsche, and the almighty Japanees car makers come out with new models, could it be they are making improvements to keep up with the competition?
Come on GM, start cranking these things out to meet the demand, Honda would.
I agree with the first year car idea. Besides my Solstice I also have a first year car, a 1957 Ford Ranchero. Trust me it's old, but there is factory things that are out of whack. I say you should just go get a a different sports car. Thanks.
I have a automatic.Paid to much dealer mark-up but dont care seen it ,wanted it ,and bought it. :-) I have 4300 miles on mine already or maybe it is 4500. been driving it since May. No problems at all unless you could concider the rain a problem :-(. Hard on the body when the top is down and it starts to rain.Just not easy getting in and out of ""fast"". ANYWAYS THATS MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT....... HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL.....
.....j/k.......