Test drove both of these back to back in 2007. The Solstice does look cooler, and I think it was a good try by GM at a roadster, but I was blown away by how much more refined the Miata felt. It felt a lot more athletic (especially in turns), the interior was a lot nicer, the top was simpler to operate, it had a bigger trunk, and on top of that the top didn't take up any trunk space when it was down. Because of these things, I knew that the Miata would be the car I'd prefer to own for many years, VS the Solstice. I ended up buying a Pontiac G8 GT instead of either (really love the G8 by the way)...although a couple years later I did get a 2001 Miata used. Still have both cars, and no desire to trade them in. I love both of them.
@@bobbysworldrox It has been almost 15 years now, but I don't remember the Solstice feeling fast. Then again I was test driving an automatic, and that might have contributed. But then raw speed's not really the point of small roadsters though. It's more about the lightweight, nimble handling. Even then though, I remember the Miata just being more fun to drive and overall a much better car, which is why I ended up buying a used 2001 Miata later. If you want speed though, maybe check out the Pontiac Solstice GXP if you can find one. It's got a turbocharged engine with way more power.
@@bobbysworldrox 2009 Mazda MX-5 Hardtop Grand Touring : 0-60 mph 6.9 | Quarter mile 15.3 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: 0-60 mph 5.2 | Quarter mile 13.7 Both of those were manuals, but my auto GXP Coupe averaged 5.5 to 5.6 before the ls7 swap
This was when Pontiac was really trying. Between the GTO, Solstice, and G8, along with what could have been better but still pretty good G6 and G5 they were producing some really decent vehicles but the writing was already in the sand.
I thought it's sister car, the Saturn Sky, was even more impressive looking, especially in Sky blue. Both are definatly more upscale than the Miata, if less tossable.
It looks like something from mid teens in all honesty. Not necessarily comparable to anything from 2017 and on, but you could say it's from 2014 and I'd believe it.
I have a solstice and it was the best thing ever! We got one of the first ones off of the line up and we love that car. Super fun to take on the back roads and that thing is glued to the road. No problem flying around bends in 2 or 3 gear.
+Ryker-b22 Oldsmobile was the first company that started GM.......They killed them off without caring......Buick should of been killed off a long time ago........
I personally own an NC2 Miata. I've driven alongside some Solstices at our local track and they're both lovely cars. Shame there's not more fun roadsters nowadays.
@@rileysmith9843 I agree about the Fiero being based on the current C8 Vette. I do not agree on having Corvette and Camaro engine options for the Fiero. Like whats the point of having the Corvette exist then? The Fiero should stick to having a solid 4 cyl and V6 as engine options, not a V8. If you want a mid-engined V8, buy the C8 Corvette. If you want a cheaper and slower alternative to a C8 Corvette, the Fiero is the answer. This is how you can make cars stand out. The Fiero could be a Lotus Elise/Exige rival.
Go Clunker Yeah the one thats still around is the most raced car in the world. Could it be because the engineers came up with one of the best designs ever?
@@TheChenny73 It's because the Miata had brand recognition and was cheap. The Miata at the time the Solstice came out had over 15 years to get situated in the market without any real competition. The S2k was too high of a price tag to be considered a direct competitor to the Miata, and it didn't survive the early 2000s recession. If the Miata didn't have the market like that, the Solstice would have stuck a lot better than it did in America. The Saturn Sky is just an upmarket Solstice so everything I said also applies to that, mostly.
I still love my solstice. I started with an N/A and then got the GXP and tuned it. I think that whenever roadsters are discussed this gem is overlooked. It's totally under rated.
+mikeakaspike Agree, i drive an Opel GT (08 Model Year) and simply love it. Over here it's quite an exotic car so i get a lot of attention (far more than if you drive a Porsche for example) but i admit mine's tuned as well so that might help (312ps,KW v3 coilovers, Redline Headlights, Oz Ultraleggera rims, Fox exhaust etc.). Ps. I ordered an alumium flywheel a week ago and gonna tune the orginal turbo to produce around 360 PS, so it's far from finished yet ^^.
+toto211111 Nice, I'm actually moving to Europe in a few months and bringing it with me. I also have a performance exhaust, custom center outlet and rear valance to go with it 23 psi estimated 330 hp and torque in the 360-370 range. So I might get even more looks considering the Solstice never made it's way over there. I love the Opel GTs and when this platform was first released I liked the Opel/Saturn edges more, but the curves of the solstice have grown on me and I think they have aged well.
Got one 07 gxp too has my second car, got it used, 3 owner, now I've done 10k miles on it and it has 116, still drives amazing and still 15 psi stock so I am impressed too, I agree it is totally under rated. I test drove a couple 350z but the I prefer the clutch of the solstice and the way my little go kart corners any day. Although the front end of the 350z is much better looking :p
god bless pre pandemic prices 😭😭😭😭 IT'S NOT FAIR I WANT ONE FOR THAT PRICE WITH THOSE MILES, I DONT CARE WHAT COLOR, IT CAN BE PINK WITH YELLOW POLKADOTS FOR THAT PRICE AND MILEAGE. sucks now one with thay milage is triple the price
This generation of Miata is the only one I found really lovely-looking... but the Solstice is absolutely gorgeous! Has barely aged at all as well, from the exterior of course.
i think this is the main thing most car buyers forget. it doesn't matter if your car has x amount of more horsepower. if the car isnt geared for acceleration then your car can still be much slower than others with less hp but shorter gears. light weight and shorter gears can mean a car that feels MUCH faster
Great point John. Love the last name by the way. Power to weight makes all the difference in the world. Why people would race the Love bug Beatles. I drove the 2004 miata and it felt great driving. You don't need a massive V8 or V12 to go fast. An equally balanced sports car is a thing of beauty.
The Miata has knocked out so many challengers over the years. The others are all more powerful but somehow the Miata prevails...hmmm. The answer is always Miata.
I chose to buy my wife a 2008 Saturn Sky Redline in 2022! She loved it so much she requested I buy one for me......and stay out of hers! LOL I bought a 2007 base model for myself. What an exciting car to drive. It's still a head turner even in 2022!!
The Miata is a warmed-over (but more reliable) Lotus Elan. The Pontiac is a long-term-owner, drive-every-day sportscar. And it doesn't come with the, well, lifestyle legend that engulfs the Miata, which has in fact struggled in many ways to this day to be taken seriously as a sports car. As in "It's a girls' car".
@@caribman10 I drove my 94 miata daily till just recently. Close to 280k miles on the original motor and transmission. My neighbors managed to back up into it with a U-haul truck.
@@fortheloveofnoise9298 wish I could drive my vehicles into the backyard or my garage. Backyard is non accessible for vehicles, expect my motorcycles. Garage is filled with said motorcycles,tools, fridge,couch, TV, freezer, misc stuff and tons of fishing gear. Tool my Miata to Mexico for the bodywork, paint, and a brand new top from moss Miata. On it's second transmission now but still original motor.
My 2008 Miata MX-5 Grand Touring PRHT with an Automatic Transmission in Highland Green drives like a dream and receives compliments left and right everywhere I go! From age 6 to 66, people point and stare. With Yokohama Neova ADO8R tires it glides on the road and corners like it's glued to the road!
@@dk2853 Did I mention, I love my solstice! We did end up with a crack in the manifold but got it fixed. We have had it for about 5 or 6 years now and $1800 in repairs for a 2007? Ya I'm ok with it. Lol Mines worth more then $3k The one your getting must need work?
Love the way Solstice looked, certainly better than the NC Miata, but the Miata NA has the advantage of looking good itself, while also being much smaller.
MX-5 is the clear winner here. Small sports cars are all about handling and the Mazda wins hands down. And it's still here. Pontiac (and Saturn) are but distant memories...
There was a company that did that straight from the dealerships, look up the Solstice Mallett V8, they had the Corvette V8 and transmission, their own special wheels, and unique badging as well. Once in a while you can still find one floating around online for sale, but they are pretty rare.
Back in the 2000s I had an 88 RX7 convertible which was bigger and less refined than the coming Miata/ MX5, but man was it a head turner. The exhuast note sounded British and if they would have updated it as much as the MX what a car it would have been!! I had a friend with a Miata but I felt it was a little too small inside compared with my RX convertible and with the BBS wheels a lot of people used to think my RX was a BMW..!!
Solstice was great. Much better looking than Miata. And Solstice GXP Turbo was more fun than any Miata. Drove both as an automotive writer back in the day, I obtained a 5 second 0 to 60 time with the Turbo. Nearly 2 secs faster than an 07 Miata.
Doug Smith Yeah but those are not equals. A turbo MX5 is by far the better vehicle when it comes to performance. The gearing, handling, cornering, weight distribution is all better. And I might add what good is all that power if your handling sucks as well as your gearing?
@@SantanKGhey1234 well, your right, but the solstice's dynamics, are actually really good. A smooth gearbox, it sticks to the road nicely, and it feels speedy, without being too over the top. Learn more about the cars you talk about, GM hater. Pontiac made some really good cars, and this is one of them. People who have driven them really like how they feel. Why can't Miata people and Solstice people just get along?
@@mr.aizawa5257 Oh i know vehicles and i know cars, i know dynamics... this is coming from an RS6, S2000, Aerial Atom, NSX owner who tracks his vehicles every year and enjoys them on the street... go to the track and see what REAL enthusiasts are driving... Miata MX5s are everywhere and run hard reliability.... hmmm, no Solstice to be found anywhere.... not even on the streets... no wonder, because its like driving a Chevy Cobalt in reverse
i am finishing a 2.2 ecotec conversion in my 1984 alfa romeo spider.. has a w/c t5 transmission on it..( i designed the belhousing to fit the engine) the 2.2 has a c/r of 10.7/1 lots of finishing work on the engine.. hp at the flywheel is 203 and tq is 189ft/lbs... s2 and carbon hood and boot shaved about 50 pounds off the car.. should weigh in at 2300 pounds...i did to a massive upgrade to the brakes... 12.19 inch vented disk on all 4 corners with brembo 4 piston calipers of a 2000 porsche boxster, to slow it down wheels / tires 16x 7 rims 205/50/16 tires// soon to be running on the ground..
Had this been one year later this would have been very different. The 07 GXP got better handling and much better power while still be better for longer distances. Add less than 1K to that and it makes around 300 ponies and even better handling though touring comfort suffered slightly. From there $ is best spent on HP tires. Yep too bad Pontiac is not still around it would have been cool to see how this car evolved. Finding these with low mileage is difficult and prices on the rise.
The Solstice was a great looking car better than the Saturn version. There's a guy here in Malibu that has an LS7 and a 6spm Solstice that I see cruising up and down PCH every weekend. I pulled up behind him one night at the canyon & PCH stop light while a bumpity...bump sounding Mustang was next to him, not for long. The Mustang gave up as soon as the Solstice let out the clutch and was gone. Another note, I was going to work one early morning and the guy was pulled over by the Malibu Sheriffs, they had him handcuffed and not looking to happy. Never found out what happened and have not seen him since . That was in June of 2016, a year ago!
I'd take the MX-5 over the Solstice. Even though the Solstice looks more sporty and aggressive, I don't like the front-end. I like the MX-5's subtlety more. I was kinda surprised by the track test though; I thought the Solstice would've been the better performer.
Dang although I don't love how the NC Miata looks, it seems amazing with all that power on top of the Miata handling. I still want a NA but I would not be sad if I got one of these.
Both are excellent!! The MX-5 is still the benchmark! But I have to say I love the styling of the Solstice!! It still looks gorgeous!! The only shortcoming was its interior. It looks kinda crappy! Its sibling, the Saturn Sky (Opel GT to us euros) had a far better interior! It also had a 2.0, 265hp turbo motor (not really essential, but still it was a nice choice!).
+MafiosoItaliano458 I don't know, I personally love the solstice's cockpit-esque design. Reminds me of alot of the best sports car designs from the 90s and almost made me get one. The real limiting factor for me was mixed feeling about early direct injection on the 2.0L turbo model.
The Solstice also has the turbo in the GXP model. The Solstice's cockpit-style interior is for me better but i could never get over how bloated the front end looks. This is exactly why I own a Saturn Sky Redline, though to be honest both interiors are in typical old GM style extremely cheap (plastic everywhere). The 2.0 liter turbo is a little monster in these cars. Nobody expects to get smoked by you and are usually unpleasantly surprised.
Got An 07' solstice gxp, He is right ahah Although I prefer having the back of the solstice (which I love) than the back of the sky which is why I own a Pontiac Solstice Gxp ;) eheh a mix of both would be cool !
I'm noticing the Pontiac has a bilge user the chin (low engine?) That limits ground clearance. Almost touching in the track photos. Miata has room for frost heaves,pot holes and driveways. Seems like Solstice needed a beefier front swaybar and springs but they went comfy.
I was helping a friend buy a car and she wanted a mini, so I made a list of competitors and put this on there, once she saw the MX-5 the contest was over, the downer was she wouldn't let me drive the car.
+Zae B Saturn Sky is what put the nail in the coffin for Pontiac, Solstice was suppose to be only a Pontiac platform that could've been unique from the brand since GM was just making Pontiacs Rebadged Chevys and Holdens at the time. But GM wanted Saturn to have it too so they put a slower motor in it and sold them both. sad but true
Here 2021 I haven't seen a Solstice in quite a while, but I see Miatas of all vintage on a regular basis (excluding my 20 year old example). Still, the Solstace (and Saturn Sky/Opel GT) was one of the few GM products I would have wanted to drive. To be honest, most of them were Pontiacs such as the GTO/G8 and the Solstice. But now I own a 20 year old Miata and think it's a better car.
Solstice and what was it called...Saturn sky I think...were both awesome looking cars. That 2.2L is a fantastic engine (whenever they stuck the balancing rod in it at least)Shame I never got to drive one. Shame they were only 2 seater convertibles. I think they could have incorporated these two cars into the coupe entry cars style wise and it would have ben sooo much better than the cavalier based cars...maybe super charge them add some small back seats ect.
I have an 08 mx-5 since 09 and it was a tough call between it and the solstice. What won it out for me was the trunk and top operation. The solstice has no trunk at all, and the top is lousy looking up and to put the top down is quite the operation. This is my only car and the mx-5 is stupid reliable for over 7 years. I have the power hard top and i love that with one lever, a button, and the top is down in 12 seconds from my driver seat. The miata is a better car and time has seen that. Not to mention it is a blast to drive every day!! By the way I am currently averaging as of 2/24/2016 28.5mpg of mixed driving with my mx-5.
+Tim D The guy in the Solstice video put the top down in 13 seconds. And he maybe had done it 2 or 3 times before that. Didn't seem hard or 'quite the operation'. But I suppose if you put the top down 200 times a year for 5 years the extra $1000 you paid would be worth a dollar per time...and you saved 1000 seconds or 16 1/2 minutes in those 5 years.
+wiibaron Your math is a bit off, the sport soft top compared to the sport PRHT is a $2,815 difference, so please get your facts straight. There is no need for poor estimates here. What was not shown was how slow it is to put the top up on the Pontiac. I can assure you no one wants to fuss with a poorly conceived top when it is raining. If you want to focus on the cost of the upgraded roof that is fine but there is no comparison when it comes to trunk space and practicality. This is my daily driver, it has been on road trips to Key West, New Orleans, N.C. Outer Banks and many more. There is trunk space for two with the top up or down, the Solstice could never do that, that's why I have an MX-5.
Tim D Just going by what the video says. The Miata costs 1000 more and the top goes down 1 second faster. 1000 seconds is 16.66 minutes, so I should have said 16 2/3 minutes saved over 5 years. Ohhh, sorry.That extra 16.6 seconds is one more time to put EITHER top down.
I have no idea what you are talking about with these time figures, please don't ever explain them again..... You have ignored all practical arguments and are fixated on some arbitrary "fact" (Your dumb ass is comparing the base mx-5 to the base solstice and ignoring the fact that i have a PRHT sport hard top. Sorry bud I thought you knew your cars, that is clearly not the case.) If you have something intelligent to say I welcome it. Please let us know what you drive because you seem to be very interested in my ride.
Tim D When you post your video comparing your LMNOP Miata to a Solstice GT4VR, let me know and then I will take your figures and compare them! My comment is concerning the cars that are presented here in this video.
Solstice was a good car. But unfortunately, the Fiero was a better contender to the MX5. If only the Fiero had been around for a 2nd gen, it would of taken sales away from the Miata.
...yeah. I've owned a Fiero, an 86 GT. Even with the off-the-shelf parts, it still handled amazingly. I was replying to the clown beneath you who simply said '...'
MelancoliaI Yea man I agree with you. I also own an 86GT. Plus the miata of that era look awful compared to any Fiero. Mr2's are also cool, but not as practical.
This Pontiac is almost the same car with the 2006 OPEL GT ! But the OPEL GT was significantly faster . The OPEL GT was capable of 0-60mph in 5.4" (5.7" in 0-100kmh)and a top speed of 230kph(142.94mph) !
He says the no other roadster could match the Miata, but at this time the S2000 was far superior to the Miata in bang for buck and pure sport car feel. Owned both and the s2k by far was the better roadster.
Took delivery of my 2007 solstice GXP in December 2006 and still own it today. Has about 35k miles on it. Add sticky tires, 3 inch exhaust and a tune and you got yourself a really fun car. Switch to E85 and you have a rocket ship. I'd say one of the biggest complaints I see from people who owned them is they are just completely impractical. S2000 or Miata is easier to live with as a daily. If you get it for fun then it's perfect. If you get it for any other purpose you are going to regret it.
I had a 92 Miata as mu main car and only var, never regretted it....but I moved on and only drive manual transmission cars now, but prices on those Miatas are way overblown when I went to go look for a manual one now.
The S2k was better, but the Miata is cheap, so... Trying to say the Miata and S2k were competing in the same market is a bit silly when they were completely different price ranges.
I have an '07 solstice gxp. Bought it used in 2017. I remember fish tailing on the way home when I got onto the highway. What a surprise. Five years later, I'm still loving the car. The solstice FEELS like it's gonna slide and lose control around tight turns at first, but once you get a feel for the car you learn to trust it. I think the way you drive the cars are different too. In a solstice you just let off the gas and reduce gear, then slam the pedal. With the miata, you brake first, then accelerate
When I drive my shined up sky redline, eyes pop out. You just don't see them anymore (wrecked?), and they are just artwork on wheels. The Miata.... what, 30 years in production? Ho-humm.....
Solstice is WAY better than all gen of miatas. Only have more fuel consumption and spare parts are more hard to find and are more expensive than for miatas... But man... that Solstice's look is really worth to choose Solstice Looking for my mom's first car and she really likes Solstice.
They forgot to mention if you go away for a weekend in the Solstice you can barely take any luggage as there is a big gastank hump in the trunk and the top stows there, The Miata top stows behind the seats and the trunk has no obstructions.
The Solstice still has more room for improvement. Improving the engine reliability, handling and suspension and give it 6 speed would've make it a better car. Make it in RHD for market in Australia and SE Asia to boost sales.
Hold it the Miata still lives the solstice is dead you do not realize you can either supercharge or turbo the Miata to leave the vacuum cleaner styled Pontiac way behind
Test drove both of these back to back in 2007. The Solstice does look cooler, and I think it was a good try by GM at a roadster, but I was blown away by how much more refined the Miata felt. It felt a lot more athletic (especially in turns), the interior was a lot nicer, the top was simpler to operate, it had a bigger trunk, and on top of that the top didn't take up any trunk space when it was down. Because of these things, I knew that the Miata would be the car I'd prefer to own for many years, VS the Solstice.
I ended up buying a Pontiac G8 GT instead of either (really love the G8 by the way)...although a couple years later I did get a 2001 Miata used. Still have both cars, and no desire to trade them in. I love both of them.
How slow is the Pontiac solstice? Does it feel fast
@@bobbysworldrox It has been almost 15 years now, but I don't remember the Solstice feeling fast. Then again I was test driving an automatic, and that might have contributed.
But then raw speed's not really the point of small roadsters though. It's more about the lightweight, nimble handling. Even then though, I remember the Miata just being more fun to drive and overall a much better car, which is why I ended up buying a used 2001 Miata later.
If you want speed though, maybe check out the Pontiac Solstice GXP if you can find one. It's got a turbocharged engine with way more power.
@@bobbysworldrox
2009 Mazda MX-5 Hardtop Grand Touring
: 0-60 mph 6.9 | Quarter mile 15.3
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: 0-60 mph 5.2 | Quarter mile 13.7
Both of those were manuals, but my auto GXP Coupe averaged 5.5 to 5.6 before the ls7 swap
This was when Pontiac was really trying. Between the GTO, Solstice, and G8, along with what could have been better but still pretty good G6 and G5 they were producing some really decent vehicles but the writing was already in the sand.
+tytotheler92 G8 was made in Australia though right? So all they did was put a badge on something else.
gto and g8 aren't even American and the g8 is still in the US , it's the chevy SS rides on the same exact platform as the G8
+chipchip yup and the g8 became the chevy SS, same car different badge
+chipchip It was still a GM car. Holden to be exact. Just only produced in Australia.
+matthew von GM owns Holden, GM designs cars worldwide it's American owned and most of the engineers that designed it live in America.
honestly even though the solstice is 10 years old it still looks modern
The coupe looks like it came out yesterday
I thought it's sister car, the Saturn Sky, was even more impressive looking, especially in Sky blue.
Both are definatly more upscale than the Miata, if less tossable.
Yeah, they would fit right in today with a modest facelift. But, GM sucked it up with terrible mismanagement as usual and now Pontiac is dead.
It looks like something from mid teens in all honesty. Not necessarily comparable to anything from 2017 and on, but you could say it's from 2014 and I'd believe it.
The soltice looks terrible IMO. That front end view is atrocious. Looks like an insect.
I have a solstice and it was the best thing ever! We got one of the first ones off of the line up and we love that car. Super fun to take on the back roads and that thing is glued to the road. No problem flying around bends in 2 or 3 gear.
I can't believe it's been ten years. These are still brand new cars to me haha
+kirbyswarp To me it only feels like 10 years ago the MX-5 debuted
Same here! looking at that Miata model I was surprised because I t was like a 2016 xD
Nice saab turbo guage
Same i just got a solstice base, sooo slow but its super fun either way lol
It's been 16 years!!!
GM should've killed Buick not Pontiac :(
They should have killed GMC, and why Buick it's the brand that started General Motors
+Ryker-b22 Oldsmobile was the first company that started GM.......They killed them off without caring......Buick should of been killed off a long time ago........
+Saturnvue2005 actually Buick was the the one that created GM and Oldsmobile was a different car company then GM bought it and Cadillac
+Anslock Buick only exists for the sole purpose of China and Florida.
+TheAKBUDDHA1 There are more Pontiacs than Buicks in Florida, trust me I live here.
Damn, 2006 is considered retro? I feel old :(
Anything 15 years old or older is when they make statues in commemoration of something, so that’s a good rule of thumb
It's just the name Motorweek has given to their previous reviews. It's like a brand name.
I get the same feeling. 90s must be archaic and let´s not even go back further... ;(
My current vehicle is from the 90's @@exionem 🥴
Hey , I AM old.
I personally own an NC2 Miata. I've driven alongside some Solstices at our local track and they're both lovely cars. Shame there's not more fun roadsters nowadays.
They still make miatas. I still drive my hr 350z onvertible (still considered a roadster) they're still around
i miss pontiac
HorseRancher92 I do too
Me too :( , so elegant
Me too. I loved my Pontiac Fiero V6.
I miss Saturn
I'm from the future, 2023. I miss GM :,(
GM should've kept the Pontiac brand.
JL and Hummer. hope they both come back one day..
And brought back the Fiero.
Fiero88mph2018 Based on the new mid-engine Corvette, with the Corvette and Camaro engines as an option.
Pontiac wasn't seeing enough sales to justify its existence at the time. And it definitely won't sell well today
@@rileysmith9843 I agree about the Fiero being based on the current C8 Vette.
I do not agree on having Corvette and Camaro engine options for the Fiero. Like whats the point of having the Corvette exist then?
The Fiero should stick to having a solid 4 cyl and V6 as engine options, not a V8.
If you want a mid-engined V8, buy the C8 Corvette. If you want a cheaper and slower alternative to a C8 Corvette, the Fiero is the answer.
This is how you can make cars stand out. The Fiero could be a Lotus Elise/Exige rival.
Solstice? gone Sky? gone s2000? gone. Miata? still here
Go Clunker Yeah the one thats still around is the most raced car in the world. Could it be because the engineers came up with one of the best designs ever?
@@TheChenny73 It's because the Miata had brand recognition and was cheap. The Miata at the time the Solstice came out had over 15 years to get situated in the market without any real competition. The S2k was too high of a price tag to be considered a direct competitor to the Miata, and it didn't survive the early 2000s recession. If the Miata didn't have the market like that, the Solstice would have stuck a lot better than it did in America. The Saturn Sky is just an upmarket Solstice so everything I said also applies to that, mostly.
I’d still rather have the Honda.
@@TheBrowncoat2112 I have the Pontiac. It’s much better than the S2k ergonomics wise and, in my opinion, looks better.
the miata wont be around much longer, less than 9k sales a year isn't a good look for the miata.
I still love my solstice. I started with an N/A and then got the GXP and tuned it. I think that whenever roadsters are discussed this gem is overlooked. It's totally under rated.
I saw an ls swapped one. was pretty cool
+mikeakaspike Agree, i drive an Opel GT (08 Model Year) and simply love it. Over here it's quite an exotic car so i get a lot of attention (far more than if you drive a Porsche for example) but i admit mine's tuned as well so that might help (312ps,KW v3 coilovers, Redline Headlights, Oz Ultraleggera rims, Fox exhaust etc.).
Ps. I ordered an alumium flywheel a week ago and gonna tune the orginal turbo to produce around 360 PS, so it's far from finished yet ^^.
+toto211111 Nice, I'm actually moving to Europe in a few months and bringing it with me. I also have a performance exhaust, custom center outlet and rear valance to go with it 23 psi estimated 330 hp and torque in the 360-370 range. So I might get even more looks considering the Solstice never made it's way over there. I love the Opel GTs and when this platform was first released I liked the Opel/Saturn edges more, but the curves of the solstice have grown on me and I think they have aged well.
Got one 07 gxp too has my second car, got it used, 3 owner, now I've done 10k miles on it and it has 116, still drives amazing and still 15 psi stock so I am impressed too, I agree it is totally under rated. I test drove a couple 350z but the I prefer the clutch of the solstice and the way my little go kart corners any day. Although the front end of the 350z is much better looking :p
I just bought a Red 2007 2.4 Manual Solstice with only 51,000 miles in "Like New" condition for $6,800.
god bless pre pandemic prices 😭😭😭😭 IT'S NOT FAIR I WANT ONE FOR THAT PRICE WITH THOSE MILES, I DONT CARE WHAT COLOR, IT CAN BE PINK WITH YELLOW POLKADOTS FOR THAT PRICE AND MILEAGE. sucks now one with thay milage is triple the price
This generation of Miata is the only one I found really lovely-looking... but the Solstice is absolutely gorgeous! Has barely aged at all as well, from the exterior of course.
S. Leo Chapman flip up light miatas are pretty cool to :)
@@ice-tp1nz I do like pop-up headlamps, I won't lie!
S. Leo Chapman ahh, a man of taste I see !
I’m glad to hear since I own an NC finally
The solstice still like it could come out today as a new car and still looks good doing so.
having driven both of these cars back to back you can really feel the weight difference
ABS was still optional back then? Wow.
Very nice review but would have loved to see lap times! Then run the MazdaSpeed Turbo MX-5 vs the Solstice GPX !
i think this is the main thing most car buyers forget. it doesn't matter if your car has x amount of more horsepower. if the car isnt geared for acceleration then your car can still be much slower than others with less hp but shorter gears. light weight and shorter gears can mean a car that feels MUCH faster
Gxp would beat it
So which one is this pro
Great point John. Love the last name by the way. Power to weight makes all the difference in the world. Why people would race the Love bug Beatles. I drove the 2004 miata and it felt great driving. You don't need a massive V8 or V12 to go fast. An equally balanced sports car is a thing of beauty.
Still love my Redline as much as the day I bought it
I miss Pontiac :(
Too bad the Solstice had absolutely no trunk when the top was down.
I have a Sky and it barely has a trunk when the top is up. But who cares - I didn't buy it to carry around luggage. What a douche.
@@rodmunch69 Because who would want to go on a road trip in their roadster? Name calling around here is beyond childish.
Neither does a Camaro
@@smithiness take your GT car on a road trip and leave the toy car at home like an adult would
The Miata has knocked out so many challengers over the years. The others are all more powerful but somehow the Miata prevails...hmmm. The answer is always Miata.
Not if you’re 6’4”. It’s never Miata. You won’t fit.
@@cargueone1971 Even at 6' it's a stretch
@@TheSoundOfTwang if you ever go to a miata meetup you will see people who are 6ft or taller
@@poncho828 Sure.. I'm only speaking from personal experience with 1st. gen miatas. I felt too tall for those
@@TheSoundOfTwang sorry to chirp in 9 months later but I'm 6'2 and fit in my miata just fine
I chose to buy my wife a 2008 Saturn Sky Redline in 2022! She loved it so much she requested I buy one for me......and stay out of hers! LOL I bought a 2007 base model for myself. What an exciting car to drive. It's still a head turner even in 2022!!
"RETRO"!? ohhh god this makes me feel so old..😭😭
As a owner of a 01 MR2 Spyder.....I would buy both of these to add to my collection.
I agree. The Pontiac is a try hard great looking Roadster. The MX-5 is an all out pure sports car.
The Miata is a warmed-over (but more reliable) Lotus Elan. The Pontiac is a long-term-owner, drive-every-day sportscar. And it doesn't come with the, well, lifestyle legend that engulfs the Miata, which has in fact struggled in many ways to this day to be taken seriously as a sports car. As in "It's a girls' car".
@@caribman10 I drove my 94 miata daily till just recently. Close to 280k miles on the original motor and transmission. My neighbors managed to back up into it with a U-haul truck.
@@otroflores91 That's why you park in your back yard.
@@fortheloveofnoise9298 wish I could drive my vehicles into the backyard or my garage. Backyard is non accessible for vehicles, expect my motorcycles. Garage is filled with said motorcycles,tools, fridge,couch, TV, freezer, misc stuff and tons of fishing gear.
Tool my Miata to Mexico for the bodywork, paint, and a brand new top from moss Miata. On it's second transmission now but still original motor.
Hard to think of 2006 as retro, man I'm getting old.
My 2008 Miata MX-5 Grand Touring PRHT with an Automatic Transmission in Highland Green drives like a dream and receives compliments left and right everywhere I go! From age 6 to 66, people point and stare. With Yokohama Neova ADO8R tires it glides on the road and corners like it's glued to the road!
I bought an 06 Miata as a second car and as my summer convertible. I absolutely still love it!
Let me guess, you love taking it on long road trips to find new interstate rest stops. LOL!
& I just bought an 06 Poni this year, with 99 miles on it. Aha only the 3rd owner. Not bad
How quickly we forget about the awesome 90-93 Geo Metro convertible with its 55hp 3 cylinder engine.
truly a track monster
Gregory Boyd and legitimately better gas mileage than a Prius......🤔
Actually, the convertible only came with the 70hp 4 cylinder engine.
@@jeffohlendorf173 in the usa it only came with the 3 cylinder
I absolutely loved my little Solstice. Wish I still had it!
However there is no place to safely stow a lamb in either one.
love my Soltice, wouldn't trade it for nothing.. The fact it was only made 3 years also ads future value ;-)
Haha, 4 years later and these are worthless. Still great cars though, I'm picking one up for about 3K.
@@dk2853 Did I mention, I love my solstice!
We did end up with a crack in the manifold but got it fixed.
We have had it for about 5 or 6 years now and $1800 in repairs for a 2007? Ya I'm ok with it. Lol
Mines worth more then $3k The one your getting must need work?
@@Momboozull Nope, just getting a good deal. 2006, 103K miles. It's a base model though, not a GXP.
"2006 is NOT Retro!!!!!!" complaints in 3......2........1
Love the way Solstice looked, certainly better than the NC Miata, but the Miata NA has the advantage of looking good itself, while also being much smaller.
MX-5 is the clear winner here. Small sports cars are all about handling and the Mazda wins hands down. And it's still here. Pontiac (and Saturn) are but distant memories...
Dan Wells Opinions are like assholes......
@@Lucille69caddy ...and Miata drivers love assholes.
I like the 70s-style disco intro.
And the MX-5 is still going strong with very little competition.
Gimme the Solstice any day of the week. There is an LS2 conversion kit that you can use. A 600HP motor would make this a killer ride.
There was a company that did that straight from the dealerships, look up the Solstice Mallett V8, they had the Corvette V8 and transmission, their own special wheels, and unique badging as well. Once in a while you can still find one floating around online for sale, but they are pretty rare.
Back in the 2000s I had an 88 RX7 convertible which was bigger and less refined than the coming Miata/ MX5, but man was it a head turner. The exhuast note sounded British and if they would have updated it as much as the MX what a car it would have been!! I had a friend with a Miata but I felt it was a little too small inside compared with my RX convertible and with the BBS wheels a lot of people used to think my RX was a BMW..!!
Solstice was great. Much better looking than Miata. And Solstice GXP Turbo was more fun than any Miata. Drove both as an automotive writer back in the day, I obtained a 5 second 0 to 60 time with the Turbo. Nearly 2 secs faster than an 07 Miata.
Doug Smith Yeah but those are not equals. A turbo MX5 is by far the better vehicle when it comes to performance. The gearing, handling, cornering, weight distribution is all better. And I might add what good is all that power if your handling sucks as well as your gearing?
Solstice is ugly by far
wrong... acceleration means nothing when the rest of the dynamics are crap... the Miata outshines the GM garbage all day everyday
@@SantanKGhey1234 well, your right, but the solstice's dynamics, are actually really good. A smooth gearbox, it sticks to the road nicely, and it feels speedy, without being too over the top. Learn more about the cars you talk about, GM hater. Pontiac made some really good cars, and this is one of them. People who have driven them really like how they feel. Why can't Miata people and Solstice people just get along?
@@mr.aizawa5257 Oh i know vehicles and i know cars, i know dynamics... this is coming from an RS6, S2000, Aerial Atom, NSX owner who tracks his vehicles every year and enjoys them on the street... go to the track and see what REAL enthusiasts are driving... Miata MX5s are everywhere and run hard reliability.... hmmm, no Solstice to be found anywhere.... not even on the streets... no wonder, because its like driving a Chevy Cobalt in reverse
That's a very interesting one I had not seen before.I would like to see how much better the sky would have done with the turbo motor
Just watching this video now. I just bought a Sky redline with the turbo. Fun little car. Not practical at all. Only 35K miles.
This is such a good review
Lol.. I own a 2010 Mazda, by sitting in the seat and looking at the dash and instrument lay out, it dose remind me of Pontiac in a lot of ways
i am finishing a 2.2 ecotec conversion in my 1984 alfa romeo spider.. has a w/c t5 transmission on it..( i designed the belhousing to fit the engine) the 2.2 has a c/r of 10.7/1 lots of finishing work on the engine.. hp at the flywheel is 203 and tq is 189ft/lbs... s2 and carbon hood and boot shaved about 50 pounds off the car.. should weigh in at 2300 pounds...i did to a massive upgrade to the brakes... 12.19 inch vented disk on all 4 corners with brembo 4 piston calipers of a 2000 porsche boxster, to slow it down wheels / tires 16x 7 rims 205/50/16 tires// soon to be running on the ground..
Had this been one year later this would have been very different. The 07 GXP got better handling and much better power while still be better for longer distances. Add less than 1K to that and it makes around 300 ponies and even better handling though touring comfort suffered slightly. From there $ is best spent on HP tires. Yep too bad Pontiac is not still around it would have been cool to see how this car evolved. Finding these with low mileage is difficult and prices on the rise.
The Solstice was a great looking car better than the Saturn version. There's a guy here in Malibu that has an LS7 and a 6spm Solstice that I see cruising up and down PCH every weekend. I pulled up behind him one night at the canyon & PCH stop light while a bumpity...bump sounding Mustang was next to him, not for long. The Mustang gave up as soon as the Solstice let out the clutch and was gone. Another note, I was going to work one early morning and the guy was pulled over by the Malibu Sheriffs, they had him handcuffed and not looking to happy. Never found out what happened and have not seen him since . That was in June of 2016, a year ago!
I'd take the MX-5 over the Solstice. Even though the Solstice looks more sporty and aggressive, I don't like the front-end. I like the MX-5's subtlety more. I was kinda surprised by the track test though; I thought the Solstice would've been the better performer.
Dang although I don't love how the NC Miata looks, it seems amazing with all that power on top of the Miata handling. I still want a NA but I would not be sad if I got one of these.
wow, solstice still looking sharp in 2020!
I have both cars. 2005 MIATA & 2007 SOLSTICE. I love the SOLSTICE more than the MIATA.
Both are excellent!! The MX-5 is still the benchmark! But I have to say I love the styling of the Solstice!! It still looks gorgeous!! The only shortcoming was its interior. It looks kinda crappy!
Its sibling, the Saturn Sky (Opel GT to us euros) had a far better interior! It also had a 2.0, 265hp turbo motor (not really essential, but still it was a nice choice!).
+MafiosoItaliano458 I don't know, I personally love the solstice's cockpit-esque design. Reminds me of alot of the best sports car designs from the 90s and almost made me get one. The real limiting factor for me was mixed feeling about early direct injection on the 2.0L turbo model.
The Solstice also has the turbo in the GXP model. The Solstice's cockpit-style interior is for me better but i could never get over how bloated the front end looks. This is exactly why I own a Saturn Sky Redline, though to be honest both interiors are in typical old GM style extremely cheap (plastic everywhere).
The 2.0 liter turbo is a little monster in these cars. Nobody expects to get smoked by you and are usually unpleasantly surprised.
Kobrakai Idk, its interior looks more like a 2nd gen Viper's to me...
Got An 07' solstice gxp, He is right ahah Although I prefer having the back of the solstice (which I love) than the back of the sky which is why I own a Pontiac Solstice Gxp ;) eheh a mix of both would be cool !
Cast _z33 shouldn't be that hard to make that happen, just got to find the parts.
I'm noticing the Pontiac has a bilge user the chin (low engine?) That limits ground clearance.
Almost touching in the track photos.
Miata has room for frost heaves,pot holes and driveways.
Seems like Solstice needed a beefier front swaybar and springs but they went comfy.
'90 MX-5 Miata review please!
It's exactly the same as this..it hasn't changed at all
Dude with the ponytail def killed the vid 😂
I was helping a friend buy a car and she wanted a mini, so I made a list of competitors and put this on there, once she saw the MX-5 the contest was over, the downer was she wouldn't let me drive the car.
Got an 07' Gxp with 116k miles still drives amazing, and stick of course no point to have that car in auto !
you figured iy out seers. box wind !
Where's the Saturn Sky? )Twin of the Pontiac Solstice with an optional Turbo!!)
Solstice is a national treasure, it was so nice car, loved this car.
Optional ABS in 2006? I thought ABS was mandatory back in the '90's.
I like the look of the Saturn Sky better. The Redline option made it a quick car.
id rather have the Saturn sky over solstice tbh.
+Zae B Saturn Sky is what put the nail in the coffin for Pontiac, Solstice was suppose to be only a Pontiac platform that could've been unique from the brand since GM was just making Pontiacs Rebadged Chevys and Holdens at the time. But GM wanted Saturn to have it too so they put a slower motor in it and sold them both. sad but true
ThePassionateGinger slower motor? both have same engines
I thought the sky was good looking as well
The sky has the same engine and if it had the polymer body panels like the rest of the saturn lineup its lighter too.
Id pick the Sky, too. I liked the edgier, sharper lines on the Sky over the rounded Solstice.
This was my favorite generation of miata
Here 2021 I haven't seen a Solstice in quite a while, but I see Miatas of all vintage on a regular basis (excluding my 20 year old example). Still, the Solstace (and Saturn Sky/Opel GT) was one of the few GM products I would have wanted to drive. To be honest, most of them were Pontiacs such as the GTO/G8 and the Solstice. But now I own a 20 year old Miata and think it's a better car.
How bout the 260 HP 260 FP Solstice version ?
The GXP version started in 2007 model year
I’ll always call it the “Miata”
The trunk storage space tho 😭
Love My 06 Solstice
I love mine too. :)
I wish they kept Pontiac alive. I always loved the Firebird better than the Camaro.
Solstice and what was it called...Saturn sky I think...were both awesome looking cars. That 2.2L is a fantastic engine (whenever they stuck the balancing rod in it at least)Shame I never got to drive one. Shame they were only 2 seater convertibles. I think they could have incorporated these two cars into the coupe entry cars style wise and it would have ben sooo much better than the cavalier based cars...maybe super charge them add some small back seats ect.
Not a brand that was ever sold here in the UK but that Solstice looks great. I'd have one.
Still being built in Spain or Portugal? Very Expensive, but available!
Solstice and Prowler just existed for couple of years and then dissappeared.
The Miata is better than the Solstice, but the GXP version is better than any Miata gen.
I have an 08 mx-5 since 09 and it was a tough call between it and the solstice. What won it out for me was the trunk and top operation. The solstice has no trunk at all, and the top is lousy looking up and to put the top down is quite the operation. This is my only car and the mx-5 is stupid reliable for over 7 years. I have the power hard top and i love that with one lever, a button, and the top is down in 12 seconds from my driver seat. The miata is a better car and time has seen that. Not to mention it is a blast to drive every day!! By the way I am currently averaging as of 2/24/2016 28.5mpg of mixed driving with my mx-5.
+Tim D The guy in the Solstice video put the top down in 13 seconds. And he maybe had done it 2 or 3 times before that. Didn't seem hard or 'quite the operation'. But I suppose if you put the top down 200 times a year for 5 years the extra $1000 you paid would be worth a dollar per time...and you saved 1000 seconds or 16 1/2 minutes in those 5 years.
+wiibaron Your math is a bit off, the sport soft top compared to the sport PRHT is a $2,815 difference, so please get your facts straight. There is no need for poor estimates here. What was not shown was how slow it is to put the top up on the Pontiac. I can assure you no one wants to fuss with a poorly conceived top when it is raining. If you want to focus on the cost of the upgraded roof that is fine but there is no comparison when it comes to trunk space and practicality. This is my daily driver, it has been on road trips to Key West, New Orleans, N.C. Outer Banks and many more. There is trunk space for two with the top up or down, the Solstice could never do that, that's why I have an MX-5.
Tim D Just going by what the video says. The Miata costs 1000 more and the top goes down 1 second faster. 1000 seconds is 16.66 minutes, so I should have said 16 2/3 minutes saved over 5 years. Ohhh, sorry.That extra 16.6 seconds is one more time to put EITHER top down.
I have no idea what you are talking about with these time figures, please don't ever explain them again..... You have ignored all practical arguments and are fixated on some arbitrary "fact" (Your dumb ass is comparing the base mx-5 to the base solstice and ignoring the fact that i have a PRHT sport hard top. Sorry bud I thought you knew your cars, that is clearly not the case.) If you have something intelligent to say I welcome it. Please let us know what you drive because you seem to be very interested in my ride.
Tim D When you post your video comparing your LMNOP Miata to a Solstice GT4VR, let me know and then I will take your figures and compare them! My comment is concerning the cars that are presented here in this video.
The Saturn version is my styling favourite.
Why do so many say echo tech? Its eco right?
Solstice was a good car. But unfortunately, the Fiero was a better contender to the MX5. If only the Fiero had been around for a 2nd gen, it would of taken sales away from the Miata.
...
Take your three dots and shove them. Fieros GTs are awesome.
MelancoliaI
Mid engine vs. Front engine.
Mid every day of every week of every year.
...yeah. I've owned a Fiero, an 86 GT. Even with the off-the-shelf parts, it still handled amazingly. I was replying to the clown beneath you who simply said '...'
MelancoliaI
Yea man I agree with you. I also own an 86GT. Plus the miata of that era look awful compared to any Fiero. Mr2's are also cool, but not as practical.
Nice helmet Ben!
the solstice had a rebadged variant called the Saturn sky
"Mx5 has never had any competition"
Z3 and mr spyder: are we jokes to you? 😆
How are you? You Made The Difference! near sun What's your opinion about it, guys
Decades later which one do you still see on the street, more Mazda . Being reliable and the test of time
This Pontiac is almost the same car with the 2006 OPEL GT ! But the OPEL GT was significantly faster . The OPEL GT was capable of 0-60mph in 5.4" (5.7" in 0-100kmh)and a top speed of 230kph(142.94mph) !
He says the no other roadster could match the Miata, but at this time the S2000 was far superior to the Miata in bang for buck and pure sport car feel. Owned both and the s2k by far was the better roadster.
Took delivery of my 2007 solstice GXP in December 2006 and still own it today. Has about 35k miles on it. Add sticky tires, 3 inch exhaust and a tune and you got yourself a really fun car. Switch to E85 and you have a rocket ship.
I'd say one of the biggest complaints I see from people who owned them is they are just completely impractical. S2000 or Miata is easier to live with as a daily. If you get it for fun then it's perfect. If you get it for any other purpose you are going to regret it.
+OutlawUniverse Tell me more.
I had a 92 Miata as mu main car and only var, never regretted it....but I moved on and only drive manual transmission cars now, but prices on those Miatas are way overblown when I went to go look for a manual one now.
try the solstice gxp vs the mx-5
How do you even compare lol ;) But of course a turbo miata would be cool too too bad they don't offer one stock of as an option...
Certtain years they do. Look up Mazdaspeed Miata.
LordCohliani You moron it still doesn't compete the gxp had 270hp
I still would rather get an old solstice over the Miata
"echo-tec"
Funny to think how many competitors the Miata had and stayed strong. From the del souls, to the s2000 to the 86 it’s still the best choice
The S2k was better, but the Miata is cheap, so... Trying to say the Miata and S2k were competing in the same market is a bit silly when they were completely different price ranges.
I always thought the Poncho was an expensive car. Colour me surprised.
I have an '07 solstice gxp. Bought it used in 2017. I remember fish tailing on the way home when I got onto the highway. What a surprise.
Five years later, I'm still loving the car. The solstice FEELS like it's gonna slide and lose control around tight turns at first, but once you get a feel for the car you learn to trust it. I think the way you drive the cars are different too.
In a solstice you just let off the gas and reduce gear, then slam the pedal. With the miata, you brake first, then accelerate
When I drive my shined up sky redline, eyes pop out. You just don't see them anymore (wrecked?), and they are just artwork on wheels. The Miata.... what, 30 years in production? Ho-humm.....
Solstice has the best looking front end they ever put on a car.
Solstice is WAY better than all gen of miatas.
Only have more fuel consumption and spare parts are more hard to find and are more expensive than for miatas...
But man... that Solstice's look is really worth to choose Solstice
Looking for my mom's first car and she really likes Solstice.
Also less reliable than the Miata
Ive driven both and the Miata is way more refined
They forgot to mention if you go away for a weekend in the Solstice you can barely take any luggage as there is a big gastank hump in the trunk and the top stows there, The Miata top stows behind the seats and the trunk has no obstructions.
We all still prefer they soltice
From that brief wonderful window in GM history where they would just make whatever car their kid drew.
The Solstice still has more room for improvement. Improving the engine reliability, handling and suspension and give it 6 speed would've make it a better car. Make it in RHD for market in Australia and SE Asia to boost sales.
The GXP Solstice really killed the Miata.
Hold it the Miata still lives the solstice is dead you do not realize you can either supercharge or turbo the Miata to leave the vacuum cleaner styled Pontiac way behind
Couldn’t you just modify any vehicle to make it faster? Plus, it’s illegal to modify in some markets.