CD Article: 2006 Pontiac Solstice

[CD_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
First Drive:

A "truly amazing first effort" by Pontiac, the new Pontiac Solstice sports car offers "stunning style" and "exceptional driving dynamics", "at an impressive price", says Richard Russell. But it's not perfect, he says. When lowered, the convertible top "completely fills the trunk"; and the manual transmission has "a monstrous gap between fourth and fifth gear ratios," he says.      More...

[si]

"Unfortunately in many jurisdictions the front will be marred by a license plate and there was no provision for one so it is stuck smack dab in the middle of that gorgeous nose."


Would it be safe to assume the solstice designers live in a state not requiring front plates?  Ruins the whole front look.

This car would no doubt be a fun driver, but with an ugly plate face and minimal trunk space, my bucks would go to the Miata.  Nice to see competition though!

[The Mighty Duck]

It doesn't look quite as bad as I had feared with the front lisence plate in place.  Certainly takes away from the beauty of the car, but it could be worse.  I wonder how many people will run the risk of going without thier front plate?

I actually prefer the styling of the Solstice to that of the Miata.  Hopefully in a couple of years GM will have addressed the relevent issues and we'll have a deadly Miata competitor on our hands.

[ovr50]

I love the look of the new Solstice - BUT having to hang a front plate on there is pure vandalism. That pix in the review is the first pix I've seen with a front plate attached and it ranks right in there with ugliness of the front plate on the RX8.

I like the looks, but, like Roba above, I think my money would still go to the Miata if I were buying in this group. The new '06 Miata is pretty neat looking as well although I have not seen in the flesh copies of either the Sol or the Mazda yet.

A great effort by Pontiac tho. and they will sell. The prices are attractive at well equipped for $30k.

[Traum]

I don't mean to be a hater, and I like the Solstice for what it has to offer. But does anyone else find the rear-hinged trunk extraordinarily weird and completely impractical? Also, judging by the top up/down picture in the First Drive review, it seems like the top has to be up in order for the driver to get anything out of the trunk. Lastly, having that lump of a gas tank smack in the middle is something I just couldn't understand.

I can picture the Miata being a daily driver. But the Solstice? It would only work as a second car in its current state. That'll probably work for many people, but at the same time, it won't cut it for many others.

-Rick

[AVToller]

The "trunk" is simply a top holder. You can't put ANYTHING in it unless the top is up. The lid has to hing on the back in order to allow the top to go in. The top frame is substantial, so the only reasonable place for the gas tank is in the middle - probable a "safety" feature as well. I do agree that it is a "toy" car - totally impractical for anything other than fun drives. One would be hard pressed to even do a bit of grocery shopping with it. BTW, I don't much care for the look of the front even without a plate, but the rest looks quite nice IMO.

[tpl]

Now I have seen that pic of the trunk I wonder what the designers were smoking.  And even without that lump in the truck  ...you want to unload the trunk in a rainstorm.... I hope it has good drainage.

They probably could have spilt the fuel tank into two side tanks, unless there is a safety rule that doesn't allow that, which would have helped the trunk.

As for the front plate... hang it on as an air dam... as long as its there who cares if it gets unreadable in a week.

I would buy a Miata if I was in the market for a small 2 seater... a practical car and IMHO much better looking

[airbalancer]

The car looks great in person
The car is toy , the truck will fit a bottle of wine, so what more do you need. Need more get a carrier for the truck will MGBs have
Also for me to fit into a Miata I would have cut a hole in the top
check out http://solsticeforum.com/forum/ for what really owners of the car are saying about the car

[wing]

Many people on the solstice boards were going to buy one as a daily driver.  It's pretty impractical for that.

RunWhatyabrung's neighbor just picked one up this week!!  He was telling me last night.

[Shnak]

can't beat them? lower the price...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I was helping a guy who PMed me from the board months back get his Solstice. He had a deposit on one since early 2004 with his local dealer.

Turns out his local dealer didn't submit the order as early as he could so his car was a few weeks off from start of production. Wound up sourcing another one with polished alloys and upgraded audio (which are desirable options anyhow) which was built in one of the first weeks but still unsold.

He drove from Windsor to Ajax to pick it up this past Tuesday. Wanted to meet the guy, but turns out that was the day of a family funural. Go figure.

He's sent me an eMail or two - travelling all over the province with the sucker and is enjoying it immensely thus far.

As for the MX-5 Miata vs. Solstice:
- I think the Solstice looks good on it's own, but next to a Miata looks very tall and stubby. The Miata may age better, although the Solstice looks wide, more expensive and a cleaner design (maybe less so when there's more on the road). I'm not so fond of the Miata's new tail lights or seeing the undermechanics of the suspension under the rear bumper. Something's off about the rear of that car.
- The trunk room in the Solstice is laughable. The way you have to fiddle with the top is laughable.
- I haven't been inside a new Miata, but the Solstice isn't exactly super roomy either. I guess every little bit helps tho.
- They'll each find their share of buyers, but I bet the Miata is still the purer sports car.

[wing]

Some guys were joking about it yesterday saying, just wait a couple of years and you can pick one up for 5 grand LOL

I'm hoping GM fixes some of these blunders (Trunk size and top fitment) in the next few years.

[articsteve]

Everything you read about this car is all about appearance.  Not too much focus about performance.  This is a quote from the above-mentioned Solstice BBS; " Engine has good power- peppy enough for me."   That's a fairly gay description; "peppy".  From what I read the manual tranny is junk.  I think what you will see in the US market is folks installing turbos immediately.  Undoubtably GM will offer this car in a turbo next year in auto and it might be a big success with all sorts of demographics.  I sincerely doubt they will ever offer a decent manual.  Apparently, the 06 Corvette has finally received a European level manual so look how long thats taken.

[mdxtasy]

The Solstice looks good, probably more show and less go....but my money would still go to the Miata...and then the Saturn Sky next.

[a4_tom]

As much as I love the Solstice, I still would go for Miata.

[Traum]

The transmission came from a GM truck/SUV (forgot which one), so even though GM has tuned it to be more sporty, you can't expect miracles from it.

-Rick

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Colorado/Canyon.

[davidm]

Obviously I'm a Miata fan, but glad this car has come out to push Mazda.  The trunk and top are killers for me.  The 91 BRG was our only car for 3 years and it worked fine (we lived and worked downtown).  Shopping, road trips to Seattle, etc. all worked for a young couple.  Not tonnes of space, but enough to live.  Also, you drive with the top up alot, even in California (sitting in traffic in the sun is an awful feeling), and that top looks like a bad joke.  The side windows with the top up - forget it.  One of the best elements of the Miata is the ability to move the top up and down from the driver's seat (albeit not as easily as some would have you believe).  The new Miata has perfected the manual top, I can't imagine it much easier.

Say all the 3rd car, weekend-only stuff you want, but even on those jaunts, the practicality stuff comes up (Starbucks, maps, cold female in the passenger seat, sudden rain storms, "shopping", etc.)

Glad the Solstice exists, want to see it improved, can't picture myself ever buying one as long as the Miata is in the picture.

[eddy4]

The fact that this car exists is a miracle , the Pontiac brand was a poster child for all that was wrong with GM .
Remember the miles of body cladding , the quad 4 , the fact that you had to look at the nameplate to see if it was a pontiac or olds or buick.... GM needs more of these cars just to get a Buzz going around the company.. I wish them luck.

A successfull GM is good for everyone.

[Bullet Blue]

No front plates are required in NS