RIP Solstice/Sky

MyNewSolstice · 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

Well folks my car is now a relic... No more Kappa platform...
Some info
Here's the latest info I got from manufacturing on the build-out on all Solstice, soft-top & coupe.

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Wilmington DE will be closed on July 31.

The last car enters the body shop June 2nd and should be off line on the 12th as an 09 MY.

They currently have built 30 MY 2010, two Opel GT's, Eight SKY's and 20 Solstice. There is work being done currently to determine what to do with these 30 vehicles. They may get an exemption from the government to let us sell them as 2010's, retrofit them back to MY 2009 and sell them or simply scrap them.

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As for how many coupes are being made, I remember Jim Hopson said "Somewhere between 750 and 800 total Solstice Coupes will be built this year". Not sure the total numbers on the soft-top?

My recommendation would be if you want one or want to get a newer one, I wouldn't wait too long. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

ALSO
The last one to roll off the line is next week...Sad, just sad...

My personal solstice is VIN #2896 ZOK Package...(From what I can tell the first off the line) Bought in December 05 with 3 miles on it...Wonderful car just fun...I know I have some fellow brethren on here (Micro, daddy, etc...) well now to decide trade or sit on it? Dunno just bummed!

drivingincamaro · 06-01-2009, 08:16 PM

good bye.....:(

Gentry78 · 06-01-2009, 08:18 PM

franknbeans · 06-01-2009, 08:35 PM

sucks big time... i would be getting a Solstice Coupe if ther Camaro wasn't here.

JBsC6 · 06-01-2009, 08:38 PM

Thats a shame..

I had thought the solstice GXP coupe was one of the finest 2 seat coupes for 30 grand.....

hard to believe they are making so few.

I would say the camaro SS for 31 grand really does put the solstice gxp coupe on the trailer though....

fiero · 06-01-2009, 08:44 PM

I was watching some "future cars" thing on discovery channel a few weeks ago, talking about new technology and such in cars, and while some GM people were talking, there were a few clips of a Saturn sky with one difference, it had a CHEVY badge on it!

Now you can read as much or as little into that as you want, maybe it's an indicator of something or maybe not, but that was a successful platform, so who knows?

I thought it looked cool.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-01-2009, 08:50 PM

Kappa was FAR from a successful platform...GM lost a ****ton of money for every Solstice, Sky, and GT produced...

Kappa was dead far before any of the bankruptcy talks started.

fiero · 06-01-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Kappa was FAR from a successful platform...GM lost a ****ton of money for every Solstice, Sky, and GT produced...

Kappa was dead far before any of the bankruptcy talks started.

damn, well I always thought they were cool, didn't realize that they were so unsuccessful- do you know what made it so unsuccessful? were they selling them at a loss or something?

HeatherR · 06-01-2009, 09:11 PM

I am keeping mine forever! I love it

But Fenwick is right they lost a ton on each one they sold and the platform was destined to die with or without GM filing :(

FenwickHockey65 · 06-01-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiero

damn, well I always thought they were cool, didn't realize that they were so unsuccessful- do you know what made it so unsuccessful? were they selling them at a loss or something?

Basically they cost a ton to build, and at the price point GM wanted to sell them at, there was no way they would ever be profitable.

HeatherR · 06-01-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Basically they cost a ton to build, and at the price point GM wanted to sell them at, there was no way they would ever be profitable.

Exactly. They were a tough build, hard metal fits etc. A lot of "hand building"

MyNewSolstice · 06-01-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Basically they cost a ton to build, and at the price point GM wanted to sell them at, there was no way they would ever be profitable.

It was a 10k loss per vehicle but like many new lines the first years are at a loss to get to profit in years 5-7 or more...This is not all material costs either it is a total disbursement of cost in R&D and also marketing...Either way I think they said at the end of the 6 th year the loss per car would be less than $1000 dollars or better. Funny ya never got there guys! This is the quintessential "HALO" car...period!

Nice trivia...There is not a single weld on a kappa based car of meaning that is not hand welded...and each of those are checked off with a marker...

HeatherR · 06-01-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyNewSolstice

It was a 10k loss per vehicle but like many new lines the first years are at a loss to get to profit in years 5-7 or more...This is not all material costs either it is a total disbursement of cost in R&D and also marketing...Either way I think they said at the end of the 6 th year the loss per car would be less than $1000 dollars or better. Funny ya never got there guys! This is the quintessential "HALO" car...period!

Nice trivia...There is not a single weld on a kappa based car of meaning that is not hand welded...and each of those are checked off with a marker...

Nice trivia

My husband is a Body Shop guy, so I got way too much infomation when I got mine. He never worked at Wilmington though. Enjoy your car...hang on to it! I just hit 1,000 today in mine

John Farnen · 06-01-2009, 10:37 PM

hate to see that, was considering a Sky until Camaro came back, wish they'd rebadge it as a Buick like the 2 seater they used to have. (Riatta sp?)

06-01-2009, 08:14 PM	#1
MyNewSolstice Drives: 06 Solstice Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 349 View My Garage	RIP Solstice/Sky Well folks my car is now a relic... No more Kappa platform... Some info Here's the latest info I got from manufacturing on the build-out on all Solstice, soft-top & coupe. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wilmington DE will be closed on July 31. The last car enters the body shop June 2nd and should be off line on the 12th as an 09 MY. They currently have built 30 MY 2010, two Opel GT's, Eight SKY's and 20 Solstice. There is work being done currently to determine what to do with these 30 vehicles. They may get an exemption from the government to let us sell them as 2010's, retrofit them back to MY 2009 and sell them or simply scrap them. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx As for how many coupes are being made, I remember Jim Hopson said "Somewhere between 750 and 800 total Solstice Coupes will be built this year". Not sure the total numbers on the soft-top? My recommendation would be if you want one or want to get a newer one, I wouldn't wait too long. When they’re gone, they’re gone. ALSO The last one to roll off the line is next week...Sad, just sad... My personal solstice is VIN #2896 ZOK Package...(From what I can tell the first off the line) Bought in December 05 with 3 miles on it...Wonderful car just fun...I know I have some fellow brethren on here (Micro, daddy, etc...) well now to decide trade or sit on it? Dunno just bummed!

06-01-2009, 08:35 PM	#4
franknbeans Whipped Drives: 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pittsburgh-ish - PA Posts: 4,216 View My Garage	sucks big time... i would be getting a Solstice Coupe if ther Camaro wasn't here. __________________ Car of the week 7/7/14

06-01-2009, 08:38 PM	#5
JBsC6 Drives: 2008 Blk C6 Z51 NPP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 255 View My Garage	Thats a shame.. I had thought the solstice GXP coupe was one of the finest 2 seat coupes for 30 grand..... hard to believe they are making so few. I would say the camaro SS for 31 grand really does put the solstice gxp coupe on the trailer though.... __________________ 2008 Blk C6 Z51 NPP M6/2008 Silver CTS AWD FE2 304hp

06-01-2009, 08:50 PM	#7
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2023 Expedition Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,375 View My Garage	Kappa was FAR from a successful platform...GM lost a ****ton of money for every Solstice, Sky, and GT produced... Kappa was dead far before any of the bankruptcy talks started. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2023 Ford Expedition SSV (State-Issued)

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drivingincamaro Drives: 95 civic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago Illinois Posts: 5,796	good bye.....:( __________________

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06-01-2009, 08:44 PM	#6
fiero LOVES AMERICA Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT, 1986 Fiero SE Join Date: May 2009 Location: all over Posts: 11	I was watching some "future cars" thing on discovery channel a few weeks ago, talking about new technology and such in cars, and while some GM people were talking, there were a few clips of a Saturn sky with one difference, it had a CHEVY badge on it! Now you can read as much or as little into that as you want, maybe it's an indicator of something or maybe not, but that was a successful platform, so who knows? I thought it looked cool.

06-01-2009, 09:11 PM	#9
HeatherR Drives: 2009 CTS, 2008 Solstice GXP Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 769 View My Garage	I am keeping mine forever! I love it But Fenwick is right they lost a ton on each one they sold and the platform was destined to die with or without GM filing :(

06-01-2009, 10:37 PM	#14
John Farnen Drives: 1969 RSSS Convertable Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Belpre, Ohio Posts: 228	hate to see that, was considering a Sky until Camaro came back, wish they'd rebadge it as a Buick like the 2 seater they used to have. (Riatta sp?)