I like the Solstice, until the dealer asked me to sit in one. My knees were into the dash and it had no tilt wheel, so the wheel was hitting the top of my legs. The seat was all the way back. What was funny, is he looked at me and said "You just drove here in a Fiero and you don't fit in this car?" I told him, it seems the Fiero has more leg room.
Yes, I own page 2!
[This message has been edited by 3.8 SC (edited 01-02-2008).]
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11:59 AM
Mickey_Moose Member
Posts: 7568 From: Edmonton, AB, Canada Registered: May 2001
Originally posted by FierociousGT: You don't like the Mallett Bull Dog widebody?
...this is how Pontiac should have built it...
They always seem to start off with a very basic body (Fiero, F-bodies, etc) - later years start seeing skirting, etc that IMHO add some much nicer lines to the cars - why can't they just do this from the start???
The one thing that I didn't mention in my earlier post was that th Fiero handling is much more predictable & a bit more forgiving than the Sol.
I know on mine as soon as the tires start spinning, it gets twitchy. With that short of a wheelbase a little twitch feels like a "white knuckler".
On damp pavement, it's hard to tell when the tires are starting to break loose. I think that's because of the lack of feel in the Sol's fly by wire gas pedal.
Everything I've read suggests the Solstice is a superb handling car and I would think would be far superior to a stock 88 Fiero. With the Solstice engine as far back as it is, as far as weight balance goes, the advantage goes to the Solstice. It's effectively "front/mid - engined" with with nearly 50/50 weight balance. Add the GXP's Bilstein suspension, and considering the modern size and type of tires and I don't see a stock Fiero matching it.
It might not take too much to mod a Fiero handle as well. Wheel and tires would do a tremendous amount, but if we're talking stock, as-delivered, cars, I'd have to go with the Solstice.
Well the OP does make the cavite that both cars run similar wheels/tires and shocks, which would either be an upgrade for the Fiero or a downgrade for the Solstice but this is not unfair in my opinion because these are normal consumer replaceable items and not really part of the platform. I think the Fiero might actually outhandle the Solstice. Slight rear weight balance is actually faster through the corners than 50/50 (ask any 911 driver). According to what those that drive Fieros on track here have said, they regularly outhandle Miatas (but then the miatas beat them on the straights, lol).
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10:09 PM
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madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Uh oh... 1 more day 'till I fly down to Florida and pick up the rental 'Sol. Just found out today we're supposed to be bringing a car seat for a 1yr old with us! (Have a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the rest of the week, the 'Sol is a surprise for the 1st day for my buddy) The specs say 4cu ft of trunk space with the top up, I don't know where I'm going to stick anything! All I'll have is a backpack with a day or 2 of clothes, but where the heck are we going to fit a car seat? Bungee cords? With the rear-hinged trunklid it doesnt' look like that's an option. Ah boy, this is going to be fun. Anyone know if Orlando Airport rents storage lockers by the day?!?! I found some pictures of what people do to stuff the trunk, and it looks like we'll be unpacking everything into small plastic baggies. I guess he can always carry the carseat on his lap, although he's like 6'3" and 280lbs...... He's going to hate me. Hahahaha...
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01:13 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
The Solstice does have an optional trunk luggage rack, but it's unlikely the rental will have one installed. You certainly are not putting the car seat in the trunk. That's a difficult task even for a Fiero.
The only options are to have the guy hold it in his lap...or find that storage locker. They used to have them at the airport, but I haven't been there in years, might not still have them. Third option is to box it up an overnight ship it to yourself. That way it arrives the next day where you need it to be.
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03:59 AM
MclarenF1 Member
Posts: 639 From: Kingston, WA Registered: May 2006
I'd rather buy a used Elise or NSX. The Solstice/Sky has the engine in the wrong place for a sports car. I don't care how far you set the engine back, it's still in the front. The next Fiero? possibly.
