Earlier today, I had the chance to drive one of the captured test fleet cars. I am located in the Detroit area. We have been seeing a lot of these cars running around town for the past two months or so. I have been lurking on this forum daily trying to get info and finally decided to post based on the test drive I had.
My first impressions of the car were mixed. I put my deposit down like the rest of you based on the great design. The design certainly holds up in person. This is simply a beautiful car from all angles. Another over riding impression of this car is that it is smaller than I expected. I am tall (6'-5") and the leg room in the passenger side is very tight. I am not too heavy (210..........well ok 215) and the fit feels like I have been shoved into a shoe. This is not necessarily a bad thing for this type of car. The leg room in the driver's side is less tight but still snug. I know that you will comment that I am just too darn big. Well, my previous summer car was a 1972 Triumph TR6. This car had at least as much leg room in the drivers side and more in the passenger side than the Solstice did. The Solstice seats do not have the ablity to rake backwards once the seat is fully slid back. There is simply no room at all behind the seats like a rear shelf for then to tip back into. therefore, if you are taller, you will learn to enjoy the seat angle that the GM engineers ecided on for you. The interior is ok. The test car had two tone leather. The two tone is not my style, but it looked ok. The quality of the leather looked mediocre. The leather looks kind of like plastic to me. The shifter is absolutly the best I have ever used. It is extremely short thow, very precise and positioned just right. I will not comment on the fit and finsh of the sheetmetal since this was not a fianl production car.
The motor bogs down under load as you accelerate. I read somewhere that you can chirp the tires in second gear. Well the only way you can do that is if you blow the shift, overrev the engine or have your foot pop off the clutch by accident. This is not a rocket ship. I think all of you know that about the car. It is plenty quick for a daily driver and loads of fun but be aware that my Honda Accord with a V6 feels much smoother and quicker. Now, I also know that the Honda has a bigger motor than this car does, but I am trying to give you impressions - don't shoot the messanger!!
The Solstice handles cornering really well (blows the doors off the Accord or the Triumph!!!) Very little body roll. I pushed it in corners beyond my comfort point and had absolutly no hint of loss of control. The sight lines are fine for me even though I am tall. The other lingering impression is about the storage. We all know that there really isn't any, but when you are confronted with this reality in the flesh, it is still a bit astonishing really how little storage there is. Forget overnights with a freind and a bag. As a matter of fact, forget about a bag of grocieries and a freind!! This car is really going to test your commitment as to whether a car driven purely for the fun of it will suffice with the compromizes that you are going to have to make.
In summary, the price reflects the finish level of some of the interior trim - low. The exterior is great. Handling is great. Motor is pretty good, but not world class. It is extremely small.
I left my deposit with the dealer right where it is !!!
Let me know if any of you have specific questions and I will try to post answers based on my 20 minute test drive. I will not pull any punches though!!
My first impressions of the car were mixed. I put my deposit down like the rest of you based on the great design. The design certainly holds up in person. This is simply a beautiful car from all angles. Another over riding impression of this car is that it is smaller than I expected. I am tall (6'-5") and the leg room in the passenger side is very tight. I am not too heavy (210..........well ok 215) and the fit feels like I have been shoved into a shoe. This is not necessarily a bad thing for this type of car. The leg room in the driver's side is less tight but still snug. I know that you will comment that I am just too darn big. Well, my previous summer car was a 1972 Triumph TR6. This car had at least as much leg room in the drivers side and more in the passenger side than the Solstice did. The Solstice seats do not have the ablity to rake backwards once the seat is fully slid back. There is simply no room at all behind the seats like a rear shelf for then to tip back into. therefore, if you are taller, you will learn to enjoy the seat angle that the GM engineers ecided on for you. The interior is ok. The test car had two tone leather. The two tone is not my style, but it looked ok. The quality of the leather looked mediocre. The leather looks kind of like plastic to me. The shifter is absolutly the best I have ever used. It is extremely short thow, very precise and positioned just right. I will not comment on the fit and finsh of the sheetmetal since this was not a fianl production car.
The motor bogs down under load as you accelerate. I read somewhere that you can chirp the tires in second gear. Well the only way you can do that is if you blow the shift, overrev the engine or have your foot pop off the clutch by accident. This is not a rocket ship. I think all of you know that about the car. It is plenty quick for a daily driver and loads of fun but be aware that my Honda Accord with a V6 feels much smoother and quicker. Now, I also know that the Honda has a bigger motor than this car does, but I am trying to give you impressions - don't shoot the messanger!!
The Solstice handles cornering really well (blows the doors off the Accord or the Triumph!!!) Very little body roll. I pushed it in corners beyond my comfort point and had absolutly no hint of loss of control. The sight lines are fine for me even though I am tall. The other lingering impression is about the storage. We all know that there really isn't any, but when you are confronted with this reality in the flesh, it is still a bit astonishing really how little storage there is. Forget overnights with a freind and a bag. As a matter of fact, forget about a bag of grocieries and a freind!! This car is really going to test your commitment as to whether a car driven purely for the fun of it will suffice with the compromizes that you are going to have to make.
In summary, the price reflects the finish level of some of the interior trim - low. The exterior is great. Handling is great. Motor is pretty good, but not world class. It is extremely small.
I left my deposit with the dealer right where it is !!!
Let me know if any of you have specific questions and I will try to post answers based on my 20 minute test drive. I will not pull any punches though!!
