off topic....Pontiac Solstice
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
Tell you what, I've bought/ordered over 30 new cars/trucks since I was 16, and can say I've researched EVERY purchase thoroughly, so don't refer to me or my friend as uninformed and unknowledgeable. Park a Honda S2000 alongside a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky...sorry, but the S2000 is up on quality....and the Vtech motor speaks for itself. Only drawback is a manual shifter only for the Honda. We've done this to ourselves (US automakers). Both Honda roadster and Solstice are priced pretty equally w/similar options. I've always been a US car guy, but it's now becoming ugly for quality comparisons between the Japanese, German, and our US cars.....we're often finishing behind them both regarding reliability and quality. 
WJ
WJ
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
Tell you what, I've bought/ordered over 30 new cars/trucks since I was 16, and can say I've researched EVERY purchase thoroughly, so don't refer to me or my friend as uninformed and unknowledgeable. Park a Honda S2000 alongside a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky...sorry, but the S2000 is up on quality....and the Vtech motor speaks for itself.
In any case, my point was that the general population appears so brainwashed at this point that they would likely choose Honda/Toyota over GM/Ford even if it were common knowledge and pure fact that the GM/Ford was better (and who knows, maybe they are now).
And I was referring more to your friend than you when I said that, I didn't realize that she too was a detail oriented, in depth technically well versed car person like yourself, sorry if you took it the wrong way.
No problem w/anyone here either, but I'll still stick to my original opinion of the Honda S2000's superior body panel fit, paint quality and finish, interior trim and quality/gauge layout over the Pontiac Solstice. Like I said, it's my opinion only, and I asked for everyone elses on the Solstice, that was in -the- know w/them.She probably will end up w/a Solstice, because of auto trans availability. She's going out tomorrow to find the right car w/the right deal....Ali, have you looked over a S2000 in person real close? LS1-LT1, have you? Thanks for the input, everyone...he just made it sound like it was our first rodeo. BTW, the lady is a 25yr. career marketing rep. for a major auto insurance company--she's definitely a knowledgable car person.
WJ
WJ
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
No problem w/anyone here either, but I'll still stick to my original opinion of the Honda S2000's superior body panel fit, paint quality and finish, interior trim and quality/gauge layout over the Pontiac Solstice. Like I said, it's my opinion only, and I asked for everyone elses on the Solstice, that was in -the- know w/them.She probably will end up w/a Solstice, because of auto trans availability. She's going out tomorrow to find the right car w/the right deal....Ali, have you looked over a S2000 in person real close? LS1-LT1, have you? Thanks for the input, everyone...he just made it sound like it was our first rodeo. BTW, the lady is a 25yr. career marketing rep. for a major auto insurance company--she's definitely a knowledgable car person. WJ
WJ
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 0
From: High Point North Carolina
I have looked at a Solstice in person. The particular car I looked at had a poor seal between the top and the driver's side window. Maybe it was a fluke thing, I don't know. The local dealership had one on display that was not yet for sale before they hit the streets so maybe it was just an early production glitch. I have not heard any issues of leaky tops etc since then.
Styling wise the Saturn/Pontiac have it over the S2000 & Miata in a big way. I think most anyone would agree.
Keep in mind the GM twins have some decent low-end whereas the S2000 has nothing down low. You mentioned she is 'not a racer' so I would assume she'll spend most of her time below 4000 RPMs. If thats the case, I'd recommend she drive a Toyota Pruis first because thats basically what the S2000 is going to feel like in normal driving. I think she would prefer having the low-end power the GM's will offer. Also keep in mind the S2000 uses a high compression N/A 4 banger whereas the GM twins are much more mod friendly. The ecotec has proven to be pretty reliable and I'm sure with basic exhaust/intake/boost upgrades the car would be very decent in a straightline.
Also, while the perception may be that the Honda is better constructed (and it may be, I'm not arguing that) the GM will have a 100k mile warranty.
Styling wise the Saturn/Pontiac have it over the S2000 & Miata in a big way. I think most anyone would agree.
Keep in mind the GM twins have some decent low-end whereas the S2000 has nothing down low. You mentioned she is 'not a racer' so I would assume she'll spend most of her time below 4000 RPMs. If thats the case, I'd recommend she drive a Toyota Pruis first because thats basically what the S2000 is going to feel like in normal driving. I think she would prefer having the low-end power the GM's will offer. Also keep in mind the S2000 uses a high compression N/A 4 banger whereas the GM twins are much more mod friendly. The ecotec has proven to be pretty reliable and I'm sure with basic exhaust/intake/boost upgrades the car would be very decent in a straightline.
Also, while the perception may be that the Honda is better constructed (and it may be, I'm not arguing that) the GM will have a 100k mile warranty.
Well, drove them all. Solstice Auto turbo was way quicker on the bottom end than the S2000. The S2000 really doesn't wake up until after 6k rpm. Big problems w/reading the odomoter and the overall gauge layout was poor on the Solstice compared to the Honda S2000. Interior quality better and more trunk room for golf clubs in the Honda. The Honda dealers would deal way more than the Pontiac people on price...(visited 2 Pontiac, 2 Honda). Anyway, we then decided to visit a couple of Benz dealers and check out SLK 230/280/320/350 cabriolet roadsters. She drove a couple different models...and that was it. A dealer had a used '03 SLK blk 320 auto w/only 16k miles. A local trade, used-only-in-summer car w/ tons of factory warranty remaining. Less $ than either the new loaded Pontiac or the loaded S2000 Honda... Granted a new SLK 350 is way more $ than Solstice or S2000, but the Benz is way more car, w/way more re-sale. She bought the used '03 Benz for her summer car.... WJ
WJ 
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
A dealer had a used '03 SLK blk 320 auto w/only 16k miles.
Less $ than either the new loaded Pontiac or the loaded S2000 Honda... Granted a new SLK 350 is way more $ than Solstice or S2000, but the Benz is way more car, w/way more re-sale.
Less $ than either the new loaded Pontiac or the loaded S2000 Honda... Granted a new SLK 350 is way more $ than Solstice or S2000, but the Benz is way more car, w/way more re-sale.
Glad ya found a car she liked though.
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