SOLSTICE/SKY VERSES THE MIATA

[retrohippie]

All I can say is that I own a '97 Miata and recently bought an '07 Solstice (base) and I fucking love both of them. While the Miata has a better "in control" feel to it, the Solstice does an amazing job of keeping right up with the Miata in terms of "roadster feel".

One big difference i've felt in the Solstice is it's ability to grip in tight turn situations. It's amazing what you can pull off without any oversteer.

[monstermiataman]

the mazda cost more because the body isnt made of fucking plastic every solstice owner ive came across said they are not happy with the car every miata owner loves their mazda and plus the solstice just feels cheap

[Tywinkie]

@monstermiataman

I don't know-cup holders is really the only issue I have with my Soli... It beats the Miata through the chicanes and is just flat out awesome on curves. Light as it is, it drifts well too...

[dahGnote]

i dont care what the soltice has!! i love miata!!! its the purest of roadsters!!

[ignatzRat]

Hmmmmmm present GM lineups don't list Solstice/Sky! (cheap shot!)

BTW how is the Miata labled a "Girls Car:" and the Solstice /Sky not by many "enthusiasts"?.....They have similar performance as this shows..

I agree with YOUCANNOTDENY on the pride issue and GM should have stuck with the Vette it is much better and has the power.

And Yes it is an Americanized Opel (check Wiki)..... Not that there is anything wrong with that! It is a great little convertible.. But so is the MIata!

[kpaireidy]

@ignatzRat The Opel you are talking about is the GT and it is made in Delaware so it is really a Europeanized Pontiac. But your right they are still both great little convertibles.

[mikecronis]

The GXP suspension and acceleration is FAR superior to the base model and about the same cost as the Miata.

[YOUCANNOTDENY]

lol, the video says mx-5 vs solstice but the announcer always says solstice vs miata. is this some american pride issues?

[Rafflersauce]

who cares?

[awesomeman09]

all american solstice?...the kappa platform is an evolution of the opel speedster platform..major difference being that its front engined versus the mid engined layout of the latter..and as far as i remember the speedster was designed by lotus.

[JeffInDFW]

Uh...no. You do not get a mid engined platform and "evolve" it into a front engine. The Kappas platform was a clean sheet design using hydroformed frame rails. If you look at a Kappa (Solstice/Sky) with the body off, the car looks exactly like a miniature Corvette. Photos are available on the net, use Google. Um, you also do know that Opel is a division of GM, right?

[Taff1967SC]

I would not buy anything again from GM. Dismal quality.

[threehonks77]

Not to mention ugly as fuck.

[threehonks77]

We all value your opinion Mr. Pro Race Car Driver.

[crrazyy]

sky handling is very impressive in my opinion.

[JeffInDFW]

Everyone talks about how "light weight" the Honda S2000 is. It weighs 2,800 pounds. EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE SOLSTICE/SKY. GM is offering a stage II package that gives the GXP/Redline 290hp and 340 ft/lbs torque! The Solstice has dominated SCCA racing OVER the Miata since its debut. This is not my opinion, THESE ARE FACTS. Go look them up.

[awesomeman09]

the solstice handles like a camaro..i m sorry..i m a GM guy..i was rooting for the kappa platform,i was sad when i finally got to drive one...hell the miata MA offers more driving exicitement..it would be nice if GM brought the original opel/vauxhall speedster stateside..but the kappa was substandard at best..not to mention that godforsaken useless roof..there is just no excuse for that

[JeffInDFW]

In SCCA Showroom Stock road racing, the Solstice has won the national championship EVERY YEAR since its debut. The Miata is in its class. How do you explain this?

[DADShadowFox]

I havn't driven a skystice, but I hear it's an overweight pig of a roadster. Looks bulkier too. I can understand though, most americans are too obese to fit in a miata anyway.

[smoof60]

i'd like to c that miata against a sky redline...pwned

[ljpuggy]

How's that Kappa II platform going? Oh wait, GM axed it. <_<

[koncept125]

mazda is garbage

[xmuzzx]

no1 ever said the miata wasnt a quick chick car but it certainly isnt as cool looking as the solstice. either way both cars are better when v8's are shoehorned into them.

[R0JIBLANC0]

its funny, you know when you are watching a video where only asians or tuners lovers watch, any comment that says american cars rule has like 10 negative marks on it.

AMERICAN MUSCLE RULES BITCHES!!

[Marx226]

"This was easy to drive, unlike other American cars."

I love how they make snide remarks at the beginning implying that their country's cars are superior... at least us Americans have variation in our genes to make us look different from each other.

[silus2000]

Their country's cars ARE superior.

P.S. Having greater variation in genes is not a consolation prize. But if it makes you feel better about Americans making shitty cars, go for it man.

[chrismodiano]

leave the country

[silus2000]

I'm an American citizen, and a veteran of the Army Infantry. Americans still make shitty cars. Now go cry to mommy, coward.

I love these fake ass patriots that try to dictate what someone can or cannot say, and if its not approved of they should go live somewhere else. Hey you stupid fuck, I defended this country so I can say any god damn thing I want. So trash like you better wake the fuck up and read the constitution. If you ever said that to my face I would crush you...

[chrismodiano]

Alright. I just thought you were taking an unsophistocated generalized view of american cars, cuz the solstice is okay, and the vette is pretty sweet. wasn't a political thing.. but anyway, i take it back. i'll go cry to my mom now.

[silus2000]

there there...

[saenzlopez]

you are absolutley rigth, my mistake, the problem is american cars are good for american driving standars, but not for the international ones like some asians or some europeans do, americans are now buying those and american car makers are changing their models for asian or european chasis models like solstice, 300c, fusion, astra, aveo, cobalt, etc... you see is not me, is real life by the way, asian and european cars are more fuel eficient.

[stopcrazypp]

I have to point out saenzlopez is wrong, esp since US cars always get the short end of the stick. Funny thing is it's the other way around. The new 2007 Opel GT (NOT speedster) is based on the kappa platform of the saturn sky. The GM Kappa platform uses parts entirely based on American components. It was designed following corvette architecture. He was thinking of the old SPEEDSTER based on a british (not german) Lotus platform!

[saenzlopez]

the solstice drives well because it's not american is german, is an opel speedster with bad american interiors.

[retrohippie]

Nice try...

GM designed the Solstice/Sky chassis and Opel is using it for the Speedster.

People always seem to get this wrong and jump the gun...

[john2496]

solstice, bah! the japs do it better!

[stubmaster]

did you... watch the second part?

[mikerotch2001]

I think this video is useful... cos i plan on getting a saturn sky and after some modding i will use it for drifting. The guy in grey hoodie is "The Drift King" is he thinks it's good then it must be awesome...

[Kevin03061988]

i trust the miata more than the gay gm made roadster.

[daishi422]

Old architecture? the only difference between the solstices 2.4l and the cavaliers 2.2l the how far there bored. There both VVT, DOHC, and GM has something in them that makes them act more like V's then inlines (hence the low-end torque)

[BoostedECO]

2.4L VVT- Bore x stroke: 88.00mm x 98.00mm

2.2L- Bore x Stroke -- 86.00 mm x 94.6 mm

so my point is ur wrong its not just bore that determines the size of the motor, they both have different cranks. the 2.4 is VVT motor and no the 2.2 is not VVT. 2.4L is not the only option theres also the 2.0L turbo. i've also read somewhere theres a concept of GM fitting a LS2 in the little roadster.

[ninjagod1337]

LOL. That's not GM doing it. But there are LS swaps for Solstices. And the cars are BALLS fast Corvette killers.

[stubmaster]

i think thats mallett? they did it right after the solstice came out and it was on the autoweek cover i think. havent heard anything about them since though

[mak450]

Oh shit, thats Sam Mitani(sp?) from R&T. I didn't realize that.

[velocityJE]

it's 'versus' you fucking retard

[com3t]

These guys are so arrogant.

[stubmaster]

yeah, but at least they are open minded

[ninjagod1337]

"Chassis" is not pronounced like "Cheetos" you morons.

[hobosapien081]

LMAO cheetos :-P