THSCC Forums

Hoping for help from Those More Knowledgable...

I was cruising internet ads and noticed that 2007 GXPs are in an intriguing price range (sub-20k)...then realized that no one runs a Solstice in our club, preferring S2k and miatas. Why is this? The specs seem good for the GXP (LSD, 265hp, Bilsteins, good/proper front suspension) except for maybe curb weight of ~2900 and using 18"wheels--is that the major issue? Is GM continuing to support dead models, or is there an aftermarket parts concern? Something else?

the 2009 coupe looks very cool...sorry it got sent packing.

Thanks in advance!

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

Paging Chuck Frank, paging Chuck Frank, you're wanted immediately.

Seriously, we *do* have one, but the Frank's haven't been able to make as many events lately. Some still think they're the car to have in BS.

But why don't many people have them? I think it boils down to a personal taste issue, honestly. As far as engineering goes, they are awesome machines. I just don't think many people like the way they look enough to want to own one. Me, I'd buy a Sky if they made one with the performance specs of the GXP, but I think the Redline is a lot heavier and/or is missing some of the performance bits. *shrug*

I'd definitely prefer if people did *not* show up at events with them. Take that FWIW.


--Donnie

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Just my 2 cents, I think the Solstice GXP w/the ZOK are as good as any in BS and sometimes better. The Sky is really fast as well, but you can't get the ZOK with it. It just doesn't transition as well, but the softer package helps in sweepers and Pro Solo launches. There are some course dependency issues will all the cars in BS, so everything is fairly evenly matched. More importantly they appear to have no bad habits, make good power down low, and are intuitively easy to drive. They do seem to have a few more maintenance quirks, but those appear to be fairly well known so it's not as big a deal.

As Donnie said, Chuck and Donna are the Solstice experts and know more about them than anyone in this area.

If you're looking for a cheap BS car and like S2000s there seem to be a lot out there. Definitely a more nervous drive, but it's always a thrill ride. Chris and I would like to buy one, but have some other things that we need to take care of. Fortunately, Karl is foolish enough to puts up with us co-drivers. Anyway, as a class BS rocks with so many different competitive cars and really deep driver fields (locally and nationally).

Steve - in case you don't know, ZOK is the factory option package that gets you a better suspension package on a Solstice. Lower, stiffer springs, I think different swaybars, maybe some other stuff. Chuck and Donna's yellow GXP is a ZOK.

I'm with Donnie. Maybe it's a looks thing. I happen to think both the Solstice/Sky twins are pretty cars, but have other reasons why I wouldn't have one. Build quality seems to be a little shaky, for one thing. And the design of the convertible top is another.

One of the car's course dependent issues is its gearing - 2nd gear is very short. I don't recall the terminal speed, but it's pretty low, mid 50s I think. They're certainly fast, though. Lots of tire, great suspension geometry, plenty of power.

If you're considering a BS car, there's a great knowledgebase right here in the club and in surrounding clubs. STI, S2000, Solstice, Corvette, Boxster. You could pretty much pick your favorite, and come join a really cool, well subscribed class that's full of fast drivers.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

from a non autoX perspective, I find the looks way better on the sky/sol. However, having driven the turbo and N/A I was never overly impresed with it and found the Miata and s2k to just be more fun.

As already said, its probably a good bit of personal preference.

You rang????
IMHO the Solstice is the top of the class in both BS and CS. They were never produced in large #s tho as GM and dealers lost money on every one sold (MSRP was only 1600.00 over dealer cost on the GXP and there were very few options to boost the price/profit), they were a loss leader meant to be an "add on" sale and prestige racing vehicle. Dealers were alloted vehicles based on dealership volume and if you ordered one you could wait 4-6 months for your dealer to get an order allotment. The ZOK parts were all produced by contract suppliers also in low quantities and are now hard to get.
They are an outstanding car IMHO that is just being discovered by AXers.
There are very few issues with them, and those are easily remedied. Yes they have very little trunk space with the top down and do require you to step out of the car to raise or lower the top, but those are a small price to pay for a car that was designed as a race car from the factory.

We have not been out much this season due to work conflicts, we just did our first event of the season last weekend, and the next one for us will be the DC prosolo. My driving is no where near the capabilities of the car, but my co-driver finished 3rd in our car at National Championships. He was 2nd going into day 2 but got nervous and insisted on changing the setup. I would love to put a high caliber driver in the car that could drive it some before nationals (Alan is on the west coast and even tho he also drives a Soli out there it is not as well set up as ours) I believe you will see a Solstice at the top of BS at Lincoln this year, ours or one of the couple others that are now being run by capable drivers.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

So is the Solstice GXP competitive without the ZOK package? And what is extra about the SCCA SSB package or T2 package--are they merely a collection of appearance items, or are they sort of a "blank canvas" that can be converted to those specific SCCA race classes?

What price premium can one expect for a ZOK-equipped GXP?

Thanks again!

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

Eric's driven a Sky Redline, which is about the same except no ZOK, and his opinion is not really. Not nationally, anyway. Could you win with good enough driving at a local? Sure. I think the SSB/T2 packages are just things like the hard top that you *have* to have for road racing. Chuck can probably chime in more on that.

I doubt there's any premium on a ZOK. Just might be hard to find one.


--Donnie

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Actually I believe Pontiac made a collectors edition SSB and T2 edition that was merely a few stickers.

I am not really familiar with the cars but I did look into them before buying the S2000. The GXP's were about $3-4k than what the S2000 was but the car felt like it would fall apart around you IMO compared to the Honda. I liked that I could get cloth interior in the Solstice and it had some serious potential for autocrossing but I decided that since the car was driven on the street mostly I got the Honda and haven't looked back.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Keith, I forgot to tell you. I rolled down my window today, and it sucked the weatherstripping down into the door cavity. Which is fine - I needed to take the door apart to rewire everything anyway.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Well, the WRX is not exactly high quality in the interior materials department, and has its fair share of---well, let's just say "quirkiness." I wouldn't need the Solstice for a DD if I went that route...

@Chuck...does the VIN give any clue to the ZOK package?

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

There were only 5 ZOK GXPs from the factory in 2007, and all of them became test mules or track cars. All other 2007 ZOKs (like ours) were model conversions. There were 2008 ZOKs available by special order from the factory, but you had to know about them and/or convince the dealer that you were looking for a serious race car and be willing to wait months for delivery, they only assembled a batch when they had enough orders in hand, which was about twice in 2008 model production. All were zero option cars except for color. That meant cloth interior, manual tranny, and no AC. Most became track or drift cars. Finally in 2009 Pontiac offered a "sports package" option which included the ZOK suspension with an extra removable spring perch in the front for ground clearance. This model could be had (or may have included) leather interior and AC options. but was available in only two colors.
The Special Edition SSB and T2 were just a decal package on the standard Base and GXP, similar to the "indy pace car" commemoratives to publicize the Solstice sweep of those two classes.
I personally have never seen a factory assembled ZOK so I have no idea if there is anything to distinguish one except probably the assembly code plate but you'd have to know the parts designations.
To muddy the waters further, GM Performance Parts sold an AX suspension package over the parts counter that is not the same as the ZOK parts and not legal for Stock class, and a performance tune upgrade that is also not stock class legal.

Since the parts required to change a standard GXP to a legal ZOK if you can track them all down, runs ~ 2500.00, not counting racing shocks, I'd expect a ZOK to carry at least a $2-4K premium over a standard model depending on shocks. The rear suspension has adjustable caster which requires a special electronic meter to set.

Re reliability: we drove ours as a daily driver for over 2 years and it's been far more reliable and issue free than our 99 Miata, and a whole lot more fun to drive!

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

So what I think Chuck is saying is you'd be better off to buy a clean used 2008 and go buy the ZOK package from the dealer and convert it yourself. Unless there just happens to be one on SCCAForums for sale right now...a few have changed hands in the past, anyway.

But before you buy the car, you might want to get the parts list (it's on the 'net somewhere) and go to a dealer parts counter and check for availability.


--Donnie

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My Blog

Exactly! Note that the parts do not come as a "package" you have to order and buy the correct parts individually. If anyone wants to seriously persue this, I can supply the needed info.

The ZOK option was never offered on the Redline. The parts obviously fit the Redline but would bump it into BSP.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Well, There is a 2007 ZOK for sale on sccaforums for like $14.5...in San Diego. Plus I'm under a strict "One in, one out" policy from The Boss, which means I'd have to sell the M Roadster or the E30 project--not a move I'm totally against, but....

I've enough info to warrant "keeping an eye out" if one comes available closer than SoCal (plus, I don't want to deal with transcontinental buying/shipping). In the meantime, Chuck, perhaps I could get a fun run or ridealong when/if you can make a THSCC event?

Psst- For Sale: well-kept 2001 M Roadster, 33,000 miles. Imola exterior with black/red interior $23k ($22K if you bring cash only)

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86