[Amazing1]

Hello fellow owners. I've had my 2007 White Solstice for about a month now but it's been either raining or too cold to really take the car out for an enjoyable experience. So, I've been researching, searching and reading 100's of threads about the car so that I can understand her better.

Anyway, I have a few specific questions and observations and since it seems like most of the threads on such subjects are 6 years old, I thought I'd ask a few of them here to see what you experienced owners think and can share with me....

#1) XM radio sounds kind of flat to me. I know the stock radio isn't all that great to begin with but at least there are some highs and lows. I've got a trial period of XM and have listened to it often in the driveway and it just sounds worse to me than an AM radio. Is this your guys experience?

#2) Although my black soft top seems to be in very good condition, there are some velcro strips on the back that seem to hold a "fold" in the area I believe some of you call the buttress, which are torn and worn out. Have any of you replaced just these velcro strips, one half of which seems to be attached via an "X" stitch at each end. Anyone add anything else to this specific area to keep the top folded properly. As is, the worn out velcro shows and it looks sort of bad.

#3) I understand that the cup holder on the front console breaks very easily. Since I don't plan on using this accessory, I am wondering if anyone has figured out a way to just "seal" the cupholder in place so that it doesn;t just pop out and thus risk being broken.

Although I haven't been able to drive my car more than 12 miles since it was delivered to me from Florida about a month ago, I am hoping like heck to get the top down and go cruising once the weather here in GA reaches 60 degrees. :thumbs:

 

[kwtoxman]

#1 Do you have the monsoon system with sub? That sounds great to me. The lesser system is a definite compromise

#2, NC

#3, don't touch it and it won't be a problem, ime. And if it comes out and is ornery, just take your time to close it back up and you'll be fine.


Enjoy the car. 07 should have most of the improvements and work well if taken care of.

 

[rob the elder]

My cup holders have been in service since 2007 and are working fine. They do require some care and maintenance. The easiest way to take care of it is to remove it from the forward console. Check out any of several threads for more information

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/cupholder-suckage-why-i-love-my-cupholder-74560/

 

[rob the elder]

You should check the rubber feet in your trunk to make sure they are in good condition. They can and will damage your top if they fail.

Check the sides of the top where it rubs against the trunk tub for wear and take care of it if necessary.

Clean and treat your top. There are many threads on that subject. Either 303 or RAGGTOP will do the job.

As to the Velcro, my car is the same age as yours and has been in service for years with no problems with the Velcro. I would take it to a good top shop and have them give it a quick inspection and have them do the repair for you.

 

[GODROD]

Well to answer you on one question.
1) You are right it is very flat and lacks any good definition. Sounds almost tinny at times. The Monsoon system (I have) is much better than that. XM unfortunately sucks in the audiophile realm. It's a shame really. I do use Pandora plugged into the aux jack off my cell phone and even on their lower quality to beats XM easily and has way more variety. I have a basic data plan through AT&T so I don't want to rack up too much data but I never get close to my limit.

An easy way to tell you have the monsoon system is if you have a sub behind the passenger seat. (Assuming stock radio install).

Welcome to the forum.i used to live in Augusta and love that state.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

[Radio Doc]

#3) I understand that the cup holder on the front console breaks very easily. Since I don't plan on using this accessory, I am wondering if anyone has figured out a way to just "seal" the cupholder in place so that it doesn;t just pop out and thus risk being broken.

Yes, the cup holder is "delicate" (polite word for 'flimsy' ), I never use it and I had no need to seal it as it has never popped out on its own.

 

[twowheeladdict]

My '08 GMC 2500HD and '13 Buick Encore both came with XM radio and I never used them past the trial period. In both vehicles the XM sounded 'flat' like you describe. The radio and CDs have a much fuller sound. Very disappointed with the XM radio.

My cup holder functions, but after reading the posts here I asked my wife not to use it. The center holder works fine for us.

I have learned to use my right hand for the window controls and my left hand to reach a water bottle and have no issues with the windows or drink holder.

 

[redcoats1976]

if i could keep the back cupholder from coming out when i accidentally hit it with my elbow id be a happy man.i dont use them anyway.

 

[2KWK4U]

1) Sirius/XM sucks because they compress the signal so much to squeeze in extra channels that nobody wants. In doing so, they've reduced the quality of the service overall. It ain't what it once was.

2) As has been recommended, take it to a top shop to get the velcro checked out.

3) The best way to avoid breaking the cupholder is to train your passengers not to hit it with their knee. I actually swapped my rear cupholder with someone that has an '09 to get rid of it! I might get a santana billet replacement cupholder if/when mine breaks (don't think santana is a sponsored on this board... a search might bring it up)

 

[Amazing1]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I definitely am going to check the top over carefully if and when the weather here gets warm enough to even put the top down.

One other, new question... if I may? I understand that some of the guys and gals have cracked their center console because we tend to use it as a push off spot to get ourselves out of the car. I've already removed mine for re-covering with a matching "sand" color leather and extra elbow padding, and I am wondering exactly what some have used to reinforce the bottom side so that it might prevent cracking or getting worse. I'm thinking about mixing up some epoxy with filler and filling in the small boxes on the bottom side, especially along the center and where my elbow seems to fall, in order to strengthen this area. What materials have some of you guys used to provide extra support from the other side?

 

[chickenwire]

redcoats - you'll get the hang of not popping that cupholder open with your elbow. I did that incessantly when I first got outs! 2kwk is right - the audio compression on XM makes the sound quality poop.

I've not had a problem with the center console cracking as others have experienced. As for your epoxy approach, I'm trying to consider where it would help or not. I'd have to see a pic of the failure point to find out. You might make it worse by concentrating the force to a particular spot, but I don't think that is likely.

 

[Windrestrictor!]

Welcome to the forum Amazing!

 

[TomatoSoup]

I understand that some of the guys and gals have cracked their center console because we tend to use it as a push off spot to get ourselves out of the car. I've already removed mine for re-covering with a matching "sand" color leather and extra elbow padding, and I am wondering exactly what some have used to reinforce the bottom side so that it might prevent cracking or getting worse. I'm thinking about mixing up some epoxy with filler and filling in the small boxes on the bottom side, especially along the center and where my elbow seems to fall, in order to strengthen this area. What materials have some of you guys used to provide extra support from the other side?

Fiberglass mat and epoxy underneath should work. Others have built a support underneath from wood or foam. In my case, I squirted expanding foam sealant (GreatStuff type) into a poly bag and sealed it up. Then stuffed it underneath, put the console back and let the foam expand and harden. Be VERY careful and mask everything off well, the stuff is messy and if it gets on the carpet or trim you're toast!

Anyway it expanded a lot more than I thought and pushed the console off! So I just trimmed the foam down to fit after hardening.

 

[Amazing1]

Thanks for the suggestion TomatoSoup. I actually worked part-time at Home Depot for three years and you wouldn't believe all the different, clever applications customers would tell me about using that expanding foam in a can. You're right though, its' super messy.

I actually have found some 1/4" foam that I think would be perfect to place on top of the hump running down the center of the car, and maybe even protect the wire braids that go through that area. Not sure if it will end up giving me the utmost extra protection possible, but it flexible enough that it might just add enough cushion to prevent the sag in the console piece which results in it cracking over time. Darn those fat, heavy elbows....

Anyway, now just waiting for the temperature to be more "solstice-like" so I can re-install the part and try to finally get to know my new toy.