Took a Solstice for a Test Drive

legion · 09-06-2006, 05:38 PM

The local Mitsubishi dealership, which is ironically located right next to a Pontiac dealership, has had a Solstice sitting on its lot for about a month.

Being somewhat bored this afternoon, I decided to take it for a spin.

The first thing I noticed about the car is that the clutch is super-light. I couldn't tell from feel when it was engaged. My 951 has a heavy clutch, and I love the feeling I get from the clutch pedal and drive better because the feedback is instant and unmistakable. Couple that with the very quiet engine, and I felt like I was driving blind. No engine sound and no clutch feedback.

The spacing of the gears on the shifter is nice, but the gearing itself sucks. It is gear for leisurely cruising, not performance.

And speaking of performance, while the car has more low-end torque than my 951 (which makes it move drivable in stop-and-go traffic), the engine power really starts to fade right around when my 951 really starts to pull.

I insisted that the top be down for the test drive. The 12" B pillars and 10" rear window scared me in a car that I don't know. Good thing, the rear deck is so high, you can hardly see behind you. The doors are so high, they come up to my neck, and I'm 6' 1". If I had driven with the top up, I would have had to poke a hole in the roof for my head to stick out. I think you sit about the same distance from the windsheild as you do in my F150 (very far away). This causes an interesting problem as the headliner war right at eye level. I was looking down along the hood at the road. I had decent vision of cars in front of me, but I couldn't see stop lights at all. Twice during the test drive the guy behind me honked because I couldn't see that the traffic light had turned green. In summary, you can't see behind you well, you can't see beside you well, and you can't see traffic lights or high signs in front of you...

And now the deal killer...the trunk. It has 4 cubic feet with the top up, 1 cubic foot with it down. Because the gas tank protudes right up into the middle of the trunk, these 4 cubic feet are all around the edges. Forget trying to use any sort of conventional suitcase, backpack, or ziplock baggie. If you wanted to take the car for a weekend, you'd have to tow a small U-haul trailer.

And in typical stealership fashion, they are asking $26,500 for the car, and told me it is a good price as it cost $31,000 new. (I happen to know that they cost $19,000 new...)

cantdrv55 · 09-06-2006, 05:53 PM

I think it's ugly. Can't stand the buck tooth grill. If you want a roadster, you can't go wrong with a Miata.

legion · 09-06-2006, 06:01 PM

I think the car is fine for a cruiser, as you're not going to leave town with that trunk.

It's no performance car.

masraum · 09-06-2006, 07:44 PM

This is quite interesting.

From a thread on the miata board.

Quote:

eiichi Tsuchiya (of drifting fame) drives both cars at Willow Springs with interesting commentary.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRARVVmpzTw

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_d5-K109DQ

Cliff Notes (for those of you who don't want to watch): Solstice is cheaper, faster and easier to drive.

Another quote

Quote:

It seems that his biggest complaint is gearing. (He didnt operate the top nor transport luggage during the test )

According to Car and Driver, the gear ratios have been adjusted in both the GXP and the base Solstice. Third gear is not as tall as it was.

masraum · 09-06-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cantdrv55
I think it's ugly. Can't stand the buck tooth grill. If you want a roadster, you can't go wrong with a Miata.

I love my miata (wouldn't mind a bit more power, but isn't that pretty much always the case with any car eventually. I like the look of the new Miata (technically "MX-5" now).

And between the Sky and Solstice, I really, really like the looks of the Solstice. To me it's curves evoke the cars of the 50's and 60's while the Sky looks like a mini Cadillac XLR.

From what I've heard and read, the newest miata is sort of like the newest 911s... Faster in everyway and quicker around a corner despite more weight and less rawness.

masraum · 09-06-2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
I think the car is fine for a cruiser, as you're not going to leave town with that trunk.

you're probably very correct there.

It's no performance car. [/B][/QUOTE]

And the "Sunfire" is? Just kidding. Actually, while it does weigh a bit more than the miata, I think the performance is close enough to where I'd have to admit that it is a "sportscar" and the turbo version is probably a real screamer.

legion · 09-07-2006, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
And the "Sunfire" is?

Not at all...but then again it's not my car.

kaisen · 09-07-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
And in typical stealership fashion, they are asking $26,500 for the car, and told me it is a good price as it cost $31,000 new. (I happen to know that they cost $19,000 new...)

You happen to know? The base price on the 2006 Solstice started at $19915. That is for a base model with NO AIR CONDITIONING, crank windows, no cruise ..... basically a stripped model. Typically equipped they run $24-25K. The 2007's are over $1000 more.

The original owner may have paid $31,000 in an unfortunate case of dealer markup that was common when they first came out. They are still unavailable in many areas and it's even harder to find its twin, the Saturn SKY.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I am pleased to see some of these sporty 'verts running around. The Miata pretty much started this 'modern' roadster trend many years ago, and it's still going strong.

My problem with the Miata is that I simply can't fit into the first gen cars - I'm too tall at 6'2". It wasn't designed for the taller person. Same applies to most 'verts.

I did sit in a Saturn Sky recently, and seem to fit. I also fit into the Toyo MR2 Spyder - I'm sad they stopped making that car. But it's flaw is the same as the Solstice/Sky's: no trunk space. I suspect the Solstice/Sky will not be around for too long due to this major issue.

That said, I think a Toyo MR2 Spyder, or a Solstice/Sky would make a terrific commuting car - you don't need a whole lot of trunk space for the daily drive, and you can have some top-down driving as well as some spirited jaunts down the back roads on the way home.

Just my $0.42,
-Z

dmcummins · 09-07-2006, 08:08 AM

I looked at the Solstice but ended up buying the wife a used boxster instead. The trunk room and performance made the difference.

She is very happy so far.

serge944 · serge944's Garage

Should have driven the turbocharged GXP!

masraum · 09-07-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z-man

My problem with the Miata is that I simply can't fit into the first gen cars - I'm too tall at 6'2". It wasn't designed for the taller person. Same applies to most 'verts.

-Z

I sort of fit initially (I'm 6'1-2"), but I've given my car the famous miata 'foamectomy' and that's made an enormous difference. Not only did it give me 2 more inches of headroom, but the seat's actually more comfortable to me.

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

Just a note performance wise, the autocrossers are putting 285's on the rear end of these which is making them very popular with the conechasers

kaisen · 09-07-2006, 09:29 AM

A friend of mine has a SKY and has won every C-stock autocross he entered this summer. He used to own several S2000s and has a turbo SKY Redline on order.

notfarnow · 09-07-2006, 09:39 AM

Legion, you've essentially described a car that went from the design floor to production without being tested & refined. Almost as though it was designed without consideration of the fact that it would be driven on public roads, by humans.

Funny you mention the high sides. I find it almost looks out of scale when it has people sitting in it.

1967 R50/2 · 09-07-2006, 09:46 AM

I drove one. The passenger had to hold my computer bag because there wasn't room for it in the trunk with the top down.

There really is no room in the car. Fun to drive, probably not fun to live with.

scottmandue · 09-07-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dmcummins
I looked at the Solstice but ended up buying the wife a used boxster instead. The trunk room and performance made the difference.

She is very happy so far.

I looked at the Solstice and Sky... really wanted to like them... looked good on paper but they look like caa caa in person.

I came to the same conclusion that for the same money a used Boxster is a much better deal.

NICKG · 09-07-2006, 10:14 AM

i think the sky and the solstice are pretty cool cars...if I bought a gm...they would be in my top choices. BTW, The company I work for makes the oem exhausts....

kaisen · 09-07-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmandue
I came to the same conclusion that for the same money a used Boxster is a much better deal.

Used is almost always a better value. Just cross your fingers on the RMS thing.

dd74 · 09-07-2006, 10:46 AM

I simply find the Sky/Solstice as odd. Here, in Trendsville (L.A.), I've seen only a handful on the street; so I'm not certain they're selling.

But the sheer fact that it looks like a half-hearted copy of the Miata, seventeen years after the Miata arrived, is enough to turn me off.

Better choices would seem to be a used Boxster or a new Miata.