To say this car is attractive would be like saying Megan Fox is pretty. Adjectives simply fail to operate as intended. Our first day with the Pontiac Solstice Coupe GXP, we almost caused not one, but two fender benders – while parked. One guy nearly drove his minivan, complete with wife and three screaming children, into the buggy return at Home Depot as he craned his neck to stare at the car’s sumptuous ass-end. Another narrowly avoided T-boning a delivery truck while doing the same. We got more stares, thumbs up and questioning glances in this sucker during our one-week stint in the cockpit than in anything else I’ve had my paws on this year – including the electric blue Corvette Convertible Z51. People come out of the woodwork to stare at Pontiac’s show-circuit escapee. We spent around 20 hours nestled into the Solstice Coupe GXP’s cabin over four days. Hop the jump to see what we learned.
“If you want to know if you love someone, take a road trip. If you want to know if you can marry them, do it in a roadster.” ~Unknown
The fiancée and I are set to get hitched in mere weeks. The locale is picked, the caterer contracted and the tuxes rented, so it would seem to be a little late in the game to put our relationship to the test. Never the less, I somehow convinced Her Sweetness to cram a weekend’s worth of clothing, all of our camera equipment (she was booked to shoot a friend’s wedding, hence the trip), the V1 and GPS into the Solstice and head nine and a half hours north to the upper reaches of Maryland. Unwittingly, she obliged.
Now, to really comprehend what I asked of the apple of my eye, you need to understand one of the biggest problems with the Solstice Coupe. The storage space beneath the tiny back glass makes the OG Miata’s trunk look cavernous by comparison. One would think that with the mechanical top mechanism long gone there would be at least enough space for a few bags out back. One would be wrong. A few cubbies here and there, and that’s it. What you see is what you get. Miraculously, Her Sweetness presented me with one sub-carry on sized bag with a smile, plus two bags worth of camera gear. I stashed my own duffel and her luggage behind the headrests, snugged my laptop bag and the camera gear into one of the narrow cubbies and could still manage to see out of the rear glass. Sort of.
See, Pontiac has managed to work semi-sized blind spots into the Solstice Coupe. As cool as that lunging rear deck is, it’s impossible to see out of. Your rear-view mirror is limited to a V-shaped window that conveniently extends your no-see zone by about 75 yards, and the tiny side-view units require lots of leaning before changing lanes. As a result, backing out of parking spaces is a faith-based, Braille experience. You have to put a lot of faith in hoping other drivers will see you before you feel them.
As it turns out, most of the horror stories about the Solstice’s interior are true, too. The heavily-bolstered seats are tight, even for average-sized folk, and the bottom cushion isn’t supportive enough. If you want to recline the seat, you need to open the door in order to access the recline knob. Controls for the windows are impossible to reach for anyone with normal-sized forearms, and folk over six feet tall should find another ride. I was secretly worried we would have to be extracted by EMS once we arrived at our destination, but amazingly the car was comfortable enough for four and a half hour stints. For a roadster, that’s not too bad.
Posted By: Zach Bowman | 13 Comments »
Tags: 2009 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe GXP Coupe GXP Direct Injection GXP Pontiac Pontiac Solstice Coupe GXP Solstice Solstice Coupe GXP Turbo We Drive
It really is too bad that there wont be time to tweak this car next year. It’s awful pretty and has potential like you said. Oh well…
These are the first pictures of this car that have made me want it.
Although, I must say I’m not a fan of the color I can only describe as “AARP Maroon”.
I’ll take mine in white with black wheels, thanks.
Thanks Mad_Science. I’m slowly figuring out how to work a camera…
As for the color, GM calls it “Wicked” and it only adds to the wadizzit factor. In direct sun, the metallic maroon is seriously eye-catching.
Though, pure white on black would be damn sharp, too.
I’m a fan!
If GM listens, they will keep this winner.
Chevy Solstice GXP!
and I like AARP maroon!
Are you insane? This car has to be the biggest fail in automotive history. I know it looks good but a turbo four? 30k? Those interior/trunk pics had me floored laughing, thats just sad. The longevity of a direct injected high compression turbo four made by Pontiac? Good luck with that. This would have been a great car 20 years ago. I was really excited about this car when it was being developed just makes the end result that much worse.
Biggest fail in automotive history. Right.
So: have you driven one?
Do you know someone who owns one?
Did you realize Pontiac hasn’t made their own engines since the 70s?
I’m curious what awesome car you drive.
Insane? I’ve been accused of worse.
I think Mad_Science pretty much summed up the problems with your argument(?), but let me try to explain what’s so exciting about this car.
The Solstice GXP carries North America’s very first direct-injection engine, resulting in 260 horsepower (more than the V8s of the ’80s) and better fuel economy than the naturally aspirated 2.4 liter four pot available. No matter how impractical the interior, that’s bad ass.
Then there’s the styling, which has to be one of the best-looking cars to come out of Detroit in years. It’s a front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car with the dress to match, and it was pretty bold of GM to go with it, especially when front-drivers are safe and cozy.
Like I said above, it’s a good car that just needs a little more time to become great.
Yeah I’ve driven one, not the GXP. And I can tell you the car isnt any more fun than a anything else in its class. Know someone who owns one? thats like asking if i know any Fiero owners. I dont care how much new hp it has, its a fail in execution of a now defunct division. I doesnt matter who buit the engine, point is they buit it for Pontiac which tells me there’s been plenty of cost cutting involved. If you can see cost cuts on the exterior what do you think theyve done underneath. Believe me I wanted this car to be good but you’ve got to be a real fanboy that can see past its serious flaws and the fact that GM didnt bother and felt its customers would be happy with much less than what the competition offers.
Best styling to come out of Detroit yeah thats saying alot, and it is nice. However I have a feeling your love for the car is fueled by some alterior motive, it just doesnt make sense. A great engine? all current offering have great engines. BTW a great engine is a proven one. Here’s a closing thought, Genesis, 370z, S2000, TT, Altima, G37… you’d have to be a mad hatter to buy a Solstice theres no science involved. I like the idea of the Solstice, just don’t insult me(GM) by dumping some half baked idea on the market and waste my time with test driving something that doesnt belong on a showroom floor.
I’ve been dying to drive one, but sadly it is beginning to look like we may not get one in the media fleet here in Ontario.
I still contend that the Sky looks more attractive from the front. From the rear it looks good.
But from what I’ve read in other articles (trunk space, interior sucks, handling not as good as it should be, etc…) for $30k there are a lot of better options especially so when you consider lightly used vehicles. I mean Nissan still has ‘08, ‘09 Zs for the low-low.
It’s like a LOT of little things fail this car and it seems to add up.
This is hideous!
I understand why american car manufacturers are in trouble.
You’ll never sell this outside of the US.
Horrible…
H
I have an ‘07 Solstice GXP. Love the car, but I am an old British car fan. I think of the Solstice as a Triumph Spitfire all grown up. Power & Handling cannot be beat. Styling I will put against ANYTHING built anywhere. The interior and trunk pace are issue, but NOT why I bought the car. I agree that a second generation could be great, but as it is it is stil the first American car I wanted since the ‘71 Dodge Challenger. I have run it on the track, in stock form, against the Lotus Elise, BMW Z3&Z4, and Z350’s and it beats them hands down. Against most sports cars costing 2-3X it still beats them and looks SOOOOOO much better.
Jimmy,
The Kappa platform is already sold outside the US and has been since the inception. As the Opel GT and the Daewoo G2X.
This car breaks my heart. Even my 1976 X1/9 had more luggage space in it. And yes I understand about the added weight and space required for modern safety mechanicals.
TO GM/Opel: This car should have been about a foot longer and 6 inches wider. Also a redesigned dash (the dash is so 80’s cavalier) would be nice. Same car, same gorgeous proportions, just 10% bigger all around. Oh and PLEASE figure a way to strow the top on board. The x1/9′ lid fit in the front.
Do this and I wont buy the Fiat 500 cabrio i have my heart set on.