Saturn skyline driver#
Saturn skyline manual#

These revival renderings by Kleber Silva honestly don't do the original any justice. Its designer, Franz von Holzhausen, is now working at Tesla and is responsible for the sexy new Roadster II. We think the Solstice GXP is a particularly sexy-looking roadster that might have out-gunned the BMW Z4 if given the chance. The newly re-established DeLorean brand wanted to buy the Wilmington Assembly plant and even showed sketches of the re-branded DeLorean Solstice. However, in 2009, GM announced it would kill the Pontiac and Saturn brands. You could also buy an engine tune right from the dealer to get 290 hp, and for the last two model years, the Solstice was also available as a Targa-style coupe. This model claimed a 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 5.5 seconds or less (7 seconds for the 2.4L) and is probably still the most power-dense engine ever offered by GM in America at about 2.1 hp per cubic inch. The Solstice GXP had a 2-liter turbo making 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. But the definitive version came out a year layer. The normal model was equipped with 2.4-liter making 177 horsepower and cost about $28,000. Safe to say even Pontiac surprised by the result. Within 10 days of the reveal, Pontiac had 7,000 orders, which was supposed to be their total yearly production number. Not only did the motoring press love this slim European-style roadster, but so did the customers. You probably remember one of these cars as a lame Autobot in the Transformers movies, but it was pretty cool. The Pontiac Solstice entered production in 2005, about a year after being previewed as a concept. The Sky's trunk doesn't help its cause either, providing just 5.4 cubic feet of space with the top up and practically none with it down, along with an awkward lid that opens rearward.Because they didn't survive to this day, it's only natural to assume that they weren't good or didn't sell well, but you'd be wrong on both accounts.

Saturn skyline driver#

Graceful it's not - especially when compared to the Miata's one-arm operation from the comfort of the driver seat. Dropping the top requires the driver to unlatch it at the windshield, push a button in the glovebox and fold the whole thing down into the rear deck before forcibly slamming it shut. The Sky is also let down by a poorly designed top and a small trunk. Nor will passengers find much to like about the quality of the interior plastics - or lack thereof. For reference, the 2008 Saturn SKY originally had a starting sticker price of 26,770, with the range-topping SKY Red Line Roadster 2D starting at 30,700. Seating is comfortable, with adequate side bolsters for spirited driving, although the transmission tunnel is unusually wide, which eliminates any possibility of center storage space and puts the squeeze on larger drivers. The base model's instrument panel is attractive and legible the Red Line-specific dash is even more so. Such is not the case with the Sky, as the cabin is surprisingly roomy, even for larger occupants. Like many roadsters, the 2009 Saturn Sky's diminutive exterior leads many to assume that the interior must be as inviting as a phone booth. The reliability issues looming overhead, however, should make potential roadster buyers pause to consider the nearly bulletproof and well-established Mazda Miata. For those left wanting more performance, a laundry list of dealer-installed performance upgrades, from suspension to exhaust, should appease. Another concern for the daily use of a Saturn Sky would be the model's poor reputation for reliability.Īssuming style is indeed the main factor driving sales of the Sky, many of the aforementioned faults could easily be overlooked. Accessing the trunk is similarly inconvenient, since the stowed convertible top occupies a sizable space under the rear deck lid.

Saturn skyline manual#

While manual tops are not a huge price to pay for al fresco driving, the Sky's top is unduly complicated. The manually operated convertible top and trunk form a long dark cloud over what is otherwise a generally successful execution. As with the previous year, the mild base model is offered alongside the extra-spicy Sky Red Line.Īll is not sunny and clear in this Sky, however. When you consider that the Sky is also a competent and sporty ride at a reasonable price, it emerges as a viable alternative to the convertible Mini and Miata. For the majority of potential owners, that alone is worth the price of admission. SPONSORED 1 SATURN SKY Convertible Windscreen Wind Deflector Windstop Windblocker C2W. Saturn Sky Pontiac Solstice Tulip Flap Clip OEM (Fits: Saturn Sky) 24.97. Even as the model enters its third year of production, the Sky still manages to turn heads. (12) 12 product ratings - 06-10 Solstice, Saturn Sky Genuine GM Windscreen Deflector Black 17800058. The 2009 Saturn Sky is, first and foremost, a good-looking car.