Two Fieros Kept... yet another car acquired... ugh. (Page 2/3)
cliffw MAR 17, 10:15 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:
The "Spousal Unit" won't ride on any of my Valkyries but, will hop into the Solstice whenever the weather is reasonable for a top-down ride.



The Solstice top, or her top, .

Another two seater. With a removable top.



Circa American Graffiti.

Another two seater, circa James Dean. With a removable top.
blackrams MAR 17, 10:30 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

Thanks Blackrams! I know you'd approve! Haha...

We probably won't get it until mid April simply because I asked him to hold it for me. I'm going to be traveling the next 3 weeks... which brings up a good point... I'm actually going to be in Tennessee later this week.

You mentioned that you switched to the polished Solstice wheels...

Are you looking to sell the non-polished Solstice wheels? To be completely honest, I do not like the aftermarket wheels that are installed on the Solstice I just bought, and I'd love to go back to the stock ones. Let me know if you're looking to sell them! I'm bringing my Explorer... haha... there will be plenty of room in the back.


But yeah, I'm really looking forward to getting it and fixing all the little things. I don't know if I can wait and let my daughter do it... but it drives NOW... which is important. It doesn't really need anything. The only thing I want to fix is that "lean" condition... the other stuff is stuff we can take our time with.



Not knowing where in TN you'll be visiting but if anywhere near Memphis, I'd make the effort to meet you in person. I'm a bit limited on distance/time due to "Grandpa" duties but, if within a couple of hours I'd be honored to meet and greet you. Reference the wheels. I put the chrome versions (Stock) on my Solstice and already gave the aluminum stockers to another friend that lives in FL. If, I still had them, they'd be yours for free. I finally figured out when I was enjoying my Fieros that I had a garage and shop full of extra Fiero parts I most likely would never use so, I gave them all to OleJoe. He was willing to come get them and that helped us both out.

Let me know when and where and I'll buy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Rams
css9450 MAR 17, 10:32 AM
I always wanted a Solstice, and I probably would have bought one brand-new if I had the garage space back then. Heck, maybe I should get one now but that is going to require expanding from a 2-car to a 3-car garage. I have four cars already for no good reason but two have to park outside.

I remember years ago posting on here that I wanted a Solstice, and someone suggested I should get a Mustang instead. They were really insistent! Sorry, no, I don't do the blue oval.
blackrams MAR 17, 10:59 AM

quote
Originally posted by css9450:

I always wanted a Solstice, and I probably would have bought one brand-new if I had the garage space back then. Heck, maybe I should get one now but that is going to require expanding from a 2-car to a 3-car garage. I have four cars already for no good reason but two have to park outside.

I remember years ago posting on here that I wanted a Solstice, and someone suggested I should get a Mustang instead. They were really insistent! Sorry, no, I don't do the blue oval.



Well, as I stated previously, if I could have afforded a Fiero conversion convertible, I most likely would still have it but, that just wasn't going to work out back then but when the opportunity came to get the Solstice, I jumped on it. While it is a blast to drive and handles very well, it's not a mid-engined two-seater. I'd suggest almost as good of handling but not quite as good. Although, I've seen "adjustments" to the suspension and engine and drivetrain swaps that will blow most Corvettes off the track. The most popular swap within the Solstice community seems to be an LS 2 or 3 swap. Saw a couple at a Solstice event and they are scary fast with incredible acceleration and still handle pretty well.

I've owned and driven a few Fords but, it was due to necessity. Needed something to drive when the brand-new Chevy pickup I had just brought home was stolen. Owned it about 10 days. They found it eight years later with another VIN glued on top of the original and it had been parted out and then rebuilt with parts from other trucks. Such is life.

Rams
css9450 MAR 17, 11:09 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

They found it eight years later with another VIN glued on top of the original....




LOL That's a page right out of the old "cover up the check engine light with electrical tape" playbook!
css9450 MAR 17, 11:12 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

- Check engine is on, says engine has a lean condition.




Is it a 2.4 liter? I had that engine on my Cobalt and when it eventually gave me a lean code (at 200+K miles) I replaced the injectors and cured it. A super easy job on that engine.
blackrams MAR 19, 03:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by css9450:


[quote]Is it a 2.4 liter? I had that engine on my Cobalt and when it eventually gave me a lean code (at 200+K miles) I replaced the injectors and cured it. A super easy job on that engine.



The Pontiac Solstice is a convertible sports car that was produced by Pontiac from 2005 to 2010. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware,[2] starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4 L I4 engine, producing 177 hp (132 kW) and 166 lb⋅ft (225 N⋅m) of torque.[3]

The exterior styling of the production Solstice is similar to that of the 2002 Solstice concept[4] that preceded it. Production of the Solstice was to be running before summer 2005, but delays at the Wilmington plant pushed volume production to the fourth quarter.[5] The new hardtop targa top 2009 model was announced in mid-2008.[6] The Solstice uses the GM Kappa platform, which also underpins the Saturn Sky, Opel GT, and Daewoo G2X. It was the brand's first two-seater since the Pontiac Fiero was discontinued in 1988.

The Solstice was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for 2006. It was a runaway hit for Pontiac, with 7,000 orders in the first 10 days of availability and 6,000 more orders before winter. Although first-year production was planned at 7,000, GM apologized to customers for delays and increased production, delivering 10,000 by March 1.


Interior of a 2006 Pontiac Solstice
Following the 2008 economic recession, GM discontinued the Pontiac division. Production ended with the closure of the Wilmington Assembly plant in July 2009.

GXP (2007–2009)

2007 Pontiac Solstice

2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP Convertible in "Mean" Yellow
The GXP version of the Solstice debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006.[7] Although heavier than the base model,[8] it made much more power and torque with a new 2.0 liter (121.9 cu in) I4 Ecotec engine equipped with a dual-scroll turbocharger. The engine's output is 260 hp (194 kW) and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m). This is the highest specific output of any engine by cubic inches in the history of General Motors at 2.1 hp (1.6 kW) per cubic inch, and it is the first gasoline direct injection engine from an American automaker. According to Car and Driver, the GXP targa accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds, while the soft top GXP did so in 5.6 seconds.[9][/quote]

Mine has the 2.4/manual transmission. I've driven another's GXP and there's a world of difference in performance but, I'm happy with mine.

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Rams
Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. .
You are only young once but, you can be immature indefinitely.

82-T/A [At Work] APR 21, 12:28 PM
Thanks guys! I missed all the responses.

I just picked the car up from the grocery store parking lot (where the semi dropped it off).

I drove it home, and give it a little bit of gas... holy **** , it's quick. At 20 miles an hour, I punched it in first and the tires broke loose. It really, really gets going when the turbo spools up.
82-T/A [At Work] APR 21, 05:22 PM
Wife is going to kill me...
Frenchrafe APR 22, 09:33 AM
Yep! Too many cars. You're toast...😉😄

P.S. The only Solstice I could find here in France is for sale at 18000€ !🤪

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"Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero
https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM

[This message has been edited by Frenchrafe (edited 04-22-2025).]