TheColonel

I know GM used to offer Camaros and Firebirds with no power windows, locks, etc, no AC, basically a true "Strip down". However, they would offer the "strip down" version with the Z28/Trans AM packages fo those who were buying the car to race. There was a large enough market for F-bodies as dragsters for it to be a profitable equipment outfit. The '02 Z28 baseline was around 21k-23k as opposed to about 27k-30k if you want stuff w/ the z28 package.

At the same time I don't see the Solstice as being a car that lots of people would buy to strip down and race...

rx8wannahave

Ohh mama, that’s going to be fast! Or should be…that is…

While in your state AC might be optional, in places like FL…you have to be nuts not to have AC in your car. I like them making things optional also…but there are things that should just be standard like electric windows, curse control, safety stuff, and AC.

Heck…you waste more money making and supplying the parts needed when those item’s are not included than to simply include them into the standard equipment.

But again, I like giving the consumer options and can’t stand the “packages”…well, some times…lol

Sorry, but I cant’ hold back the laughter…a guy from Milwaukee comparing their heat to FL heat….LOL!!!!!!!!!

Here is two links:

http://www.aos.wisc.edu/%7Esco/state/WI-90DEGDAY.gif

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/...max90temp.html

Ike, not trying to insult you or anything but in FL our chart don't max out at 20 days...more like over 100, so if I had to deal with 20 days worth of 90 degree temp's...I would not need a AC either.

Ike

Which is why it's a freaking option, if you live in Florida or a select few other states get the AC. If you live in the rest another part of the country maybe you don't want AC. It's not rocket science and I don't know why people are argueing.

VarneyMazda

Ok..
So my family owns a Pontiac dealership... Along with Mazda and a few other Truck Franchises.

GM has 15,000 orders for these cars and by the end of this year will only be able to build about 8,000. So even though there are people hear who want to flame the new GM roadsters people are buying them. AND paying an average of 6500 over msrp. I personally have sold two of these 1 was the 1,000 first made #687 and the other was number 1048. people are coming in from everywhere to see this car. Its exciting for a brand whom hasnt really made anything that exciting for quite some time.

And back to my first comment, if they have so many sold retail orders how are they ever going to be able to build gxp's at the same plant.

I love my Rx-8 i picked it over many other vehicles i could have bought. I wouldnt have anything else except maybe a new Z06. :D but i dont really count that because its about two times as much.

Sorry i hope i dont have any hard feelings with people by posting this

rx8wannahave

No hard feelings at all, you are claiming what you are seeing...no problem, thanks for sharing...but for those paying 6500 over MSRP...I'm sorry if I'm insulting them, but I think that's a pretty stupid thing to do...but good for your company of course.

Ike, I'm not fighting with you...I think options are good, I'm just pointing out that your "hot" is laughable to me because our "HOT"...is painfully hot and we have to deal with it 5x more than those people in your state.

Just like what is "cold" to us...is laughable to you all in the northern states, that's all...relax...

TheColonel

Where's your dealership, Varney? My brother wants a G6... at a discount, of course... lol.

QBallz

I saw a Solstice on the way to Sevenstock they are nice looking cars. My wife want's either a G6 coupe or a Solstice now.

KYLiquid

anytime you pay over msrp, or even msrp you are screwing yourself with depriciation.

Lets say they soltice they buy is 22k, they pay 28,500 as soon as they drive off the lot that car is worth 22k max, in a year its worth maby 18-20k and they have only paid off about 3500 bucks....hahahahahahahaha, now if the car turns out to be very reliable and cheap to own, and they keep it for a long time non of that maters, but for a lot of people, they are gonna be screwed!

Also something to think about, i made a prediction earlyer in this thread that a lot of people will buy this car off the bat, cause its the hot new thing. I think a fair number of those will be bought, but I think a lot, maby even 50% will be lease cars. So in a year or two you will see lots of them on used lots.

Also the whole thing could go down hill if there turns out to be some problems with the car, such as the top, or the car holding up to people driving it like a sports car.

Sure they have 15k ordered but if they can only hope to make 8k a year at full production then they might find themselfs with canceld orders in a year. This is even more likely if the cars keep selling for well over sticker.

The MX5 and the Soltice are very close in competition, and very close in price when similarly equipt, i think the edge the MX5 has in performance is offset by the fact that many want a car that has never been seen before, so the cars are neck and neck. It will come down to what people like the most, but if it turns out that you are torn bettween the 2 cars, and 1 (the mx5) you can go to a dealer and buy one RIGHT NOW, for sticker or even maby a little under, or the other (the soltice) you can go and put money down, and order one, get it in a year and pay well over sticker....what would you pick?

This delay in being able to get one MIGHT make a used one hold its value a little better, just like the used ferrari market, where used ones sell for more than a new one, just cause it takes so long to get it.

Something else to think about, there will be a lot of younger, first time drivers getting a 20k dollar 2 seat roadster, the Soltice has NO traction or stabilty control from what ive seen, so its just the driver, ABS and I think and LSD (not sure) so you should see quite a few accidents with the car, so the insurance might become a big issue in the first year the car is out.

KYLiquid

also i forgot to post, i didnt have AC in my miata, i lived in FL with it for 2 years, im glad I have ac again, not so much cause of the heat (it doesnt really get to me) but cause of the windows fogging up when its raining. I didnt even have heat cause the blower wasnt there, so i would have to wipe it off with towel. lol

rx8wannahave

LOL

KY, I too use to be able to handle the heat alot better. Heck, we use to have two-a-days in football in the summer and the weather was humming in the upper 90's to low 100's and I was able to handle it just fine.

I think it's my office job (working here now almost 9 years) that has made me a heat wimp, lol. But...if I'm playing sports I don't mind it that much, but inside of a car with work clothes on is the part that gets to me.

In FL, TX, AZ, AL, NV, and a few other southern states (CA too), I think AC should be a requirement. It should be law...lol

KYLiquid

^^^ we just need to build a giant 'southern-dome' and air condition the whole place, while were at it, just do the whole US, or the whole planet. If we AC the entire earth, it would save lives (heat stroke) reduce storms and also solve global warming.

rx8wannahave

Now...to find the mad scientist willing to lead this project....hmmmmmm...lol

snizzle

Simpsons anyone? eh? eh?

rx8wannahave

Yeah, the mono-rail scientist!

Mono-rail....Mono-rail....Mono-rail....

snizzle

Hahaha, but remember the episode where Burns built a dome over Springfield so he could block out the sun

Wow this thread has seriously been sidetracked.....

rx8wannahave

LOL, yeah...this is major OFF TOPIC...lol

Yes, I remember...lol, let's give Ike his thread back....

JeRKy 8 Owner

I just don't think it should be an option down here. They should throw it in with the standard package for us southern folk. If I got one after all the hype died down, I'd make sure that the dealership deducted the price of the A/C "upgrade" before I took it off their lot. They'd probably tell me to go screw myself, but so be it.

rx8wannahave

LOL...I know how you feel Jerky

vfrwayne

Also saw a Silver Solstice go around the block the other day and was impressed with the smooth curves of the body and the agressive view from the rear - kinda like an old 427 cobra would look if it were updated to today. Suspect there will be first year bugs as this is brought to you by the same people who did the 04 GTO that was so buggy early owners nearly gave up on it.