thoughts on the '09 redline

[uranium-238]

Well, here are some things I've noticed about the '09 models that some folks might be interested in knowing.

1. The '09 redline does in fact HAVE the vacuum boost, I've got that "T" connection in that one line.

2. The foam cubes in the front of the trunk have been replaced with plastic clips, looks alot less like a cheap, quick-fix.

3. They might have fixed the fuel gauage. I'm still taking it pretty easy, as it's both a different car to drive than I'm used to and it's still being broken in, but I have yet to see the guage move lower then bounce back later. Still not quite sure on this, but time will tell.

4. The "waterfall" cupholder is indeed gone, but there's still a cutout for it that has been filled with a plastic panel.

And now some thoughts on the Sky in general:

1. Having to put the top up and down by hand is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. Once you get a decent routine it's a quick and simple process, and certainly not a reason to disregard this car.

2. While the trunk might be small, there are so many pockets in the cabin that it's not funny. 2 pouches in the front part of the seats, 2 behind the seats, and one on the panel behind the drivers seat. I knew of none of these when I ordered the car.

3. Kinda wish that they had swapped the subwoofer and rear pocket, as it would be nice to be able to use that to store CDs. Won't be an issue when I get around to getting the PAL ordered and installed.

4. The "tap-tap-tap" of the engine doesn't bother me at all. I was kinda worried that it might, but thankfully, no biggie.

5. I have to scratch my head and when people complain about wind noise with the top up. The Sky's that do this must have problems. Wind noise isn't any worse than the civic I had before this car, and would be about what I'd call normal for any car. (Said civic had a moonroof, if that makes any difference.

6. It's wonderful to have an engine with some low end torque in it again. Torque is good.

7. The turbo is sweet. You can choose between great power and good economy, all with the same engine, based on how you drive the car. Acceleration without having the turbo spool up is still very reasonable, yet the fun factor can return whenever you want it to.

8. Black was definitely the right choice. Blends perfectly with the black center console, seats and headlights. Make it all look very uniform and consistent.

9. Yeah, it's hard to see any of the LCD displays with the top down. But, while they're hard to see, they can still be read.

10. It may be a roadster, but it's very roomy. More headroom and legroom than the civic. Less hip room, but not enough of a difference to be a problem.


And last but not least, it's simply the best looking roadster since the Jaguar E-type, (Series I and II) at least in my eyes. This car certainly has looks worthy of a Ferrari badge, or any other exotic car.

[fr0stb1t3]

Good write-up. I'd like to add to number 1.

This started somewhere along the line late in 2008 production. My car which is numbered 33*** also has the T in the connector, and is a 2008.

[ChgoBlues]

Originally Posted by uranium-238

And now some thoughts on the Sky in general:

1. Having to put the top up and down by hand is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. Once you get a decent routine it's a quick and simple process, and certainly not a reason to disregard this car.


And last but not least, it's simply the best looking roadster since the Jaguar E-type, (Series I and II) at least in my eyes. This car certainly has looks worthy of a Ferrari badge, or any other exotic car.

I've gotten in that routine and it takes much less time for me than it does for my partner's '08 BMW 128i to unlatch, fold and store the roof. I can be on the road before it's done.

[eddf]

No "T" on my 08 RL, but I do have the clips in the trunk rather than the cubes. That must have been a mid 08 change.

Lack of storage is OK by me. My girlfriend talked me into going to the mall Saturday because we "needed" things for the house. I had to cut the shopping short because of lack of space in the trunk. That Sky "feature" saved me at least $200 on a single trip

Ed

[uranium-238]

Yesterday I left work early so I could go pick up the Sky, and on the way home I saw a solstice with the top down and a massive upright vacuum cleaner in the passenger seat. there's plenty to room, if you know how to use it. (and the weather cooperates. )

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by uranium-238

Well, here are some things I've noticed about the '09 models that some folks might be interested in knowing.

4. The "waterfall" cupholder is indeed gone, but there's still a cutout for it that has been filled with a plastic panel.

Huh? They deleted the one that *doesn't* break repeatedly???

And now some thoughts on the Sky in general:

1. Having to put the top up and down by hand is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. Once you get a decent routine it's a quick and simple process, and certainly not a reason to disregard this car.

This is easily the most wrongly maligned issue with the car. Everyone I've shown the process to who's already read about how bad it is has had same reaction: "Huh? That's it? That's not bad at all."

2. While the trunk might be small, there are so many pockets in the cabin that it's not funny. 2 pouches in the front part of the seats, 2 behind the seats, and one on the panel behind the drivers seat. I knew of none of these when I ordered the car.

I've had the car almost a year and hadn't noticed the ones behind the seats.

3. Kinda wish that they had swapped the subwoofer and rear pocket, as it would be nice to be able to use that to store CDs. Won't be an issue when I get around to getting the PAL ordered and installed.

A number of people have reported issues with the GM PAL- it makes the head unit flakey.

4. The "tap-tap-tap" of the engine doesn't bother me at all. I was kinda worried that it might, but thankfully, no biggie.

I've never even noticed it.

5. I have to scratch my head and when people complain about wind noise with the top up. The Sky's that do this must have problems. Wind noise isn't any worse than the civic I had before this car, and would be about what I'd call normal for any car. (Said civic had a moonroof, if that makes any difference.

Agreed. If you have bad wind noise, it's due to a misaligned top, not the design itself.

7. The turbo is sweet. You can choose between great power and good economy, all with the same engine, based on how you drive the car. Acceleration without having the turbo spool up is still very reasonable, yet the fun factor can return whenever you want it to.

I made 28MPG driving mine 1100 miles back from San Jose and I wasn't babying it at all. Nice job, GM.

8. Black was definitely the right choice. Blends perfectly with the black center console, seats and headlights. Make it all look very uniform and consistent.

Yes, well, I think five of us here would say you missed the boat by not getting red/red/black

9. Yeah, it's hard to see any of the LCD displays with the top down. But, while they're hard to see, they can still be read.

They aren't LCDs, and that's the problem. It was foolish of GM to choose a head unit with this display technology for use in all their vehicles. The LCD display in my 2005 4Runner is perfectly visible, day or night, even with the moonroof open and the sun on it.

And last but not least, it's simply the best looking roadster since the Jaguar E-type, (Series I and II) at least in my eyes. This car certainly has looks worthy of a Ferrari badge, or any other exotic car.

It's a head-turner for sure. After a year I still like to walk through the garage to take a gander even when I'm not driving it.

[uranium-238]

Originally Posted by lorennerol

Yes, well, I think five of us here would say you missed the boat by not getting red/red/black

The red/red/black does look nice, but I won't own a red vehicle if it can be avoided. Stands out too much, (read: catches the eye of the police) and every red vehicle my family (I still live with my parents) has owned has had major problems or been wrecked. So, no red for me, thanks!

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by lorennerol

This is easily the most wrongly maligned issue with the car. Everyone I've shown the process to who's already read about how bad it is has had same reaction: "Huh? That's it? That's not bad at all."

The reason for this is rooted in psychology. There exists a point when covering a story where a perception about an attribute reaches a mental absorption point. When this point is reached, people stop questioning the veracity of the perception and begin to accept it as a given fact. This can occur accidentally as the press saturate a story, or it can occur when one aligns themselves with a political position, and it can be applied with intent (i.e., brainwashing).

I believe the SKY/Solstice top issue reached saturation early in the review process, so all subsequent reviewers just accepted the problem as a given FACT and propagated the problem in future reviews, perhaps without ever actually operating the top themselves. This self feeding cycle just re-enforces the perception. When someone brainwashed by the reviewers finally see the top in action, it can be a quite a surprise.

[SKY888]

are the new 09 sky redlines have HID lights?

It's so weird that 08s don't have any HID lights coming from the factory

[08SkyLdr]

Originally Posted by uranium-238

The red/red/black does look nice, but I won't own a red vehicle if it can be avoided. Stands out too much, (read: catches the eye of the police) and every red vehicle my family (I still live with my parents) has owned has had major problems or been wrecked. So, no red for me, thanks!

Not so sure about that. My Redline is Midnight Blue and I still get plenty of attention from the police, even when I'm on my best behavior.

[mbeardsley]

[quote=eddf;344905]No "T" on my 08 RL, but I do have the clips in the trunk rather than the cubes. That must have been a mid 08 change.
[quote]

I have a very EARLY '08 and I still have the clips, so that change must have been either made for all '08s or perhaps even somewhere on the '07s.

[Griz]

Originally Posted by eddf

No "T" on my 08 RL, but I do have the clips in the trunk rather than the cubes. That must have been a mid 08 change.

Ed

Our 08 was manufactured in March of 08 and has the clips rather than the cubes.

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by Bogie

The reason for this is rooted in psychology. There exists a point when covering a story where a perception about an attribute reaches a mental absorption point. When this point is reached, people stop questioning the veracity of the perception and begin to accept it as a given fact. This can occur accidentally as the press saturate a story, or it can occur when one aligns themselves with a political position, and it can be applied with intent (i.e., brainwashing).

I've noticed a whole lot of this in the last seven years, seven months: If you tell people what they want to hear, or what they already believe, they tend to accept it without consideration. Heck, you might even find yourself fighting a war (or two) in a quagmire as a result.

L

[jus2shy]

bought my 08 in 12/07. Built on 11/07. I don't see any foam cubes. The only foam I have on my car is on the trunk lid when it shuts, it's two padded feet that rests on the top. I have the plastic tabs on my top.

[Antonio]

my car was produced jan 3, 2007 and has the v clips in the drain area of the top in the trunk.

[Darkwing]

Quote: Yes, well, I think five of us here would say you missed the boat by not getting red/red/black .

Shhh we don't want everyone to have that combo.

[fr0stb1t3]

Originally Posted by Darkwing

Quote: Yes, well, I think five of us here would say you missed the boat by not getting red/red/black .

Shhh we don't want everyone to have that combo.

It's all good, from what I've been told we're one of less than 150 or so Redlines with black onyx and black/red interiors.

Best color combo on this car ever

[Darkwing]

Originally Posted by fr0stb1t3

It's all good, from what I've been told we're one of less than 150 or so Redlines with black onyx and black/red interiors.

Best color combo on this car ever

Well excuse my sarcasm then..I didn't know the black red/black was that unusual. I'm sure there's less with red red/black though.

[Elff]

My April 08 has the Clips vs Cubes

In regards to the top, I am going to say this again but in a more blunt way.
Anyone who has a problem with it is just a pansy.
I've owned 4 Jeeps and one Mercedes Benz SLK 230.
The Sky softop is a godsend compared to the jeep softop [Which I don't complain about]
and my SLK hard top broke numerous times.

I am glad that I didn't have to pay extra for a motorized option that could break.

I have to check my break stuff.
In regards to the PAL, it's been rock solid on mine. It occasionally cuts out on XM but this is easily recitified. All you have to do is change to the iPod.
Let it engage, then change back to XM. It will then be rock solid.
The method in which you select XM vs Ipod however, does have a drawback.
When using Onstar directions, the radio switches to Onstar then back to the XM choice. This is exactly how you switch between XM and Ipod, therefore, everytime directions come on, it changes the mode.
Good review.