Sky and Solstice evolve for the better
There are a handful of things that have kept the Solstice and Sky off our list of favorite sports cars. The Red Line and GXP versions went a long way towards addressing many of those concerns. There remain, however, some infuriating little details that seem to want to ruin the whole experience for you. Well, GM is listening to owners' complaints and is making small changes ro rectify the problems. Rather than wait until the new model year, the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice are getting "continuous changes" such as a power door lock button and an electronically height-adjustable driver's seat. The need for a lock button might sound a little odd in such a small car, but the fact it's been addressed may explain how maddening the absence has been. Previously, a driver and passenger in either car had to reach behind themselves to lift the actual lock up to unlock the doors. This was after the cars had automatically locked the doors for them when the car reached 10 mph or so. Not too tricky, it might seem, but pulling the door handle didn't release the lock from the inside like many other cars do. The ensuing little twist and pull needed to free yourself was made even more difficult by the fact that the cockpit, while roomy for a roadster of this type, didn't allow a lot of body movement. And so the need for the button.
The seat adjuster also seems like a no-brainer in such a low-to-the-ground car with a high sill and cowl. Occupants of less than average stature were left to find phonebooks to sit on. Not sure why a power lift was needed instead of a manual one, but the adjuster is now on every Sky/Solstice rolling out of the plant. These two and a whole cartload of other little details changes have been made and another list of future modifications are already being looked at. Our vote for the next most frustrating bit to be changed are the cupholders. During anything approaching spirited driving, an average sized adult will have the cupholder pop open from the central tunnel at least once every 5 minutes and the temptation to just snap it off and be done with it is rather high. Even if it was somebody else's Sky.
[Source: Straightline]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tim 8:15AM (11/17/2006)
GM needs to work on a whole lot more "details" than a power door lock button... like the turbo engine not tuned right producing so much soot, water in the intercooler, clunks in the drivetrain, the worst designed soft-top in the industry, dealer allocation systems that are perhaps the worst in the business.
Instead of properly performing quality checks before they ship cars, it appears they like to make the first thousand owners the guinea pigs... then they shut down production of the turbo for a month trying to figure out why it doesn't work...
They might have pretty bodies, but the rest of the car (functionality, interiors, quality) is typical GM mediocre fair. "Beauty is only skin deep" definitely applies to these two cars... and in this case you don't even "get what you pay for".
Best advice, seek sports thrills elsewhere.
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zetha 8:52AM (11/17/2006)
the sky is the first american car i have ever considered buying.
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Phelix 8:43AM (11/17/2006)
Who buys these cars for the functionality? Every first-year model has its quirks. I say good on GM for not waiting until the second year to iron them out.
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Steve S 11:17AM (11/17/2006)
Now all they need is a power top and the same amount of room as a MX5.
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APK 9:20AM (11/17/2006)
Here are some more if GM is watching:
-6-speed option
-easier to use top
I can wait until the next model year for those.
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Ed 9:35AM (11/17/2006)
GM just remember how you scewed up the Fero. Learn from your mistakes not redo them. I've seen them on the road and can see that the tops fit is poor. There doing a great job with the Corvette please do the same with these two.
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Josh E. Oliver 10:47AM (11/17/2006)
Having been involved in a 65mph, head on collision with wall on I-94 here in metro-Detroit while in my Solstice, I can't find a damn thing to bitch about. Just lucky to be alive!
Ed, I'm curious as to why you think the top does not fit these cars well enough? My Solstice (vin # 4169) fits perfectly fine, as do others I've seen and been in.
I can agree about the cupholders. During the summer months, when I wanted to do a little spirited driving, those things would always fly open. Same for the cup holder that rests near the passengers left leg. They always seemed to slightly bump it, causing it to come open.
Plus, one other thing about the passenger cup holder. I noticed on the Saturn Sky, there is a little indentation of a "button" of sorts on the cup holder for the passenger, this is missing on my Solstice and sometimes makes opening the cup holder a little difficult.
All in all, I can't complain about the little things in retrospect to how this car protects in such a crash.
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akatsuki 11:06AM (11/17/2006)
Just goes to show how looks influence people more than any sort of reality. I would recommend buying a Miata any day over one of these beautified plastic pieces of crap. Or better yet, buy a used 1999 or so Boxster. It will still probably be more reliable and the interior is a bit nicer (and you never would say that about a Porsche normally)
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Michael Karesh 10:59AM (11/17/2006)
The car always had a power luck button, the button was just disabled when the engine was running. In my review last spring I blamed the lawyers:
http://www.epinions.com/content_226671431300
The review also suggested that a seat height adjustment would be a very good idea.
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Ed 11:21AM (11/17/2006)
Josh
I'm only saying that they look like a poor fit. They just don't match up to the body to good..Fit and Finish go a long way. Other than that I like them. Just don't want them to be the next Fero, or have you forgot about them.
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Obvious Alias 11:22AM (11/17/2006)
Ed, just remember how you screwed up your spelling. Learn from your mistakes rather than repeating them.
5. GM[,] just remember how you sc[r]ewed up the F[i]ero. Learn from your mistakes[. Do] not redo them. I've seen them ('them' is an ambiguous pronoun. Do you mean the mistakes or the Solstice / Sky?) on the road and can see that the top[']s fit is poor. The[y']re doing a great job with the Corvette[.] [P]lease do the same with these two.
Forgive my unsolicited criticism. I just enjoy pointing out the occasional bit of hypocrisy. Though I will admit that GM's negligence is several orders of magnitude more severe than common spelling / punctuation errors.
Personally, I'd like to see the Kappa twins offered with a hard top and some other drivetrain options. A supercharged six or eight cylinder would endow the cars with enough oomph to embarrass miatas and s2000s. I know that Mallett offers a conversion, but I'm sure GM could do it cheaper.
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Josh E. Oliver 11:27AM (11/17/2006)
Ed, with the top up, the vehicle gets plenty of looks and thumbs up. Plus, the cabin noise is not an issue. But, lets bot be honest. These vehicles are meant for summer driving, not winter driving. So, more times than not, the top will be down.
On the topic of snow, last year when I did get my Solstice in December, we go hit with a snow storm. I got cought at work and by the time I left, I was driving home in 3 inches of snow, in a Solstice.
The 18's did great. I never once lost control or slid.
Obvious Alias - I think you might be happy with what you see out of Pontiac this auto show season.
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Ed 11:42AM (11/17/2006)
Guy's you know what.....
I was being nice about this %$@#box that GM is building But since all of you can't take a little criticism about WHAT I see and feel should be adressed.
Your all a bunch of haters. Sorry I forgot how to spell Fiero.
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Peter 12:25PM (11/17/2006)
What are they doing to address the issue of luggage space? Until the cars can carry enough gear for a weekend backpack trip, my money's on the Miata.
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Mike G 12:38PM (11/17/2006)
Wow Ed's really senstive about criticism for someone who can't even remember how to spell the word "Fiero", huh? Did you really think that it was called a "Fero" Ed? Wow.
Fiero is Italian for "Fire", whereas I'm guessing your "Fero" is maybe the name of a hobbit or a baby South American ferret, perhaps? One is probably more appropriate for a sports car than the other. Sometimes automakers actually give names to their cars that mean something, that symbolize their purpose. Sometimes. Other times you get names like "Cobalt", which is probably what you drive, Ed.
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Wilbur 12:41PM (11/17/2006)
Give me a Miata. Proven reliability, utility, and fun.
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 1:19PM (11/17/2006)
Too bad Miatas are girls' cars.
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Matt Keegan 1:18PM (11/17/2006)
We could also mention that Ed used "your" when he should have said "you're" instead.
Anyway, it is good to see that GM is staying on top of things and correcting the petty annoyances even within the first model year.
Both of these vehicles are beauties although I would prefer the Sky over the Solstice.
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Peter 1:23PM (11/17/2006)
18: What's that supposed to mean?
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Matt Keegan 1:24PM (11/17/2006)
Regarding the Miata being a chick car, I agree. The Sky has a much more brawny facade, better looking lines, and a beefier road presence.
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