Recreation

One glance at the Solstice upon the show room floor, you’ll already want to jump in and zip away. The Pontiac Solstice meshes together raw power, plenty of niceties, and breath-taking styles causing people to stare. One needs to go back into the time machine until the 1959 Bonneville to refer back to any other worthy Pontiac split-screen. 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 basic package includes a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that pleasantly conserves 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 much to enjoy for the Solstice, it’s not without some draw backs. The steering comes off as sluggish. The Solstice is still a weighty car, at over 3000 pounds, so this car will never feel nimble on its feet. Also, when zipping out of curves, the Solstice is sticky. Taking off, the acceleration can be less than impressive. This car is not comfortable, with components in illogical spots and substandard parts made from third-world wages. Trunk space is sparse, hardly holding enough for a weekend trip.

One can quibble over these minor problems, while the exterior style more than makes up for these deficiencies. Pontiac hasn’t styled a great car for decades; in the Solstice, they get it right. The Solstice has awesome styling, something from both yesterday and tomorrow. Folks will not be bashful; they will approach you and ask about your sleek car. The merits of this car decidedly weigh on the plus side. 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.