Pontiac Solstice Breaks the Mold

Seeing the Solstice on the show room floor, you'll want to jump right in and take off. The Pontiac Solstice meshes together raw power, plenty of niceties, and breath-taking styles causing people to stare. Not since the rememberable 1959 Bonneville, has Pontiac release such a great split-grill car. 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 deluxe GPX upgrade amps the engine into a 260 horse power turbocharged engine into a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine. Both of these engines are clamped onto the five speed manual or automatic 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. If the base package isn't enough, the GXP then adds dual exhaust tips, a faster responding transmission, leather to the steering wheel and shift knob, and plush carpeted floor mats.

There's certainly a lot to enjoy about the Solstice, it's certainly not a perfect car. The steering comes off as sluggish. The Solstice tips the scale at over 3000 pounds, so being quick-and-lite is not upon the abilities of this car. Also, when charging out from curves, the Solstice likes to hang on. Starting from zero, the take-off is certainly not overwhelming. The car is also not ergonomically friends, with components in awkward positions, composed of parts made of plastic from third world countries. Trunk space is very tight.

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. Strangers will come up and strike up conversations about your Solstice. The overwhelming positives surely negate the minor drawbacks. New car buyers who want to put a little excitement into their ordinary drive will not regret picking this car.

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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.