I'll add a few things from my experience owning one of these beauties: 1) On the 2.0l turbo, if you haven't done so already, have the timing chain, tensioners, and guides replaced. The original tensioner has a known issue where it loses pressure, can can cause timing slippage. One of the standard GM replacement kits includes the timing gears, so that gives you an idea how bad it can get. The best time to do that is when replacing your water pump. 2) Replace your rear brake light elements with high output LEDs. You are so low to the ground that people in taller vehicles (like trucks) look over and past you when stopping. The brighter brake lights reminds them that there's not empty space between them and the next vehicle down the road. 3) Get your electrically talented friend to help you set up a double-relay circuit for your side marker lights. And change your side marker lights out to high intensity LEDs. For typical 2-lane stop sign T-intersections, a person on the stem of the T cannot directly see your front of car left turn signal. I've almost been t-barred by people thinking I was going straight and starting their left turn. Once I added the relays to make my now brighter side marker blink with my blinker, I no longer have that issue. 4) If you have the GXP and want the extra boost GM left on the standard tune, they offer a tune to get more out of it. That still doesn't get you the full boost from the factory turbo. Third party tunes offer the full boost. You'll also want a cold air intake to take advantage of that and better tires, because it will cause you to break the tires free when changing gears. For all intents and purposes I'm the original owner of a 2008 Solstice GXP, and I still love this car. After I hit 60k I bought a second vehicle and garage the Solstice in the winter. When the weather is nice, I'm participating in "spirited driving", and when I just need a daily driver, I use my other vehicle.
@@jamn2boostIf it's a GXP and hasn't had the timing chain redone, do that. The original tensioners failed enough that GM had the 2 kits available: one for just the tensioner, chain and guides, one which includes all gears because of slippage. The update will ensure the engine lasts and give you piece of mind.
My Sky had the first breakdown in my 14 years of ownership. The ECM went out of the blue at the grocery store during a code red.$100 tow home.$125 electronic diagnostics. $100 for flatbed to shop. $250 to program. 75 bucks for the part ( ECM). I’ve been with you from the start and up to now have loved watching you take yours apart and back together . I ordered my Sky the way I wanted it.Have 144000 K. Keep up the great programs, looking forward to the next mod you do.
14 years, 144000 miles and your first breakdown? That's quite a record. And at what? $600? You definitely take care of your ride. I'm glad you like the channel. I have a few mods I'll be filming soon....as well as a repair that I had to do because of an autocross mishap. So stay tuned.
Great attitude! You buy the car to drive and have fun with! Period! Great video, being a new owner of an 08 solstice I agree with you I’m going to have as much fun as I can with it. Hey that’s why you buy something like this for! Besides next month I’m 75 so I need to have fun while I still can!😂😂😂
I have an 06 Solstice 5 spd, 65K miles. There are actually designated lifting points aside from the jacking points; you don't need those pucks. Have the doors closed when the hood is going to be dropped; doors open when you close/latch the soft-top. Drop the trunk lid with force, but no pushing at contact. Buying a barely-driven low mileage older car comes with its own issues; Rubber seals etc are likely dried out or rotted, so expect a water pump failure among other surprises. After market add-ons can cause electrical issues with the sensitive sensors. Turbo engines burn out quicker than basic engines. use silicone lubricant on all the rubber gasketing all over the car and hood. Make things last as long as possible as some parts are non-existent. Don't use gas with ethanol; you may have to use premium gas to avoid ethanol. Don't buy in to oiled filter systems and other risky alternative parts. Keep it stock. Drive it regularly. These cars are wonderful but not really a collector; think Fiero. Get a free membership with the Pontiac Solstice Forum.
Wow, thanks Mike. It never occurred to me to close the doors before closing the hood. I've had my Sky RL for about 14 months and luckily, always had the doors closed, but now I'll make sure.
Consider yourself lucky! Right after I took ownership and drove my sky home I closed the hood while I was on the passenger side. Even though the door was closed it still somehow hit the hood/door edge and chipped the paint 🤬
These cars have always been a favorite. Oddly, I have never owned one. Now that I am looking, I accidently ran across your video. And am I glad I did... Thanks for all the wonderful info.
Great video! I recently bought a 2008 Solstice GXP with 16k miles on it and appreciate all the helpful information. I also like your attitude towards driving the car VS parking it, since I too plan on enjoying plenty of time behind the wheel.
Good information. Just had to give up my 2008 Solstice after 13 years due to medical issues. I used it as my daily driver and had 227,000 miles on it. The car was in beautiful shape and still running smooth. I wish I could have come to the meets. One item that I ran into was the cable for the top broke. I ended up finding a brake tool for a Chrysler that unlocked the mechanism through the trunk latch without damaging the chrome. Thanks for the video, this car was the most fun to drive.
I agree with Paul. Your back. Have missed your informative videos. I have 2008 Solstice GXP with 22000KM. It is soooooo fun to drive. Mine is summer only as the the -30 winters are brutal here in Canada. May to October is my season. Yes luggage space is tight. Just have to be creative. Keep up the good work Mike. Cheers.
Yeah. It's been about a month since my last video but it's been a bit crazy at work so I haven't had the time recently to come out with them as quicky. I do have one that I shot yesterday (more of a body repair due to an autocross mishap), though. Plus I have something being shipped to me soon which will be really cool. So stay tuned and definitely subscribe :)
Starting looking at Sky videos a few weeks ago while shopping. Starting focusing more and more on Mike's videos. My 2007 is now paid for and while I am waiting for delivery I am still focusing on Mike's video's. Simply the best practical info. Thanks for sharing Mike.
My wife has an '07 Solstice GXP (black on black, 5 speed) which we picked up back in 2010 with only 7,500 miles on it. It replaced an '06 N/A 2.4L she bought in 2007 which was rear ended by a Mercury Mountaineer SUV. The car has a strong frame and took the hit like a champ. From 5 feet away you couldn't even tell it was hit, and she was able to drive it home and there was no mechanical damage. The SUV on the other hand had to be towed from the scene 😂🤣... After about a year of going in and out of the body shop they couldn't fix it right. The trunk panel wouldn't line up and the top wouldn't close properly. The insurance wanted to total it, and we were lucky enough to find the GXP with such low miles and a clean carfax with one previous owner at a dealership an hour away. It's a blast to drive but we have had some bumps in the road, unfortunately. About two years ago, with 100k miles, it would sporadically overheat. In hopes of avoiding the dreaded water pump replacement, I decided to try a few things first to correct the problem. Changed the thermostat, seemed good for a minute, then started doing it again. Changed the engine temp sensor. Seemed good for about a week, then started overheating again, but only sporadically, and driving in lower gears seemed to "wake up" the lazy water pump and cool down the temp. It's not a car we need to rely on so we weren't driving it that much. So one day I am driving it, keeping my eye on the temp, didn't even overheat and I heard a loud sound, which was the turbo imploding. Ended up replacing the turbo, the intercooler, timing chain & guides, water pump, 02 sensor, belts, plugs, and while we were in there found that a bolt wobbled around inside the head, causing the threaded hole to take the shape of an oval. Ended up finding a brand new head with cams for $300 bucks so replaced that too, and also the head gasket and valve cover gasket. Throw in new brakes on all 4, new rear tires and new front struts... Spent $5k parts and labor. This was two years ago .. Last year, AC wasn't blowing cold, had to replace the compressor. A couple months ago, the battery just kept dying and i had to constantly jump it. It would start fine but i would need to jump it again if it sat for 3 days or more. I even took the 1 year old battery back to the store and they gave me a full refund, and I replaced it with an Interstate battery and same issue recurred. Finally solved that problem by disconnecting the trunk lightbulb. A week or two later, check engine light comes on. Shortly after, started running like crap - sputtering, rough idle, poor acceleration, etc. So i tried a few things - changed plugs, swapped to an old set of coils, added FI cleaner and water remover to the tank, checked the fuel pumps, cleaned the MAF sensor, nothing worked. Turned out we bottomed out on something and put a hole in the intercooler, which caused a boost leak and threw the computer out of whack enough to make the car run terrible (i didn't know a boost leak could cause this, based on my experience with other turbo cars). So not only did we bust a hole in the intercooler, which was only 2 years old, it also twisted it pretty bad, along with causing damage to the radiator and AC condenser (which I didn't feel so bad about since they were original from 2007). So that was another $1600... I also remember at some point between 2010 and 2018 having to replace the cooling fans, water pump, timing chain, and the stupid plastic chain guides which seem to break. Bottom line, the car is fun but can definitely cause some headaches and expensive repairs. You can save some money by buying your own (OEM) parts which is what I always do. If i can do the work myself I do it. Always keep a watchful eye on your temperature (scroll through dash info menu until you land on coolant temp - normal for me is 192-205° but anything over 210-215° on a regular basis should raise an eyebrow). If you notice anything out of the ordinary get it checked ASAP. Keep an eye on the oil level too and only use full synthetic (i use mobile 1 high mileage synthetic). Check both sides of the dipstick and always top off if low. Low oil in this car can result in timing issues or even starving the turbo of oil, definitely don't want to do that. Good luck!
Forgot to mention the plastic baffle a.k.a. "air dam" underneath the front of the car. Mine broke and kept falling down. I fixed it with zip ties until we finally replaced it with the most recent repair. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to bottom out, that's how I put a hole in my intercooler, I assume.
Excellent video... we just bought a 2007 GXP for my wife to putt around in and I drove it home(5Hrs) loved every minute of it....except the wet roads on original 2007 tires!!.......needless to say that was the first change we made to the car, new tires and it feels so much more secure on the road.
@@MikesHouseOfMods GM ruined many fenders and rockers on these cars when they were brand new. Pontiac did it three times to my 2007 Sol GXP between 2008-2012. And Cadillac did it to my 2008 Sol GXP last spring.
I’m looking for a Solstice GXP for myself and a Sky for my daughter… during my research I found your videos and this is.a nice quick and very informative video! Thanks a million!
@@nmarkert01 It was rock solid. Great car. That’s a good deal, I would go get that especially if they are negotiable on price. I sold mine for 12k and it had 75k miles on it
Great video. I just bought my first Kappa - a Redline Sky with a LOT of miles on it, but in really nice shape. Let the updates, mods, and pampering begin...
I just bought my solstice! I have been wanting one of these since they came out! In fact I knew I was going to buy one one day. I took the the original sales book that came out at the dealership.. lol.. I don’t know if people know this but the original book was made by the Apprentice group. They did win the challenge! Lol. My Solstice is Red.. has 32000 miles.. I bought it in Dec.. Can’t really drive it much considering I’m from Pittsburgh.. Great video!
Love this video and I happen to notice your in Hendersonville when you passed Culver’s 15:54. Gonna get my first solstice some time soon so this was Great information!🤙🏾
I’m just days away from getting started with a Kappa. I cannot wait! I’ve been watching your videos to get ready and absolutely love them. Thanks so much for taking the time to put these videos together.
Thank you for the valuable informations! Tomorrow I'm gonna go see a 2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP with the Inferno Orange color and I'm very excited. Hopefully everything is good and I'll get it. It has 37k miles and it seems mint! Love these cars.
Glad this video came up. I just bought a 2008 Sky with 44,182 miles. Lots to learn about and your video helped uncover a lot of need to knows! I believe these cars are a fun niche and enjoy them for what they are! I got mine as a driver, not a garage piece. I have another car that's fun too, an electric Smart! lol
Thanks for the video. It was helpful. After many years of driving Fieros, I've had 5, I'm picking up my 1st Sky on Friday. 2008 with 54k miles. Unfortunately it is an automatic but I got a great deal on it. I'm looking forward to having it. They look like fun.
6:45 I have owned several small cars. The Solstice by far has the worst trunk space of any car I have owned. I have attempted to go to the store and buy a few groceries with my wife and almost everything we come home with ends up on her lap or the floor. I can't imagine two people going out of town on holiday and being able to bring more than just the clothes on their back. I see there that someone stows maybe foldable chairs back above the 'wet area' of the trunk Any kind of small leak is going to get back there and do its damage. Still love the car, even though you have to transport your belongings on the passenger seat floor. Good video, Mike!
Yeah. It's certainly not an SUV....lol. I packed enough clothes two years ago for a week when I went to Nassam. I used soft luggage to fit in the "wet" area as you say. You sometimes have to be creative to get everything you need in there.
I just saw some suitcases that were actually designed for the trunk. I don't have any problem getting my groceries in the trunk. Now admittedly the top is up but not a big sacrifice when I am doing a grocery store run. Love mine!!!
How reliable is this car? It’s the most beautiful car I’ve seen that’s under $50k and I’m considering buying it soon as a daily driver. Is it common for these cars to push 150-200k miles before any major problems?
Great stuff and thank you post posting, we need more people like you Mike. But *I do have constructive criticism* re: lift points. The areas right under the front fenders with slots do indeed look just like lift points and they are extremely convenient in location. However I feel this has been one of the major reasons the cars were damaged by dealerships when new and continue to be damaged by service stations today. The slots are shipping slots for transporting the vehicle, and the rear ones double as lift points. While I think the cars have safely been lifted via the areas of the front slots many times, this is not the intended lift point and it is my opinion that this area is only strong enough by happy circumstance and they may eventiually be crushed. If you refer to the manuals for M cars (Kappas) you will find a (incredibly confusing!) lift point diagram. Using the example of my 2008 M Car manuals, Volume 1, page 1-20, there is a diagram that shows - once you study it enough - that the front lift point for each side is actually on a structure inboard of each fender, not near or on the oval slots under the fenders. The diagram also reports the lift pad adapter as part number J 43625, intended for the rear lift point and vaguely alluded to at the front. This diagram can be found on various Soltsice forums (undoubredly Sky forums as well) and I recommend that any Kappa owner find it online, prints it, and becomes familiar with it. I also recommend the service manuals, it's a three volume set and pricey (600 USD) but well worth it. Membership in a Kappa club with an online forum is practically a must as well.
Well that's pretty interesting. I was always told that the oval holes under the fenders were for the lift pucks. I've lifted my car at those points probably over 100 times (due to mods and constant wheel swaps). I'll look into that diagram when I find it to check it out too.
@@MikesHouseOfMods Us Kappa guys stick together Mike! I was told over and over the same thing, and I even saw the diagram. I got a set of ramps that let me get under the car easy and when under there I said to myself 'oh THAT'S what they were talking about".
There are actually three of these awesome machines in Georgetown, Guyana South America. The Solstices look swoopy and are panty droppers in the flesh! I drive an SW20 MR2 myself but I'll definitely give your contact information to the owners the next time I see them. Great videos!
Another helpful tip for owners and passengers in these cars: be gentle with the door handles. They are secured with small screws into molded plastic that will become brittle with age and eventually break off.
I own the Pontiac solstice manual transmission best car I’ve ever driven so comfortable so fun biggest bang for the dollar!! end of story. If you can buy a car and have it retain its value you’re a winnerI love these “did you know” videos. How much horsepower does your 2.4 turbo have??
Wonderful info- thx!!! I hv the solstice stick shift doesn’t have air-conditioning to make it even lighter. Best car I’ve ever owned such a blast to drive. Manual transmission feels like a slot car- Super smooth super comfortable, fits my arms and legs like a glove
Thanks for the info, really well done video! I wonder how many of these have under fender damage, and as I imagine very few people use the pucks unless you're knowledgeable of the issue.
Outstanding info. The only thing I would add is to read the owners manual front to back. It contains a wealth of information on how to care for your Kappa.
Awesome video! Thanks for this. Been driving the wheels off my '06 Solstice for 5 years now, but even learned a thing or two. I would like to turbo mine eventually, but I just put a new waterpump and battery in it, and it's time for new rubber again. So I'll have to put that off for now.
MrMike... i enjoy your video content and how you answer questions posed in the comments portion.. You are truly genuine and honest compassionate on your responses. I'm a co-owner of a 2008Chevy HHR LT with over 309000 [miles]... myWife got it for under $1500... i was told to take it easy under 40mph bcos the automatic tranny slams into gear when driven spiritly. It has 2.4L NA engine.. I would like to transplant a 2.0L Turbo from the Sky/Solstice/SS EcoTech engine with the rear ends of said machines... Besides changing from FWD to RWD... i foresee a wiring mess, ECU/M and driveline with rear suspension mods... What do you recommend I should start this project?!... It's a daily driver and I'm on a fixed income.. this Ruby red machine gets about 19mpg currently.. I do like the lines of this machine.. Any advice is helpful.. ALOHA
Touching in what the boomers on Facebook say about keeping their kappa as an investment, You're going to be hard pressed to find any modern GM car that's going to appreciate in value. Unless your kappa is one of the few coupes or you have some very special edition Corvette (not just the 1 of 2,000 made in x color for that year.) It's a cheap driver's car like a S2000 but unlike an S2000, the kappa platform is a parts bin car. Drive it like it was supposed to be driven, it's a cheap roadster and always will be. Not a collector's item.
Clarification you should make is; 91 or 93 octane are actually the same octane rating depending on the country you are in because it's using different rating systems. In Canada our 91 is exactly the same as 93 in the states.
Thanks for the info. Very handy. I just bought a 2007 Sky with just over 3000 miles and it's like brand new. The last owner had it up on blocks for 12 years while he was away.
Nice find! Were they away on active duty? That's a long time! We should have a low mileage kappa club! Mine was owned by a retired man in his early 60s. He mainly used it just for ice cream trips and was garaged its entire life in Ohio. His son acquired it here in NC after the father was getting too old to get in and out of It. The son didn't have time to drive it (business owner) It only had 4273 miles on it once I took ownership of it back in March of 2020.
@@ryanchristensen1799 The dealership that I bought it from didn't tell me if it was active duty or not. I put new Continental tires on it and repaired the leaking rack and pinion. I've put on 900 miles since purchasing. They are fun to drive.
New subscriber here. Thanks for all the great videos. I just bought myself a '09 Solstice GXP and I am having a lot of fun with it. I've been looking for tips on how to get the rear cup holder un-stuck but everyone is talking only about the passenger cup holder. Any advice is appreciated.
Hey there, Sherly. To free up your waterfall cupholders, and if you don't have a steamer (the best thing), put some warm-to-hot water (hotter the better) in a spray bottle and a towel of some sort and spray the water into the assembly to liquefy the dried gunk that's doubtless gumming it up. Keep the towel under the assembly as best you can to catch the waste that drips from it. Then wipe up the rest of the gunky water as best you can, and continue until the cupholders slide in and out freely. This is what I did for my passenger leg well holders. But be careful how you handle them (which I don't doubt you will) as they're not very rugged in their design. Hope that helps you. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW GXP!!
Water pump leak fix for it is water pump sealer and lubricate engine runs hot normally 20 on car with leak 40 now no problems at all lubricate keeps seals soft in higher temp
The prior owner of my redline had this done around 62k and I'm at 68k now and so far so good. I always leave my temp gauge on display to keep an eye on temperature at all times, because of the water pump issue.
Love all of the videos I own a Solstice 07 and like your Sky I don't have the subwoofer behind the passenger seat Do you know if we could add one without taking out the waterfall?
I bought my GXP brand new in 2007. I have 17k miles on it. My son wants it when he gets old enough. I can also verify that you can dent the trunk by closing it via the humps. I still need to get fixed.
Mike good info, I think I read someplace that the correct jack position for the car front is not under the front fender as you indicated but rather there are designated jack points further inboard
Before I shot that scene, I felt under the fender for the lift pick hole. I may have been slightly off, but there is an oval shaped hole that the pucks to into and they're directly under the front fenders and in the back in front of the wheels.
Great info! How many miles do you have on it now?! I’m a huge car guy and am considering a Sky for fun and economy. The low miles cars are going for a mint today and there are several 70-90k miles ones out there for a good price. Obviously if someone ragged the car it’ll be ragged, but curious what you ran into from a higher mileage kappa.
I had a Fiero for 10 years back in the day, fun car. I notice lately the prices have gone up on them. I just bought my wife a 2008 Pontiac Solstice with 8000 miles on it, super clean. She loves it.
Question about your turbo. It sounds like you put a turbo on the NA version. How much power can these motors make reliably? Would it be better to upgrade the GPX model? Just wondering if the internals on the GPX are better as it was designed for a Turbo? I'm assuming the 2.4L Turbo is going to make more power than a tuned 2.0L upgraded turbo on the GPX?? Any thoughts or opinions?
When we talk about fuel, what kind of fuel we're talking about? - Here, in the EU, we have quite a bunch... there's the "Super 95" with 95 octane, in variations of 10% Ethanol & 5% Ethanol (i guess E10 is not recommend for the car) - there's "Super Plus" with 98 octane, plus some ultra expensive premiums with 100+ octane, all unleaded. Usually I go for E5, which is 95 octane with 5% Ethanol. What is recommended for the Opel GT/Solstice/Sky? (2.0L with Turbo)
Here's a reminder, Ethanol burns way hotter than the gas itself, that's why it's not recommended for older cars, actually cars pre-2005 - these engines were not made for such temperatures. Also it's not recommend for sports/performance engines, since it can/will damage the valves. Basically it goes down to the question, is the 2.0L Turbo engine well suited for Super95-E5?
Very informative!! I own a 2008 Sostice..headlight covering is yellowing and scratched badly...want to replace...need info as I cannot seem to find supplier for headlight cover..please advise!!
Our headlights are not made anymore. However, you may find some on eBay or if a wrecked Solstice is being parted out. Be sure to join the various Facebook groups for the solstice because those groups are where parted out cars usually pop up.
Hey Mike, Great video! It would have been nice to have before I bought mine. It's a great low mileage '09 but only thing was that the tires were 10 years old. Looked great but 10 years. I changed them all but what I found amazing was that I bought it through a dealer of used sports cars and specialty vehicles and the vehicle passed the safety inspection. I guess the age of tires is not one of the check points. Hey, how did the turbo work out for you? Was it worth the trouble? Cheers!
Mike a little info if you please; in addition to my 2009 sky redline I now own a 2006 solstice, 2.4 L, 5 spd manual trans, could you comment on typical rpm for each gear that you saw before you updated to turbo, just use your area as an example. Thanks
I'm not sure I understand the question when you say typical RPM. Do you mean top MPH through each gear? If so, even after the turbo, I usually redline at 26 MPH in first, 45-50 in second, 75 or so in third, 120 in 4th. That's the fastest I've gone so far. And this is just by memory. Also, it doesn't matter if it's turbo or not. It mainly has to do with the final drive ratio and I know the 2.0 turbo and 2.4 NA are different.
Hey I came across this video because I have the opportunity to buy one of these cars. I know nothing about them so this video is super helpful. I am wondering if you could give me some feedback on if I should get it. I am not interested in a fast car just a reliable one 😊. I am concerned about maintenance , when I have to have something done. Would this be a problem as Saturn is no longer? Cost for maintenance? The usual stuff a car owner has to think about. The car is a 2008 or 2009 not too sure, has 108,000 miles on it. I believe an older couple owned it. Any feedback would be very appreciated!
Mike ,Thanks i like the hockey puck the person who had my o7 before me took it to pep boys to get service a good thing but i had to replace the battery 2 months ago took the panel off an they had the whole bottom cracked up broken just hanging on also had no idea of the headlight adj now i know thanks you always help me out also is the wind screen worth it an one other thing i still cant find a replacement part for the hood lach under the dash
I have a 2006 Solstice that I really love. I've owned it for 11 years now,when I first got it my wife would say you look like a old fool driving that thing, but most of the time I see a older person driving one .when I see one I say look at that old fool driving that Solstice, really don't hear that anymore, LOL
I recently topped off my '08 Solstice and it's on the passenger side right underneath the firewall/cowell. You have to look under the lip there and mine had a black cap on it. Easy to find with a flashlight but you may be able to do it without one. 👍🍻
new here and looking at these to buy..........can't remember the you tuber, he put a 5.3 in his mom's as a surprise........he said i think GM did this on purpose, it fit right in there with very little modifications.
I'll add a few things from my experience owning one of these beauties:
1) On the 2.0l turbo, if you haven't done so already, have the timing chain, tensioners, and guides replaced. The original tensioner has a known issue where it loses pressure, can can cause timing slippage. One of the standard GM replacement kits includes the timing gears, so that gives you an idea how bad it can get. The best time to do that is when replacing your water pump.
2) Replace your rear brake light elements with high output LEDs. You are so low to the ground that people in taller vehicles (like trucks) look over and past you when stopping. The brighter brake lights reminds them that there's not empty space between them and the next vehicle down the road.
3) Get your electrically talented friend to help you set up a double-relay circuit for your side marker lights. And change your side marker lights out to high intensity LEDs. For typical 2-lane stop sign T-intersections, a person on the stem of the T cannot directly see your front of car left turn signal. I've almost been t-barred by people thinking I was going straight and starting their left turn. Once I added the relays to make my now brighter side marker blink with my blinker, I no longer have that issue.
4) If you have the GXP and want the extra boost GM left on the standard tune, they offer a tune to get more out of it. That still doesn't get you the full boost from the factory turbo. Third party tunes offer the full boost. You'll also want a cold air intake to take advantage of that and better tires, because it will cause you to break the tires free when changing gears.
For all intents and purposes I'm the original owner of a 2008 Solstice GXP, and I still love this car. After I hit 60k I bought a second vehicle and garage the Solstice in the winter. When the weather is nice, I'm participating in "spirited driving", and when I just need a daily driver, I use my other vehicle.
I’m looking at one with 80k miles and now feeling like I’ll have a list of repairs lined up!!! 😢 But still very informative!!!
@@jamn2boostIf it's a GXP and hasn't had the timing chain redone, do that. The original tensioners failed enough that GM had the 2 kits available: one for just the tensioner, chain and guides, one which includes all gears because of slippage. The update will ensure the engine lasts and give you piece of mind.
My Sky had the first breakdown in my 14 years of ownership. The ECM went out of the blue at the grocery store during a code red.$100 tow home.$125 electronic diagnostics. $100 for flatbed to shop. $250 to program. 75 bucks for the part ( ECM). I’ve been with you from the start and up to now have loved watching you take yours apart and back together . I ordered my Sky the way I wanted it.Have 144000 K. Keep up the great programs, looking forward to the next mod you do.
14 years, 144000 miles and your first breakdown? That's quite a record. And at what? $600? You definitely take care of your ride.
I'm glad you like the channel. I have a few mods I'll be filming soon....as well as a repair that I had to do because of an autocross mishap. So stay tuned.
Great attitude! You buy the car to drive and have fun with! Period! Great video, being a new owner of an 08 solstice I agree with you I’m going to have as much fun as I can with it. Hey that’s why you buy something like this for! Besides next month I’m 75 so I need to have fun while I still can!😂😂😂
I have an 06 Solstice 5 spd, 65K miles. There are actually designated lifting points aside from the jacking points; you don't need those pucks. Have the doors closed when the hood is going to be dropped; doors open when you close/latch the soft-top. Drop the trunk lid with force, but no pushing at contact. Buying a barely-driven low mileage older car comes with its own issues; Rubber seals etc are likely dried out or rotted, so expect a water pump failure among other surprises. After market add-ons can cause electrical issues with the sensitive sensors. Turbo engines burn out quicker than basic engines. use silicone lubricant on all the rubber gasketing all over the car and hood. Make things last as long as possible as some parts are non-existent. Don't use gas with ethanol; you may have to use premium gas to avoid ethanol. Don't buy in to oiled filter systems and other risky alternative parts. Keep it stock. Drive it regularly. These cars are wonderful but not really a collector; think Fiero. Get a free membership with the Pontiac Solstice Forum.
They aren’t in collector status YET.
Wow, thanks Mike. It never occurred to me to close the doors before closing the hood. I've had my Sky RL for about 14 months and luckily, always had the doors closed, but now I'll make sure.
Consider yourself lucky! Right after I took ownership and drove my sky home I closed the hood while I was on the passenger side. Even though the door was closed it still somehow hit the hood/door edge and chipped the paint 🤬
GM seemed to like screwing hoods up as there was some early Corvettes that had the problem as well.
I don't have that problem with my Solstice!
These cars have always been a favorite. Oddly, I have never owned one. Now that I am looking, I accidently ran across your video. And am I glad I did... Thanks for all the wonderful info.
Great video! I recently bought a 2008 Solstice GXP with 16k miles on it and appreciate all the helpful information. I also like your attitude towards driving the car VS parking it, since I too plan on enjoying plenty of time behind the wheel.
How much?
Good information. Just had to give up my 2008 Solstice after 13 years due to medical issues. I used it as my daily driver and had 227,000 miles on it. The car was in beautiful shape and still running smooth. I wish I could have come to the meets. One item that I ran into was the cable for the top broke. I ended up finding a brake tool for a Chrysler that unlocked the mechanism through the trunk latch without damaging the chrome. Thanks for the video, this car was the most fun to drive.
I've got a redline with 186k tuned to 23psi with the 3" magnaflow exhaust. Great car. Fun, and gets a lot of attention.
Do you have a stock intercooler? How has the car done overall at that psi? Which tune did you get?
I agree with Paul. Your back. Have missed your informative videos.
I have 2008 Solstice GXP with 22000KM.
It is soooooo fun to drive. Mine is summer only as the the -30 winters are brutal here in Canada. May to October is my season.
Yes luggage space is tight. Just have to be creative.
Keep up the good work Mike.
Cheers.
Yeah. It's been about a month since my last video but it's been a bit crazy at work so I haven't had the time recently to come out with them as quicky. I do have one that I shot yesterday (more of a body repair due to an autocross mishap), though. Plus I have something being shipped to me soon which will be really cool. So stay tuned and definitely subscribe :)
Starting looking at Sky videos a few weeks ago while shopping. Starting focusing more and more on Mike's videos. My 2007 is now paid for and while I am waiting for delivery I am still focusing on Mike's video's. Simply the best practical info. Thanks for sharing Mike.
how is it
Just picked up a 2008 Sky Redline today. Glad i found this video. Thanks for making it.
Love my Sky Redline, turns heads wherever I go. Super fun in the mountains with the top down and wind in my hair !!!
My wife has an '07 Solstice GXP (black on black, 5 speed) which we picked up back in 2010 with only 7,500 miles on it. It replaced an '06 N/A 2.4L she bought in 2007 which was rear ended by a Mercury Mountaineer SUV. The car has a strong frame and took the hit like a champ. From 5 feet away you couldn't even tell it was hit, and she was able to drive it home and there was no mechanical damage. The SUV on the other hand had to be towed from the scene 😂🤣...
After about a year of going in and out of the body shop they couldn't fix it right. The trunk panel wouldn't line up and the top wouldn't close properly. The insurance wanted to total it, and we were lucky enough to find the GXP with such low miles and a clean carfax with one previous owner at a dealership an hour away.
It's a blast to drive but we have had some bumps in the road, unfortunately. About two years ago, with 100k miles, it would sporadically overheat. In hopes of avoiding the dreaded water pump replacement, I decided to try a few things first to correct the problem. Changed the thermostat, seemed good for a minute, then started doing it again. Changed the engine temp sensor. Seemed good for about a week, then started overheating again, but only sporadically, and driving in lower gears seemed to "wake up" the lazy water pump and cool down the temp. It's not a car we need to rely on so we weren't driving it that much.
So one day I am driving it, keeping my eye on the temp, didn't even overheat and I heard a loud sound, which was the turbo imploding. Ended up replacing the turbo, the intercooler, timing chain & guides, water pump, 02 sensor, belts, plugs, and while we were in there found that a bolt wobbled around inside the head, causing the threaded hole to take the shape of an oval. Ended up finding a brand new head with cams for $300 bucks so replaced that too, and also the head gasket and valve cover gasket. Throw in new brakes on all 4, new rear tires and new front struts... Spent $5k parts and labor. This was two years ago ..
Last year, AC wasn't blowing cold, had to replace the compressor.
A couple months ago, the battery just kept dying and i had to constantly jump it. It would start fine but i would need to jump it again if it sat for 3 days or more. I even took the 1 year old battery back to the store and they gave me a full refund, and I replaced it with an Interstate battery and same issue recurred. Finally solved that problem by disconnecting the trunk lightbulb.
A week or two later, check engine light comes on. Shortly after, started running like crap - sputtering, rough idle, poor acceleration, etc. So i tried a few things - changed plugs, swapped to an old set of coils, added FI cleaner and water remover to the tank, checked the fuel pumps, cleaned the MAF sensor, nothing worked. Turned out we bottomed out on something and put a hole in the intercooler, which caused a boost leak and threw the computer out of whack enough to make the car run terrible (i didn't know a boost leak could cause this, based on my experience with other turbo cars). So not only did we bust a hole in the intercooler, which was only 2 years old, it also twisted it pretty bad, along with causing damage to the radiator and AC condenser (which I didn't feel so bad about since they were original from 2007). So that was another $1600...
I also remember at some point between 2010 and 2018 having to replace the cooling fans, water pump, timing chain, and the stupid plastic chain guides which seem to break.
Bottom line, the car is fun but can definitely cause some headaches and expensive repairs. You can save some money by buying your own (OEM) parts which is what I always do. If i can do the work myself I do it. Always keep a watchful eye on your temperature (scroll through dash info menu until you land on coolant temp - normal for me is 192-205° but anything over 210-215° on a regular basis should raise an eyebrow). If you notice anything out of the ordinary get it checked ASAP. Keep an eye on the oil level too and only use full synthetic (i use mobile 1 high mileage synthetic). Check both sides of the dipstick and always top off if low. Low oil in this car can result in timing issues or even starving the turbo of oil, definitely don't want to do that. Good luck!
Forgot to mention the plastic baffle a.k.a. "air dam" underneath the front of the car. Mine broke and kept falling down. I fixed it with zip ties until we finally replaced it with the most recent repair. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to bottom out, that's how I put a hole in my intercooler, I assume.
Excellent video... we just bought a 2007 GXP for my wife to putt around in and I drove it home(5Hrs) loved every minute of it....except the wet roads on original 2007 tires!!.......needless to say that was the first change we made to the car, new tires and it feels so much more secure on the road.
Thank you for doing this for some of us new owners! Lift pucks are something I’d rather not learn about the hard way!!
Yeah. One of my fenders was already cracked when I bought my Sky used. I still have to fix it.
@@MikesHouseOfMods GM ruined many fenders and rockers on these cars when they were brand new. Pontiac did it three times to my 2007 Sol GXP between 2008-2012. And Cadillac did it to my 2008 Sol GXP last spring.
I’m looking for a Solstice GXP for myself and a Sky for my daughter… during my research I found your videos and this is.a nice quick and very informative video! Thanks a million!
Love my Sky Redline, super fun car to drive, way underrated
How’s the reliability on yours? And how many miles? There’s a 2007 near me with close to 20k miles I may look at but they’re asking 15k
@@nmarkert01 It was rock solid. Great car. That’s a good deal, I would go get that especially if they are negotiable on price. I sold mine for 12k and it had 75k miles on it
Great video. I just bought my first Kappa - a Redline Sky with a LOT of miles on it, but in really nice shape. Let the updates, mods, and pampering begin...
Thanks for the tip on closing the door!
I just bought my solstice! I have been wanting one of these since they came out! In fact I knew I was going to buy one one day. I took the the original sales book that came out at the dealership.. lol.. I don’t know if people know this but the original book was made by the Apprentice group. They did win the challenge! Lol. My Solstice is Red.. has 32000 miles.. I bought it in Dec.. Can’t really drive it much considering I’m from Pittsburgh.. Great video!
Love this video and I happen to notice your in Hendersonville when you passed Culver’s 15:54. Gonna get my first solstice some time soon so this was Great information!🤙🏾
I’m just days away from getting started with a Kappa. I cannot wait! I’ve been watching your videos to get ready and absolutely love them. Thanks so much for taking the time to put these videos together.
Thank you for the valuable informations! Tomorrow I'm gonna go see a 2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP with the Inferno Orange color and I'm very excited. Hopefully everything is good and I'll get it. It has 37k miles and it seems mint! Love these cars.
Glad this video came up. I just bought a 2008 Sky with 44,182 miles. Lots to learn about and your video helped uncover a lot of need to knows!
I believe these cars are a fun niche and enjoy them for what they are!
I got mine as a driver, not a garage piece. I have another car that's fun too, an electric Smart! lol
Thanks for the video. It was helpful. After many years of driving Fieros, I've had 5, I'm picking up my 1st Sky on Friday. 2008 with 54k miles. Unfortunately it is an automatic but I got a great deal on it. I'm looking forward to having it. They look like fun.
6:45 I have owned several small cars. The Solstice by far has the worst trunk space of any car I have owned. I have attempted to go to the store and buy a few groceries with my wife and almost everything we come home with ends up on her lap or the floor. I can't imagine two people going out of town on holiday and being able to bring more than just the clothes on their back. I see there that someone stows maybe foldable chairs back above the 'wet area' of the trunk Any kind of small leak is going to get back there and do its damage. Still love the car, even though you have to transport your belongings on the passenger seat floor. Good video, Mike!
Yeah. It's certainly not an SUV....lol. I packed enough clothes two years ago for a week when I went to Nassam. I used soft luggage to fit in the "wet" area as you say. You sometimes have to be creative to get everything you need in there.
I just saw some suitcases that were actually designed for the trunk. I don't have any problem getting my groceries in the trunk. Now admittedly the top is up but not a big sacrifice when I am doing a grocery store run. Love mine!!!
Your Saturn looks mint! Top even looks brand new
Very good video. I've had my '09 GXP manual convertible for 6 years and you had some stuff I wasn't aware of.
Thank you for a very informative video.
Currently I am looking for a solstice or sky, you answered a lot of questions I had.
How reliable is this car? It’s the most beautiful car I’ve seen that’s under $50k and I’m considering buying it soon as a daily driver. Is it common for these cars to push 150-200k miles before any major problems?
Great stuff and thank you post posting, we need more people like you Mike. But *I do have constructive criticism* re: lift points. The areas right under the front fenders with slots do indeed look just like lift points and they are extremely convenient in location. However I feel this has been one of the major reasons the cars were damaged by dealerships when new and continue to be damaged by service stations today. The slots are shipping slots for transporting the vehicle, and the rear ones double as lift points. While I think the cars have safely been lifted via the areas of the front slots many times, this is not the intended lift point and it is my opinion that this area is only strong enough by happy circumstance and they may eventiually be crushed. If you refer to the manuals for M cars (Kappas) you will find a (incredibly confusing!) lift point diagram. Using the example of my 2008 M Car manuals, Volume 1, page 1-20, there is a diagram that shows - once you study it enough - that the front lift point for each side is actually on a structure inboard of each fender, not near or on the oval slots under the fenders. The diagram also reports the lift pad adapter as part number J 43625, intended for the rear lift point and vaguely alluded to at the front. This diagram can be found on various Soltsice forums (undoubredly Sky forums as well) and I recommend that any Kappa owner find it online, prints it, and becomes familiar with it. I also recommend the service manuals, it's a three volume set and pricey (600 USD) but well worth it. Membership in a Kappa club with an online forum is practically a must as well.
Well that's pretty interesting. I was always told that the oval holes under the fenders were for the lift pucks. I've lifted my car at those points probably over 100 times (due to mods and constant wheel swaps). I'll look into that diagram when I find it to check it out too.
@@MikesHouseOfMods Us Kappa guys stick together Mike! I was told over and over the same thing, and I even saw the diagram. I got a set of ramps that let me get under the car easy and when under there I said to myself 'oh THAT'S what they were talking about".
Just got one. Great info 👍 thanks
There are actually three of these awesome machines in Georgetown, Guyana South America. The Solstices look swoopy and are panty droppers in the flesh! I drive an SW20 MR2 myself but I'll definitely give your contact information to the owners the next time I see them. Great videos!
They make you drop your panties do they?
Thanks much. Just bought my Solstice and loving it. Replaced my Mustang GT, which drove "like a truck" by comparison.
Awesome and thx just got my 2006 Solstice
Thanks for the advice - got a 2008 Solstice not long ago, will check the dates on the tires tomorrow!
Thanks for this. There's a nice one with decent amount of miles on it and I think it will be my daily.
Another helpful tip for owners and passengers in these cars: be gentle with the door handles. They are secured with small screws into molded plastic that will become brittle with age and eventually break off.
Absolutely 👍
This happened to me as well.
95 dollars for a door handle that I installed myself 🤣
I own the Pontiac solstice manual transmission best car I’ve ever driven so comfortable so fun biggest bang for the dollar!! end of story. If you can buy a car and have it retain its value you’re a winnerI love these “did you know” videos.
How much horsepower does your 2.4 turbo have??
Just got one yesterday out of necessity but hopefully it’s fun and reliable
Wonderful info- thx!!! I hv the solstice stick shift doesn’t have air-conditioning to make it even lighter. Best car I’ve ever owned such a blast to drive. Manual transmission feels like a slot car- Super smooth super comfortable, fits my arms and legs like a glove
Thanks for the info, really well done video! I wonder how many of these have under fender damage, and as I imagine very few people use the pucks unless you're knowledgeable of the issue.
Great stuff. Thank you.
Am considering selling my motorcycles and buying a Sky Redline.
Great video Mike!! Awesome production work. Keep them coming!!
As they did with the Fiero, GM should have made the car mid-engine for more storage space.
Outstanding info. The only thing I would add is to read the owners manual front to back. It contains a wealth of information on how to care for your Kappa.
Thanks!! I agree. I wish I had an owners manual myself, but I bought mine used and it wasn't in there.
Do dealers still do the gmpp tune? Even if I have to buy the harness and sensors they swap when flashing the ecu?
I would like an answer to this as well ✅
Great video Mike 👍🏽
That was fun and informative! Thanks Mike! Your video us also very polished and nicely professionally done. 🍻
Awesome video! Thanks for this. Been driving the wheels off my '06 Solstice for 5 years now, but even learned a thing or two. I would like to turbo mine eventually, but I just put a new waterpump and battery in it, and it's time for new rubber again. So I'll have to put that off for now.
Just picked up a. Red Solstice for 7k..perfect condition! Better then the Lexus
I saw the video and enjoyed it. The pads to lift the sky, does it matter if the hooks are on it or just rubber spacer?
You got a new subscriber Mike. Very informative and very well done sir!
Thanks for posting bud.
Awesome. Thanks so much!!!
Just pick up my 08 with 9,000 miles. It's just like new but I drive it along with my low milage gen 3 Miata. Both fun cars.
MrMike... i enjoy your video content and how you answer questions posed in the comments portion.. You are truly genuine and honest compassionate on your responses. I'm a co-owner of a 2008Chevy HHR LT with over 309000 [miles]... myWife got it for under $1500... i was told to take it easy under 40mph bcos the automatic tranny slams into gear when driven spiritly. It has 2.4L NA engine.. I would like to transplant a 2.0L Turbo from the Sky/Solstice/SS EcoTech engine with the rear ends of said machines... Besides changing from FWD to RWD... i foresee a wiring mess, ECU/M and driveline with rear suspension mods... What do you recommend I should start this project?!... It's a daily driver and I'm on a fixed income.. this Ruby red machine gets about 19mpg currently.. I do like the lines of this machine.. Any advice is helpful.. ALOHA
Great video on the sky, thank you.
Touching in what the boomers on Facebook say about keeping their kappa as an investment, You're going to be hard pressed to find any modern GM car that's going to appreciate in value. Unless your kappa is one of the few coupes or you have some very special edition Corvette (not just the 1 of 2,000 made in x color for that year.) It's a cheap driver's car like a S2000 but unlike an S2000, the kappa platform is a parts bin car. Drive it like it was supposed to be driven, it's a cheap roadster and always will be. Not a collector's item.
Spoken like a know it all millennial!
Very good and informative video. What kind of cell holder do you use please?
It's just a generic one that you mount to the dash that has a powerful magnetic. My phone has the metal piece that it sticks to.
Clarification you should make is; 91 or 93 octane are actually the same octane rating depending on the country you are in because it's using different rating systems. In Canada our 91 is exactly the same as 93 in the states.
Awesome and very informative post ...🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you. I hope it helps.
Thanks for the info. Very handy. I just bought a 2007 Sky with just over 3000 miles and it's like brand new. The last owner had it up on blocks for 12 years while he was away.
Nice find! Were they away on active duty? That's a long time! We should have a low mileage kappa club! Mine was owned by a retired man in his early 60s. He mainly used it just for ice cream trips and was garaged its entire life in Ohio. His son acquired it here in NC after the father was getting too old to get in and out of It. The son didn't have time to drive it (business owner) It only had 4273 miles on it once I took ownership of it back in March of 2020.
@@ryanchristensen1799 The dealership that I bought it from didn't tell me if it was active duty or not. I put new Continental tires on it and repaired the leaking rack and pinion. I've put on 900 miles since purchasing. They are fun to drive.
New subscriber here. Thanks for all the great videos. I just bought myself a '09 Solstice GXP and I am having a lot of fun with it. I've been looking for tips on how to get the rear cup holder un-stuck but everyone is talking only about the passenger cup holder. Any advice is appreciated.
Hey there, Sherly. To free up your waterfall cupholders, and if you don't have a steamer (the best thing), put some warm-to-hot water (hotter the better) in a spray bottle and a towel of some sort and spray the water into the assembly to liquefy the dried gunk that's doubtless gumming it up. Keep the towel under the assembly as best you can to catch the waste that drips from it. Then wipe up the rest of the gunky water as best you can, and continue until the cupholders slide in and out freely. This is what I did for my passenger leg well holders. But be careful how you handle them (which I don't doubt you will) as they're not very rugged in their design. Hope that helps you. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW GXP!!
Hey that’s a great video thanx!
Great show I have a Saturn Sky red line 2008 Green
Water pump leak fix for it is water pump sealer and lubricate engine runs hot normally 20 on car with leak 40 now no problems at all lubricate keeps seals soft in higher temp
The prior owner of my redline had this done around 62k and I'm at 68k now and so far so good. I always leave my temp gauge on display to keep an eye on temperature at all times, because of the water pump issue.
Love all of the videos I own a Solstice 07 and like your Sky I don't have the subwoofer behind the passenger seat Do you know if we could add one without taking out the waterfall?
I bought my GXP brand new in 2007. I have 17k miles on it. My son wants it when he gets old enough. I can also verify that you can dent the trunk by closing it via the humps. I still need to get fixed.
Mike good info, I think I read someplace that the correct jack position for the car front is not under the front fender as you indicated but rather there are designated jack points further inboard
Before I shot that scene, I felt under the fender for the lift pick hole. I may have been slightly off, but there is an oval shaped hole that the pucks to into and they're directly under the front fenders and in the back in front of the wheels.
Got a 2008 Solstice GXP Aggressive tuned! Drive it about 4000 miles a year.
Awesome vid! Love my gxp!
Great info! How many miles do you have on it now?! I’m a huge car guy and am considering a Sky for fun and economy. The low miles cars are going for a mint today and there are several 70-90k miles ones out there for a good price. Obviously if someone ragged the car it’ll be ragged, but curious what you ran into from a higher mileage kappa.
Thanks Mike!
What an awesome Man 👌👌👌 thanks alot!!!
Recnt GXP purchase and I should have watched this FIRST.
When fiero these days are worth a decent amount. Had to pick between a solstice or fiero today. Since they are very close in price. Went for solstice
I had a Fiero for 10 years back in the day, fun car. I notice lately the prices have gone up on them.
I just bought my wife a 2008 Pontiac Solstice with 8000 miles on it, super clean. She loves it.
@@MrAlittle5150 awesome congrats!
best video ive seen on these!
Your back!
Don't own one of these cars but good video!
Question about your turbo. It sounds like you put a turbo on the NA version. How much power can these motors make reliably? Would it be better to upgrade the GPX model? Just wondering if the internals on the GPX are better as it was designed for a Turbo? I'm assuming the 2.4L Turbo is going to make more power than a tuned 2.0L upgraded turbo on the GPX?? Any thoughts or opinions?
can you show me a video of you just opening the hood? Kindaa having issues with mine.
When we talk about fuel, what kind of fuel we're talking about? - Here, in the EU, we have quite a bunch... there's the "Super 95" with 95 octane, in variations of 10% Ethanol & 5% Ethanol (i guess E10 is not recommend for the car) - there's "Super Plus" with 98 octane, plus some ultra expensive premiums with 100+ octane, all unleaded.
Usually I go for E5, which is 95 octane with 5% Ethanol.
What is recommended for the Opel GT/Solstice/Sky? (2.0L with Turbo)
Here's a reminder, Ethanol burns way hotter than the gas itself, that's why it's not recommended for older cars, actually cars pre-2005 - these engines were not made for such temperatures. Also it's not recommend for sports/performance engines, since it can/will damage the valves.
Basically it goes down to the question, is the 2.0L Turbo engine well suited for Super95-E5?
I love these
Howdy Mike how are you? Where do I purchase the Hockey pucks from? Thanks.
Very informative!! I own a 2008 Sostice..headlight covering is yellowing and scratched badly...want to replace...need info as I cannot seem to find supplier for headlight cover..please advise!!
Our headlights are not made anymore. However, you may find some on eBay or if a wrecked Solstice is being parted out. Be sure to join the various Facebook groups for the solstice because those groups are where parted out cars usually pop up.
Hey Mike, Great video! It would have been nice to have before I bought mine. It's a great low mileage '09 but only thing was that the tires were 10 years old. Looked great but 10 years. I changed them all but what I found amazing was that I bought it through a dealer of used sports cars and specialty vehicles and the vehicle passed the safety inspection. I guess the age of tires is not one of the check points. Hey, how did the turbo work out for you? Was it worth the trouble? Cheers!
I'm sure they didn't want to drop a grand on tires if they looked good on the outside.
Mike a little info if you please; in addition to my 2009 sky redline I now own a 2006 solstice, 2.4 L, 5 spd manual trans, could you comment on typical rpm for each gear that you saw before you updated to turbo, just use your area as an example. Thanks
I'm not sure I understand the question when you say typical RPM. Do you mean top MPH through each gear? If so, even after the turbo, I usually redline at 26 MPH in first, 45-50 in second, 75 or so in third, 120 in 4th. That's the fastest I've gone so far. And this is just by memory. Also, it doesn't matter if it's turbo or not. It mainly has to do with the final drive ratio and I know the 2.0 turbo and 2.4 NA are different.
@@MikesHouseOfMods, Mike thanks for your response which is exactly the answer I was looking for
There is one close to me, base 2.4 and they are asking 12,500 at dealer. 49K miles. Seems like they have gone up quite a bit.
Curious- can I install a turbo kit with no risk of not being able to pass Echeck?
Hey I came across this video because I have the opportunity to buy one of these cars. I know nothing about them so this video is super helpful. I am wondering if you could give me some feedback on if I should get it. I am not interested in a fast car just a reliable one 😊. I am concerned about maintenance , when I have to have something done. Would this be a problem as Saturn is no longer? Cost for maintenance? The usual stuff a car owner has to think about. The car is a 2008 or 2009 not too sure, has 108,000 miles on it. I believe an older couple owned it. Any feedback would be very appreciated!
Mike ,Thanks i like the hockey puck the person who had my o7 before me took it to pep boys to get service a good thing but i had to replace the battery 2 months ago took the panel off an they had the whole bottom cracked up broken just hanging on also had no idea of the headlight adj now i know thanks you always help me out also is the wind screen worth it an one other thing i still cant find a replacement part for the hood lach under the dash
i want a Redline just cuz I love the front end. it looks like a Corvette ZL1. But the GXP looks like a Corvette Stingray, so I’m torn!
I liked what the 1 video that I saw on fhe sky, but can you post more about maintaining...
I have a 2006 Solstice that I really love. I've owned it for 11 years now,when I first got it my wife would say you look like a old fool driving that thing, but most of the time I see a older person driving one .when I see one I say look at that old fool driving that Solstice, really don't hear that anymore, LOL
What kind of stereo do you have in it?
HI I just got a 2006 pontiac solstice automatic where is the fill plug for the transmission ?
Can someone please infrom me where the low side freon port is located on my 2008 redline sky? owners manual was no help and the AC isnt working....!!
I recently topped off my '08 Solstice and it's on the passenger side right underneath the firewall/cowell. You have to look under the lip there and mine had a black cap on it. Easy to find with a flashlight but you may be able to do it without one. 👍🍻
the gxp hardtop is very valuable clean low mile ones are going for 30k
new here and looking at these to buy..........can't remember the you tuber, he put a 5.3 in his mom's as a surprise........he said i think GM did this on purpose, it fit right in there with very little modifications.
I like the look on the Sky over the Solstice but I would take a Solstice if it's a GXP...lol