It’s easy to blast off in the Solstice right from the show room floor. The Pontiac Solstice adds up near superhero power, plenty of options, and looks that cause people to gap open mouthed. It’s been over five decades, since the 1959 Bonneville, to find a split screen that caused so much excitement. This car delivers the same thrills as the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, with only half of the cost.
Option-wise, the Solstice comes in two trims, the base package and the GXP. The base package packs a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that’s still sips the gas. The deluxe GPX upgrade amps the engine into a 260 horse power turbocharged engine into a 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine. No matter the engine pick, either engine is mated to a five speed auto or manual transmission. The base model does include electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, anti-lock disc brakes all the way around the car, generous 18-inch alloy wheels, and crisp satellite radio. The GXP upgrade augments the base package by adding a more responsive transmission, dual exhaust tips, leather steering wheel and shift know, and improved floor mats.
While there’s a lot to like about this car, it does have some deficiencies. The steering can be sloppy. The Solstice can be a fat hog of a car at over 3000 pounds. Also, when charging out from curves, the Solstice likes to hang on. Taking off, the acceleration can be less than impressive. This car can be an ergonomic nightmare, with components poorly located and interior parts made of third world plastics. Trunk space is very tight.
One can quibble over these minor problems, while the exterior style more than makes up for these deficiencies. Pontiac isn’t known for head-turning styling; with the Solstice, they finally turn the tide. The Solstice’s styling evokes exotic images that wi ll appear in your nightly dreams. Strangers will come up and strike up conversations about your Solstice. On the balance, the positives outweigh the negatives. Enthusiasts contemplating a sports car should jump into this car and not look back.
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When the author isn’t driving her Pontiac Solstice, she’s a fan of best psychics, the Seattle HCG Diet, and the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
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