Picture Gallery: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
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This car does turn heads, especially in the arrest-me-yellow paint my tester wears — lucky for me I’m used to driving around in a bright yellow car so I feel right at home.
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Powered by a 2.0litre ecotec engine producing 260 hp and 260lb-ft of torque, this little car can scoot from 0-100km/h in approximately 5.5 seconds. The engine in my tester is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, but an automatic transmission is available for those that want to ruin the fun.
Also added to my tester are leather seats, a $1115 option which I would omit if I were buying a performance car; 18″ chromed wheels ($230); manually controlled air-conditioning ($1200); premium acoustic headliner ($195), and some really sharp looking sport metallic pedals for $150.
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The Solstice seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it design. I’ve always maintained that I find the Saturn Sky more aesthetically appealing, but after getting down and dirty with the Solstice for some pictures I am liking the looks of it more and more.
I’ve only been in the vehicle for a short time so far so I obviously haven’t had a chance to poke around at all the features and get to know it intimately. So far, though, I am liking it, more so than I expected I would. Perhaps I didn’t give it enough credit until got behind the wheel myself and started it up.
2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP
MSRP as tested: $39,345
For more information on Pontiac and the Solstice visit GM Canada
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You can see in the picture of the trunk here and in the gallery, that my camera bag barely fit! That is all I’m going to say about the trunk; it’s too bad. Let’s move on to the rest of the interior. I really love the looks of the cockpit when sitting in the driver’s seat. All the controls are not only at your finger tips, but the dash is centered around the driver. It works and looks great.
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There are three cup holders in the Solstice. One by the passenger’s foot well which is in easy reach of the driver and two behind the center console — a little bit of a reach backwards and kind of awkward to use, but at least they are provided. Also, behind the console is a small glove box, and there is also another glove box in the traditional location.
The driving position is spot-on and the monsoon stereo system in the GXP sounds phenomenal! Besides that, it is pretty basic inside the Solstice which is just fine by me; the emphasis here is on driving and the driver, and it shows.
Now the soft top, I must speak of the soft top. The Solstice gets made fun of for its complex system that requires flipping and folding and latching and getting in and out of the car. It really isn’t that bad for dropping the top. Swing the latch down, hit the “trunk” release button, hop out and flop the top down and slam the “trunk” down and you are away.
Putting it back up, though, is another adventure all together and probably why most all Solstice and Sky roadsters I see running about have the top up. The process is simple enough: pop the “trunk,” pull the top out and slam the trunk down, re-latch the top and clip the top back onto the “trunk” lid. Sounds simple until you try it. The top never aligns itself with the window frame, so you flip it up and get in and realize it’s misaligned, move it around a bit and get the pins lined up — then comes the hard part — latching it down. The latch does not fit well at all, at least not on my tester, and it requires a good pull a whack with your hand and maybe some prying.
It’s almost as if GM designed the Solstice, then right when they were about to be complete someone said “Oh no! We totally forgot we needed a top! Slap something together, quick — let’s sell this thing.” It really does seem like a afterthought and ruins an otherwise great machine.
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The press information package I received for the GXP, oddly enough, placed the S2000 as a competitor to the regular Solstice and not the GXP; it listed the Nissan 350z, BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster as competitors to the GXP version. Silliness aside, the GXP feels eerily similar to the S2000 when driving it. Seating position, steering feel, brakes, turn in response and handling dynamics all feel shockingly similar.
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Thankfully that is an easy fix, and getting some really nice sticky rubber onto the GXP would transform this car into a twisty road demon. I cannot forget the brakes in this review — they feel incredibly strong and pedal feel is extremely firm, probably the firmest I have ever felt in a road car. They are very confidence-inspiring, although in any panic situation remember to look in your rear view as others will not be able to stop as quick.
And of course I cannot forget to talk about the engine: the 2.0liter turbo-charged powerhouse underneath that clamshell hood. First gear feels a little weak off the line but once you hit 3000-3500rpm you really start to scoot away and hitting the next gear before redline (as the power seems to dip if you try to hold to redline) has you in the power band again. Although torquey and fairly easy to drive in the city, I find you still need to be in the right gear at the right time for quick get aways, otherwise you have to wait for that turbo to spool back up.
For me the ride, the feel and the driving dynamics are dead on perfect — bravo GM and Pontiac: I have nothing but praise for how this car drives.
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In the fuel mileage department everything turned out most excellent as well. I averaged 9.8L/100km with mostly city driving along my usual routes. This is about what I expected with the published figures being 10.8L/100km city and 7.0L/100km highway. According to GM’s specifications, premium fuel is recommended but not required; quite the statement for a vehicle pushing 260hp out of a 2.0litre engine — I’d fill it with the good stuff just to be on the safe side.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP
MSRP as tested: $39,100
For more information on Pontiac and the Solstice visit GM Canada
September 14, 2007, 11:51:35 pm The wheel base on the 350Z is a lot longer.
September 15, 2007, 12:19:32 am
Exactly. I can't think of a worse design in the segment that the Kappa twins play in. Miata....easy to stow, easy to raise/lower. S2000. Ditto. Z4....covered. SLK....okay, the hardtop does take some room....but it's a forgivable since it's the tin roof.
September 16, 2007, 11:08:53 pm I think these are more built for performance then dailey usage getting a weeks groceries. As a sports car it does fill the bill quite well and the handling ability and performance alone put it ahead of a lot of the others it seems. I am sure the dependability will be there as well for many years also.
September 16, 2007, 11:28:43 pm
There are many cars built for performance....but a bit of practicality is always nice. Most of them have it. I still believe there's no excuse for the tank to jut into the trunk so much.
September 16, 2007, 11:37:17 pm A much better effort than the Fiero 2M4, and more hot & firey, in a better way.
Saw a number of them today, 5 or so, one had a aftermarket bodykit on it, completely ruins the original lines.
September 17, 2007, 06:33:26 am I wonder if the reviewer ( Wing, Shiftstick) can talk with GM engineering and ask why the gas tank takes up room
September 17, 2007, 05:57:49 pm
They may also have located the gas tank there for weight distribution reasons. *shrug*
I'm amused that this thread has more discussion about why we spend so much time discussing the trunk than anything else... for shame!
I do think, for the price, there are better alternatives out there. The GXP is a great car, I have no doubt, but if we're talking about dropping that kind of coin, I would rather have something I could use every day than something that is restricted to use one or two days a week. The trunk is a major sticking point on its own - the trunk and the terrible roof just kill it for me.
September 17, 2007, 06:11:46 pm
I do think, for the price, there are better alternatives out there. The GXP is a great car, I have no doubt, but if we're talking about dropping that kind of coin, I would rather have something I could use every day than something that is restricted to use one or two days a week. The trunk is a major sticking point on its own - the trunk and the terrible roof just kill it for me.
You're amused at all the discussions yet you bring it up again?
September 18, 2007, 02:37:02 pm Rumor has it the next-generation Cobalt SS will be getting a turbocharged motor instead of the supercharged variant the last one had... I assume it will be the same motor as in the GXP, which begs the question: is the new SS going to be going after the MazdaSpeed3?
September 18, 2007, 02:52:34 pm
The HHR SS has this engine already, and the HHR SS is basically a retro-styled Cobalt wagon.
September 18, 2007, 03:47:50 pm
I think the Cobalt is going to need alot more than a new engine to compete with the MS#...
September 18, 2007, 03:54:33 pm
The Cobalt is on its way out anyway. Rumor is, it's successor will be Astra-based. An Astra with this engine could easily compete with the MS3.
September 18, 2007, 03:55:04 pm Don't you mean the Colbart?
September 18, 2007, 04:20:53 pm the COLBERT RAP_PORT......
September 18, 2007, 06:49:26 pm " as the 245/45/R18 Goodyear F1 tires on my tester have got to be the worst performance summer tires I have ever driven on."
Wing, are the F1s on this car GS D3s?
September 18, 2007, 08:47:55 pm Sorry 84im I no longer have the car, but I only remember seeing F1 and no other marking but perhaps it was just smaller, I'll check my full rez pics maybe I can make it out.
September 18, 2007, 08:50:27 pm No dice, sorry.
September 19, 2007, 12:20:40 am
What's the time frame on replacement? The Cobalt is still a relatively new design, and I was impressed with the G5/Pursuit GT I drove (though very unimpressed with the base model). I'm surprised they're looking at a complete redesign already (especially given their history... heh).
September 19, 2007, 12:38:07 pm
What's the time frame on replacement? The Cobalt is still a relatively new design, and I was impressed with the G5/Pursuit GT I drove (though very unimpressed with the base model). I'm surprised they're looking at a complete redesign already (especially given their history... heh).
Cobalt production will end in 2009. http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/04/chevy_may_delay_2009_cobalt_re.html
September 19, 2007, 01:45:05 pm I think the new Saturn will be a rebadged Astra.
September 19, 2007, 01:49:03 pm
September 19, 2007, 01:55:47 pm
What first clued you in? The fact that it's named the Saturn Astra?
September 19, 2007, 04:06:41 pm
What first clued you in? The fact that it's named the Saturn Astra?
That's hilarious. Shows how much I care about Saturn.
September 21, 2007, 03:42:40 pm I just test drove a base Solstice a couple days ago. If I had the means, I'd go for GXP for sure, but I was pleasantly surprised with it. I liked it MUCH more than the Miata I test drove a few months ago, although it was a 2004, but still, I thought the Solstice was a much better car overall.
The ride/handling was great and there wasn't as much road/wind noise as I was expecting. I did find it a bit clunky, especially from a dead stop. Once you're out of 2nd gear it's fine but there seemed to be some clunks coming from the right front somewhere. You can tell it's a price-point car for sure but it was a 'new' 2006 that has been sitting on the lot for a year and a half.
The only issue with putting the top up and down was making sure you SLAM the trunk hard enough to make sure it's locked. It was easy to attach but I could see how it would get annoying over time especially if you're dropping the top a couple times a day. Didn't care about the trunk space at all, I don't think I've ever opened the trunk in my Solara yet.
I would buy this car in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't want to drive it in the winter so I suppose I'll wait until the Solara is paid for and save up for a GXP.
September 28, 2007, 02:48:53 pm As a second family vehicle I think it's a great car. As a little toy for the 'mom and dad' to enjoy going on a date or as a daily driver for the wife or husband to go to work.----Its like a family who owns a motorcycle. A lot of people own those and they only carry two people and little luggage.
My wife would never get on the back of my Hyabusa but she would go with me had I purchased one of these instead.----I guess the real question is---Do I want her with me?