2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

Welcome to the Driving Range with Dave Jordan - Your Auto Guide to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. All you need to know about Nova Scotia's South Shore Auto scene.

This week, Dave Jordan checks the 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP:

I have a passion for driving. I love all manner of vehicular transportation be it sedan, SUV or pickup truck, but my heart and soul lie with sports cars. As you may know, I am lucky enough to own a Porsche 968 that I frequently enlist to satisfy my need for speed. There were few that could match the handling ability and driving dynamics of a 968 in its day. Even today the numbers are small. But every now and then I get to drive a car that ignites the spark and supplies that same feeling of excitement and heart-pounding fun. The new Pontiac Solstice GXP is one such vehicle. Thanks to Carroll South Shore Motors for the opportunity to test drive this awesome little roadster.

We can thank GMs vice-chairman Bob Lutz for his determination in wanting to build an affordable two-seater sports car available to the masses. He tried while at Ford (the early '80s Mercury Capri was the result) and in the late '90s at Chrysler, with neither the prototype Copperhead or Pronto Spyder concepts coming to market. When Lutz joined GM a few years ago he wanted to pursue this dream and breathe some excitement back into the Pontiac brand. So he challenged GM’s global design staff to come up with a two-door roadster that would be desirable and reasonably affordable. The stunning and charismatic Solstice was the result. With its sexy curves, huge 18-inch wheels, low stance and short overhangs, the Solstice blatantly screams for attention, especially in top-down mode. The sweeping fenders, curved and aggressively descending hood — that meets the nicely integrated front fascia — and those oh-so-cool fairings behind the seat headrests all shout “look at me.” You will definitely be noticed driving a Solstice.

To design a proper convertible, the build components must be conducive to open-air motoring. With no roof, a solid internal structure is paramount to ensuring the drivetrain and chassis components have a torsionally rigid framework to which they are attached. Some convertibles I’ve driven have not been the most structurally sound, exhibiting cowl shake and chassis jitters in abundance. Not so with the Solstice. Its steel spaceframe of hydroformed tubes, welded and glued to several stamped panels, creates a structure that is extremely rigid and thus less likely to bend or twist. No matter the road surface, this little Pontiac exhibited exceptional composure and sure-footed steadiness. Not a shake, squeak or rattle could be felt or heard under any of the driving conditions I experienced, nor was there any unsettling of the rear end when tackling corners with rough or broken pavement. Kudos go to the engineering staff as well for developing an outstanding chassis. The four-wheel independent sport suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and limited slip differential — standard fare on the GXP — combined with the ideal 50/50 weight distribution, produced corner after corner of crisp turn in, superb grip and great road feel. Steering is very responsive and directional stability is excellent as well. You would think a car with this suspension set-up and wide 45 series sport tires would cause the ride to be rough and jarring, but this is not the case. In fact when cruising on the highway or trundling along at a leisurely pace the ride is surprisingly comfortable and compliant — firm but easy to live with on a day-to-day basis.

The heart of the GXP is its two-litre turbocharged and intercooled direct-injected four-cylinder DOHC engine. Producing an impressive 260 horsepower and the same amount of torque, this little jewel will push the Solstice to 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds. In fact, this engine produces more power per litre of displacement than any powerplant in GM history. And, unlike many rev-happy four-bangers, this turbo four's torque maxes out at a low 2,500 rpm to deliver right-now acceleration in real-world driving. To boot, mileage ratings are a very respectable 10.8/7.0 L/100 km (26/40 mpg). To complement the accelerating experience of an open-top roadster, the engine note must be pleasing to the ear. The slight turbo hiss combined with a sporty exhaust note from the dual pipe outlets delivers an aural stimulus that keeps you wanting to slow down just so you can fling the stubby short-throw five-speed shifter up through the gears once again. However, If you would rather listen to your favourite tunes while cruising, then the available Monsoon audio system with CD/MP3 and XM satellite radio will supply you with miles of throbbing, high-quality sound.

The leather-clad sport seats and cool three-spoke sport steering wheel — with thumb indents at the preferred 10 and 2 o’clock positions — combined with the Solstice’s wraparound cockpit layout give you that feeling of oneness with the road. The four-wheel-disc brakes, although not huge, stop the GXP convincingly and, thanks to the standard ABS, without drama. The convertible roof itself is easily raised or lowered with only one central latch to contend with. Pop the rear deck lid, undo the latch, shove the roof back and into the trunk space and close the boot. You’re now ready for hours of miles and smiles. Top-up cruising is quiet and weatherproof as demonstrated with the torrential downpours during my first night of driving.

The Solstice GXP is a lot more car than its $35,000 price tag would suggest. You would pay substantially more for the performance equivalent of this roadster from the likes of Porsche, Mercedes or BMW were you to purchase a new convertible sports car from them. Yes, you can pick up a new Mazda MX-5 (Miata) GT for about the same price, but you end up with 100 less horsepower and an even greater differential in the torque department. You could, of course, purchase the base Solstice with its 177 HP powerplant for around $27,000 if you would prefer a more relaxed driving demeanour.

No, the Solstice GXP doesn’t quiet match the overall thrill and driving dynamics of my 968, but it comes close. And the joy of the open-air experience is hard to ignore. This is a car I would gladly have in my stable were I to acquire the ability (and approval of my wife) to own more than one toy. Perhaps in a couple of years’ time I can pick one up for a bargain.

Dave’s Auto Archive — In 1926 the first Pontiac car — the Chief of Sixes — was introduced by Oakland, one of GM’s subsidiary companies. In 1932 Pontiac Motor Division was established, replacing the Oakland name.