Pontiac Solstice Breaks the Mold

Posted by admin on March 7, 2010 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

One glance at the Solstice upon the show room floor, you’ll already want to jump in and zip away. The Pontiac Solstice stirs up into a pot and melds together awesome power, stirring options, and out-of-this world styling. It’s been over five decades, since the 1959 Bonneville, to find a split screen that caused so much excitement. This car rivals the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, yet carries only half of the price tag.

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 still turns in respectable gas mileage. The power-packed GXP package places a whopping 260 hour 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 basic model includes electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, four anti-lock disc brakes, impressive 18 inch alloy wheels, and 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 is not crisp. The Solstice tips the scale at over 3000 pounds, so being quick-and-lite is not upon the abilities of this car. Also, when zipping out from corners, the Solstice is prone to hang on. Taking off from the red light, the acceleration does leave something to be desired. 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.

Despite the minor draw backs, the clear asset of the Solstice is its exterior style. Pontiac isn’t known for head-turning styling; with the Solstice, they finally turn the tide. The Solstice has aggressive styling that’s a bit of a mash-up between a Jaguar and the Bat Mobile. 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.