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.
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.
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!😂😂😂
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.
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 :)
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 🤬
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.
@@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 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!
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!
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.
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.
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’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.
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??
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!🤙🏾
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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 thought about selling my sky to buy another car. RN its winter in WI so other all season cars are very enticing but thwn i think about it...you cant replace a Saturn sky!
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 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. 👍🍻
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.
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
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 always get a kick out of people thinking their tires have an expiration date!! LIKE ITS A GALLON OF MILK!!! No…..your tires are NOT rotten on the inside. I’ve seen farm trailer tires that are 25 years old that have outside weather checking, but are smooth as a baby’s bottom on the inside. The thing is with the sky, you DON’T HAVE A SPARE and an old tire is prone to leak air. It’s NOT going to explode, but it might loose air over time.
Hello Mike, I'm thinking about buying a Solstice, but it has a wider than normal gap on the front where the hood meets the bumper. The car seems really tight and runs well with 68000 miles. I just drove a Solstice with 35000 miles and the 68000 mile car felt just as good. I have driven other prospects with a more sloppy drive feel. Anyway, just wanted to get your assessmentof the gap. Thanks man, really enjoy your videos.
The gap could be for various reasons. From it being assembled that way to it being in an accident and the bumper being replaced. If possible, ask the current owner about it and they may be able to shed some light. It may have also been something simple like a repair was made which required taking the bumper off and it wasn't put back on correctly. See if you can see any empty holes where push pins or screws would have been. The other thing is maybe the hood was taken off to do some maintenance and was off a bit when they put it back on. There are tons of adjustments on the hood to line it up. It may be something that simple. Definitely get a Carfax report to see if there are any accidents or major repairs. Also, ask about the water pump. That's a common part that needs replaced around that mileage. Good luck.
Hello Mike (MHoM), I bought the Solstice, and it is awesome. On the bumper misalignment - It appears from a bit (ripped section) of front bumper damage that a previous owner got the front bumper stuck on something and fixed their problem by full reversing while trying to rip the front bumper off. I will fix this. Thanks for the info.
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.
Well the battery went bad in my sky and they took the fender off however they tore the plastic wheel well then tried to do a repair hoping I wouldn’t notice.. no more meineke for me now at 60K the water pump is bad and turbo needs removed to access it 🙁
I'm sorry to hear that. Finding a good mechanic is like finding a good doctor. Once you do, you don't want to lose them. Good luck with your water pump change. Make sure you find someone who knows what they're doing. Also, there's a special tool needed to take the pump off without messing up the timing chain. If they know what they're doing, they'll know that too.
It's neat car but GM definitely did not do their homework with the trunk. Having basicaly no trunk with top down is ridiculous. Especially compared to MX-5, MR-2 or other roadsters...
Mechanically, the Sky and Solstice are identical. The only difference is the look of the interior and exterior. So it's only a matter of which one you like better. Some people like the curves of the Solstice and others like the sharpness of the Sky. I personally like the Sky which is why I have one. But I wouldn't turn down a Solstice either.
Another question for you Mike...my trunk will not stay open. Keeps drifting down whenever I try to open convertible or place back in trunk. . You have any insights on what I can do to fix? Thanks.
Very, very good video. BUT..........stopppppp! DO NOT REMOVE THE SIDE BODY PANEL TO CHANGE THE BATTERY. IT IS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL. Read some forums regarding the Solstice and Sky. Don’t rely on RU-vid videos. GMC did not intend for the body panel to be removed in order to change the battery. Remove the front right wheel. Loosen the fender liner (do not take all the clips out - just 4 of them) and fold it out of the way. It’s pliable and won’t be damaged. Remove the bracket in front of the battery. 3 bolts and one screw. Remove the battery cables and clamp. Remove and replace. Reverse the process. I just did mine yesterday for the second time. Total time - 25 minutes. You will absolutely regret removing that body panel if you go that route.
I truly enjoy my 2008 redline hope to keep it for a long time. Too bad they got rid of Saturn. Would be great cars for electric. But I like the noise these make. I hate changing the batt. Just wish there were space for a spare tire. I get nervous when on long trip. I never noticed that I could not close hood while door open thanks so much for that tip. Any tips on how to make the ride more smooth? I found out that if you keep the passenger window up when the top is down and the driver's window down the driver will not get his hair blown.
It could be the camshaft position actuators. I've heard those could cause rough downshifts. It's an inexpensive and easy fix. See my video on changing them here. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cyyvlrJ-frg.html
I've owned about 6 different roadsters and I would love to try the Solstice. I love how it looks and I hear it's a blast to drive, but the poor engineering is the deal killer for me. Mainly the top. I can't believe you can't open and close it from inside the car. You basically have to get in and out of the car a few times and also walk around it just to close the top? And now I see that you cant close the hood while the door is open or you risk damaging them? Come on! Now that's poor design engineering... someone plz change my mind about the top!!! I'd love to try a Solstice!
I agree with you about the top. But once you get used to it, and know how much fun the car is in general, it's not that bad. Plus, since it's all manual, there's no motor to break down and no motor means less weight to increase speed. But yeah, the top can be a pain if you're in a hurry.
Mike makes some great points! Anything motorized will eventually break! It's not bad once you get the hang of it. I can have to the top down and back up in less than 30 secs. The hood/door issue I completely agree with!
