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
__________________
I support our Supporting Vendors, one paycheck at a time! My CarDomain!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA
Founding Member - Recording Secretary - Northeast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________ Aggressive GXP at $25,995.00 shipping of $600, Manual Transmission.
Options:
Air, $960; Chrome Wheels, $545; PCQ, Premium Package (Leather), $525; Radio, 6-Disc with MP3, $495; Monsoon, $395; Premium Acoustic Headliner, $150; and Sport Metallic Pedals, $115; all totals $29,180.00. No XM/OnStar and NO Spoiler. MODS (RKSport/Magnaflow dual exit exhaust system, K&N filter, Ventureshield.
First 1000. Aggressive with everything, NO XM/OnStar. SOLD
~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding member
~~~~~~~
One thing I've been meaning to post here, and Plushy's good review just reminded me about it, is the seats. My daily driver before my GXP was a 1995 F150 with bench seats! (Bit of a contrast there!)
In my truck, I have, over the last few years, had recurring lower back issues. I didn't think about it until recently, but since I picked up my GXP in November my back problems have completely gone away!
Chock up another nice feature to the Solstice: A free chiropractic visit with every drive!
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oceansol
Chock up another nice feature to the Solstice: A free chiropractic visit with every drive!
Ah! Another Solstice motto:
Pontiac Solstice - putting Chiropractors and
Psycho-therapists out of work since 2005.
On a more serious note, it must feel fantastic to get rid of the sore back. Seat shape and foam density really make a huge difference, especially when a seat really fits you. That pinched-bottom shape on the MX-5 was annoying in the extreme. Not at first, but then it would just get worse and worse as the hours piled on.
__________________ Solstice GXP Coupe You still don't need a trunk to haul ass...
even at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas!
Excellent review. I am also coming up on magic 700, and I especially agree with your comments about handling.
Published reviews talking about oversteer seem more a reaction to keeping up with the responsive handling on manuvers at speed, than a problem with the car itself. (Don't sneeze on a tight turn. Whatever your hands do to the wheel is transferred to the tires).
great review got my gxp 3 weeks ago i love it. like i read the other day 
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