Joe Wiesenfelder’s review of the Saturn Sky went up on the main site yesterday. Like Joe, I too had a week in a Saturn Sky recently and agree with him on most points about it being an improvement over its GM sibling, the Pontiac Solstice. However, I didn’t experience the loud engine noise Joe did. In fact, the silver Sky I tested was much quieter, from the engine to the exhaust note, than the Solstice. And since I agree that the power and transmission are lacking, I thought the more subdued ride was appropriate for a cruiser, not a bruiser.
I also think Joe doesn’t give the Mazda MX-5, the Sky and Solstice’s main competitor, enough credit as far as interior room. I found its cabin more livable than the Sky’s, with more room for not only my legs and hips (everyone always forgets hip room when talking comfort), but also more cupholders and storage bins. As for headroom, the low-riding position of the Sky helps with that, but I didn’t like the beltline — basically think where the bottom of the windows meet the top of the door — being so close to eye level.
Otherwise, I think Joe is right on most marks. The piano black finish on the dash is nice, though he didn’t mention that it was Mazda’s RX-8 and MX-5 that started that recent trend. And yes, I too received lots of stares while driving the Sky around Chicago. A young ambulance driver even leaned out to say he thought the car looked “hot.” In the end, that’s why this car will sell.
