WOOT POST 100
My girlfriend is looking into buying a base solstice and I got to thinking, how does the GXP compare with the Cobalt TC? I love th fact that the Solstice is rear wheel drive but I hate that it isn't very practical.

Prices(Cheapest to most expensive, 2009 models in USDollars)
Cobalt SS($24,095) HHR SS(25,280) Solstice GXP ($30,105)

Weight (Lightest to heaviest, lbs)
Solstice GXP(~2948) Cobalt SS (~2975) HHR SS(~3,280)
I thought the Soltice was like 3200+ because I remeber magazines bashing it because it was several 100 lbs more than the miata.

Tire Height (smallest to tallest in inches)
Cobalts SS/TC (25.1) HHR SS(25.9) Soltice GXP (26.7)(Huge difference when compared to the Cobalt)

Gas Mileage(Best to worst, manual trans)
Cobalt SS/TC (22/30) HHR SS(21/29) Soltice GXP(19/28)

Gas Tank size (Biggest to smallest, gallons)
HHR SS (~16.2) Soltice GXP(~13.6) Cobalt SS (~13.2)

Practicality(In my opnion)
HHR SS > Cobalt SS >>>>>Solstice GXP

Hopefully someone can find some accurate 0-60 numbers and 1/4 miles times. Of the three the HHR would be Slowest. I would think the Cobalt and Solstice would neck and neck but I think the Solstice would be easier to launch.

Handling wise??

 

The solstice is easy to launch, 1.8-1.9sec 60 footer times are doable on stock tires.
The 0-60 and 1/4mile times are very close between the two, the only difference is practicality and whether you prefer rwd or fwd... but thats your choice not mine to make for you.

 

SS/TC for the win. I like the Solstice GXP and Sky, have since they came out, basically because of the Ecotec 2.0 Turbo, but now they have the TC, which looks nicer, and to me is more practical, and the gas mileage is great with the performance.

 

My wife has DD the solstice (with 400hp) for 2 years. She loves it, but bringing groceries home can be a bitch. I mean I cant even get a case of beer to fit thanks to the fuel cell.
We dont have kids yet so it's not a factor, but soon enough we will & it will just be her play car. just like my vette.

We're big RWD fans in this family so that had no small part to do with it.
There's nothing that get's me hotter than seeing my wife col' ******' pitch it around a corner, bang 2nd and lay down 20ft.

 

base solstice vs the balt ss

fail....

Sure do see a lot more solstices in used car sections then I do SS balts..


FYI

I think Its mostly people who buy the car realize how much of a pain in the ass a 2 seater is and want something else.. Just a thought....

 

Exactly how I feel when my Wife drives our 05 Mustang GT!!

 

You could buy a Evo X for just @ 30K right now. It has 4 doors and AWD for the winter and a 2.0 turbo. Best of both worlds.

 

Buy the Solstice...I'd say SKY RL though, but better launching, option to switch to a V8 down the road and staggered wheels in the future...

 

WTF... get out...

 

I drive a Solstice GXP.

I won't turn the clock back to FWD. RWD is far too much fun.

That being said, I would love to have a SS/Tc in addition to my Kappa.

Edit....Finding a sweet deal on an SS will be tough. My Solstice was on the lot for 13 months. They were very willling to negotiate.

 

I own a 08 SS, I am not a Chevy fan boy, I own 3 vehicles one each from GM, Ford, and Chrysler. If I was going to spend 10K more I would of bought an Evo. Unless you have another car for a daily driver the Solstice and Sky are not practical. I cant imagine anyone car shopping looking at cars that are so different anyways. Solstice, Sky, Miata, and S200 vs. Cobalt SS, MS3, WRX and Caliber SRT4. You girlfriend must be very eclectic.

 

This question is one of practicality. I got the HHR because it's got 90% of the fun factor that the other cars do with 10x the practicality. If I was getting a car purely based on fun factor and sex appeal, I would have gotten a Sky RL. But I need practicality too, so I picked up the HHR. I can haul a full stack amp and six guitars in the back, whereas I couldn't carry a girl and a guitar in the RL. I wouldn't buy an SS/TC because if I was able to get a car without considering practicality it would be RWD.

 

The Sky RL/Solstice GXP > SS/TC hands down. They both not only look better than the Cobalt SS but they are RWD, and have more potential.

The Sky RL auto does 0-60 in 5.2 and the quarter just under 14.

The Sol GXP/Sky RL (manual) and Cobalt SS all perform closely stock.

I looked into getting a Solstice Coupe GXP next year when my lease ends but had to give that up because they aren't practical enough for a DD, in which case if that's what she wants then the HHR SS and Cobalt SS are better alternatives... They are also cheaper...

 

and people wonder why the U.S. economy has gone down hill....
where is the evo built?
where does the profit go?
is the xtra money worth it?

 

Not the only reason why... If the Cobalt's quality wasn't soo sh*tty then GM loyalists like myself wouldn't be considering a Japanese car for their next vehicle, I however am and won't be purchasing another compact car from GM ever again, but I'll buy other cars from GM in the future maybe, just not a FWD compact car...

 

My opinion is to go with the Solstice.......I have a 08 SS/TC. Remeber, you can drop a LS2 or other LS engines in that solstice and get ridiculous hp. Also, RWD is sweet. I got the SS/TC because of the deal. I got a sweet ass deal for my 08 balt. The question is, what you like. At the end of the day you will be driving this car, none of us. Just get something you satisfied with and dont mind paying the car note

 

There is not one American car company that offfers a AWD performance car. Ford is supposedly coming out with a SVT Fusion with there EcoBoost 6 cyl. putting over 415 bhp. Thats already being pushed back to 2011. If your going to stuff a LS motor into the car buy a Vette. It would be cheaper and the rearend and tranny are capable.

 

I think GM could really have something if they decided to keep the balt around and keep it as the sport compact with AWD as a domestic competitor to the EVO and STI, and let the Cruze stay as the FWD compact car and keep it more upscale, to compete with the Mazda 3, Carolla, Civic, Focus, etc...

But seeing GM's current state I doubt it'll happen, plus the EVO and STI while in high demand aren't volume sellers which seems to be the only thing that GM will go for...

 

You could buy a Pontiac G8, there built right here in the good ole USA,

 

have u guys seen how much does a fully loaded evo x cost????? screw that!!! 47,000 fully loaded!!!! ouch. i for one have had hondas and acuras, i didnt really like them. if u plan on starting a family with a car under 25k then get the cobalt ss sedan. best of both worlds. just my 2 cents.

 

Only issue is if you want a manual, the only G8 where you can get a stick is in the G8 GXP, which is over 30k...

Yeah... The EVO X got very expensive... The 34k price for the EVO GSR isn't bad. However the EVO MR is just unreal.

Haha I'm looking into the 09 Impreza WRX, it actually does 0-60 in like 4.7 and does the 1/4 in 13.5.... very similar to an EVO and STI... And it's base is 24k... I found a loaded one for 28k...

 

You can get a 08 GSR for @ 32K. MR's for @ 37K. Who pays MSRP. It's a buyers market with the current economy. The other issue is that the G8 is made in Austraila mate.

 

very true...

 

buy more from foriegn countries
your kids future depends on it

 

+ I had an 06 Honda Si that I bought new. SS build quality is BETTER. Fun factor is BETTER.