General non-MG related discussions. No politics here please!!
Being that I live in a GM city, I'm seeing a lot of Pontiac Solstice around and now lately a lot of Saturn Sky roadsters. I checked out a Sky in the HD parking lot yesterday. Really nice, I don't care how they perform, they are just a nice ride! I think the Saturn is cooler than the Pontiac. I want one. Can't get one but I want one.
It IS a nice looking car. The car mags haven't been as thrilled with the rest of it as the styling, tho. One thing they all seem to be less than thrilled with is storage space. Essentially no trunk (it does have one, but tiny volume), and not much storage inside. High door tops get panned too for making the interior less than comfortable. After those quibbles, they do seem to think that they are OK performancewise, but not as terrific as the styling would imply. I'd have to drive one to see if they know what they are talking about. Remember, these are the same guys who also pan the MGB, so what could they know?? ;)
Apparantly a lot of "fit and finish" compaints too - especially on the Solstice.
The Miata certainly set the bar very high for these vehicles. A pity - I also like the styling of the Sky.
Storage space smorage space , BIG DEAL !!! Its a freaking convertible !! You aren't supposed to go on 10 trips with the kids . I liked the Solstice when it came out but I really like the SKY , I just can't picture myself in a Saturn , although I do like their new styling . The magazine guys only seem to like the 100K on up cars .
I like them both, but prefer the SKY.
I agree with Eric, it is not a mini van, it is a little, affordable, sports car. Who cares about storage?
Jerry Wrote:
I fell in love with the solstice and the sky, especially the turbo models. I almost picked up a complete solstice at a local auction to use the drivetrain in my midget. Bid went to high but Im still looking for one.
I drove a friend's new Sky. I didn't climb in the car, I put it on. It was a tight fit. I'm about 5-11 and 200 LB. I like the looks of it though.
Yeah, its the ecotec. Really great DOHC engine. I'd love to put one in the MG.
This is a picture of the red bull solstice that I took at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. It produces 500+ horse power. Really cool.
Rusty, GM owns Opel, so I think your right. I thought that too when I first saw it. I will always say......OLD CARS ARE BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
peace, Kyle
Everyone is putting down the lack of storage space synt it is "a sports car" and we shouldn't expect much storage space. Well dammit the MGB is a sports car also and I have twice as much storage space MY B as there is in a Miata or Solstice or Skye.
That was my main complaint with the MGF when it was first introduced. Steve Cox from MG told me at Silverstone when I saw the first one and commented on the lack of luggage space that "it will hold two golf bags". I answered him that I don't pack my clothes for traveling in a golf bag. Nancy and I will travel for a week or two at a time in the B and have plenty of space for luggage. Yes storage space is important to me when I'm traveling in my B and in that car I have plenty.
George Herschell
George Herschell Wrote:
It's an Opel in Europe.This is what a British mag says about it
http://autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Opel-GT-2.0T/224061/
They look good, but they are much heavier and more bulky than a B, and you can feel it. They have less leg and shoulder room than a B, the entire car is higher relative to the driver's eyes. The dashboard obstructs more of the road in front, and the high sides and rear make me feel claustrophobic, as well as making maneuvering harder.
The advertised fuel economy is also worse than the B.
I really like the Mk3 Miata. The S2000 is also a serious car for people who like driving. And both feel much more nimble and maneuverable than the GM cars, and have a shape similar to the B. The Miata weighs 400lb less.
I'd love to get my hands on a yellow S2000. Probably my favorite modern sports car AND it has push-button start!
How about one of these for the same price?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160163850280
alabbasi Wrote:
Well dammit the MGB is a sports car also and I have twice as much storage space MY B as there is in a Miata or Solstice or Skye. ----- Sure , but your B doesn't have all the crap that they put in cars now . If the Solstice or Sky just had basically an engine , it would have more room too.
I'll wait until GM brings back the Vauxhall!
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=7516
I love the modern sports cars, but they can't do anything that much better than my B to justify the purchase. The Solstice and Sky are too big and the Miata is getting bigger. All a B really needs is 4 wheel disk brakes.
Derek, that is the Opel Speedster, too.
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/photo-gallery/opel-speedster-2000/opel-speedster-2000-7.jpg
Well I just like it. If I had one I'd still keep my B of course. Sorry to hear that they are short on legroom. Same complaint with the Miata. Not enough legroom for me. I do like the high body, I prefer it. I've never liked driving in a green house. I like a high dash also. That was a thing of the past. Now if I could just lower the Fiero seats...wish I had kept my original seats, they sat low.
Back to storage space.
The car mag reviewers weren't ignorant of the Solstice/Sky's primary purpose, but simply felt that a trunk the size of a glovebox wasn't that great for hauling your fun items you might want on a drive or in comparison to other sports car's capacity to carry a set of golf clubs or at least your driving gloves.
Regardless, I find the commentary that storage space onboard doesn't matter interesting considering all the threads I have read over the years beefing about the lack of it in an MGB. Obviously, it mattered to somebody. ;)
As i recall, the latest Toyota MR2 has a trunk that's something silly like 1.2cu ft! I think that might hold a six pack and a small tin of beer nuts.