by cammerjeff » Fri Dec 02, 2016 6:53 am
Thanks Dwight,
Unfortunatly I am not really a Video guy, and the weather here started to turn towards winter here yesterday, 1st snow flurries of the year. I hope to take it out one more time on Saturday to out local cars & coffee B/S session on Woodward, Fingers crossed the weather stays dry and they don't decide to salt the roads today for some reason. After that it will be in the garage for the season.
I still can't believe the timing worked out. I have missed having a convertible to drive the last couple of years, and I have always found that you can get a good deal on a new convertible in Michigan in late October/November so I started looking at New Miata's and Fiat 124 Abarth's. Both would sticker around $30,000. Drove both I liked the way the Miata drove, but I really do not car for the styling of the new model. The Fiat looks good to me, and handled just like the Mazda (imagine that as it is the same chassis) but the little 1.5 Turbo had some odd habits. It seemed to have a dead spot in the torque band at 4000-4600 rpm. so I decided to look at what I could get used.
All the 1st gen Miata's near me were either used up and rusty, or to far away. S2000's were the same, then on a whim I looked for V8 Solstice's and 3 interesting cars popped up, 2 mallets and 1 LS7 owner conversion, the other 2 were to far away and about $5000 more than the car I bought, but they were brighter colors, but the LS7 car was a Automatic, no thanks. Then I looked at the sleeper gray one last saw it had less than 20,000 miles, was a manual and had A/C and was only 3 hours away worth a call. Spoke to the broker that was selling the car made an offer sight unseen and was suprised when the owner took my offer that was $7200 under the asking price. this was on the Tuesday before thanksgiving, I was able to work out the financing and insurance by Monday and pick it up Tuesday, Monday here was pouring rain and Tuesday was 55F and almost sunny so I decided to drive the car home. I have only driven it a total of about 5 hours, but what a ride. And can you believe I actually bought a car that my insurance company considers stock? Because it is one of the numbered cars and was converted when new and sold that way thru a Pontiac dealer with a full GM warranty Haggerty considers it stock, and the insurance is $156 a year less than my 97 Firebird Convertible was? If I would have bought a car that was converted after it was sold new, or owner converted it would be considered modified and the insurance would be almost $500 a year more. Almost seems like I was destined to own this one.
From the records it looks like all the PO did was change the oil every spring, and rotate the tires, so some PM is due, along with a set of new tires.
And yes it is faster than the 2004 GTO I had for 4 months back in 2008, I good friend of mine was in financial trouble and I agreed to take over the last 4 months of his lease, that GTO was tame and easy to launch compared to this car. It did weigh almost 1000lbs more with the same HP and less rear gear, but did have a T56. I wish this car had that trans, but I think I will just change the rear axle ratio from the 3.91 to a 3.23. The transmissions 1st gear ratio is 3.75 so hooked up to the 3.91 rear gears 1st gear is almost useless exept to burn up the tires! I already owe Harry a ride this spring!
Jeff R
1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual