When the Sky was introduced...many magazines did similiar comparisons....they all fail to realize that this is not the family car...it really has to do with paid advertisement they receive from auto manufacturers....calm down! Remember, our cars are our TROPHYS.

 

The media has been down on the Kappa since its introduction. Some of the negative press has been justified while much of it has not. Some of it was just incorrect and was based on the writer's idea of what it appeared to be rather than what it was, colored by there misconceptions of what is actually better and what is perceived to be better.

Most of us have learned to ignore the press, improve those things we can change, and accept the rest. The rest have moved on to something that suits them better.

As far as the saddle bag comparison, a Harley riding friend and I compared luggage space after i got my first one and determined that his saddle bags did have more room than my trunk with the top down, so that one is fairly legitimate.

The top comparison is generally with the Miata, and it is more involved since the Miata can be put up or down while sitting in the driver's seat. This is a legitimate comparison that is a big deal if you are trying to find faults and not such a big deal if you don't care. I guess that applies to all of the cars "shortcomings".

It really all comes down to what is important to the individual and what isn't.

I would not trade my Sky for anything (within reason) but I have never recommended that anyone I know should get one.

 

The media has been down on the Kappa since its introduction. Some of the negative press has been justified while much of it has not. Some of it was just incorrect and was based on the writer's idea of what it appeared to be rather than what it was, colored by there misconceptions of what is actually better and what is perceived to be better.

Most of us have learned to ignore the press, improve those things we can change, and accept the rest. The rest have moved on to something that suits them better.

As far as the saddle bag comparison, a Harley riding friend and I compared luggage space after i got my first one and determined that his saddle bags did have more room than my trunk with the top down, so that one is fairly legitimate.

The top comparison is generally with the Miata, and it is more involved since the Miata can be put up or down while sitting in the driver's seat. This is a legitimate comparison that is a big deal if you are trying to find faults and not such a big deal if you don't care. I guess that applies to all of the cars "shortcomings".

It really all comes down to what is important to the individual and what isn't.

I would not trade my Sky for anything (within reason) but I have never recommended that anyone I know should get one.

Well said John! I have just traded my 2008 XL1200 Custom for a 2008 Sky with 16,500 miles on it. My Harley had Corbin hard bags and taking a trip required creative planning and packing. The trunk in my “new”Sky seems enormous in comparison. It’s all about perspective......

 

I wonder what the saddle bag comparison would be with the rain gear as contents.

 

We didn't take it quite that seriously, although my recollection is that my trunk was actually smaller than his saddlebags, so that may have evened it out.

Who cares what those assclowns think?

Thats what i was trying to say, albeit with a bit more delicacy.

 

Who cares what those assclowns think?

 

Helmets anybody? 😁

 

Consumer review. https://www.cars.com/research/saturn-sky-2007/consumer-reviews/

 

Talking head reviews Saturn Sky Red Line Review - The Truth About Cars. Autotrader - page unavailable

 

I have to say, when most other convertibles drive by I pretty much know instantly what it is. Just another me too car. When a Sky drives by I think most people say Wow that is sharp! What is that! I used to get that same reaction years ago when I had my Alfa Romeo. It may be due to the limited number of them on the road. These cars were hear turners when they came out and still are today!

 

Who cares what reviews say unless they are pointing out some legitimate dependability issue. Many of the authors are idiots - comparing a sports car to a barge like a two ton pony car or (laughably) an SUV - see that and close the review, no point going any further. Thy clearly lack any understanding of what sports cars are and what they are intended to do.

If you read all of the reviews made at the time they cars were new, you'll see reviews that even copy misinformation contained in previous reviews - obvious cribbing to avoid doing any real research.

Having made that assessment of most reviewers long ago, I no longer get irked when I see the nonsense that passes as the fool-fodder that pays their wages. Although I must say that when I see the rare review written by someone that seems to actually understand what a sports car is and is not supposed to be able to do, it is a pleasant surprise.

 

I have to get out of the car instead of pushing a button to open the top. It is just way too much effort for my feeble body! It is killing me!

This is my favorite reason for loving my SKY: Snowflake lazy people don't don't want to put forth any effort. I'm glad they are too weak to own one.

 

We owned a 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder for a few years. That was a sweet little ride. The trunk in that car was a very small lockable compartment located behind the seats. Any Kappa, but especially the Solstice without the trunk lid supports, beats the Spyder's storage hands-down. It would be interesting to read reviews of the MR2 Spyder to determine if there were similar complaints concerning storage. That would determine how bias the media is.

We towed the Spyder on a few trips out west behind our motor home. When we went out for the day sight-seeing, the day-cooler stayed on the floor in front of my wife's short legs and it worked out very nicely. It did have a more passenger floor room than our Sky has.

I debate whether I want to setup the Sky for RV towing. A tow bar kit is available, application for the manual transmission. CLICK HERE to see one setup.

 

We owned a 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder for a few years. That was a sweet little ride. The trunk in that car was a very small lockable compartment located behind the seats. Any Kappa, but especially the Solstice without the trunk lid supports, beats the Spyder's storage hands-down. It would be interesting to read reviews of the MR2 Spyder to determine if there were similar complaints concerning storage. That would determine how bias the media is.

We towed the Spyder on a few trips out west behind our motor home. When we went out for the day sight-seeing, the day-cooler stayed on the floor in front of my wife's short legs and it worked out very nicely. It did have a more passenger floor room than our Sky has.

I debate whether I want to setup the Sky for RV towing. A tow bar kit is available, application for the manual transmission. CLICK HERE to see one setup.

Oh, there is definite bias. This 2000 C&D review of the MR2 mentions luggage space like it doesn't matter, and cockpit noise like it is a good thing: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder

I would not flat tow a Kappa. The front overhang is so bad that you will destroy the nose of the car eventually if not sooner. Trailering it would be a much preferable option.

 

I was driving a 2000 Honda Insight with my wife on a road trip when we pulleg up next to a couple on a Harley at the gas pump. The guy asked me what gas mileage I got amid comments that his bike was bigger, had more storage, and got 45 mpg. I told him I got 60 MPG and had airconditioning. As we pulled away I remarked to my wife that those dark thunderheads would take some if the fun out of his ride....lol

 

I agree that the Saturn Sky is a trophy. And it turns heads.

The Sky sounds cool and it's fun to drive.

It's not too over the top either. Not like a 97 camaro with magnaflows.

Not pretentious - like a car that sold for 80,000$ new.

Probably the reason not to own a sky is a reason isn't one that's never cited...

That you'll fall in love with the styling and end up putting money into customizing it.

I've probably put 6,000$ into cool stuff like a pioneer gps, powerful speakers and Opel customization.

The car cost 7600$ in 2017. It's paid for now.

I get that for 13,600$ you can buy a pretty nice car. Maybe a 2006 corvette. But eh, I don't have any regrets.

Yeah. If you own a Sky you should own a beater. The Sky is not for everyone. It's not for most people.

But if you own one - you probably take car of it and love it.

 

Who cares? The negative leaning reviews help keep prices low.... If you're trying to sell your kappa you deserve the low exit price!

But really... Who cares? Is the storage space abysmal... Yes. Are there rattles... Yes. Are the cup holders some of the weakest you've seen.... Yes. Is the shifter designed in a stupid way that doesn't allow easy replacement.... Yes. Is it common to fix your car using parts bought at Home Depot.... Yes. Do any of these things stop you from wanting to go jump in the car every chance you get?....Probably not.

So.... Who cares what the media (or, frankly, anyone) thinks?
I like my street-legal go-cart with AC, so I certainly don't care about someone's negative comments. They can keep their anemic, commonplace Mazdas and Hondas.

 

More disinformation:. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...ws/this-ls7-v8-saturn-sky-is-oem-tuning-done-right-dyno-d-at-437-hp-144316.html. LS7 is 505 horsepower and the Sky was not designed after the Lotus Elise. The styling for the Sky, penned by Franz von Holzhausen, was based on the Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept's design.

 

More disinformation:. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...ws/this-ls7-v8-saturn-sky-is-oem-tuning-done-right-dyno-d-at-437-hp-144316.html. LS7 is 505 horsepower

But a chassis dyno gives wheel HP and the factory rating is at the flywheel, so that is right on the button - WHP is usually about 85% of BHP.

 

I understand that. But the correct designation matters. For instance 12" is different than 12'.

 

The correct designation matters, but the description only states 437 hp, without specifying wheel or flywheel, so it is certainly ambiguous but not actually incorrect.
Rather like 12 being different from 12' or 12". That said, most of the description is inaccurate to some degree.

 

It would have been a better article if they stayed with the same apple to apple measurements instead of using two different types of measurement which can easily cause misunderstanding of comparative values.

 

You are correct, but it really would have been a better article if every other sentence hadn't been incorrect.

 

I think the big tip off that we were being told about whp was the reference to dyno run with the video of it obviously being run on a chassis dyno right under it.....

And I agree that it wasn't exactly a brilliant piece of automotive journalism.

 

....

And I agree that it wasn't exactly a brilliant piece of automotive journalism.

I just looked up "understatement". Guess what example was there?

 

I give up - what?

 

Why does anyone care about anything that anyone else says? the Media isn't. Its all about click bait and staying in business in the new internet and cell phone everyone sees everything all the time from everywhere. None of the "media" reports facts anymore. Its all about getting an audience and keeping it long enough to get rich. You get an audience by saying things that piss people off and they come back, or by telling them what they want to hear so they will come back. Ego stroking. Watch John Cadogen for a month and see what a krazy mechanical engineer who is a former media type has to say about it. And stop reading anything the "media" has to say as if it was truth.

 

Why does anyone care about anything that anyone else says? . . . .

At least all people in these forums care what other people say.

 

What do you value and what do you not care about? Many reviews weren't exactly wrong but that question is what it came down to.

Storage, the Sky is a joke. The fact we are even making a comparison between saddle bags on a motorcycle and our trunks is proof of that. Miata and S2000 both have real trunks...top up OR down. If you need a roadster you can actually live in...like hauling your hockey gear and not having to pack every square inch of cargo and passenger space to do it...both of those are better choices.

Top operation...yea, you're going to have to open the trunk and get out of the car to put it up or down. Miata can be done from the driver's seat without opening anything.

Power to weight it's a draw NA Kappa to Miata and Turbo Kappa to S2000. Turbo Kappa can destroy a Miata straight-line or road course but edge to the narrower and more nimble Miata on an autocross course. S2000 will destroy a NA Kappa...anywhere. (All this assuming drivers are equal.)

We trade some of this for looks. Our car, top down, looks sick. The trunk hides the top and leaves us with real clean lines. Miata and S2000 don't. That feature trades trunk space for style. We are roomier than a Miata too, a tradeoff that makes us a little heavier and a little wider. Our lines are just...damn hot. Neither of those other cars look as smooth and slick as ours...but I may be biased.

And we're not too common. There is something to be said for that.

I wonder what the Kappa would have become after a couple generations of tweaks. I think they would have seen more trunk space eventually...better cup holders...maybe an answer to the top...who knows. For me though, you see what I chose. I can live without the trunk...I have a truck. Top? I need the exercise. Power to weight...yeaaaaaaaa...not a problem. This is what I wanted. This is what mattered to me. This is where I found value. I am sure others feel differently.

However, their opinion doesn't make my car any less than what it is anymore than mine makes it more.

 

Seems like a huge waste of time, and kind of stupid too imho, to not care about what people say over here and still read these forums.

 

But on the other hand, how many posts have we seen by people seeking the forum's approbation of some mod they have done or want to do because they have insufficient self confidence to do what they like unless they get that sort of positive reinforcement. Do you see that sort of 'caring' as a positive thing?

 

I like to read the reviews from the early Solstice years. Below some comments from article . . .

2006 Pontiac Solstice vs. 2006 Mazda MX-5: Pontiac’s Solstice takes dead aim at Mazda’s MX-5 Miata

2006 Pontiac Solstice vs. 2006 Mazda MX-5: Pontiac’s Solstice takes dead aim at Mazda’s MX-5 Miata

www.autoweek.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Picking a winner in this DoubleTake is especially difficult, because the two cars are evenly matched at the track, competitively priced, and are loads of fun to drive. If you want a car to go autocrossing in, the Mazda is a good choice.

But with all things considered, three factors weigh heavily in favor of the Solstice: fresh, good looks, better on-road ride and handling, and superior driving comfort. While we would be happy with either in our garage, for this test the Pontiac Solstice is our pick.

The Solstice is a home run: Its numbers are as good as Miata’s, it’s more comfortable, and it’s styled like a 20-something VH1 star. But it’s a home run in a minor league ballpark. Take that Solstice team and replicate it throughout the company and GM will be on solid ground. - Mark Vaughn

Solstice reminds me of the previous Miata; it is raw, with a less-refined engine and noisy cabin. Based on feel, I expected the Mazda to have an advantage in tests. But not all the numbers support that. Add to that its stunning good looks and I choose the Pontiac. - Mac Morrison

The Miata is more driver-oriented with a sweeter drivetrain; its engine is more eager to rev, and the shifter is more fun. Good as it is—and it is good—Solstice feels to me like a solid foundation for a future performance version. - Kevin A. Wilson

For me it’s a tossup. The Solstice is some 300 pounds heavier but still drives light. I like the way both cars ride and handle, though I’d give the Solstice an edge in terms of chassis stiffness. I’d go with the Solstice, because it’s the better-looking car. - Wes Raynal

The Solstice wows you with its curvaceous body and composed ride, whereas the Miata is razor-sharp in its shifts and cornering abilities. As an enthusiast driver, the Miata gets my vote because it communicates the corners better, and I can steer the back end like a proper sports car. The smile from behind the wheel—not in front—is what I value most. - Andrew Luu
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Seems like a fair and honest list of opinions and facts.

 

Baaa! I bet sheep do too. But we expect them not to be able to form independent opinions.

Don't you think it goes a bit too far when people take a poll of what colour they should paint their car or whether the flock approves a particular mod, and then go with whatever colour or mod the majority 'approved'? Or doesn't the abandonment of independent thought bother you?

To each his own in any case, I guess.

 

My question has to be about how often this actually happens. I know that the polling happens quite a bit, and about things that i would never ask someone else's opinion about. The question is how often someone actually subverts their opinion for the "herd's". Do they follow the crowd, or do they ask for opinions and then do whatever they planned to do in the first place? How much of it is attracting attention prior to doing something?

 

Don't you think it goes a bit too far when people take a poll of what colour they should paint their car or whether the flock approves a particular mod, .......

You mean you care what I think ???

 

Actually I do, and also that you DO think (for yourself!