Ok guys, I need some honest opinions.
I had a 2005 Cobalt SS / SC with stage 3, Corsa Exhaust, CAI, etc... I absolutely loved the car. Handled great, sounded great, plenty of power,etc...Well I sold it last summer (2007) and then this spring (2008) I picked up a 2006 Solstice (not GXP). I don't know why I did it, partly to save some money, and partly because I felt that I was too old to be driving it. (I'm 34) Another small tidbit of info. I work at GM, and I was the lead designer (stylist) of the Cobalt. Essentially I did the design of Exterior of the Cobalt Coupe. Well I got the hankering recently to drive the SS / TC. So I went to my local dealer and drove it. WOW!
So now what to do? Do I sell the Solstice? Part of me is hankering for all that power of the SS / TC and part of me wants to own (again) the first production car I designed at GM. Or do I wait to get a Sosltice COUPE GXP next year. Anyway what would you guys do if you were me?

 

Opt. a = '06 solstice with the 2.4 LE5 right? Boost it. Throw a hahn super 20g turbo kit on it and call it a day. The solstice already handles like a dream, and with over 400hp on tap, that car would haul ass.

Opt. b = Buy a LS7 or LS9 for that matter and do the conversion. 650 TVS charged LS9 in a solstice would be SOOOOO sick. Even the 505hp LS7 is sick in a solstice.

 

You must have money... so... why not own both?

 

Solstice (over-all) > Cobalt SS/TC...

I'd get the Solstice Coupe GXP personally. And if you already own a Sol, and that accomplishes your primary purpose for personal transportation then I would definitely wait and trade in your Sol for the Coupe GXP...

I was considering a Solstice Coupe GXP vs Cobalt SS/TC next year, and if the Solstice wasn't so small and actually had some trunk space, I'd be buying one in like 6 months...

If you get the Solstice Coupe GXP... there are already turbo conversion kits for the LNF for the Sol's and Sky's by BaldTurboFreak, and Dejon Powerhouse that will give you almost 400hp... THey only cost 2-3k...

If you keep your 2.4L Sol then...

In order to really get some power out of the 2.4L VVT 4cyl as ralliartist mentioned you'll have to convert to F.I.

Hahn Stage III turbo kit will get you almost 400hp @ the crank. It also costs 4k...

If you really had the money... Then yea LS V8 swap would give you a Vette beater...
Mallett Performance offers a LS swap for the Solstice & Sky... (costs a pretty penny)
A Sol with an LS7 is def one of my dream cars, but the LS7 costs like 13-16k alone, so unless I had money spilling out of my ass would I ever do that...

Are you on the Solstice forum? www.solsticeforum.com?

Personally I'd get the Solstice Coupe GXP... I wanted it really bad... That thing is SEX...

 

dont mean to sidebust but dam that must be nice to be one of the designers of the cobalt

 

**** , you could have made it look a bit nicer.......




I'm just pulling your chain of course.............

 

So can you tell us whats going to happen to the cobalt line? And if in fact you will redesign it and keep the cobalt line going?

 

if your for real about designing the Cobalt, props dude. i think its one of the best styled cars out there. i think that if your willing to get hardcore into a project solstice will be faster/easier. but, fast cobalts are way more rare than fast solstices. A 10 sec cobalt would be way more unique then a ten sec solstice.

but thats IMO

 

Everyone on this site who has a ss/tc seems to enjoy thier cars and it seems the press likes them also. For 23,000, the bang for buck is huge.

 

You worked on the cobalt, nothing shows pride more than buying what you helped create.

 

2x to that

 

I would jus get the SS , that jmo though . A kappa car be it a solstice or a sky ...if it were my only car ...is a car I would grow to hate . They are awesome drivers and have a crap ton of potential in modded form ...but imo are just to annoying on a daily basis . The trunk alone in the way it operates let alone the space would make me hate it . But hey maybe ur lifestyle makes the car liveable for u ....a GXP hardtop with a manual 6 gear would be a pretty car .

 

Wow, I got lots of opinions. Where to start.
It sounded to me like I got a lot of support to Mod my current solstice, or get the Coupe GXP next year. Well I have already started on the mods, exhaust, CAI, ecm. I don't know if I want to drop money into Forced Induction. I'd almost rather use that money for a down payment on the GXP Coupe. hmmm.
I think my plan will be come next spring to drive the GXP Coupe and make a decision then. I have a winter beater so the Solstice will be going in the garage soon. Can't beat those Michigan Winters.
I will agree with some of you though the SS TC is a great bang for you buck car. It's cool to see people enjoying what I worked on.
Now it seemed some enquiring minds want to know whats going on. Well most of you know the Cruze will at some point replace the Cobalt. So that should tell you what you need to know. I don't know of any plans for an SS version of that Car. So get all the Cobalt SS TC's you can while the getting is good. =D
Thanks guys. By the way am I too old for a Cobalt SS/TC?

Yeah, with working at GM, I will be getting a company Car soon, So the Solstice is my toy. But I drive it almost everyday in the good weather. It never sees rain, snow or salt.

 

not at all. my dad loves find excuses to drive my car and this morning i saw a older gentleman (60+) driving a black ss/sc in rochester hills. No car really has an age limit.

 

[QUOTE=SS4EVER;2887361]Solstice (over-all) > Cobalt SS/TC...


If you get the Solstice Coupe GXP... there are already turbo conversion kits for the LNF for the Sol's and Sky's by BaldTurboFreak, and Dejon Powerhouse that will give you almost 400hp... THey only cost 2-3k...


Hahn Stage III turbo kit will get you almost 400hp @ the crank. It also costs 4k...

Only a mute point but there are also turbo kits that will get a cobalt ss/sc 400 whp according to some member's dynos.

 

[QUOTE=jonnymerk;2887610]
I am picking up what you are laying down. I could easily mod my Sosltice. But I am hooked on the way the new Coupe looks. I am thinking Red GXP Coupe as a start.

 

I am 35 and bought my ss/sc at 33. Bang for the buck, styling and my personal experience with GM helped my descision...btw, contverted from blue oval..lol...mpg helps, too.

 

Yeah my Dad loved driving mine when I had it. He actually almost bought it off me.

 

wow.. like someone else already said.. shouldnt u be kinda rich since u were a creator of a really popular car?

 

We'll see what happens next spring when I pit the 09 GXP Coupe against the 09 SS/TC. The one thing that might push me to the SS/TC is being a family man with 3kids. But I guess I am not too old for a SS/TC, it just means I am young at heart. You can't deny the smile a fast car can put on your face.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish, dang they should of gave me one. Thats it I am writing Lutz an email tommorow.
Just kidding.
No the best I can do is the employee discount, and everyone gets that for the next month.
I can't complain though, I have my dream job. I can't believe they pay me to draw cars all day. So you guys need to keep buying GM, so I can keep doing this.

 

You better not be too old!

If you are, then I definitely shouldn't be driving one (I'm 48).

Also, I mentioned in another thread that I met a guy and his wife at a bible study class who drove an SC.

And he's in his mid 60's ...

 

Cool, I am not too old, thats why the SS/TC is still on my list. I know I already had one, but, part of me really wants to have it again. It's hard to explain, having designed the car, its sort of part of me. Its cool, each of you sort of get that with the pride you each take in your cars. So mod em up and have fun!!!!



This one of the sketches I did, it was sort of what my car ended up looking like. Just click the images button next to my name and you can see them.

 

Sweet!

 

[QUOTE=gotwing;2887732]Cool, I am not too old, thats why the SS/TC is still on my list. I know I already had one, but, part of me really wants to have it again. It's hard to explain, having designed the car, its sort of part of me. Its cool, each of you sort of get that with the pride you each take in your cars. So mod em up and have fun!!!!

Awsome on the design, I 'm 32 had mine almost 2 months, btw my dad whos 55 says he likes the car and keeps begging to drive it, so agreed with others to old, never.

 

For me, I guess it's all about these 3 things:

• I need a year 'round car, so FWD is a must
• I'm looking at $$ vs. Performance
• I want the above in a car that fully retains the manufacturer's warranty

So now with my Stage 2 SC:

• I've got a 245hp/3000 lb./150mph car that I can drive in the Winter (I now have All-Season tires)
• Including rebates (with Stage 2 + tires) my SC only cost me 20.5k
• The car is fully warrantied (had Stage 2 installed by the dealer)

Everything that I want!