Saturn's Sky and...Solstice?

[AKIRA]

or is it Ion?

Either way, the turbo charged ones, are these actually fairly decent cars? I mean, they are rear wheeled driven and light as hell.

I am wondering if they suffer from the 350z or s2000 syndrome. Meaning, modifying themis like modifying a modified car.

[99blueZ]

or is it Ion?

Either way, the turbo charged ones, are these actually fairly decent cars? I mean, they are rear wheeled driven and light as hell.

I am wondering if they suffer from the 350z or s2000 syndrome. Meaning, modifying themis like modifying a modified car.

yes i like them, but i hope you are a small guy because they interior is cramped. I'm 6'2 and i didn't fit in the solstice at all. I had the seat all the way back and could operate the pedals comfortably.

As far as modding - i don't know. But most any turbo car is easy to mod and crank up boost. Or go another route as i know a LS2 fits in there!

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

I've hear they have a special type of fuel injection with the turbo and are harder to turn the boost up. I didn't look into it a lot. I think they are neat cars. I'm sure they can be cranked up a lot easier then the 350Z's & S2000's.

[AKIRA]

Yeah they call it "direct injection." How much more direct is it?

The pontiac doesnt look that bad and its cheap. I am surprised we dont see more of these modded, hence the previous question.

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

Yeah they call it "direct injection." How much more direct is it?

The pontiac doesnt look that bad and its cheap. I am surprised we dont see more of these modded, hence the previous question.

I looked around for stuff a couple of months ago, but there was no info on modding them. There might be now.

[AKIRA]

Theres gotta be. Or at least some info that dictates why they ARENT being modded.

[SexyTransAm]

i love em i saw a Solstice with a built LS7 in it and i blew a nut

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

From what I understood the direct injection plays a role in that. I guess it's not the easiest thing to work with.

[AKIRA]

But what does direct injection mean? Isnt our injection system "direct?"

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

http://www.gm.com/company/gm_exp_live/events/la_2006/press/en/lv04_03_en.pdf

Here's a link to some info about the motor. I remember reading on another forum about turning the boost up but you need to do something with the injectors (probably computer tunning) because they don't automatically inject more fuel for more boost or something.

The direct injection puts the fuel injectors right into the combustion chambers and not the intake.

[Wesman]

But what does direct injection mean? Isnt our injection system "direct?"

The fuel injector is actually mounted in the head, as opposed to being in the end of the intake manifold runner, as in our cars.

The result is better fuel economy, more power, and better fuel atomization and distribution.

[AKIRA]

Wooooowwwww. Hmm, any drawbacks to this type of injection? Seems that if these injectors have to be reprogrammed, that its just limited to the these model cars. In other words, I cant see how a direct injection setup couldnt automatically inject more fuel when the computer sense more air... :think:

[02Hawk]

I almost bought a Sky Redline Turbo 19psi of boost factory :) but I got my hawk. Test drove the sky but didnt like the fact of only 2 seats. For the cross fire body style just wasnt for me. But there is a place that does an LS1 swap!

[Wesman]

I almost bought a Sky Redline Turbo 19psi of boost factory :) but I got my hawk. Test drove the sky but didnt like the fact of only 2 seats. For the cross fire body style just wasnt for me. But there is a place that does an LS1 swap!

Mallet does LS swaps for Solstices and Skys. I've seen them in person, they shoehorned an LS7 with a T56 into a Solstice. Can't even imagine how fast that is lol. All the different packages are listed on their website, everything from S/C add onds to the LS2 and LS7.

[87rocket]

Get a Miata instead.

I have a 94R (SCCA factory showroom car). There are tons of mods that can be done easily. Flyin Miata and Bell (BEGI) are among some of the names that provide turbo and supercharger systems. You can easily make high 200Hp numbers that are lighter than a Solstice/Sky.

I ran a non-GXP Solstice with my Miata, he took me off the line, but the road had a curve to the left and I never saw him again after we got into the turn.

A turbo-Miata will sneak up on a lot of unsuspecting folks. I have had/ridden in plenty of muscle cars, and every time I think I want to go back I break out the Miata and drive the wheels off it.

The Sky/Solstice look good, but way too hard to tear into.

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

To bad the miata's are so ugly. The interior is also way more cramped inside.

[87rocket]

If you think the Miata is cramped, get in a solstice or sky. The beltline is so how you can't even rest your arm on the window/door. You are burried down in the belly.

I looked at a Solstice GXP. I like the looks of the Sky better. But GM is insane, the dealers are decking these cars out with air for $950????.....give me a better suspesion or bigger turbo. Not air...in a convertible.

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

I didn't get to drive the Sky or Solstice yet, but will be soon. I sat in a Solstice this winter and it felt like it had more room than the Miata's have. I did drive a few Miata's already and couldn't stand it.

[AKIRA]

In FL, we need AIR...or A/C.

I didnt consider a Miata cuz it doesnt havet his much power out of the box. If I wanted to do custom work, then Id just buy any car and get to work.

I asked curious about these cars cuz with the power they already make, maybe you can get more out of them with bolt ons.

[Secret Formula]

A saturn sky with an ls7 would lead to sticky underpants.

[AKIRA]

It would be interesting, but nothing special. At least, I wouldnt think so.

[87rocket]

AKIRA,

The MazdaSpeed Miata out of the box comes with a factory turbo setup making 178HP and about a 300# wieght advantage. Simple upgrades through BEGI or Flyin Miata get you well above Solstice/Sky GXP/Redline numbers.

If you are only going to go straight the Solstice/Sky may be a better choice, if you want to go left and right, expect to make major suspension upgrades to the car to get it to go around the track. The Solstice is very soft out of the box, both are a touch heavy but use force to get it around the corner.

I will put my stock motor miata, with lots of suspension upgrades, against a stock Solstice/Sky non-turbo all day long.

Remember the biggest upgrade to any car is the driver.

[JimmyJJ]

heh its obvious your a die hard miata guy or you work for mazda... so your coming off opinionated :)

The solstice/sky is outselling the Miata because its a nicer looking car and way more comfortable...

Miata's always were like "jellybeans" on wheels and they are way outdated.

They may have a slight more "fun" factor over the solstice/sky but id take the Solstice/sy any day over the miata. Toss in the GXP version with 260 hp and its not even a contest.

260 vs 178? please

face it Miata = over...

And dont try to fit in the damn rx8... holy crap talk about midget "only" car...

[Secret Formula]

The sky looks the best out of the three, but if I were to buy one for performance reasons (which I wouldent) I would get the miata.

[87rocket]

Jimmy JJ. As a matter of fact I work in Detroit with GM, Ford and DCX (Chrysler for you). Born and raised in Flint, where they made the Grand National.

The issue is I don't watch NASCAR, so I have accepted that cars may need to go right.

I am simply making a straight up comparison. The Solstice/Sky is a nice platform, however in the end it falls short. With some better aftermarket help it will get there. Bear in mind the Miata has 17 years of sales and aftermarket engineering behind it.

You guys keep getting worked up over the 260Hp, show me how you are going to use it in a suspension setup that will not allow you to use it.....it will just be a big drifting show.

I have looked at and driven the Solstice/Sky. I may even buy one, but not to race.

[Wesman]

Jimmy JJ. As a matter of fact I work in Detroit with GM, Ford and DCX (Chrysler for you). Born and raised in Flint, where they made the Grand National.

The issue is I don't watch NASCAR, so I have accepted that cars may need to go right.

I am simply making a straight up comparison. The Solstice/Sky is a nice platform, however in the end it falls short. With some better aftermarket help it will get there. Bear in mind the Miata has 17 years of sales and aftermarket engineering behind it.

You guys keep getting worked up over the 260Hp, show me how you are going to use it in a suspension setup that will not allow you to use it.....it will just be a big drifting show.

I have looked at and driven the Solstice/Sky. I may even buy one, but not to race.

Drifting show?? :rolleyes:

We're talking about 2990lb 2 door roadsters here with fully independent suspension, not 60's Muscle cars. I don't know what gives you the idea that they Sky/Solstice can't handle their power or don't handle well, but out of all the people who have had experiences with the car, including owners, I've never heard that before.

As Jimmy said, sounds like you are a Miata diehard. Nothing wrong with that, they seem to have a cult following, but I think the Sky is a much nicer car. It looks nicer, it has a ton more power, and it can match the Miata in handling capabilities. Plus its American. Those things seal the deal for me.

[AKIRA]

Looks like its time to go to a stealership for a test drive!

[87rocket]

Have you guys read the reviews. The Sky is sprung too soft taking it to the edge, the Solstice is a touch better but not 100%. The car weighs in about 300 pounds more than the MXXXX, all the reviews I have read call it underpowered. The GXP version certainly has the power but with the wrong suspenion its gottting to be a drift show.

Who cares about 2990#, my car weighs in at 2415# and cay lay down very similiar HP numbers.

Look I like the Solstice/Sky, but stock its just not there yet. Have you seen where they put the battery, you have to take off a side panel of the car. At least Mazda just put it in the trunk to help wieght distribution. Have you seen the "trunk", with the top down I can still throw in some tools, brake fluid, chairs, etc and go to the track. For the Solstice you need a trailer to take more than a gallon of milk.

I just think the Solstice/Sky is a great LOOKING car, but if you put it up against a great PERFORMING car it will fall short. Go to the dealership and give it a try....

[stevenm357]

A solstice has the trunk space less than many motorcycles i've been around. It's sickeningly small.

I've read about the mallet conversion... now why the hell can it only run 12's .. sorry for 12's i'll take an F body any day.

They aren't cheap running almost 30K and hard for our local dealerships to get the GXP model.

Last non sales factor i know some guys in the body shops they say they are a tin can. absolutley no structure to protect the drivers.

[z28punk]

you need to do something with the injectors (probably computer tunning) because they don't automatically inject more fuel for more boost or something.

we are putting a turbo kit on an LS cobalt at school and the turbo kit we found gives u another module to fool the ecm and a 5th injector to compensate for the forced induction. the injector goes behind the throttle plate i think. we havent got it yet. its hard to tune em because they have the CAN bus data lines and not many tuners can access it yet.

[adam3566]

A saturn sky with an ls7 would lead to sticky underpants.

Mallet has made an Ls7 Solstice for about 6 or so months. Just couldnt remember the link for their site. http://www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm here ya go.