What's wrong with the Saturn Sky?

".jdb." (brockmjd) 02/11/2014 at 11:07 • Filed to: None

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I was behind one of these yesterday, and was wondering. It should hit all the Jalop high points - small, not TOO heavy (under 3000lb curb weight), FR layout, available manual, available go-fast turbo model, two-seater convertible. It ought to be nigh-Miata-like. Is it? Is it not? If it isn't, how did they miss the boat? I'm not a huge fan of the styling, but it's not Aztec-bad

crowmolly > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:08

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Magnet-dragged-through-parts-bin design, built when GM was on a downward spiral.

CKeffer > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:11

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It's not a bad car, but from what I remember, it was basically a worse Miata for more money (at least for the Pontiac Solstice, which is the same car, just with a different body). The turbo version was supposed to be a lot of fun, but was yet even more money. So I think it was a case of it being priced wrong, though there may have been some "it needs a v8 because 'murrica" BS involved as well.

.jdb. > crowmolly 02/11/2014 at 11:12

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So - Fiero Syndrome? Great idea, victim of neglect?

crowmolly > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:13

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Great idea but not enough resources to execute it properly. I think there's a great market for a mini-Vette.

DailyTurismo > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:14

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Nothing wrong with the Sky at all. Get the redline version . 260 hp from the Ecotec LNF turbo engine, easily chipped to 300 hp. LSD out back. Great little car - hitting the teens used now. Of course, I'd rather get the Solstice GXP Coupe, but those are still pricey.

Casper > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:15

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The problem was all the compromises. They are very heavy for the size (about 200lbs+ what they should weigh), low on power (starting at only 177HP), they had poor suspension geometry out of the box (although you could fix it), they had cheapy parts and feel, and had some general odd ball issues that made them very niche.

The car could have been good if it wasn't made by GM during their down turn. It was a cheap car, built as though it was a nearly free car. They develop rattles, trim falls off, the headlights and tail lights fog, just on and on... and many of them started doing it within a few months of being new. They couldn't compete with Miatas or the like, and were enough years after the release of the S2000 that almost everyone compared them to a used S2000 (which blew their doors off). All in all it was just a very poorly timed and executed launch.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > crowmolly 02/11/2014 at 11:15

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Despite GM being in a bit of a downward spiral and Saturn no longer existing, I think it's still a good buy. If this is a parts bin car, that means you should still be able to find most parts to keep this thing running at a relatively inexpensive price, especially since the majority of parts are shared with the Solstice.

IMO, if you're considering the Sky, I would look at the Solstice. It's a much better looking car with the same guts.

jariten1781 > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:15

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I don't think anyone ever thought there was a whole lot wrong with it. The redline got lots of praise back in the day. In fact, the only thing I remember the rags really complaining about was trunk space and price. MSRP is irrelevant now and if trunk space is the only complaint for a FR roadster it's a pretty decent car.

willkinton247 > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:21

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I always like the Sky's styling over the Solstices.

EL_ULY > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:23

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I saw a red turbo this morning, so much want!!!

JR1 > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:24

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I have always preferred the GM twins over the Miata. They look a lot better and if you get the turbo are pretty quick. Besides everyone has a Miata sometimes it is fun to be different.

CAR_IS_MI > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:25

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I dont fit...

No seriously, I 'drove' one when they were new on the lot, a redline even (thats the turbo one). Seat all the way back and my knees were still in the dash, and with it floored, my Saab felt faster...

(FYI I am only 6'0" so not monstrous, I fit in Miata's, Z3/4 sized cars no problem.)

CPT Speedbump > willkinton247 02/11/2014 at 11:29

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It also has a better (cheaper price) and most magazines that tested both side by side said the Sky was more fun.

gt6xxer > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:29

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I remember a show that was on MTV or the like. It took amateur racers and put them in equally equipped Solsky Redlines. At first they were all like, this car is great, go buy one. By the end of the series they were using the car as an excuse for why they didn't win. It was a confusing message. What I got from it was that it really didn't perform at the level it was expected to, and even amateur racers could tell it wasn't an ideal platform for performance driving.

Textured Soy Protein > crowmolly 02/11/2014 at 11:36

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The platform itself was actually a one-off for the Solstice & Sky, with hydroformed frame rails like the Corvette. There were a lot of things on the car that definitely came from the parts bin (and not in a good way) but the platform isn't inherently bad. Here's a list of the parts bin raiding according to Wikipedia :

The rear axle and differential are from the Sigma-based Cadillac CTS

The Solstice's interior storage bin is from the Y-body Cadillac XLR

The passenger-side airbag, steering column, and exterior and interior door handles are from the Delta-based Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5

The Solstice's backup lights are from the GMT360 GMC Envoy

The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning modules are from the Hummer H3

The Solstice's front fog lamp assembly is from the W-body Pontiac Grand Prix

The Solstice's steering wheel is from the Delta-based Pontiac G5

The 2.4 L Ecotec engine is shared with the Delta-based Saturn Ion, Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Chevrolet HHR

The five-speed manual transmission is from the Hummer H3, GMC Canyon, and Chevrolet Colorado

The five-speed automatic is from the Cadillac CTS, STS, and SRX

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > willkinton247 02/11/2014 at 11:36

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Yes, I've always liked the sleeker sky than the marshmallow-y looking Pontiac Solstice. (I've wondered what the Coupe version of Sky would look like... probably something similar to C7's new roofline with quarter windows separate from the back glass... and a targa top)

In 2003, after the 2002 Solstice concept cars, Vauxhall (GM Great Britain) introduced a concept car that became the Vauxhall VX production car, the Opel GT in continental Europe, and the Saturn Sky in north america.

The Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept Car, the beginning of the ill-fated Kappa line.

Although, contrary to what might be thought, the Kappa platform isn't entirely dead. Through GM's bankruptcy, they sold the Kappa platform to a boutique Spanish auto maker, Tauro, and is now called the Tauro V8 Spider.

Textured Soy Protein > willkinton247 02/11/2014 at 11:37

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I agree.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > EL_ULY 02/11/2014 at 11:38

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If I ever get another turbocharged car, I want to use the Turbo badge from the Sky Redline... one of the coolest turbo badges, in a slick font, that I have seen.

EL_ULY > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 02/11/2014 at 11:45

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indeed :]

crowmolly > Textured Soy Protein 02/11/2014 at 11:49

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In some ways the shared parts are a good thing, as replacements are easier to find and therefore cheaper, but in other cases things are "made to fit" vs "designed for the car".

I have a good friend who had a Solstice and it was a decent car. JDB wanted to know what's "wrong" with it and IMO it's the fact that GM didn't have everything they needed to make it really shine.

And also IMO, the Sky is better looking as the Solstice looks like an electric shaver.

JasonStern911 > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 11:54

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Handling wasn't as good as the Miata.

Build quality wasn't as good as the Miata.

MSRP was higher than the Miata.

Still a cool car. Without cars like that, Mazda would remain complacent with the Miata. The naturally aspirated ones have heavily depreciated, and the coupes are rare enough that I can see them appreciating some day. But that said, I'd probably buy something else for the same money (like a Boxster S or Z4).

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 02/11/2014 at 12:24

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There's a V8 Kappa out there. My life is so much better knowing it.

Grindintosecond > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 12:32

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Read bob Lutz's book, he talked about the culture of the time when he took over. He arrived when it was too late to change the Aztek before production. The Sky/Solstice was his real nice idea but budgets and profit margins had to be thought of at the time and you got the fiero parts issue stated elsewhere here.

Supposedly the real car to go find fo collectibility is the hardtop solstice turbo model. Not very many of those were built. only 1,266. get one now.....bonus is the visibility anywhere else besides front is horrible.

Reigntastic > .jdb. 02/11/2014 at 14:46

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I saw a turbo model yesterday driving home from work and was very surprised, I honestly had no clue they came with a turbo. I've never been a big fan of them (convertibles as they are) but they always had a cult following from what I understand.