Found this on another forum, pretty cool info.
http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_disp...80234&record=24
http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_disp...80234&record=24
The engine felt strong, easily propelling the 2860-pound car, with an aggressive exhaust note. The 2.4-liter is a good starting point, especially for a car that will sticker at $19,995. At no time did the car feel underpowered, and we drove many miles on the twisty roads in second and third gear, keeping the revs in the sweet spot, enjoying the engine noise echoing off the trees and rolling hills. At speed, we were able to carry on a conversation with our passenger.
GM engineers wouldn't reveal details, but they let on there will be more thrust available at some point. The 2.0-liter, 205-hp supercharged version of the Ecotec, now available in the Saturn Ion Red Line and the upcoming Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, could be offered.
Its just seems like GM is making the same mistakes it made with the fiero. Offer a marginaly sporty engine at first then offer a more powerfull powerplant later (after public perception has the car pegged as slow). Im sure the Solstice will out handle and perform the Fiero in every measurable way, but there hasnt been a ton of progress here. The supercharged ecotec should be standard.Originally posted by Ming@Apr 25 2004, 04:57 PM
Which car would you rather be in a crash in - the Fiero or the Solstice? I'll take the modern car, thanks.
And I could care less about 0-60 in a car like this -- if I want a rail rocket, I'll buy a GTO or a Corvette. The Solstice is about fun motoring, and from what these folks wrote, sounds good enough to me - esp. with the pricetag of a Grand Am GT coupe.
The engine felt strong, easily propelling the 2860-pound car, with an aggressive exhaust note. The 2.4-liter is a good starting point, especially for a car that will sticker at $19,995. At no time did the car feel underpowered, and we drove many miles on the twisty roads in second and third gear, keeping the revs in the sweet spot, enjoying the engine noise echoing off the trees and rolling hills. At speed, we were able to carry on a conversation with our passenger.
GM engineers wouldn't reveal details, but they let on there will be more thrust available at some point. The 2.0-liter, 205-hp supercharged version of the Ecotec, now available in the Saturn Ion Red Line and the upcoming Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, could be offered.
Its just seems like GM is making the same mistakes it made with the fiero. Offer a marginaly sporty engine at first then offer a more powerfull powerplant later (after public perception has the car pegged as slow). Im sure the Solstice will out handle and perform the Fiero in every measurable way, but there hasnt been a ton of progress here. The supercharged ecotec should be standard. [/b][/quote]Originally posted by 2HOTZ28+Apr 25 2004, 12:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (2HOTZ28 @ Apr 25 2004, 12:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Ming@Apr 25 2004, 04:57 PM
Which car would you rather be in a crash in - the Fiero or the Solstice? I'll take the modern car, thanks.
And I could care less about 0-60 in a car like this -- if I want a rail rocket, I'll buy a GTO or a Corvette. The Solstice is about fun motoring, and from what these folks wrote, sounds good enough to me - esp. with the pricetag of a Grand Am GT coupe.
The engine felt strong, easily propelling the 2860-pound car, with an aggressive exhaust note. The 2.4-liter is a good starting point, especially for a car that will sticker at $19,995. At no time did the car feel underpowered, and we drove many miles on the twisty roads in second and third gear, keeping the revs in the sweet spot, enjoying the engine noise echoing off the trees and rolling hills. At speed, we were able to carry on a conversation with our passenger.
GM engineers wouldn't reveal details, but they let on there will be more thrust available at some point. The 2.0-liter, 205-hp supercharged version of the Ecotec, now available in the Saturn Ion Red Line and the upcoming Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, could be offered.
i don't think the late-coming V6 fiero was the problem... the exploding engines and fires were the problem. if the fiero had been reliable and economical from the start, current buyers would have been so excited when the V6 came out that they easily would have bought another. the cars name was trashed way to quick with massive quality issues. no, i think the fiero plan was a solid one... just very poorly executed. and i don't think solstice will head down that road.Originally posted by 2HOTZ28@Apr 25 2004, 05:32 PM
Its just seems like GM is making the same mistakes it made with the fiero. Offer a marginaly sporty engine at first then offer a more powerfull powerplant later (after public perception has the car pegged as slow). Im sure the Solstice will out handle and perform the Fiero in every measurable way, but there hasnt been a ton of progress here. The supercharged ecotec should be standard.
i don't think the late-coming V6 fiero was the problem... the exploding engines and fires were the problem. if the fiero had been reliable and economical from the start, buyers would been so excited when the V6 came out. the cars name was trashed way to quick with massive quality issues. no, i think the fiero plan was a solid one... just very poorly executed. and i don't think solstice will head down that road. [/b][/quote]Originally posted by paul8488+Apr 26 2004, 06:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (paul8488 @ Apr 26 2004, 06:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-2HOTZ28@Apr 25 2004, 05:32 PM
Its just seems like GM is making the same mistakes it made with the fiero. Offer a marginaly sporty engine at first then offer a more powerfull powerplant later (after public perception has the car pegged as slow). Im sure the Solstice will out handle and perform the Fiero in every measurable way, but there hasnt been a ton of progress here. The supercharged ecotec should be standard.
I wondered about that. I know I kept reading about an electrically driven power steering system for them in the last year, and I figured a few had made it through before the end, but I never saw one.Originally posted by SolsticeMan@Apr 26 2004, 07:44 PM
Correction: The fiero never got power steering. Very close, but the car got cancelled before any were produced and sold.
Those pilot vehicles that were built were retrofit back to manual steering.
Dont count on it. The 88 fiero gt/formula with late 80's era tires does the slalom in 64mph. The 04 base vette matches this speed. By comparison a new miata has a slalom speed of around 62mph. The mid-engine configuration is a huge advantage. Wonder if Bob Lutz knows what a mid-engine is like?Originally posted by 2HOTZ28@Apr 25 2004, 12:32 PM
Im sure the Solstice will out handle and perform the Fiero in every measurable way, but there hasnt been a ton of progress here.
I'll take my chances in the Fiero. How many vehicles got higher crash test ratings than the Fiero? No, really, take a guess. Give up? ONE A Volvo sedan. Only car being produced at the time that got a higher crash test rating than the Fiero. Yes, the body is plastic (well, sort of, its a plastic/fiberglass composite). Underneath the body panels, is a full roll cage, except with the tubes in the doors cut so you can open them and don't have to get in and out NASCAR style.Originally posted by Ming@Apr 25 2004, 04:57 PM
Which car would you rather be in a crash in - the Fiero or the Solstice? I'll take the modern car, thanks.
I am dead right on the slalom figures (64.0), I have owned an 88 gt since new. The pre 88 gt models could do 63.Originally posted by SolsticeMan@Apr 30 2004, 08:00 AM
Try again.
The production Fiero GT (pre 1988) was more around 59 MPH. The 88 squeaks out a MPH or two more on a 700 foot slalom. On production tires.
R&T uses 700 ft slalom. while the miata makes only about 62-63 MPH, the Honda S2000 (a 4 cyl rwd 2-seat roadster with 94 1/2 inch wheelbase that weighs 2900 lbs curb... hmmm, sound familiar?) gets almost 66 MPH.