NYIAS 08: 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

[mrgto]

Originally Posted by zete

I do like it and prefer the notion of a targa as it retains the open air ability of the convertible. I think that was actually their thinking, though. They figured they'd lose out if it were strictly a hard top as customers would want to open air drive this thing and that left them with but one solution.

I'm not happy that the top can't be stowed. It's going to be a major disappointment for people, though the small cloth top is a good idea, but should be standard.

I'm trying to figure out why the trunk isn't bigger. When they redo the Solstice/Sky they have to get the packaging much better.

As to the interior comments, I think a mild refresh was in order. All they had to do was up the quality of the parts and add some flash. Nothing too expensive, but a bit of eye candy would do wonders for that interior which as a monotone boringness about it.

Trunk isn't bigger because you still have the gas tank at the top...the top stowed on the sides and behind the tank. But with the body slopes, they lose some of that space.

[chevyboy88]

overall I think I like it better than the convertible the hatchback blends nicely with the rest of the car and gives it sort of a bmw z4 look, now it just needs a small v6 option on the gxp.

[Evo69]

This Solstice coupe looks great. Really am impressed with the design, but the cargo area I see from the pics looks almost useless.

[Carguy]

Beautiful!!----i Love It!!!

[VibenPontiac]

I love it. Yeah sure its not the most practical car around and maybe they could have squeezed some more space into the trunk - I mean they could have made it a little deeper couldn't they? But simply put - wow, I want one. Granted I am below 6 ft so the seats will work me. Perfect companion to the 'vert IMHO. Different enough for new buyers to consider too.

My only true gripe is that they didn't seem to do anything with the interior. The Solstice's interior is more glaring of a problem than the lack of storage space - IMHO.

[SSJ]

I like it a lot. I think GM did a great job designing the coupe version. It would be cool if they also gave us the option of a true hardtop, but I think this car looks great.

[gm_08]

love it, cant wait to see more

there are more pics on pontiac.com under the upcoming vehicles (i had to click the black bar between the top and bottom pictures to get them to come up)

[SJZ3]

I really like it.

One thing I am wondering about, though, is the production logistics behind this model. As I understand it, GM can build roughly 30-35k Kappa's per year, which currently means ~20k Solstice, ~10k Sky, and some remaining quantity of exports. Will this coupe mean additional capacity, or will it substitute for an expected slowing of sales in other areas. So in the future we may see ~10k Solstice Verts, ~10k Solstice Targas, ~10k Sky, and ~5k exports...?

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by SJZ3

I really like it.

One thing I am wondering about, though, is the production logistics behind this model. As I understand it, GM can build roughly 30-35k Kappa's per year, which currently means ~20k Solstice, ~10k Sky, and some remaining quantity of exports. Will this coupe mean additional capacity, or will it substitute for an expected slowing of sales in other areas. So in the future we may see ~10k Solstice Verts, ~10k Solstice Targas, ~10k Sky, and ~5k exports...?

You bring up an interesting question... would a Saturn version not have been a better idea, as they are Opel and Daewoo (and maybe someday Holden?!?) versions that would also benefit from a second model, whereas the Pontiac is only available in North America.

[minnfang]

Originally Posted by gm_scott

To me it just seems like a cheap way out.

How is this the cheap way out? Less than perfect packaging, but not cheap. A targa is a nice setup - anyone who has ridden in one knows that it blows away a sunroof. You don't see the bodywork behind you, it's basically like riding in a convertible. A targa cheap? Yea like Corvettes, Ferraris, Lambos, etc.

The C-pillar/hatch frame/rear spoiler is one sexy piece of bodywork! My only complaint about the styling is that the side windows look like mail slots (same issue on the convert). The side windows should be about an inch taller; then the roof wouldn't have to curve down over to the sides so far and look so heavy.

My biggest problem is that there is NO headroom in these things. That's mostly my problem - GM didn't make me so !@#$%^&* tall.

[61BelAir]

I love it! In a year or so I'm gonna have a hard decision on what to buy, but the coupe is top 3 in the list!

[tamatt27]

I'd love to see it in black...

[SJZ3]

Originally Posted by minnfang

How is this the cheap way out? Less than perfect packaging, but not cheap. A targa is a nice setup - anyone who has ridden in one knows that it blows away a sunroof. You don't see the bodywork behind you, it's basically like riding in a convertible. A targa cheap? Yea like Corvettes, Ferraris, Lambos, etc.

The C-pillar/hatch frame/rear spoiler is one sexy piece of bodywork! My only complaint about the styling is that the side windows look like mail slots (same issue on the convert). The side windows should be about an inch taller; then the roof wouldn't have to curve down over to the sides so far and look so heavy.

I agree with you. Creating a targe is not a "cheap" way out. If GM was doing cheap, they would have stuck with a plain coupe, like the concept.

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned the reasoning for a Targe.

With the Vert, you are getting buyers who mainly want top-down driving, but have the canvas roof for exceptionally bad weather. The Targa is for those folks who have routinely bad weather (colder climate, more rain, etc...), but still want to have that open air driving on those exceptionally good days.

IMHO the Targa was the perfect option for the Solstice. I do honestly wonder if the Targa could eventually outsell the Vert. Of the two, I am pretty sure I would go for the Targa.

[briandors]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

I don't understand how they managed to give this less trunk room than the convertible.

What is your source for this "information"? I might have missed it. Do we have actual measured cubic feet of cargo space given? I believe the convertible was 2 cu ft top down, 4 cu ft top up.

Going just from pics of the coupe, and first hand observation of the convertible, it looks like they were able to increase "trunk" space but only slightly. Which is understandable because of the high mount gas tank.

In the convertible you'd have to smoosh your soft-side luggage (and they better be small) around the gas tank hump. Here it looks like we get a flat floor, but a shallow area.

[Saturn69]

People will beotch about anything and everything, won't they? I think it's a great idea and should give the Solstice a little push.