Solstice opportunity

I'm posting this for my boss. He's got a chance to buy a 2009 Solstice GXP turbo with 5 speed manual, anti-lock, LSD, etc. with something like 1900 miles for $17,000. Good deal? Buy it or beg off?

Edit: convertible

Coupe or convertible?

GRM seemed to like them.

If it's a coupe, yes buy it. Convertible, I'd look at the market and compare. Doesn't sound like a bad deal at first glance though.

I would have owned a coupe when they were new if it weren't for a serious case of debt-phobia

We've had a couple...... an 07 vert GXP and an 09 coupe GXP. Really liked the vert, but bought a new coupe when we could due to the rarity and I personally like coupes better than convertibles. When new the coupe was hard to get because they made so few, so I jumped on it when I had the chance...just fyi all coupes are actually targas.

No issues other than a recall on the vert for a diff leak. The 07 had 35k or so miles when we traded it and the coupe has 6 or 7k now.

Love the looks of the coupe and it does get a lot of attention, but visibility on either isn't great. I'm used to cars with poor visibility though, so no problem for me.

GMPP has performance parts for the car including a tune that raises power substantially and doesn't void the warranty.

Also, pop the hood and they look very easy to work on as opposed to cars like my 944 turbo that leaves you wanting to cry into a pillow.

As for value, the coupes are holding strong, but I'm not sure how the market is on the verts as I haven't really been following. Good luck.

Keep in mind that you are buying an '86 Fiero GT. By that I mean, GM made an amazing car that was awesome to drive, and it went no further. Pinnacle cars that are also swan songs always seem sad to me.

Reading the thread title, I thought "you only have a solstice opportunity twice a year!"

Sorry...

Clem

$22,795 is retail clean Black Book

Trade in is 18,400.

Seems like a good deal at $17K

pinchvalve wrote: Keep in mind that you are buying an '86 Fiero GT. By that I mean, GM made an amazing car that was awesome to drive, and it went no further. Pinnacle cars that are also swan songs always seem sad to me.

you're probably thinking 88. That was the last and best year. I'd like to have one of those.

Drive before you buy. I liked the GXP vert well enough, but for $17K of my own money I'd much rather drive an S2000 or Boxster S.

ClemSparks wrote: Reading the thread title, I thought "you only have a solstice opportunity twice a year!" Sorry... Clem

Still better than an Equinox though.

nderwater wrote: Drive before you buy. I liked the GXP vert well enough, but for $17K of my own money I'd much rather drive an S2000 or Boxster S.

I like the gxp better than the s2k by a good bit, but not as much as the Boxster S .....of course every one is different, so try before you buy is great advice. When we bought the convertible new the Boxster S lost due to price (we were buying new, so the price diff was large). Then when we decided on the coupe we really didn't compare again because I wanted it for what it was.....one of the last cool, rare Pontiacs. We actually took delivery after Pontiac was killed.

Cotton wrote:

nderwater wrote: Drive before you buy. I liked the GXP vert well enough, but for $17K of my own money I'd much rather drive an S2000 or Boxster S.

I like the gxp better than the s2k by a good bit, but not as much as the Boxster S .....of course every one is different, so try before you buy is great advice. When we bought the convertible new the Boxster S lost due to price (we were buying new, so the price diff was large). Then when we decided on the coupe we really didn't compare again because I wanted it for what it was.....one of the last cool, rare Pontiacs. We actually took delivery after Pontiac was killed.

Oh you could get a running Boxster in the $6K to $8K and do the STi swap....

Those cars have the smell of future classic all over them. Especially the GXPs and Coupes. $17k sounds like real fair money.

jg

I'd let all the air out of the tires and offer them 15K

Having ridden in a used Boxster, I only hope that the fit and finish on the GXP is better since the Boxster rattled and banged like a retired porn star. Not impressed.

A buddy's S2000 was still tight as a drum, BTW.

The Boxster is a great track/race car, but for the street there are better options, IMHO.

Tough to buy one for $17k when you can get a nice C5 for that sort of cash and the C5 does almost everything better.

The biggest downside I have heard to the coupes is there is no targa storage when driving meaning if you take the top off, you gotta leave it at home. A C5 has enough room for a weekend trip worth of luggage for 2 people and you can still pop the targa and stow it in the trunk.

That's a steal if the miles are accurate and it's like-new, in my opinion. Take it for a test drive and make up your own mind...also, if you change your mind, in four months time you can sell it for a profit! I think they are a hoot to drive, but the ergonomics, storage space, and interior are definitely lacking...some can look past it (like me) and some refuse to accept it. The GMPP tune makes it a lot more fun, in my opinion, and is worth the dough. I prefer the Sky styling, but they're essentially twins aside from the little styling changes of course.

turboswede wrote: Having ridden in a used Boxster, I only hope that the fit and finish on the GXP is better since the Boxster rattled and banged like a retired porn star. Not impressed.

You hope the fit and finish on the parts bin GM that released in 2006 is better than a Boxster? I like my Sky, but the interior fit and finish is certainly not world-class!

93gsxturbo wrote: Tough to buy one for $17k when you can get a nice C5 for that sort of cash and the C5 does almost everything better.

Um, a C5 can't do "be 4 years old with 2000 miles" better! Even if you find one with 2000 miles, you're definitely not going to find it for the same price. Also, the power to weight ratio is pretty darn close since the Solstice is quite a bit lighter and only a GMPP tune away from 290 hp, 360 ft lbs. I know, not stock for stock, but it's even easier than a bolt on and doesn't void the warranty!

Bryce

Nashco wrote: That's a steal if the miles are accurate and it's like-new, in my opinion. Take it for a test drive and make up your own mind...also, if you change your mind, in four months time you can sell it for a profit! I think they are a hoot to drive, but the ergonomics, storage space, and interior are definitely lacking...some can look past it (like me) and some refuse to accept it. The GMPP tune makes it a lot more fun, in my opinion, and is worth the dough. I prefer the Sky styling, but they're essentially twins aside from the little styling changes of course.

turboswede wrote: Having ridden in a used Boxster, I only hope that the fit and finish on the GXP is better since the Boxster rattled and banged like a retired porn star. Not impressed.

You hope the fit and finish on the parts bin GM that released in 2006 is better than a Boxster? I like my Sky, but the interior fit and finish is certainly not world-class!

93gsxturbo wrote: Tough to buy one for $17k when you can get a nice C5 for that sort of cash and the C5 does almost everything better.

Um, a C5 can't do "be 4 years old with 2000 miles" better! Even if you find one with 2000 miles, you're definitely not going to find it for the same price. Also, the power to weight ratio is pretty darn close since the Solstice is quite a bit lighter and only a GMPP tune away from 290 hp, 360 ft lbs. I know, not stock for stock, but it's even easier than a bolt on and doesn't void the warranty! Bryce

Regular Solstice is about 300-400 lbs lighter. I don't know for certain but I'd think the gxp version adds another 100lbs to it. 01/02 C5 is about 9.25 lbs per hp, Solstice GXP with GMPP tune and my guessed weight increase increase is about 10.25lbs per hp (assuming no weight increase is 9.92 lbs per hp). I love the Solstice but I'm a bit of a Corvette/LS anything fanboy . 17k for a GXP with 2000 miles does seem like a very good price though and C5s are a bit outdated now too.

$17k is a hell of a deal for that car.

Part of his problem is that the brand new missus will not accept a "used" car. She wants new and she wants a convertible. As such that pretty well eliminates all other possibilities. He doesn't think he can find anything else that will fit the bill for that money. Personally, I'm thinking this thing may have some collectability down the road as the last "great" Pontiac (especially as it's the "deluxe" version) but I'm not banking on it and it's not my money. If it were me, I'd do the C5.

Or get a decent Miata and pocket the $10 grand.

stroker wrote: Part of his problem is that the brand new missus will not accept a "used" car. She wants new and she wants a convertible. As such that pretty well eliminates all other possibilities. He doesn't think he can find anything else that will fit the bill for that money. Personally, I'm thinking this thing may have some collectability down the road as the last "great" Pontiac (especially as it's the "deluxe" version) but I'm not banking on it and it's not my money. If it were me, I'd do the C5. Or get a decent Miata and pocket the $10 grand.

So she's a moron, gotcha. Sorry, but that sort of thinking is just stupid unless they are planning on keeping the car for a long, long time. Many people who think this way do not (which is great for GRMers) but not for their financial health in the long run.

I think these cars are great. When they anounced the death of Pontiac and were selling them off cheap I triend in vain to find an manual GXP Coupe even though I work for Ford.

We (the g/f and I) strongly considered trading our MINI convertible for a GXP Coupe back when there were still a few on dealer lots, with the plan to keep it as a fair-weather driven, future collectible. Decided we couldn't make the financial sacrifice. Turned out to be the right decision since we sold the MINI anyway and mostly for financial reasons so a GXP-C would have been even more of a strain.

Still on the short-list of lottery cars.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Here in Indiana they wanted more than sticker for the coupes, G8 gxp's, and Sky redlines.......

Trust me, I wanted a sky redline.......but they all wanted retarded prices.

turboswede wrote: So she's a moron, gotcha. Sorry, but that sort of thinking is just stupid unless they are planning on keeping the car for a long, long time. Many people who think this way do not (which is great for GRMers) but not for their financial health in the long run.

So what. Racing cars isn't good for financial health either, but it's what many of us want to do. No need to call her a moron because she spends money differently than many of us do.