2006 Pontiac Solstice Los Angeles CA

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Quite a lot of people are sitting up and taking notice of Pontiac's newest product, the dream-car-turned-real Solstice roadster. In just three years, Pontiac took this concept car from the stage to the street, and there's no doubt that it's one of the most exciting products in years from GM's self-styled Excitement Division. The first thousand cars sold out faster than hot concert tickets.

Mazda is reportedly revising sales estimates for its new MX-5 downward, anticipating serious competition from the Solstice. Technically, this writer is duty-bound to hate this car; I own a Miata, after all. However, the Mazda MX-5's new arch-enemy is too good a car to ignore, so I'll put my partisan feelings aside and share the love.

The Solstice began life as a corporate doodle, one of the many concept cars that are used to draw the public into the auto shows each year. Public response to Pontiac's roadster concept was so strong however, that the vehicle was green-lighted for production. It's a commonly known secret that pressure from the enthusiast brass within GM was a big part of the driving force behind getting this car from the show floor to the streets in less than two years. The crash program has resulted in a relatively affordable two-seater with spirited handling, and it's arguably the first excitement from Pontiac in almost a decade.

The styling is fantastic, if polarizing. Unlike the half-baked GTO, which succeeded on the dynamic front but was a stylistic letdown, the Solstice looks fantastic. Its uncompromising, muscular sheetmetal stands out on the road and easily communicates the car's sporty intent. This little two-seater looks like it's ready to go out and beat up Miatas, and that's exactly its mission in life. The Solstice looks like what it is; a little, muscular sports car. The extravagant curves have made it from show car to production car almost unsullied, and that's no mean feat. Where other roadsters look as though the sheetmetal is pulled taut over the mechanical bits beneath, the Solstice looks like it's flexing. From the side, it's all wheels, with the 18" units dominating the silhouette. Thanks to the fancy design, the GM parts-bin parts used in this car look like they belong. It's true; the round lights at the front and rear are shared with the GMC Envoy. From the rear, the tall haunches are echoed by the soft top's flying-buttress roofline. This car looks good whether the top is up or down.

The interior is just as impressive. Like the Audi TT, the Solstice is a high-silled car that gives you the feeling of sitting down in a tub, though visibility is better than you'd expect. It's intimate--more so with the monochrome black interior option. The Solstice can also be had with an airier-feeling two-tone interior. The controls are biased toward the driver; switches and gauges are kept to a clean minimum. The seats are snug but make the most of the available space. There's not much in the way of small-item storage. Not much big-item storage either, thanks to the folding top which eats up most of the 3.8 cubic foot trunk. This fact won't be terribly important to most Solstice buyers though; this car is for going out and playing on winding roads, not for grocery shopping. Forget about driving out to visit your favorite roads in other states, though; the only way to travel in a Solstice is solo, with your luggage on the passenger seat. The Solstice is well-equipped; standard gear includes a glass window in the soft top and comfortable race-inspired seats. Leather upholstery, an MP3-capable sound system and cruise control are all available.

Power comes in the form of a 177-horsepower 2.4 liter four-cylinder. This modern, aluminum-block, dual overhead cam engine also sees duty in the Chevrolet Cobalt, and the relatively large displacement provides plenty of entertaining low-end torque. I didn't care for the exhaust note, which tends to drone unpleasantly at all speeds, but that's a matter of taste. The 2800-pound curb weight makes the Solstice less of a featherweight than the Miata. Like all good roadsters, the Solstice is a rear-driver. A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment, and like the Miata's, it's a short-throw gearbox for quick shifts. A five-speed automatic is also available. Want to go racing? A limited-slip differential is available, and the 260-horsepower turbocharged Solstice GXP is on the way for 2007.

The Solstice rides a backbone-style frame with a welded center section. It's largely responsible for the three hundred pound weight penalty over the Miata. This also means that the chassis doesn't flex, however. The suspension uses an independent, short-long arm setup and coil-over shocks at all four corners. Because of the additional weight, the Solstice hesitates slightly on turn in, where the MX-5 doesn't. Once it's over that, however, it corners flat and confidently. The 50/50 weight distribution contributes to predictable handling. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard; ABS is available.

What the Solstice does best is draw crowds, of course. This is a show car come to life, and everyone can tell at first glance that it's a little superstar. Unlike some past show cars come to life (the Plymouth Prowler pops to mind) the Solstice can back up its sporty good looks with real performance, too. Pontiac's biggest coup with the Solstice has been keeping the pricing realistic. This may look like a show car, but it's within reach of the average buyer, with a starting price of $19,995.


Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice.
Length: 157.2 in.
Width: 71.3 in.
Height: 50.1 in.
Wheelbase: 95.1 in.
Curb weight: 2860 lb.
Cargo space: 3.8 cu.ft.
Base price: $19.995
Engine: 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain: five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 177 @ 6600
Torque: 166 @ 4800
Fuel capacity: 13.8 gal.
Est. mileage: 20/28