The Lightning Lap, 2007: Part II of IV - Car and Driver

[302Travis]

solstice should've been last place for next class...

[Flabernat]

Way to Go Pontiac, dang that thing is quick!! :O

[judomaster1107]

35k is now back then when the soltice just came out it was only like 28k....i would know i got one :)

[lujoebonjo]

so a $35,000 solstice won against a $22k Mazdaspeed 3?... It better for that much more in price, why was it even in this category? Thought it was supposed to be under $30k. Mazdaspeed 3 ftw!

[cobaltspeda]

HA!! 08 cobalt ss turbo raped!! came second in its class to the 350z. dodge srt4 and mazdaspeed 3 didn't even come close. chevys finally got a winner with this one.

[Alexsered]

raped? It beat the mazdaspeed3 by 3 seconds? the mazdaspeed3 also has factory options of very light track forged alloy rims, exhaust and intake, all of which are mazda products. If they could add factory parts to the solstice, they should have done that to the speed3.

[sidhucer00789]

seriously man ... what a shitty job

[Towelman20]

How can you possibly ever say that i would love to that kind of stuff evry day.

[whatzupa]

I've always liked the Solstice, it just needs a turbo and to be available in RHD, then I'd buy one immediately.

[seroyer2]

the GXP has a turbo and it will probably never be RHD because GM just does not to that often

[ADarkerBreed]

The Opel GT is the RHD European equivalent to the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky

[Shultzgti]

Noooooooo! The GTI has so much torque on the bottom end so that it doesn't seem possible on a track with so many turns. I'm going to toss it up to driver error or inexperience. The GTI MKV is a tough little number to tame. The four wheel ABS is excellent, ONCE you upgrade from the factory pads. I'm surprised VW hasn't been sued over the defective/inferior stock pads yet.

[VAspeed3]

GTI is a nice car, but on the subject of torque, the MS3 has 280 lb-ft at 3000 RPM, which beats GTI by what, 73 lb-ft? That is a very big difference.

I've run my MS3 at VIR, and I know it will accelerate with an E46 M3 from 40 to 120MPH because it has a higher torque to weight ratio.

[Shultzgti]

...you should have included the VW MKV GTI instead of the Mazda. :o,

[papashake]

where are the other 2 parts?

[AsianAmericanAlien]

where is 350z? also s2000?

[88462]

the pntiac is over 30k

[GerhardtKussel]

If you read the article, they say the base price is under $30,000, not price as tested.

[bcowan64]

How could you not include the WRX in this? And what's up with the Pontiac? It was over 30K!

[lasalleoaks]

wait i thought u said 30 and under. ??? ? ? ? not 31,096 and under. thats a disqualification and mazda wins. :D

[jilldaniel]

nice