Grassroots Solstice/Sky Article

If you believe a convertible is a convertible, then the Miata and Kappas can be compared and the Miata is certainly a better all-around car. For us, the Miata looks plain and is underpowered. We got our Sky Redline (with the GMPP tune) because it is a sexy, fast, affordable convertible. I'd like more trunk space, a nicer interior, and a better quality top, but not enough to get a more boring, less attractive, or more expensive car. As mentioned, when it comes to being competitive, the chassis certainly doesn't lack trophies, so GM must have done something right!

I had really hoped the second gen Kappa would fix the remaining issues...

Bryce

I was really disappointed when GM dropped the brands and the platform and DMC didn't follow through with buying the plant and the rights to the platform like they had kicked around. A Sky (nothing wrong with the Solstice, I just like the Sky's looks better and have a soft spot for Saturns) is one of the top options for when I pick up a convertible again once I'm less limited for driveway space.

Nashco wrote: If you believe a convertible is a convertible, then the Miata and Kappas can be compared and the Miata is certainly a better all-around car. For us, the Miata looks plain and is underpowered. We got our Sky Redline (with the GMPP tune) because it is a sexy, fast, affordable convertible. I'd like more trunk space, a nicer interior, and a better quality top, but not enough to get a more boring, less attractive, or more expensive car. As mentioned, when it comes to being competitive, the chassis certainly doesn't lack trophies, so GM must have done something right!

I agree 100%, and I drive and love a Miata every day. If it had a top that I could put down within 30 seconds (it is about 5 seconds in a Miata) and a trunk that I could fit a hockey bag in (a Miata can do it. So can an S2000, and so can a Del Sol), I'd probably be in a Skystice right now.

Coupe is still picking at my brain.

In reply to GXP_Matt:

One of our region members runs a Solstice (Z0K?) in C- Stock. From what I've gathered, part of the reason the car does well in the class is due to the generous wheel openings which will swallow a wide A6 and thus allow for exceptional grip.

It's funny... IIRC from the last time I read about the car (he's had it casually for sale for a few years now), it's strictly an autocross car and rarely, if ever, street driven and gets trailered to events (apparently due to very agressive alignment specs).

For those who would actually buy a Solstice or Sky if it just had a larger trunk, here's a common mod in the Kappa circle:

http://www.skyroadster.com/forums/f2/how-make-kappa-more-practical-17706/

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f62/expanded-trunk-mod-completed-66958/

The roof can not go up or down without getting out of the car, but it doesn't take 30 seconds. I haven't timed myself with "normal speed" operation, but I'm guessing it's closer to 20 seconds. I know in "POURING RAIN AND LEFT THE TOP DOWN!!!" operation, it takes about 10 seconds. You can put the top up without getting out of the car, but you can not close the trunk or the buttresses. Like I said, simple stuff that a second generation would have easily fixed...but never happened.

Bryce

mtn wrote: Coupe is still picking at my brain.

I hadn't looked twice at any American car for almost 20 years (I am a sports car enthusiast and other than the Corvette and Viper they don't make any - and if you bring up fat assed barges like the two ton modern pony cars and think they are in any sense a sports car, you are beyond hope).

I saw a Solstice coupe in the flesh, went to drive a convert at the local dealer the next day (the coupes were in very limited supply) made a deal on a coupe the day after, and ordered the upgraded tune from GM (260 bhp -> 290 bhp) before I took delivery of the car.

I've still only seen a handful (less than a dozen) coupes and that includes at Solstice meets, but it is enough to make me wish they'd just changed the name to a Chev and continued producing them when they shut down Pontiac. Not a lot of money to be made with sports cars, though, so I understand why they axed it.

The spacial limitations aren't that hard to live with - it is a sports car after all, and although you are no longer issued with a hair shirt when you buy one, a certain amount of hardiness is expected of one.

The soft tops aren't all that bad (says the guy that doesn't own one) and operate reasonably quickly. Not as fast as my nomination for all time best designed soft top, on a car no one will remember (because they all rotted away long ago) the Fiat 124 - snap, snap, clunk - 10 seconds down or up. Pretty impressive compared to my MGC which requires you to get the top out of the boot, erect a framework for it and then stretch it over the top and fasten all the fasteners, a 2 man job. Best done under a bridge, or just drive faster so most of the rain goes over your head.....