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The Solstice [re-visited]

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Bret

Bret

Yoda
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Just can't stop talking about this car.

I just finished reading the Grassroots Motorsports (GRM) article on the their comparison between the MX-5 and the Solstice. It is interesting how differently they approached their test than some of the more main stream publications.

As a benchmark controller they even used a well sorted out SCCA C Stock Solo 2 class 1999 Miata for their baseline for the two newer entries. If you get a chance to read the article I highly recommend it.

Started out they tried to level the playing field by tweaking the stock suspension’s camper and toe adjustments (front & rear) to the max acceptable for the factory tolerances. Then they pulled the stock rubber & bolted on the same sticky Hoosiers on each to keep it fair.

Results where surprising and the Solstice despite its 350 lb penalty it pretty much bested the MX-5 on the Tire-Racks test course. In fact the Solstice even came darn close to the Benchmark numbers for the Miata. GRM picked the MX-5 as a great choice for those who are into a fun all around multi-role vehicle and then there is always all those older Miatas floating around that are a great choice for those with limited funds. But they picked the Solstice as their choice for the serious minded racer with an SCCA class C championship on their mind.

Future for the Solstice? Well I’ve heard that the New Pontiac will be offering a supercharger soon and will even issue a club racer package for those wishing to go dueling on the weekends. Don’t know about the rest of you but if they can keep those pesky dealerships from jacking up the price I seen a good future for the domestic roadster.

Now while neither the MX-5 or Solstice has been classified for SCCA yet, I suspect we’ll be blessed with some serious competition between these two on a track near you very soon.

Now if they'd just do something about that stupid front grill work! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
I saw my first Solstice the other day...real nice looking car...I especially like how that grille is just "out there" - no bumper or anything, just hanging out front....& it doesn't look like the butt is too shaort either
 
Brett, what issue of GRM is this? I read about this article over at Miatanet, but cant find it on newsstands- the only issue I can find has a Honda rat rod on the cover.

I was interested to hear of this-there has been lots of postulating as to why the Solstice came out on top-ranging from time of day runs to the bigger tires, etc. And, Miatanet being what it is, loads of people are now whining that Mazda has lost the plot, but that's another story all together.

-Wm.
 
Brett....haven't gotten to that article yet...tonight's 'library' reading.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I saw my first Solstice the other day...real nice looking car...I especially like how that grille is just "out there" - no bumper or anything, just hanging out front....& it doesn't look like the butt is too shaort either

[/ QUOTE ]

I caught a glimps of one on a car carrier trailer on I-40 the other day. Its a real looker.

Basil
 
[ QUOTE ]
Brett, what issue of GRM is this? I read about this article over at Miatanet, but cant find it on newsstands- the only issue I can find has a Honda rat rod on the cover.

I was interested to hear of this-there has been lots of postulating as to why the Solstice came out on top-ranging from time of day runs to the bigger tires, etc. And, Miatanet being what it is, loads of people are now whining that Mazda has lost the plot, but that's another story all together.

-Wm.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually it’s their “Best of 2005 Issue” (Feb 06). It was just delivered to my door step the other day. Normally subscribers get the magazine long before they hit the news stands.

Now I don’t know if you’re a Mazda fan but it sounds as if there is a bit of “nervousness” in the Miata/MX-5 camp if they are nitpicking the article to that degree. Anyway to your concerns – No, I don’t recall any mention of what time of day they pulled the tests runs or track temperatures, but according to the article they actually allowed for the tires to cool a bit between runs performed by three different drivers. In fact the Tire Rack driver was the only one familiar with the test track, so driver familiarity would seem to be a moot point.

As for the advantage of the wider tires:
The Solstice runs: 245/35R18s.
The MX-5 runs: 225/45R17s.

Sure the Solstice has a bigger footprint but remember those big 18s weigh in at 23.8 lbs while the MX-5’s 17s only weigh in at ~ 17lbs. Of course all that is put into true perspective when you go back to the benchmark vehicle the comp prepared Miata running 225/45R15s. And yet the under powered Miata edged them both out.

But I think the biggest disadvantage the MX-5 has is it’s soft suspension. Although the test vehicle had the “sport suspension” option. The drivers said it was way too soft and affected breaking and never really felt too gripy. Making it worst is that the MX-5 didn’t have near the adjustments the Solstice had when it came to tuning the suspension for the track. Example: While the Solstice could achieve 2 degrees of neg camper & 6.2 degrees of caster. The MX-5 couldn’t manage one degree of negative camper & less than 6 degs of caster. Those two factors probably played more of a factor than the track temp.

No I’m sure that there will be those that will say that the MX-5 could have been better tuned given a little more time & by more knowledgeable folks. But to be fair – the same thing could be said of the Solstice in hands of the right people.

Dollars to doughnuts - I think the MX-5 could have some serious competition – on & off the track. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
It didn't take long...

MALLETT, a Corvette customizer has developed a package for transplanting a LS2 V-8 in to the Solstice. 400hp, 395lb-ft, 0-60 in 4.4, 1/4 mile in 12.8, suspension improvements reulted in a skidpad jump from .91 to 1.02 g's. If the 400hp is not enough, there is a supercharger option to boost it to 500hp.

There is an article in the newest Car&Driver (Feb.06) magazine.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
The Mllett Solstice V8 is $38,000....hey but it comes with a 2 yr 24,000 mile warranty. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I just can't get over that horrible Solstice top -- especially how it sits in the rear.

And anyone want to guess the average dollar figure to fix a 5mph front impact with that nose?

Not to say the MX-5 is all good. I saw one a couple of days ago out on the street. It's so bulbous -- too far from the clean, crisp, aggressive looks of the '99.
 
My neighbor got the third one sold in FL. Got a chance to check it out. Pretty cool interior and nice lines. Huge dash leading up to the windshield. Seemed like a lot of wasted interior space.
Rick
 
I saw a silver one the other day driving up north on I15 out of San Diego. Sharp looking vehicle! Because the Grill was chrome it went well with the silver body color and was almost tolerable.

So I was thinking that perhaps that is what annoys me about the grill. Then I saw the Mallett V8 Solstice with its black on black treatment (see below).

solsticev8blacklg.jpg


I think that the grill looks great blacked out like that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
GM is also planning on developing an in-house increased performance model using a turbocharged version of the Ecotec 4 cylinder. Predicting 240 hp.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Brett-I'm a Miata owner and fan and a frequenter of the Miatanet forums. I'm not sure how I'd categorize the discussion of this topic over there. I really like that forum, but occasionally the members get a little, shall we say, antsy about Miatas, particularly if there's actual competition for the car.

I've read about the apparent softness of the new MX5's suspension-I reserve an opinion on this until I can actually drive one, but it is an opinion I've read elsewhere. On the other paw, evo magazine absolutely canned the Solstice, but gave the MX5 a merely lukewarm review (and sadly blamed America for the deficencies, something that magazine has started to do with distressin' frequency).

-Wm.
 
Hey William,

Yes, I’ve seen some rather disparaging comments by Miata owners regarding anything that remotely might take their crown away. But I’ve always looked at it this way in a segment where you are basically the only player – its easy to get complacent and feel threatened when something new comes along.

Not that I was ever a huge fan of the Miata. But while the new MX-5 has some improvements over its predecessor is hardly the vehicle the Miata was when it was first introduced. Never read the EVO publication but perhaps there is something to their “lukewarm” assessment new Mazda roadster. I mean those changes for better or worst where probably made to meet American customer’s demands.

As for the GRM article dinging the MX-5’s for it’s soft suspension. It must be pointed out that just about every other mainstream automotive publication said the same thing and lambasted the Solstice for being a bit to harsh for everyday road use. This from magazines that rate cars as strongly on their ergonomics (cup-holders etc) as they do 0-60 & ¼ mile times.

And that is the main difference between those other publications and Grassroots Motorsports. In that GRM ignores the “fluffy” stuff and seems to focus on the nitty-gritty that real enthusiasts want to talk & hear about. That is why GRM took their compare-O a couple steps further by ditching the factory rubber & slapping on some racing rubber on the combatants. Then they actually “tuned” the suspension to the factory limits without adding any aftermarket components. Also (and kudos for this) they didn’t just compare the MX-5 & Solstice against each other, but actually threw in a ringer – in the form of the SCCA competition prepared 1999 Miata.
 
Saw a black Solstice on the road yesterday. I will give it kudos for being daring, but the styling still leaves me cold. Kind of like the MR Spyder -- I appreciate something different, but it's not for me.

I don't think I'll ditch my Miata for one anytime soon...then again, I paid less for my Miata then it would cost to buy an extended warranty on a new Pontiac.
 
I've seen a couple of Solstices on the road both in FL and Cali. I gotta say I personally like the way the car looks in person over the way it looks in print or on the 'net. I've favored the styling of the Saturn Sky over the Solstice so far. I wonder if my opinion will stay the same after Saturn's version finally comes out.

I'm not too fond of the new styling of the MX-5. It seems the MX-5 has been borrowing styling cues from it's more potent big brothers in the RX line. First it was the 3rd Gen RX7, and now it's borrowing styling from the RX-8. While I like the styling of the RX-8, the lines just don't seem right on the MX-5... I reckon I liked the styling of the second gen MX-5s the most (borrowed stying from the 3rd Gen RX-7)...
 
MX, RX, GenRX7.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

...MAKE IT STOP!!!!
 
Now don't get me wrong - I don't expect that I'll be running out and buying one anytime soon. It's just that I think it's great that a segment that been pretty much dominated by the Miata finally gets something new.

But who’d thunk that a roadster from a domestic manufacture (Pontiac no less) would thrown in their hat in the ring?

Makes ya wonder whats next? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
true true... but will it be enough to make up for the problems going on in GM?
 
[ QUOTE ]

I caught a glimps of one on a car carrier trailer on I-40 the other day. Its a real looker.

[/ QUOTE ]

A guy I know bought one. Was proud as heck that he only paid $3000 over list. Nice car I guess, if you like it. Looks good on a flatbed tow-truck - good thing too because it's spent a lot of time on one going back to the dealer so they can try and figure out why it doesn't run.
 
Scott, you're startin' to scare me... Too close to MY unguarded proclamations /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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