[motzman]

Here's a couple of snippets from Motor Trend's Miata vs. Solstice review (Dec. 2005)

"GM can take pride in what it's accomplished. The Solstice is a real sports car and no the topless poseur enthusiasts feared. It'll sell on looks and value alone. But if the Solstice is solid runner, the MX-5 is a fleet-footed sprinter, delivering a more athletic, lithe drive in most every respect."

"The MX-5's engine is smoother and happier to rev than the Solstice's. The MX-5 has a more communicative chassis, and it feels every one of those 400 pounds lighter and more responsive than the Pontiac. This (GT MX-5)...won every performance contest, although the margins were small. The Solstice's top design is fussier than it needs to be; the MX-5's couldn't be simpler. The Mazda's interior is of higher quality and beautifully packaged. While the Solstice's cabin is comfy and racy looking, it suffers from a dearth of storage, a few ergonomic hiccups, and cheapoplasticity."

Comparably equipped, there's less than a thousand dollar difference between the two. The Solstice is neck-snappingly good looking. With better engineering, Pontiac could have laid the smack down on the MX-5.

But they didn't.

Again.

[Obadiah]

Solstice is neck-snappingly good looking. With better engineering, Pontiac could have laid the smack down on the MX-5.

And this is exactly why American auto makers fail. It is why the public doesn't buy their wares anymore. The Solstice is a great example. As you mentioned it is gorgeous, but then they - as usual - put cheap plastic crap in the interior, and then skimp on the engineering angles! WHY??? Why do that? Why do they constantly hit a grounder double when a little more effort would be a grand slam? It certainly isn't because they don't have the know-how.

Man, that is just so perplexing.