Well, he bought it.

[Raduque]

My dad brought home his new car Tuesday. Black (or dark gray?) 2008 Pontiac Solstice with only 5300 miles. It's not the base model, but it ain't the GXP, either. It has leather, manual top and an automatic. He paid $18500.

 

[amdhunter]

Wow nice. How old is he? And will you get to borrow it?

 

[Raduque]

He's gonna be 49 tomorrow, and while he'd probably let me, I actually have no interest in this car. It's too small inside, too heavy and underpowered, plus it's an automatic. It's very shiny, though.

He loves it though, so my opinion's not important.

 

[EightySix Four]

No turbo

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Automatic and a Solstice - UGH! I guess he going to use this as a cruiser and not a canyon carver on early morning weekends.

I think he overpaid, but then again prices are coming back up due to Spring like weather.

The base 4cyl is a real dog and gets poor mileage.

 

[yh125d]

I don't know what it is about solstice drivers. THEY love the car, but I'd hate to own one. Every time I borrow my uncles I cringe...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Alright...stupid off topic post removed by me.

 

[CraigRT]

Sky > Solstice

 

[kornphlake]

I don't know what it is about solstice drivers. THEY love the car, but I'd hate to own one. Every time I borrow my uncles I cringe...

Why would you need to borrow a car that has virtually zero utility if it makes you cringe?

 

[yh125d]

Why would you need to borrow a car that has virtually zero utility if it makes you cringe?

We work together so I occasionally borrow it if my car's in the shop or something to go grab lunch, also we occasionally take it with us on business trips (though I prefer not to). Great car to look at, terrible to drive/own imo

 

[EightySix Four]

Hahaha, I had some dumbarse in a GXP try to race me one time when I was on my bike. Moron gunned it coming out of a corner behind me and tried to pass me. I just opened it up and had him for dinner. Once I reached 70mph I backed off and coasted down to the speed limit (55mph) and let him blow past me a few seconds later. PSA-Don't try racing motorcycles with your wimpy-assed car. You'll just get it handed to you spanked hard.

Oh yay! Your motorcycle is faster than a car! That's fucking amazing! How in the world did you accomplish that?

 

[Raduque]

Automatic and a Solstice - UGH! I guess he going to use this as a cruiser and not a canyon carver on early morning weekends.

I think he overpaid, but then again prices are coming back up due to Spring like weather.

The base 4cyl is a real dog and gets poor mileage.

He bought it because he likes the way they look. He's wanted one since they came out. It's now his daily driver, 60mi to work and back every day.

Curious, what do you define as "poor"? 20mpg? 10? His last vehicle did 12mpg. Whatever mpg the Solstice gets, it's gotta be an improvement.

I don't know what it is about solstice drivers. THEY love the car, but I'd hate to own one. Every time I borrow my uncles I cringe...

I know the feeling. I haven't bothered to sit in/drive it yet, but I really don't know how he fits in it. He's ~6' or so, claims he's uncomfortable in my mom's Eclipse because it's "too small" inside, yet the Solstice looks significantly smaller on the inside.



And Jules, shut up.

 

[alfa147x]

Oh yay! Your motorcycle is faster than a car! That's fucking amazing! How in the world did you accomplish that?

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/429237/porsche_vs_motorcycle/

 

[angry hampster]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/429237/porsche_vs_motorcycle/

Point proven, but I'm sure Jules wasn't on a road course when he was trolling people on his motorcycle.

 

[Raduque]

Point proven, but I'm sure Jules wasn't on a road course when he was trolling people on his motorcycle.

Yep, he's an asshole. Needs to keep this shit in ATOT.

 

[EightySix Four]

Reality of car vs. motorcycle

 

[JulesMaximus]

Woo Hoo! Thread derailed!

Sorry OP.

 

[MJinZ]

Reality of car vs. motorcycle

If I hit that asshole front on, I probably would have gotten out to kick his ass for running the red.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Point proven, but I'm sure Jules wasn't on a road course when he was trolling people on his motorcycle.

I wasn't trolling, well, except maybe a bit in this thread , the dickhead in the GXP was...and I stopped bothering with these fuckers quite a while ago. I KNOW they are slower, despite what they think.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Dude, I hope you get to enjoy that car.

My first experience with a convertible car was a 1971 Triumph TR-6. My Step-Dad owned it and the first time I drove it was when I was in my late teens in the mid 1980s. I'll never forget that car either. It wasn't overly fast, it wasn't a great performer, but it had so many great driving qualities. It made all the right noises, it was very direct in every input you made to it and every output it responded with, it was a convertible, it was unique and attractive, it was simple. I loved that experience, it formed in me an idea of what a car should be that has stuck with me to this day. Not everything you drive or ride will be the best on paper, but they may be the ones that stir you the most.

I've owned and driven a number of cars over the couple decades I've been driving and very very few cars have stirred me the way that Triumph did and, sadly, none of the cars I've owned have...well, maybe the WRX-STi. The Lotus Elise surely fit that bill and then some. I drove a Fiat X1-9 that also fell into that category. I suspect an MGA, Austin Healey, or an old Jag convertible would do the same. The Elise stirs me because it is a currently produced car that I really wouldn't have to tinker with to keep running and it's really really quick and reliable.

 

[Raduque]

I'm sure I'd get plenty of chances Jules, but I'm just not really interested in the car.

I like convertables, and it's a nice retro-ish roadster, but it's just too small for me. I'm not really an overly big guy (5'6", 210lb or so), but it just feels cramped. I'm sure I'd also like it more if it had a manual, not a failmatic.

I'm a big car person. I'd take a Caprice or Crown Vic, or an old Delta 88 over this car. The epitome of cool convertibles for me is an old 1971 Cadillac Coupe deVille.

 

[EightySix Four]

I'm sure I'd get plenty of chances Jules, but I'm just not really interested in the car.

I like convertables, and it's a nice retro-ish roadster, but it's just too small for me. I'm not really an overly big guy (5'6", 210lb or so), but it just feels cramped. I'm sure I'd also like it more if it had a manual, not a failmatic.

I'm a big car person. I'd take a Caprice or Crown Vic, or an old Delta 88 over this car. The epitome of cool convertibles for me is an old 1971 Cadillac Coupe deVille.

I'm 6'6 220 and I'm comfortable in mine, it's obviously small, but it's as comfortable as my vette was.

 

[yh125d]

Dude, I hope you get to enjoy that car.

My first experience with a convertible car was a 1971 Triumph TR-6. My Step-Dad owned it and the first time I drove it was when I was in my late teens in the mid 1980s. I'll never forget that car either. It wasn't overly fast, it wasn't a great performer, but it had so many great driving qualities. It made all the right noises, it was very direct in every input you made to it and every output it responded with, it was a convertible, it was unique and attractive, it was simple. I loved that experience, it formed in me an idea of what a car should be that has stuck with me to this day. Not everything you drive or ride will be the best on paper, but they may be the ones that stir you the most.

I've owned and driven a number of cars over the couple decades I've been driving and very very few cars have stirred me the way that Triumph did and, sadly, none of the cars I've owned have...well, maybe the WRX-STi. The Lotus Elise surely fit that bill and then some. I drove a Fiat X1-9 that also fell into that category. I suspect an MGA or an old Jag convertible would do the same. The Elise stirs me because it is a currently produced car that I really wouldn't have to tinker with to keep running and it's really really quick and reliable.

The solstice isn't one of those cars.


I had a similar experience though, albeit with a 195(3?) TR3

 

[dawp]

If I hit that asshole front on, I probably would have gotten out to kick his ass for running the red.

car ran the red light, not biker.

 

[Viper GTS]

I'm 6'6 220 and I'm comfortable in mine, it's obviously small, but it's as comfortable as my vette was.

This I have to see. I've ridden in and driven a few solstices, & at only 6'2 I felt like I had to duck to see through the windshield. Vettes on the other hand are pretty comfy, aside from the contortions required to get in and out of them.

Viper GTS