It's absolutely stunning in person, the lines are very sexy and I love the long hoodline with the stubby rear, it's got a masculine demeanor to it unlike the Miata. It really looks like a pricey british roadster. I liked the Solstice from the pics but liked the Sky much better, if the Sky looks better in person. If they add the supercharger and it handles well I'm in. The Miata sales will be in trouble once these hit the roads, they are going to sell like mad.

 

It sounds like you got something against the miata in your post. I really doubt the miata will worry about the sky/soltice. The miata will always have a cult following while the sky/soltice is a nice new roadster that still has a lot to prove imo.

 

Good to know they're finally starting to show up at dealerships. I hope to see one on the road by October

 

I would suspect the cult following doesn't buy the majority of the miatas. I think it is a great alternative for the inexpensive 2 seat roadster. Right now that category is made up of what? miata and....

I think GM is going to win this bet.

 

I don't know if they'll win this bet. I think this will drastically hurt Miata sales, but I doubt that it will beat it in it's debut. I really do like this car a lot though, just don't see it taking out the staple roadster in the first year. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

I don't think it'll kill the miata. I just know that building this car was a big bet on GM's behalf. They had to invest a lot of money to get this thing into production.

 

The biggest problem with the sky/soltice is the name. I suspect the exact same thing that happened to the crossfire happens to the sky/soltice. Sure the price tag is nice but a roadster is not a civic. It's a toy car and most ppl will lean to the proven track record than something new.

 

Besides the fact that it's a little underpowered and feminine in nature I have nothing against them, they're very fun cars.

 

Maybe to you they're underpowered but it definately has enough power to hang the back end out in a controlled manner. I actually think the new mx-5 design is the least feminine of them all.

 

One BIG problem with the Solstice... The top. Many other small differences that also add up...

I've seen both the 2006 Miata and the 2006 Solstice.

Here is the rundown

Miata:
23/30 EPA MPG
Single handed pull down z sytle top - much needed improvement and now you can get the top down/up w/o getting out of the car
Lighter weight
Better 0-60 times
Updated interior
Lines improved (kinda has an RX8ish look to it...)
A/C Standard
Better feeling tranny (tried the 6 speed manual and the AT with paddles)

Solstice:
Great new style and curves
19/25 EPA MPG
Heavier (not by much but significant)
Top is messy to put up/down and significantly compromises trunk space when down (e.g. you would need to get out of the car to get the top up or down)
Nice color selection
A/C Optional in base model (WTF)
Tranny weaker than expected for a roadster (feel like they snuck the tranny of the old Cavilier into it... yuk)

Overall, the Solstice is truly a signature vehicle to revive Pontiac and I am liking the new lineup overall from them but it will take a few years before they perfect the car and truly compete against the Miata.

Remember the Miata line started in 1989 (and it was new but kinda crappy when it started ... relative to the 2006 Miata)

 

It's take ema few years to perfect it but the Solstice and Sky will outsell the Miata handily right away. Once they start turning them out in decent numbers at least.

 

Keep in mind guys I'm not saying the Solstice is a better car than the Miata, time will tell with that one and I feel the Miata is still probably the better overall car. Don't forget, lesser cars often outsell really good cars, even if they're in the same category and pricerange.

 

I saw a red Solstice on my way out of campus earlier today. I must say that I wasn't the biggest fan of it before I saw it in this red. I couldn't take my eyes off the thing. Then when I got around to see the back, I was sold. Those things kick some serious ***. If they're as good at autox/racing I think the Miata might be in a whole lot of trouble.

Note that this is coming from a BIG fan of Miatas, so if anything I was biased against the Solstice.

 

Between the Solstice and the Sky, Sky would be my choice. Maybe I'm more attracted to it's sharper lines, or something like that. Between the Kappa body and the Miata, I don't know. I'd subtract points from the Miata because of the 6-speed. I don't think the extra overdrive gear is that necessary. I have to give credit to GM for going out on a limb and putting this car out on the market. Aren't all the initial orders filled for the Solstice? Anyway, good luck to both companies.

 

The Solstice and Sky will outsell the MX-5 simply because there are more Pontiac and saturn dealerships than Mazda. You also have the 'Buy American' people who have been waiting for the past 16 years to have an affordable sports car.

Both the Solstice and Sky are very nice looking cars.

As to reliability we'll have to wait and see. I remember the last time GM built an 'affordable' sports car - the Fiero, it was quite crappy the first few years, but then they worked out some of the problems, but by then they killed it off.

GM has never been able to make a small light car, and the Solstice is no exception. GM also uses huge wheels and tires to obtain grip, and while we all like the look of larger tires, they do (most oem factory ones) add more weight, along with greater rolling mass.

GM will also raid its parts bin for parts, compared to the MX-5 using parts designed specifically for it, except the rear suspension taken from the RX-8.

The MX-5 holds this record:
"World's largest production of lightweight open two-seater sports car"
The Mazda MX-5 has been certified as the world's top selling light weight open two-seater sports car model by the Guinness World Records of the U.K. July 2000

I doubt the Pontiac and Saturn will ever achieve this honor.

I read somewhere (perhaps onthis site?) that insurance costs might be higher for the Solstice due to it's clamshell hood. Front hinged hoods are very expensive to replace.


See these:

MX-5
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=107165

Solstice
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=107244

 

Your "rundown" smacks of bias towards the Miata. This coming from somenone who over the last 15 years has owned about every iteration of Miata available. I especially like these two for the Miata:

"Updated interior"
"Lines improved (kinda has an RX8ish look to it...)"

Firstly, how can the hell can any 1st generation vehicle compare with "updates" or "improved". Secondly, maybe 1/2 of the Miata enthusiasts on Miata.net think the exterior and interior styling and interior qualtity are steps backward from the NB.

Then there is the comparison of transmissions. You compared feel? How did you do that? The only proper way to do this is to drive both production models. Rowing the lever in a showroom or driving a preproduction model is never gonna tell you anything. Also, how do you know the Solstice has a weak tranny? Have there already been failures or what?

I still think the jury is still out on these two cars. The first magazine tests for both have been positive but that always seems the case. I will be interested when some comparison tests are done. That is when the writers will mention some of the warts that each vehicle has.

 

lots of them will sell, since its the hot new thing, I predict lots will be sold quickly (lease) to people who just want to have the hot new car, then in a few years, when the leases are up and the 'new car shine' is gone, you will see them used EVERYWHERE for super cheap and more of them will be on used car lots than on the road.

 

FYI ... I did drive both and enjoyed both test drives (I can tell you where they have one to test drive in the Wash/Balt area if interested). In fact I was considering adding the Solstice as a summer car option. I never said I didn't like it EXCEPT for the top up/down system (really don't like how it eats up the trunk). I truly enjoy the feel the Miata better than the Solstice but I will have to admit the Solstice was also fun to drive.

One other thing, American vs Japanese transmissions do feel quite different. I came off a Ford Mustand and now drive the RX8 and it is night and day. Would I say though that I think the RX8 has a good transmission or I like the feel, the debate is still out for me at least. However, I do notice a BIG difference in the feel (much tighter and shorter throws) in the RX8 tranny vs Mustang tranny (not to say anything wrong with them).

In my short lifetime, I have owned 3 different Japanese models and 4 American models... all manual. Here is the rundown:


Civic - Very short throws and tight tranny but catches a bit to late

Mistubishi Lancer - Tight tranny but caught too quick for me.

RX8 - Overall nice tight feel, not sure how long it will last though???

Chevette - CHEAP TRANNY but EASY TO FIX

Ford Escort - Only American car with a Japanese tranny feel (short thows, tight system... WHY.... it had a MAZDA tranny for that model ... early 90s)

Ford Mustang - Solid transmission but long throws. Felt more like a truck tranny.

S10 - True truck feel manual tranny but solid as well.

You might drive the Solstice and like the American feel better. I would just think that they would put a tigher tranny in the Solstice for being a roadster (which they didn't)

Also, the suspension (forgot to mention that, thanks for reminding me) was a bit rougher.

Still enjoyed the Solstice and I do think it will become one of Pontiac signature cars and a huge success.

One other thing, the first model year for Miata had some SERIOUS issues as with almost any NEW design of vehicle. I fully expect the Solstice to live up to this as well. Trust me, I have paid the price already in owning the FIRST model year of the RX8 and all of its recalls (that still keep coming along) ... Build date 8/03.

BTW, I will likely be one of those RX8 owners who will like the "hopefully" 1st gen of the vehicle.

I do think that overall, the 3rd gen is a MAJOR improvement for the Miata than the 1st (in fact I didn't think much of the 2nd gen).

BTW, I love posts that get "emotional" Everyone should know that these are personal opinions and not careful road tests. I would suggest the wait and see what will happen.

IMO though, If I were a betting man, the Solstice will save Pontiac (along with the other lineups coming... love the updated GTO for 2006)

Good luck Pontiac...

 

I might wait till then to get one and by then it will hopefully have its share of recall work done.

 

The Miata 6 speed and Solstice 5 speed tranny are both made by the same Japanese company, Aisin.

The NA and NB Miata 5 speed tranny is the gold standard for all trannies. Mazda claimed the 6 speed Aisin in the NB was an improvement over the 5 speed. In fact the feel of the 6 speed was worse. I hope Mazda's improvement claims for the NC are more accurate.

 

Your are right...(check the specs again from the brochure I snagged after the test drive). Thanks for info, but I tell you the throws feel different in the Solstice. Just my opinion though...

Funny, the sales rep did NOT know this when I pointed out how different the tranny feels compared to the 2006 Miata... go figure.

 

I'm really excited to see how it unfolds for Pontiac. I've seen the Solstice on teh road twice already and man does it ever look sweet

I'm positive the Sol will make a killing in the first year or two.... afterwards?... well that remains to be seen. Right now the future of those two cars could really go either way (the market can be funny at times)

 

It will be a good battle. The Solstice looks like it will have the same buzz as the Mini when they first came out. There is already a long waiting list. I don't understand how people can buy a first model year car without even test driving it. Anyway, I'd never own either, but it should make for interesting comparos and reading in the near future. I have a feeling the MX-5 Miata will come out on top. The Mazda engineers should be pros at this. Sales should go to the Solstice.

But hold your horses, they are already working on a turbo solstice for 2007 packing 240hp : http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A9269.html
..then they compete with the S2k. What will Mazda do? The drama unfolds...

 

Just wait till someone drops a small block V8 in it; in 5, 4, 3, 2.........

 

Well, we are going to see a FI MS6, MS3, maybe MS8(please God), came out with the MS Miata(but they did this too boost sales of last gen). To boost or not to boost new MX-5 Miata sooner?