mario
09-23-2005, 12:25 AM
CLIFF NOTES: everything you thought would be wrong with the car is...and then some.
intro
took this lil monster on a test loop that involved a few twisties, a few evasive manouvers and a short loop intended to get it sideways. Basically, if you've ever been to any of those ride-and-drives or those GM Autoshow In Motions...imagine that with no supervision (heh...since i AM the supervision)....and also an open airplane runway (~100 mph before i dialed back...mostly 'cause i didn't care to go any faster)
here are my impressions:
Interior Fit and Finish:
one word to describe this: CRAP...i mean utter and complete crap...not your usual "well, it's a GM car so it's gonna be crappy" crap...i mean even a Toyota Echo has a better interior...even a LeCar had a better interior....this rivals for the worst interior in decades award...
here's the deal: doesn't come with power anything...it's an option to get power windows and door locks (I wouldn't be surprised if a steering wheel is an option, too!)...for the life of me, i couldn't find the damn button to open the power door lokcs (without turning off the car...which activates them automatically).....the problem? each option package sends the price way north of $20k....way north.
with the top up, cargo is an impressive 3.8 cubic feet...top down? well, maybe you can fit a can of cambell's soup back there...but that's about it (this is NOT exageration....it's true)
the drive
well, first off, let me dispell any questions: yes, it drives like a small, mid-engine, rwd car. That is to say, it drives like it looks it would.
The engine is lacking when coming off a hard turn out of second gear. The engine is lacking in the upper limits of the rev's but pretty solid from about 4k-6k....acceleration is efortless and windnoise is surprisingly good for an open-top roadster.
The car is easily tossable and very tail happy if you want it to be. Steering is light and effortless but does give SOME feedback.
The car drifts with little encouragement but stays planted and glued on the perfect line if you want it to...it DOES respond quite nicely and is very confidence-inspiring.
Power is bad....174 horses isn't enough. Can't wait for the supercharged/turbo version.
Things that need fixin':
basically, what we've all thought would be the problems: power, interior fit and finish (i must say, however...it's even worse than could be expected!)
the verdict
an admirable try. GM gets a gold star for effort...but it's little consolation to be riding the short bus back home...this car is a major skip...i mean MAJOR skip. Get a miata. Get an MR2 (used, i guess)....until GM fixes those major issues...then, it will be a MAJOR hit.
intro
took this lil monster on a test loop that involved a few twisties, a few evasive manouvers and a short loop intended to get it sideways. Basically, if you've ever been to any of those ride-and-drives or those GM Autoshow In Motions...imagine that with no supervision (heh...since i AM the supervision)....and also an open airplane runway (~100 mph before i dialed back...mostly 'cause i didn't care to go any faster)
here are my impressions:
Interior Fit and Finish:
one word to describe this: CRAP...i mean utter and complete crap...not your usual "well, it's a GM car so it's gonna be crappy" crap...i mean even a Toyota Echo has a better interior...even a LeCar had a better interior....this rivals for the worst interior in decades award...
here's the deal: doesn't come with power anything...it's an option to get power windows and door locks (I wouldn't be surprised if a steering wheel is an option, too!)...for the life of me, i couldn't find the damn button to open the power door lokcs (without turning off the car...which activates them automatically).....the problem? each option package sends the price way north of $20k....way north.
with the top up, cargo is an impressive 3.8 cubic feet...top down? well, maybe you can fit a can of cambell's soup back there...but that's about it (this is NOT exageration....it's true)
the drive
well, first off, let me dispell any questions: yes, it drives like a small, mid-engine, rwd car. That is to say, it drives like it looks it would.
The engine is lacking when coming off a hard turn out of second gear. The engine is lacking in the upper limits of the rev's but pretty solid from about 4k-6k....acceleration is efortless and windnoise is surprisingly good for an open-top roadster.
The car is easily tossable and very tail happy if you want it to be. Steering is light and effortless but does give SOME feedback.
The car drifts with little encouragement but stays planted and glued on the perfect line if you want it to...it DOES respond quite nicely and is very confidence-inspiring.
Power is bad....174 horses isn't enough. Can't wait for the supercharged/turbo version.
Things that need fixin':
basically, what we've all thought would be the problems: power, interior fit and finish (i must say, however...it's even worse than could be expected!)
the verdict
an admirable try. GM gets a gold star for effort...but it's little consolation to be riding the short bus back home...this car is a major skip...i mean MAJOR skip. Get a miata. Get an MR2 (used, i guess)....until GM fixes those major issues...then, it will be a MAJOR hit.