Remember the Kappa Platform?

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 09/03/2016 at 00:58 • Filed to: No this is a terrible idea, Go to bed Logan

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The Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice platform that died after a few years and used a manual transmission out of a truck? GM should dust it off and see what they can do with it now that the have components at their disposal that could make it legitimately worth a damn.

Namely I think it should use a proper 6-speed manual/auto, and instead of having two levels of motor, have one that sits smack between the old ones. The 200hp/206tq 1.6T that is used in nothing in the US except the Buick Cascada would be perfect imo.

Slap a Bowtie and a dual port grille on it and put on Chevy showroom floors. Bam, roadster besides a Mazda and an Italian Mazda for sale.

You all can blame Transformers being on TV with it’s sweet modded Solstice and me standing on front of a Solstice all day at college for these terrible ideas.

Sam > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:00

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Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:02

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Or somehow chop an LS in half.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:03

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I will never forget, I plan to own one.

I shall have a fleet of Pontiacs.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:04

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I’m still waiting.

They can call it “Monza” and have the turbo be the “Monza Spyder”. Maybe bring in Cosworth again too.

gmctavish needs more space > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:05

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There’s a guy in my neighbourhood with a lowered Solstice that has a loud exhaust and all of the turbo sounds. I like it. Also I fully support your idea, except add a High Feature V6 option above the 1.6T. Chevy wouldn’t like it, because it would be faster than the V6 Camaro, but I would like it.....

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 09/03/2016 at 01:06

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I really want one of those rare as hell blue Special Edition Sky Redlines.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > not for canada - australian in disguise 09/03/2016 at 01:08

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Well, I found the inspiration for the Camaro6 RS wheels.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > gmctavish needs more space 09/03/2016 at 01:10

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I don’t even know if the high feature V6 would fit in the engine bay. It was designed to only fit EcoTecs apparently. People have shoved LS motors in there but that’s probably thanks to how small they are.

gmctavish needs more space > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:12

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Oh that’s a good point.....yeah probably true. Hmm I dunno then. New GXP version with the turbo I4 out of the Camaro?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:13

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Am I the only one who thinks that the Sky has aged better than the Solstice?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 01:14

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As far as I knew this the the general consensus. I know that’s my thought on it. Though the longer I stare at the Solstice to avoid doing work, it’s not a bad looking little thing either.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:17

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Also, while I like this idea, I think the Polaris Slingshot already pretty much occupies this niche. They just need to give it a sub-2L turbo option and some sort of emergency roof.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 01:19

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And make it 3000% less appalling to look at. Plus isn’t it considered a motorcycle so some places require a helmet to operate it?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:21

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Good to know. I don’t pay enough attention to them any more to know about a consensus. But I saw a Solsice coupe the other day and thought that it was “meh” but I loved it when it came out. Then later that day I saw a Sky Redline (with a cool deflector that had an illuminated “SKY” logo in it) and thought it still looked like a car that could be sold brand new today.

Alfalfa > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 01:28

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I’ve always thought the Sky looked much better than the Solstice. The Solstice grill is kind of hideous.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:29

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Where I live it be registered & insured as a motorcycle, but you drive it with a M or a G license. You just need to wear a helmet and you are totally legal.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 01:32

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Yeah the laws for what it is and helmets seem to vary wildly by state/province. Personally I love the looks of the Slingshot. But I get why a lot of folks don’t. If I had toy money I would definitely compare it against a Miata. Here’s the thing about the niche - Polaris doesn’t break out production numbers, but does say in earnings reports that is had been way ahead of expectations. Based on VIN’s the forums are estimating somewhere over 10,000/year. The Solstice and Sky sold somewhere between 90 and 100,000 over 5 years. So an average of 20k/year. Despite it not being a traditional Roadster I’d say that makes the Slingshot very much a competitor if GM were to wade back into this market, which would make it very had to be worthwhile.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Alfalfa 09/03/2016 at 01:36

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Yeah the funny thing is I loved it when it came out but now... Ew. Also, aren't the reverse lamps straight off of a GMC Envoy?

Alfalfa > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 01:50

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Not sure, but not surprised either. GM lives their parts bin.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Alfalfa 09/03/2016 at 01:51

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Yes. At one point I had a radio out of a wrecked Saturn Relay in my S10.

Alfalfa > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 02:01

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Yeah, great when you need to fix something. Albeit a little disappointing when you peek inside a Corvette and find the same steering wheel from your Grand Prix.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 02:16

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Thats good, but how about a 7 speed SS with an N/A 335 3.6L from the CTS?

Dr_Watson > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/03/2016 at 02:27

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Nope, though the sky was always the prettier sister while the GXP coupe was the fun one. IIRC there are more Solstice GXPs in existence than redline Skys also, so when you see a redline it pops more.

I have a feeling those cars are both going to be worth a shit-ton in the future.

Dr_Watson > not for canada - australian in disguise 09/03/2016 at 02:28

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that concept is aging well... i hated it initially. now it just looks like a 135 mated with a camero

Wheelerguy > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 09/03/2016 at 02:29

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Yes, me, too. I would also like a V4-powered sportscar. Preferably twincharged. And has a plug-in hybrid version.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr_Watson 09/03/2016 at 02:33

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Common sense says they shouldn’t be worth much, but the low production number of the GXP and Redline together with them being some of the last cars of the their marques means they should be unless they are in rough shape. That being said... Despite the low production, the price was reasonable and nobody knew for sure it would be the end when the bought them, so Im guessing there are some high-mileage examples out there that were driven as intended instead of stashed in a garage. My advisor in grad school’s wife bought a Sky to DD in 2007. I don’t recall if it was a Redline, but she was putting something like 50 miles a day on that car.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 08:26

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There's a little known options package for them called the Z0K, for Z06 Killer. Autox course and a good driver, and it will live up to that name. They aren't all base models with no guts and multiple empty buttons on the interior.

Probenja > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 10:09

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Hyundai has a Kappa too, put a turbo on it and have a Miata 1.5l competitor.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 11:02

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They sold all the tooling to a Spanish company called Tauro. They make a car called the V8 Spider that has an LS3 and looks like this:

This was from 2012.

briannutter1 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/03/2016 at 12:16

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I was considering one of these instead of my C5Z and was talking with Chuck Mallet with his ls conversions. Modern day Cobra. Couldn't put a lot of tire under them though. Still, they rocked Scca even stock.

Axial > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/04/2016 at 05:38

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Nope, not the only one. Incidentally, the late-model Ion has also aged better than the Slobalt.