Well, fellow Sol-sters, I put about 60 miles on my new GXP last night. Impressions, though keep in mind that I was very easy on it-

Really great suspension settings. IMO. Excellent balance between "rock-hard race" and "Lincoln float". Steering and brakes good, linear performance while feeling somewhat "dead". The sucker holds the road well, but doesn't provide a lot of clues through the steering wheel or brake pedal. Clutch is sweet. Light action, quick, linear take-up. Throttle response is as described elsewhere. If you didn't hear the almost inaudible BOV "whistle" between shifts, you'd swear it was a small block V-8. Wonderful, willing response starting real low in the rev range. I can tell this thing is going to be my "ticket to tickets" soon !!!! Interior looks uncluttered and well done to me. Controls are generally well laid out and easy to operate. Drink holders and storage are another story...... Stereo sounds real nice (monsoon system...haven't played a CD yet). Interior noise levels surprisingly quiet (premium headliner). Just enough leg room for me (I'm 6'2"). Haven't gotten the seat adjusted quite right yet. A little lower back pain after an hour behind the wheel. At idle, the engine sounds absolutely pathetic. More tractor than car. Once rolling, sound becomes more "stern", but certainly not too much. One thing I did notice on the down side (and has been reported elsewhere) is some driveline lash if I shifted poorly or at exceptionally slow engine speeds.

This, of course, is totally subjective. But it appears the overall goal was to create a comfortable, intimate, quiet envelope in which two people can cover ground in a hurry!!!. Overall, for the dough ($29,600 out the door), I couldn't be more pleased!!!! I haven't even touched on the looks. I ordered Deep, after much indecision. I regretted up until I saw my car. The grills aren't really black. More a dark charcoal grey. They look sweet against the dark blue. Makes a kinda "happy" looking car look a little sinister (which is exactly what I wanted). Thanks to GM for having the vision to create, and the balls to build the Solstice Hopefully, by the weekend, I will have my break-in miles behind me. I'll report back again when I get the chance to "light the fuse"!!!!!!!!!!

Part II - This morning

Put some more miles on going to work today. The more I drive it, the more I like it. I don't think you'll be disappointed!!! The one thing I didn't report on last night was the gear box. I've seen it "bashed" on the forum by various people. Obviously the new stiffner has worked wonders. Shifts are positive and have a nice "snick" as you move into gear. Of course, I haven't done any shifting "in anger" yet, but at this point I like the feel. There is some very pronounced driveline lash if you take your foot off of the gas a little before disengaging the clutch. Bad shifting technique. You have to time it just right for it to occur. Obviously, to avoid it, just don't do it. I had a chance to hear the exhaust note from the outside for the first time this morning. Definitely sounds a lot less "tractor" from the outside. A hoarse rasp, with a slight background rumble. Evil, just as we'd hoped . As far as the steering and brake feel, it's time to start investigating possibilities. Any idea what the steering gear rack bushings are made of? What type of brake lines are on the car? A friend has a modified WRX STI. Amongst the things he did was to change the steering rack bushings from factory rubber to aftermarket urethane, as well as stainless steel brake lines. I can tell you it was like driving a different car after he made those two changes.........

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Yes,actually, I am driving that Deep GXP!!!!!

So finally picked up my Mean GXP last night, and after driving it home, to work, out to lunch, I have formed some very basic impressions of the car:

Engine: although this is brand-spanking new motor (less that 40 miles on it so far) I'm pretty impressed with it's smoothness and power delivery. That said, i've not used more than 25% of the throttle, and I have been short shifting at 3-4K. What is impressive is the motors pull at low revs, in high gear. It's very smooth if you let the revs drop to 1500 in fourth and then feed in throttle. I'll comment on the power and revs once I get past the break-in period.

Suspension: This is really the area where the solstice shines. Compared to my MY00 S2000, the ride is a lot smoother; the S2000 was very "jiggily" over small road imperfections, to the point where it was almost distracting. The GXP, in contrast, is extremely well damped, and it seems that the springs and dampers are extremely well matched. The steering is nicely weighted and very accurate. I've not yet cranked the car into a corner yet, but in driving on some back roads this morning I got a decent feeling of what the front tires were doing. My overall impression, so far, is one of stability and predictability. Stock S2000s were terrible with factory alignments - I'm going to take the GXP to my alignment shop and put a basic "performance" alignment on it and see how that changes things. In the spring the AutoX alignment will go on, and I'll really see what she can do.

Interior: Overall it's very nicely shaped, and quite comfortable. It is roomier than the S2000; however the seat bottoms could be longer (this is a complaint i have with nearly all cars, but at 6'2 i've learning to live with it.) The interior materials are hard; but at least the colors and textures match up well, and the impression is one of durability. And yes the power window and door switches are poorly located (but you knew that).

Exterior, Top, Trunk: OK, the exterior is lovley, and the panel gaps are very good. Infact the doors fit so well that I have to slam them a bit harder to avoid getting the "door ajar" message. The top looks good, and on mine fits extremely well. As for putting it down, or putting it up, well, um, yeah. Compared to the S2000 (which had one of the slickest power tops I've ever seen - 7 seconds from top up to top down) the GXP's top is not quick - I will certainly not be lowering it at a stop light. However the look of the car with the top down is fantastic - infact asside from some much higher priced convertables, it's just about perfect. I will be curious to see if any holes develop in the top - my S2000 developed a hole, just past the driver's side window, after about 3 years.

I do love the fact that the Solstice has a glass rear window and a rear defroster. The earliest S2000s had a plastic window which was the source of no end of problems. I had mine replaced after 4 years because it got cloudy; I had to buy a special pad for the top well to keep it from getting scratched; it was almost impossible to keep clean.

I'm not going to harp on the trunk. But it was a challenge to put my gym bag, breifcase, jacket, and lunch bag in it.

So what's the overal verdict? Excellent. Apart from the issues I new the car had going in, there have been no surprises. Once I get a few more miles under my belt I'll write a more detailed performance review.

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If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning!
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Current Stable:
1998 Toyota FJ62 "Bruce"
2006 VW Mk5 GTI DSG "Ingraine"
2007 Mean GXP, Team Zissou!

Ok, I’ve had the car a week now and I’ve put on about 650 miles now. Thought I’d do a little (ok not so little) review of what I’ve found so far about the car. For those who don’t know I owned a Mysterious base Solstice vin xx101068 which means there were the first 1000K made (vins xx00YYYY) then the vin sequence started around 1007xx for post 1st 1k cars so this means my car was a very very early car made, it even squeaked past the window seal lockdown and never had the issue. So my review will also be a good indication of all the changes GM has made so far across the line.

I’ll start with the interior.

• I didn’t have the audio controls or leather in my base car but I did have cruise control and the DIC. The buttons on the steering wheel have been redesigned since my car. They used to be flat and contoured to the steering wheel but now they actually stick up and have ridges between each button. Now I can just run my finger across them without looking and can easily count positions to know where I am where as before you were pretty much guessing or looking. The little lettering/images on the buttons has been redone to be a bit larger and there’s a much brighter light behind them so they can be seen clearly now.
• The glove box is still as small but now it’s much sturdier. You could lock the old one but it felt very loose and that all it would take was a quick jerk to rip it open. My new one has a much tighter feel when it is locked and doesn’t feel so weak.
• The little cubby between the seats also is a little different with the way it opens. On my base car the button was very quick and would pop right out and then when opened the door would kinda just fall open. This new one seems to have something in it the makes the latch open slowly and then when opened the door will just kinda glide down.
• The auto-adjusting speed based audio levels is far more noticeable now. The difference between moving slow and fast with it set to high is a tremendous difference and actually useful now. It’s still hard to read in the wrong light though when the lights are dimmed…
• My seats are the black leather with red stitching (freakin sweet!!!). I’ve noticed the slight stretching/wear of the seat bottom like others have noticed with their cars. This doesn’t bother me too much. My car however was luckily built 3 days after the height adjusters went in so I have it in my car. I don’t know if this is something with the 2007 MY cars or cars with the adjuster but it really seems like the seats sit lower then in my base car. I can see out the front windshield much better now since I set extremely tall even though I’m only 5’9”. The rear aero ferrings are much more pronounced in my vision now since I’m sitting lower. Several people who had seen me in my base car many times and now in my GXP have commented on how I seem to be sitting lower in the car now, as well as one person who had driven my car before and has sat in my GXP now. The adjuster brings you up and forward when used.
• There are two stickers inside the car now I didn’t have in my base. There’s one under the roof latch telling you how to do it properly, and one by the drivers left leg that shows you where to find the hood release.

Some exterior things I’ve noticed.

• Compared to my early base Solstice there are more seals in various places. Not sure what all of them are for necessarily, but I’m sure they’re all for a reason.
• The trunk lid now opens much farther then in my previous car. It used to pop up like 2”~4” at most before, now it’ll come up about 8”~12”. This might have to do with the optional headliner I have since it makes the trunk lid push on the roof more when closed since it’s such a tight fit. It also doesn’t open as far as the trunk in my base car. The base car would pretty much go vertical where this is a couple degrees off from being straight up and down. I was hoping we’d get the plastic liners for the trunk area under the roof that’s not the storage area like the Sky has, but I guess not. I might try getting them from a Saturn dealership.
• The roof itself looks exactly the same except now the latch is a red color instead of black. The major difference comes in the form of the headliner though. It’s definitely a major visual difference from the inside. It’s also a major PITA from the outside. The top is soooo hard to put down correctly now. I used to be able to just undo the top and push it back behind me and that was pretty much all I had to do. Now it kinda stays open most of the way and I have to get out and push it pretty hard in various places to get it down far enough to permit closing the trunk lid. Also if I try to close the trunk from one side the other side never closes completely, and when it does it actually makes the trunk lid become unaligned. If I put my hands between the aero ferrings and push from behind the car pretty hard I can get it to close in one push. Otherwise if I do it from either side I have to re-pop it and do it again. Putting the roof up and in place is a lot tougher now too. Before I could put the roof up from outside the car and line the pins up with the holes then get in and quickly close the latch. Now I have to get in and wrangle the roof close enough so I can force the latch to close. I bitch about it now, but I’m betting after a month or so the headliner with brake in some and the entire process will get easier hopefully.
• Oh also in the trunk itself the Velcro strips used to prevent the roof guide pins from clacking against their resting points has been redesigned too. It’s much larger and looks like it’ll stay in place better.

My thoughts on the tires and the suspension.

• The GS-2s look a heck of a lot better then those RS-A tires. First thing some people have asked me is if I’ve upgraded the tires because the tread pattern just looks so much better then what they remembered the base car looking like.
• I’ve driven my car on my Falken Azenis RT-615 tires (extra track only tires) a little, but not enough to really know them like I knew the RS-A tires on a daily basis. These GS-2 tires are far and beyond better then the RS-A tires. They seem to grip fairly when launching the car or taking corners where in lesser conditions the RS-A tires would give up grip much sooner. Now some of that might be the suspension setup, but some of it is tire too I’m betting. The most impressive difference so far for me has been the wet traction. Situations that used to cause the base car to fishtail completely out of control have remained pretty solid with the new GS-2 tires (and no, this is not because of traction control). I feel much more confident driving in wet conditions with these tires over the older RS-A ones.
• I kicked off my first full traction control event today. I’ve had a couple small “Low Traction” events but nothing where it completely takes over. I had never driven a car with traction control before my GXP, but my friend with his new 2007 Mustang GT has it in his. He had told me about what it felt like when it kicks off in his and when it does don’t try to drive like you would normally when trying to correct a RWD car in a fishtail otherwise you can over correct the corrections. So I purposefully initiated a “severe traction control event” as I’d like to call it (WoT while turning right into an incline after it had rained overnight so the road was still wet) on the way to work this morning. Just want to state that I did this with no traffic around and was going onto a 3 lane road with grass on one side and another 3 lane road with no traffic on it on the other side so as to not harm myself or anyone else. It took a lot more then it used to take in the base car with RS-A tires but with those conditions I created what would have put my in at least a 180 if left unchecked. As I felt the car begin to loose traction I just let it go instead of trying to correct to see what the traction control would do. I felt the engine power begin to throttle down even though I had the pedal to the floor and the wheels began to come into check pretty quickly and I was off in a straight line pretty fast. Nice little feature, will definitely save a lot of people from getting into way too much trouble with this car. It’s going to take some getting used to not trying to correct a condition like that myself because I can easily see trying to correct something like that the way one normally would without traction control and causing the system to over correct and get into an accident.
• When I first got the car it very much felt like I had to work harder to turn the car. Like the car was planted much more firmly and the desire to turn was much less then a FE2 equipped car with RS-A tires. The car is far more precise handling wise then my base car ever was. However it’s not as darty ( ::edit:: I had used the word agile before but through conversation in this thread I've edited it to darty as that better describes this ::edit:: ) feeling as the base car. The base car felt easier to throw around but ease of throwing a car around does not imply its better then the GXP. With the GXP I have to work a little harder but as I said the results are far more precise. I can rely on the GXP to be more where I want it to be and to stick there too. The base car was quick to adjust but it didn’t feel like it was securely planted all the time where I wanted it to be. This is a combination of the better tires too though of course.

My thoughts on things engine related.

• The engine cover seems far more secure and solid then the base one was. The base engine cover seemed to be pretty flimsy plastic and twisted around very easily. The GXP engine cover feels very solid and doesn’t want to move at all.
• Wow are my exhaust tips black… The back end of my car is pretty sooty too. GM should black enamel the inside of the exhaust tips and leave the outside chrome. I just gotta remember to clean the tips more often and wax the inside of the tips more often and the rear end too.
• If the radio is off and the top is up one can really hear that SIDI engine ticking like a little time bomb. The times I drive around with the top up and radio off are not very often, but I could see how it could annoy some people.
  The engine coolant in this car really jump up pretty quickly compared to the base car. My bet is the turbo helps heat the oil up at a much faster rate. If I keep the heat off I average around 199 F while driving and it’ll creep up to 205 F when I’m in stop-n-go traffic. With the heat on though it’ll average 210 F while moving and up to about 214 F when in stop-n-go traffic. We’ll see what it does once the Florida summer strikes.
• As others have mentioned the GXP clutch engages MUCH sooner. I almost stalled leaving the dealer and actually stalled pulling into my driveway when I got home. I haven’t stalled since then though. Took some getting used to but it’s not much of an issue now in daily driving. I actually find the earlier engaging clutch to be easier to drive in stop-n-go traffic then the base clutch. It takes some getting used to since it engages earlier, but I find the quicker engagement makes it easier to get the car rolling at slower speeds. That might be a product of the more powerful engine too, but it feels more like it’s clutch related to me. In my base car it was impossible to get the car moving at pretty slow speeds (under 10 mph) and maintain that low speed for stop-n-go traffic.
• This engine when running seems to cause more wobbling/vibration then my base car did. The base car felt pretty smooth when running but the GXP seems to be jitterier when sitting around idling. Also I feel a lot more driveline lash with my GXP then I ever did with the base car. I can feel slight power fluctuations from when I’ve feather my foot on the gas and gotten a little more power then let it back off slightly the engine looses power from the turbo spooling down. It feels like it lashes back up the driveline and makes the entire car slightly lurch. I bet the torque arm has something to do with that. Without the arm slight fluctuations in the driveline probably got absorbed by the rear suspension and the part of the driveline that mated the axel up to the rear diff (everyone’s favorite clunk part). With the torque arm now though I can feel those slight changes coming back up through the car. It’ll take a bit of getting used to. On the subject of clunking my car does not clunk at all, I can’t even get it to lazy shift clunk either. No whining either too.
• I looked under the rear end last night to make sure my dif isn’t leaking and checked to make sure the bolt holes were still there to permit a hitch to be installed and they are. Saw the toque arm too; I’ll get some pics soon of the underside once I get a chance.
• Shifting isn't as graceful as it used to be for me in my base car. Things were pretty smooth between all gears and clutch movement was easy to master with throwing the shifter. With my GXP though I've found I'm not shifting or working the clutch as cleanly. I think this has to do with the shorter clutch throw and me needing to re-adjust my technique. I haven't had a bad shift yet, but it's taken some extra effort sometimes since it seems like part of the system might still be partially engaged somewhere. Gotta get this down before i go to the track or autox though.

I'll add more once I get to go to the 1/4 mile track and do my first auto-x too.

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My initial Review:

First of all, I wanted to drive a couple of weeks before I gave my initial interview. Good thing I waited, because a few minor issues have sprouted up in the last week. Those that know me know that I am passionate about this car, but I DO NOT subscribe to the school of “ignore” the minor issues (clunks, ticks, trunk size, cup holders, etc). I believe that if we make our voices heard, then GM will continue to “tweak” the little things … believe me there are not too many issues with this car.

Current Status of GXP:

MPGs:
City 19 – 22 avg (playful – tame) MUCH better than my Burb!
Hwy 27-33 avg
Mixed 24-28

Issues:
Passenger Cup Holder = DOA
Rear trunk lid = needs a slight adjustment
Roof = mechanism broke after 1 week (rod that connects roof to buttress?)
Chip (small) in hood paint (I need to get my Venture Shield on ASAP!)

I am a little concerned about the roof and others are reporting issues with theirs. Mine seemed “tight” at first, and then it stopped half way down next. Eventually I realized that it was a loose rod and I hope it is an easy fix.

Mods: lil chromies, O&J Stubbies, tinted windows, Custom plate (on order), Custom Wind Restrictor (on the way), Venture Shield clearbra (on the way)

Overview:

My car is over 1800 miles and it turned 3 weeks old today. I will easily hit 2500 (maybe 3000) miles by her 1 month birthday. I never owned a 2006 (NA) Solstice, so this review might bore the “old timers” and may benefit the newer guys. However, I have “trolled” the SF for over a year and have learned a lot from the posts of the previous owners. Overall I am VERY pleased with my purchase and would do it again. The wait (16 months) was HELL … but after Iraq I learned to have patience and not sweat the small stuff.

The Exterior = 5 of 5:

I really did not like the GXPs fascia when I first saw it in late 2005, but to tell you the truth I like it more than the NA now … I guess it grows on you. The car looks VERY mean and I have already got the “It looks like the Viper” compliment (or an older Vette/Porsche). Real car lovers love the look and most cannot believe it is a Pontiac … my badges are still on and people will still ask what it is. The “lip” of the bumper is not painted on the bottom, which saved my paint on my first “bump” with a parking block. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look of the dual exhaust … want the 3” and some deeper exhaust notes. However, if I owned a NA my first mod would be dual exhaust! Spoilers are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like the OEM spoiler. It does not take away from the “flow” of the car IMHO and at $275 it is WELL worth the money. I replaced the RC antenna ASAP with an O series and now have the J (… OJ … ) The tires are great and grab good enough for “spirited” driving and I feel they look much better than the RSAs (sorry Nick ).

The Interior 3of 5:

WOW … where do I start? … okay here is where the old timers will say smart remarks (like just deal with it )

Good:Radio controls are easy to reach … I have the steering wheel controls, but I tend to use the controls on the radio most of the time. The shifter is in the perfect location and the passenger’s cup holder is located great for the driver. The airbag light does not bother me as much as others have said it bothers them. The GXP and red stitching looks AWESOME! The pedals look great with the metal covers and the GXP mats and personalized Solstice “door jam” look s great too.

The Bad:
The lock and window switches are in very odd locations … you will soon master to work the windows with your right hand (much easier than with your left). I wonder who thought that the switches and cup holders were in good locations. I think that if I have enough free time and “gonads” I will attempt to move my window switches to the shifter area. The seat adjuster knob (for your back) it similar to my old MR2 (1991) and wish the seats were a bit closer to my Burbs comfort.

The Ugly:
No surprises here … The cup holders are hands down the worst thing on the GXP (inside or out). I accidentally hit the middle one daily and the passengers always get hit as well. The passenger side was broke since day one, but I have been having too much fun driving to get it fixed. I put the lil chromies on ASAP and they look 1000 times better than those plastic ones. I have no fit issues with them and they are a nice cheap mod. The "Troll" in me wanted to say the trunk ... but even I would balk at that.

The Mechanics/Options (5 of 5):

I love the turbo sound (wheeeeze) and everyone thinks it sounds cool so far. I thought the “tick” was annoying at first, but I have grown accustomed to the sound. I am more anal than most people and no one has said anything about the noise … until I pointed it out. (right … Nick) I love trying to hit higher PSIs on the boost and have hit 19 (barely) once and 16 seems to be my “average.” I am ready to “boost” the “growl” of the GXP a little, because it seems a little “tame” (sleeperish) now. NOTE TO VENDORS: Our numbers (GXP/RED LINE Owners) are growing fast and I am very interested in seeing some more performance mods.

I did not buy the GXP for the Interior, so my issues with the interior are really a “non-issue.” The car continues to give more everyday and I am VERY happy with the responsiveness of my car. I like the GXP on the speedometer, but wish it would light up like the MPG readout does. I waited “officially” from late April like many of the owners have and think it was worth the wait. I shopped around for Z4s, 350Zs and S2Ks (all well over my ~$29K MSRP) and think that the GXP is a bargain. The only reason I would not give it a perfect score was because I want Pontiac to continue to make improvements … I AM NOT A HOMER! I will post more comments as I put more miles on this car. I will hit about 3000 the first month and it is a daily driver, so I will continue to put about 2000 a month on this car. So far, this car has made me very happy … just look at my avatar.

BTW: I am 5'8" (on a good day) and I have no issues with "fit" in the car ... I can see the road and instruments fine.

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2007 Aggressive GXP (Manual) loaded minus On* and Smoker's Pkg (Born 11/10/2006 and picked up on 11/22/2006)

Current sMiles: 21,111

Click Here To See My Mod Page

TEAM RED BULL & VODKA 2008

I have owned 3 other (what I consider) sports cars: 1988 Z24, 1995 Z28, and a 1984 Fiero (including a Tahoe and Silverado, yes I am a GM man ). The GXP out performs them all.

I have been impressed with the looks of Solstice since its arrival, and the changes to the GXP are even more impressive. When pulling into my gravel driveway, I have to be very careful to not land the front fascia and the even lower air dam. The garage kept GXP is not my daily driver and will never see snow/salt and rarely see rain. I have owned it only 2 weeks and have about 600 miles on it with no mechanical or appearance issues. I don't hear any clunk as described by some owners and the intermittent SIDI tic is barely noticeable.

Great:
The power is awesome! The manual transmission, with its short stoke is smooth yet solid. The clutch catches early and quick, so before I got the feel of it I green-horned it 3 times on the way back from the dealer (I think MSG_McKee mentioned this also). This car handles great in the turns and even feels very solid at 120 MPH. It’s very easy and quick to be at 100 MPH once you get through all gears. All controls are placed well within reach (and I don’t mind the air bag indicator at all). The steering wheel controls are very nice and navigate the DIC and sound system with ease. The Monsoon/XM system is great, although my wife has me turn it down when she is done with the massage the sub-woofer provides to the passenger seat.

Not so great:
The interior surfaces are all hard… they could have added some padding where you elbows and knees rest. The cup holders are pathetic, not only in placement but in function. My frame (at 6.0’ and 215 lbs) would like a little more room. I normally like to lay the seat back a bit but can’t do that in this two seater. My Fiero actually has more room. I have to leave the steering wheel all the way up to see the gauges. I only put it down (my most comfortable position) when I have set the cruise and not concerned with my speed. The trunk is very difficult to close, with or without the top in it, and then there is the problem with limited storage.

Conclusion:
I am very satisfied overall with my GXP; its fun to drive and has great looks! I knew about most of the quirks going in. I can’t wait till spring and summer when I can really enjoy the convertible.

(edits in blue)

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Mysterious GXP, dark-side, ebony w/gray stitched leather, manual 5-speed, loaded
Additions: "J" stubby antenna, custom rubber floor mats, tinted windows (35%), Evolution car cover
Solstice - sol (sun) and sistere (stand still) as we drive off into the sun!

I just reach 500 miles tonight, I have been waiting for that moment. I drove the car carefully during the break in except during my test drive. I pushed hard on the car today to experience the power.

My impression:

What I like:
1- The power: The car is very powerful, I was very impressed with the response. it is breathtaking. I have driven many powerful cars including M3 BMW. I do have an infiniti FX which is powerful but this car is more powerful. the acceleration is amazing. it makes you feel high. without knowing you are arround 80-90 miles/h.

2- More refined than my base. I like having the lock/unlock switch. I like the premium headliner. I like the Logo on the seats.

3- the handeling is impressive and the car is very steady on high speed.

4- The look is unbelievable, I had the base for 11 months then I got the GXP and the car still look as beautiful. It is just perfect looking where you look at it.

What I do not like:
1- The cup holders: I wish GM had fixed this issue since I had my 2006 base.
2- I prefer my 2 tones leather that I had with my base but it does not come with GXP.
3- The is air sound at over 65 m /h speed (i had it with the base), the insulation is not that good.
4- I wish there was more storage space. However, this car is a second or a third car.

The problems:
1- My driver buttress is not going all the way back when released. I will wait a little before I take it to the dealer.
2- the seats are little wrinkled, I will keep eye on them.

I am enjoying this car, I am happy that I got this instead of my base. I was just missing the power in the base otherwise it was a great car.

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eskanday
Solstice GXP 2007
Black, Manual, Loaded, w/o On Star

Okay, here's my review of the GXP. I've got about 600 miles on it now, and the last 100 were so much fun. Not to say that the first 500 weren't, but trying to keep the speed down was tough. It's not technical, but it's just a breakdown of general impressions.

First, I should say I have the auto. I do mostly city driving, and while a manual would have been fun in the twisties, it would have been aggravating for me on a daily basis. This won't be my daily driver in the winter, but in the summer it will be.

Likes:
I like pretty much everything. Hah, I do, but let me be serious.

Transmission
The automatic is very quick to shift, and I can chirp the tires very easily if I'm not careful. I wouldn't ever want to do that. Sometimes there is a slight hesitation when you let off the gas too quickly, like a little jerk. I think it's on the downshift.

Engine
What can I say about the engine, other than it's a work of art. There is almost no lag in the power delivery, but once you get into the boost, hold on. I love the whoosh, of the BOV, when letting off of the gas. Because there isn't a lot of noise from the exhaust, it's really hard to tell how fast you're going when you stomp on it. Before you know it, you're at about 60.

Handling
I like the fact that you can pretty much think about a maneuver, and it's done. I'm not a racer, but I don't drive slow either. I love being able to take a quick turn at speed, and feeling almost no body roll. I had a C4 Vette, and I thought the handling was great in that one. I think this one is better, but of course it's a combination of a lot of factors. The C4 may have been better with newer tires, and some suspension upgrades. I love being on the expressway, and being able to pass with no drama. My other car is a Crown Vic, which can make a pass, but let me tell you that it tends to wander in the lane.

Tires, LSD, Stabilitrak
I'll mention the tires, because I've seen other reviews mention them. I like them, and I think they handle just fine in the rain. I've never really pushed it that hard in the rain, only about 65mph, but I felt perfectly at ease. More of a concern for me is the fact that it's a summer tire, and since it's very cold here, they tend to harden up, which isn't a good thing. I've hit a patch of ice in a turn, and the Stabilitrak keeps the rear in check after a slight fishtail. I'm going from driving my Crown Vic which needs a full tank of gas, and a couple bags of gravel, to get any kind of traction. So because I'm going from that to the GXP with GS-2's , I think it's a great improvement.

Styling
I love the exterior styling, there is nothing else like it. I sometimes go in the garage to just look at it. Let me say it, I love the way people just stare at the car. I've had people just stare at my car, as they are driving, while not looking at the road ahead of them. Not too safe, but at least they weren't behind me.

Audio
I've got the monsoon with the 6 disc. I think the stereo is great, although the speakers could stand to be a little better. Steering wheel controls are a plus, but I have to train myself to reach for those instead of the actual stereo.

Interior
The interior is snug, but comfortable. First time I went to back up I hit the back window, because well I forgot I was that close to the window. The gauges are very easy to read in daylight, and at night. The seats are so comfortable, although the leather is sagging in the drivers seat.

The Tick
I put the tick as a like, just because I've learned to like it. I like that it's there and that the engine isn't dead silent, because it lets you know that there is something special under the hood. I can hear it all the time, but I don't mind at all. Initially this was a little annoying, but not anymore, at least not for me.

Dislikes:
Not many, but here are a few. The window switches are ridiculous in their placement. The cup holders in the center console, I'm always opening those by accident. That's really about it. I think the trunk is laughable, but it's just one of those things that makes the car unique. I don't need to carry much anyway, other than detailing spray and a few microfibers. Even though I like that everyone stares at it, it's a little unsettling also, because it's always in the back of my mind that one day someone will scratch it, or it just won't be there. I'm paranoid I know, but I've seen many keyed cars, and I've had many a car broken into. Oh, and that I can't stop looking for upgrades, or anything Solstice related.

What I would change
I would change the exhaust, it's a little too quiet for me right now. While I don't need to hear it to know when to shift, since I have the auto, I still want to hear it. I had Borla Stingers on my Vette, and I miss the sound. I know I won't have the same thing on this one, but just a little more sound. I preordered the 3" Magnaflow, so that will help. I'd change the interior speakers, with some of a little better quality. I'd snug up the leather on the seat bottom.

Hope you've enjoyed reading my little review.

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Deep GXP, current mods.

BSR Tune, Hahn Intercooler, Performance Autowerks 3" exhaust, Dejon I/C pipes
AEM Boost Gauge

JPM padded console, door handles, and arm rest
Painted engine cover, Stubby Antenna, Kappashield
G2 Painted Calipers (yellow), Solstice caliper decals, wheel center decals, Lil Chromies

License Plate - CHGO SOL

NASSOA
Founding Member#82

2008 Events Completed
Penguin Run, T2TR, Mecca Tour, Chicago
2008 Events Upcoming
Dells, T2TR Double Header

As I close in on 700 miles on the odometer, I figure it is a good time to finally
write up my review of my new 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP. To sum it up, every day with
this car is nothing short of an adventure.
I’ll start with the negatives consistently pointed out with this platform and my
perspective on them. Granted, I am an optimist at heart and I have a strong love for this
car so these may seem a little biased. First, the top; in EVERY magazine article written
about Pontiac’s new halo car, this is ragged upon left and right. Yes, it can be an inconvenience
on long drives if the weather shifts for the worst. But that’s about it. Personally, I LOVE putting
the top up and down. Why? Well, beneath the sexy hydro-formed panels of this Solstice
and as any owner will tell you, she has a character that is distinctly showy and loving of
the spotlight. No more is this epitomized than in the workings of her complex top. Every
single time I have popped that clamshell to stow or lift up the roof, I am hit with stares of
curiosity. I can’t complain about that!
But enough about the (wrinkleless :p) top. I’ll move on to the interior. Here, there
are some things I can agree with C&D about. Well, one thing really, and that’s the center
console being a tad too hard. Otherwise, the interior is just peachy for me. Of course, it seems
as if none of those magazine writers have realized that the passenger side cup holder works
perfectly for the driver. There is a lack of storage space, but if I can fit enough clothes for a
week, plus spare car parts, a 2 ton floor jack, and a bunch of miscellaneous crap inside that
car without much hassle, what the hell are they trying to transport? A 36” CRT television?!
(You can bet your ass the Miata can do that though!). I do wish that Pontiac had incorporated
door pockets though, but that’s my only gripe. As for the other hits this car keeps receiving
from the gods of auto press such as the steering and braking, all I can say is did they actually
drive the car? I love both the steering response and the feel of the brakes. This car has great
stopping power for day to day driving. I have yet to take it to the track so I cannot comment on the
performance there.
On to the good stuff though. Power. Need I say more? This single word more than any
other, represents the GXP to the fullest. That car can MOVE! I got into a little bit of a race this
morning with a BMW 325i. I don’t think you could really call it a race though. It was more
of a “Hey, my car pulls harder at low RPMs in 4th gear than yours could even hope for in 3rd!”
When I hit that 500 mile mark and fully unleashed the engine, I didn’t realize how fast 80mph
could come and go. Of course, I had to hold back a little bit as I was on one of the main streets
through my cop-infested town. With wet roads, it takes very little effort to get this car to slide
sideways while still moving in forward, even with traction control on. And I can’t even begin to
list the number of times I’ve accidentally chirped second and even third gear. As another
solsticeforum member put it, this is lightning in a bottle; a red, curvy, damned sexy bottle
with big shiny wheels.
Let’s move on to the handling though. The steering is very responsive (which is a good
thing as it saved me from a close encounter with the side of a Silverado truck). The turning radius
is very tight; a big step down from my previous vehicle (which could be more described as boat-like
compared to this roadster). The ride is very smooth, something that can be problematic if you
don’t pay attention to your speedometer. The fat Eagle DS-2’s maintain their grip very well. I will be
paying a few visits to Virginia International Raceway and the Tail of the Dragon in the near
future, as the former is only 4 hours from my duty station and the latter is about 6, so I’ll have
more on the nature of this beast around some real twisties soon enough.
To sum it up, every day this car validates every dollar I spent on her. From her supportive,
racing-style seats to the PSHOO! of the recirculating valve, the Pontiac Solstice GXP is nothing short
of a dream on the road. Her gorgeous curves and just plain brilliant aesthetics draw attention from
everyone. Slamming down the accelerator does as much for the quickly-boosting turbo as it does for
the adrenal glands. When it comes to cars, I could hardly ask for anything more.

I now know the true definition of the SF term “perma-grin”.

-The Plushy One

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I support our Supporting Vendors, one paycheck at a time!
My CarDomain!

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