Solstice vs Cayman? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Allen K. Littlefield · 06-27-2008, 11:51 AM

Just received my June 30 copy of AutoWeek and on the inside of the back cover is a Pontiac ad for the Solstice GXP Coupe. Claims it will "tame" both the Z4 coupe and the Cayman. Does anyone have any specs on this car? Car doesn't look bad in the photo and I will have to see it in the flesh in order to pass judgement on looks. The ill fitting top on the current Solstice is certainly a put off and maybe they will have upgraded that for a better looking fit.....or not!

AKL

Quickurt · 06-27-2008, 11:52 AM

I have a good friend who has a Solstice and is sorry he does........

Quickurt · 06-27-2008, 11:56 AM

I just went and looked at the photo gallery on road and track

It looks like

it was designed by a boat manufacturer kit car company

.......................................

I just took my siggy out to keep all that barf off it!!

rick3000 · 06-27-2008, 12:56 PM

If you go and look at one in person you will realize you don't want one. The quality is no where near the same as the Cayman ... or the Z4 for that matter. They can advertise what they want, but I wouldn't believe them.
My biggest problem with the Solstice is that it is cramped. The trunk isn't big enough to fit more than a sweater. If you want to carry more than that your SOL or you have to get a trailer hitch.
Go look at one and make up your own mind, this is just my $0.02!

Kirk · 06-27-2008, 01:00 PM

I don't know. I think the Solstice looks alright in person.

But it's still a GM product and will have GM's level of poor quality. That's the biggest thing that turns me off about that car. I wouldn't worry about the GXP version putting the Cayman to shame. GM engineers think they can put a high output engine in a car and call it a sports car. Pure, straight line power may be on par with the Cayman, but the other driving dynamics such as cornering ability, braking, feedback, etc. will never compare. Porsche makes pure sports cars. GM, with the exception of the Z06, does not. Plain and simple.

steve00s · 06-27-2008, 02:05 PM

Looks like visibility might be a bit of problem. I'm not a huge fan of the sliver like windows.

Brucelee · 06-27-2008, 02:16 PM

The Solstice is a very nice looking car and I think a good value for the money. Not in any way a real competitor to Cayman, price being what, half that of the Porsche?

Anyway, I wouldn't rag on it, it is nice for what it is.

pompous · 06-27-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucelee

The Solstice is a very nice looking car and I think a good value for the money. Not in any way a real competitor to Cayman, price being what, half that of the Porsche?

Anyway, I wouldn't rag on it, it is nice for what it is.

I was just about to type this. haha...
Seriously though, I don't think there's too many of us that have our boxsters as DDs. That said, I love my box, but it is small and at best, will accomodate my luggage if traveling for a weekend. Don't even get me started on the girlfriend (LOL I need a Uhaul trailer for that one). Anyway, I don't mind the solstice...its just when they start thinking they are anything near a P-car is when it gets silly. Porsche was a "want" of mine for a long time and now it is certainly an "addiction" a "way of life" even. Its a different feeling driving these cars and no Pontiac owner would understand IMHO So, i'll just let them be. You can't miss something you've never had...right?? LOL

baseball · 06-27-2008, 06:17 PM

I think the Solstice looks great. And that's where the positives end. If you're thinking of buying one, take one for a test drive - once you do, you won't want one anymore. Everything about it is cheap, clunky and flimsy and the ride is buzzy and grating.

And as a former Pontiac owner, if you think Porsche service is bad, you haven't experienced anything til you've owned a Pontiac. So bad I've sworn off ever owning another GM car.

Sputter · 06-27-2008, 02:25 PM

It's a nice enough car for what it is. I even toyed with the idea of Saturn Sky Redline. (better put together imho).

I recall them comparing their Solstice GPX vs a Base Boxster for numbers.
Of course they couldn't have put it up against the Box S. (even though they used their higher output model against it)
It's all smoke and mirrors with a healty dose of PR.

The average joe might eat what GM feeds em but anyone doing their homework while shoping for a sports car will see the Emperor, indeed has no clothes.

It's not even close to a Porsche in quality. The interior with tell you that straight off. Just throwing HP at a car doesn't make it more than just another lowend car.

--edited for fat finger typing-

Quickurt · 06-27-2008, 03:38 PM

I love your fat finger typing comment. We're in that ball park together.
My buddy's Solstice is at the shop way more than it's in his garage, and way, way more than he has it to drive. It would be bad enough if the problems were minor or changing, but they're not. It's in for the same thing, over and over. Main problem is front shocks and suspension parts. They're junk. HE drives it a few days and the front shocks bind up again. THey just keep putting the saem crap back in it. Apparently there is unibody hardware or mounj differences between the standard and the GXP, so they can't upgrade his to GXP shocks and suspension. Another repeating problem is with door handles and they're the same on both models. The top is not only ill fitting and ugly as hell, it keeps the weather out about the same way it looks and he says it's so damned loud (wind noise) with it up, he has ear plugs in the glove box.
They want him to trade up to a GXP, but they won't give him his purchase price for his baseline model, that was all he could get the first year. He's now initiating lemon law on it to get his money back.

Topless · 06-27-2008, 03:46 PM

GM has come a long way. The Corvette is really pretty nice and my current work truck is an 05 Silverado which I beat on constantly and it still runs great.

The Solstice GXP "Taming" a Cayman... Pleeeeeeeease. When pigs fly.

blinkwatt · 06-29-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sputter

I recall them comparing their Solstice GPX vs a Base Boxster for numbers.
Of course they couldn't have put it up against the Box S. (even though they used their higher output model against it)
It's all smoke and mirrors with a healty dose of PR.

You forgot to mention they put their manual Solstice GPX, up against an tiptronic base Boxster

I had to deal with a dick at work that though their Solstice was faster then my manual....idiot.

nola911 · 06-29-2008, 05:24 AM

blah blah blah, I hate magazine hype.

First- Think of it this way, porsche used a timeless design on the cayman tat mimics a 40+ year old set of lines. It also incorporates a mid engine. I promise that the cayman will be one of the most sought after collectors cars in the future. The pontiac will look old in 3 years when they come out with a new design. The BMW will probably last a little longer but I think they went too angular with this run. As for current production, here and now the Pontiac is a great looking car but does not stop traffic like the sleak lines of the cayman, which in my opinion is the best looking Porsche ever built.

Second- The quality of the three cars is not comparable, don't believe me, go test drive them. The Cayman and BMW are much better feeling cars.

I would compare the pontiac, the saturn, and the chrysler to one another, but stop it right there.

I may be biased, but it is my future plans to trade my 996 for a cayman in the upcoming years. To trade it for something American made would be foolish in my opinion.

On the other hand, I do like that the solstice can be bought with full warranty and low miles for 15k on ebay, as it would probably be a fun to daily driver so the porsche can avoid the deadly potholes and traffic of new orleans.