So, I Drove a Pontiac Solstice ...

"Blake Noble" (no-bull) 01/30/2014 at 00:12 • Filed to: None

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Recently, I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . That rant shortly made it's way to Jalopnik where some people read it. Some people suggested buying snow tires as an alternative to the (questionable?) idea of trading my Dodge Charger in for a Pontiac Solstice and buying a four-wheel drive beater to get through snow days and thunderstorms. Other folks suggested buying a Saab.

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Both ideas are excellent alternatives and they are still on the table, but I thought I would drive a Solstice anyway for shits and giggles. Yeah, that was a mistake. I want one now.

Why would I choose a Pontiac Solstice over it's arguably superior rival, the Mazda Miata? That's a good question. Seriously. As we all know, the Solstice is poorly packaged — for example, standard sized luggage will not fit in the trunk with the top down. Visibility is rather poor in any direction that isn't forward with the top up, which makes traveling in reverse or passing other motorists a guessing game based on how tightly you've clinched your buttocks together.

It's also a two-seat junkyard on wheels. The rear axle, storage bin, and (if you were stupid enough to buy one) the automatic transmission are all borrowed from Cadillac. The backup lights are from a crusty old GMC Envoy and the fog lamps are from the last-ever Pontiac Grand Prix. The interior vents are borrowed from the Fiat Barchetta. The standard 2.4 liter Ecotec four-banger is from Chevrolet's dollar store PT Cruiser knock-off, and the five-speed manual gearbox is from a Chevrolet pickup truck.

Somehow, the Solstice manages to be more than the sum of its parts after subtracting it's negatives. It looks better than the Miata, I think, with the lines suggesting something akin to the old Jaguar E-Type from certain angles. It handles brilliantly and, despite being borrowed from Papaw Bill's old farm truck, the manual gearbox isn't afraid of speaking directly with you. It isn't a fast car by any means, but it feels fast even within the confines of the speed limit. The exhaust note of the 2.4L Ecotec is even nice and it doesn't complain about moving the car around.

Even more surprising, perhaps, is that the insurance premiums ring up cheaper than what they currently are for the Charger.

Hmmm ... We'll see what happens.

Stef Schrader > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 00:27

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I liked Pontiac. I thought this was a sign that they were back on the right track and then—boom. No more.

Curse you, Chinaball! I'd have rather ditched Buick and kept the we're-at-least-now- trying -to-make-fun-cars brand.

daender > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 00:33

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Not a bad car but I prefer the Saturn's European looks.

Squid > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 00:35

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You know what? I say go for it, as I believe everyone should own a roadster at least once in their life. I have yet to be inside a solstice or sky but I did think they were attractive and exciting cars when they came out. I would say that I am more partial to the looks of the Sky more so than that of the bulbous Solstice.

The main thing you will get out of owning a roadster is a huge lesson on packing minimally when ever you go somewhere.

Just to go play devils advocate, have you driven a Miata of any generation yet? I would say that you probably should just because it gives you a reference point of comparison, and lets face it driving a Miata is never really a bad time.

I'll admit to being somewhat baffled by the top design of the solstice and that you can tell if the owner likes driving with the top down/cares for the top by looking at the weird buttress shape the top takes just aft of the doors.

If you do end up with one, enjoy it and drive with the top down as often as you can. I never thought that I would enjoy topdown motoring as much as I do when I got my Miata, but pretty much as long as the temp is above 40 degrees F and the sun isn't so intense that I will turn into a lobster the top goes down.

Blake Noble > daender 01/30/2014 at 00:36

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The Saturn Sky is, by association, up for consideration too.

Personally, I've always thought of the Sky as a seventh-eighths scale C6 Corvette. Which makes it fitting that they branded it as an Opel GT overseas.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 00:38

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I like it enough. Come to think of it, I've never seen a Solstice coupe in person, showroom, car show or in the wild.

That manual top has to be a pain though.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Stef Schrader 01/30/2014 at 00:49

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Well, I think GM could still try to make the best of Buick.

IIRC, back during the Carpocalypse, GM said that it would stop producing an SS variant of every regular Chevrolet unless it'd really be that damned good. Now, it looks to me like GM is content with having performance-focused Chevrolet models (the Camaro, Corvette, and SS sedan), but won't introduce higher-performance variants of regular models, i.e. a Sonic SS or Cruze SS. All they've got is the Sonic RS, which is closer to being a regular Sonic with a sport package than a Fiesta ST rival.

Buick, by contrast, has the Verano Turbo and Regal GS, which are faster variants of their regular modeles. They also introduced the Encore and refreshed the Regal and LaCrosse, so they're getting some brand identity. I feel like Buick could differentiate itself to the point where GM might bother making a renewed push for sporty Buicks like they did when the Regal GS and Verano Turbo first came out, and both cars would become more performance-oriented.

emjayay > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 00:52

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I think they are heavy also. Heavy, not the best engine, teeny trunk, grab bag of parts. It's like a Pontiac Fiero all over again. Only beautiful. I recommend a chrome luggage rack.

bob and john > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 01:09

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uhh, werent the Opel midengined?

Stef Schrader > SonorousSpeedJoe 01/30/2014 at 01:10

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Yeah. Fun to drive didn't die, oddly enough. They're just packaging it in different places.

Blake Noble > bob and john 01/30/2014 at 01:12

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Nope, you're thinking of the Opel Speedster, which was a Lotus Elise with Ed Gein syndrome wearing a Vectra pelt.

Blake Noble > emjayay 01/30/2014 at 01:15

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Like going to Arby's and trying the curly fries dipped in a chocolate shake, I recommend you try it before you start hating on it.

Blake Noble > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/30/2014 at 01:16

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If I could find a Solstice coupe as cheap as I can the roadster, it would be in my driveway by this weekend, weather be damned.

Milky > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 01:19

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Just read through this and your other post and have a couple things ….

1. You live in Kentucky right? Do you even get enough snow to justify having a 4wd? Yea I know this winter is complete shit, but I'm still DDing a Crossfire in Michigan. Just seems odd to me to have a winter car south of the mason dixon line.

2. I REALLY like the way the Solstice looks, I love whenever I see one. But after a test drive I felt like how every journalist feels about the BRZ86's power. I just wish it had a little bit more. But I guess its a small roadster and how it handles is more important, plus you could always upgrade later.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 01:24

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Don't go for a base model, go for a GXP (Turbo if you go for a Sky) so you get the nice turbocharged speed. Good for 0-60 in well under 6 seconds. I drove the base Solstice and found its engine anemic, but I test drove the Sky Turbo and it was a blast. Very fast, very nice ride, and handled great. Also, back when Pontiac was still around and the Solstice Coupe was new, I was at the auto show talking to a Pontiac rep. He said there were some cheap GM-cert upgrades to bring the engine in the GXP up to 300 or more HP. By extension, I'm sure the Sky Turbo could handle the same.

Milky > bob and john 01/30/2014 at 01:25

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For further proof.

bob and john > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 01:25

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right, knew that. *cough*

All Motor Is Best Motor > All Motor Is Best Motor 01/30/2014 at 01:26

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Can't edit my post because Kinja...

The interior on the Solstice is pretty much crap, and that grab bar for the passenger is dumb. The Saturn has a much nicer (if still cheap) interior.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Milky 01/30/2014 at 01:27

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The base engine in the Solstice is anemic. The GXP with 260 HP on the other hand, now that's a little rocket of a car.

All Motor Is Best Motor > emjayay 01/30/2014 at 01:32

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H— Heavy? What do you drive, a piece of styrofoam? The base Solstice weighs around 2,880 lbs. I don't have numbers for the GXP, but the base Sky weighs around 2,940 lbs, with the Redline (same hardware as the GXP underneath) weighing around 3,070 lbs. Hardly heavy. It's not NA Miata light, but it's a lot lighter than most cars. These are spy little cars. I drove a base Solstice and a Redline Sky.

Blake Noble > Squid 01/30/2014 at 01:32

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I've fondled a second-gen Miata before, but never made it to third base. So in other words, no. Good idea, though. It wouldn't hurt go for a home run there.

I had both a fourth-generation Firebird and Camaro with T-Tops and loved popping them out in the middle of spring, so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with open-top driving. T-Tops suck, though, because if you align them wrong by so much, your car becomes a moving showerhouse in a good steady rain, regardless if your seals are good. At least they did on the Camaro I had, anyway.

Blake Noble > Stef Schrader 01/30/2014 at 01:36

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I miss Pontiac, too, man. I miss Pontiac, too.

Milky > All Motor Is Best Motor 01/30/2014 at 01:54

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Very true, esp. since you could get a tune (or new ecu or whatever) at the dealer good for 290hp. But his other post said looking at one for 8k. Which is around what I was looking to spend and you're not getting the turbo for that price.

Squid > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 02:19

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I've learned so far in the almost year of owning an NB that the convertible top is mostly waterproof. . . There are errant drops here and there but nothing drastic.

I've only been in a mid 90's Camaro with the T-tops removed and that was when I was like 12 so I don't remember much. But it is really nice to have the open air around you on a nice spirited drive. Plus you get to hear all the good noises when you are working the car hard.

Go and try out all the roadsters and then get your Solstice, in the long run the solstice may be the better car for you. I do know that the top is expensive and a pain in the ass to replace on those though. So just make sure you find one with a nice top and do all you can to protect it so it will last a long time.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 06:36

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...it's just struck me. The Solstice is the closest thing I can think of to a modern muscle car.

Think about it. The Ford Mustang, the archetypal pony car, was a parts-bin special made from the old Falcon architecture and running gear, along with a better-looking body. That made it cheap, stylish and with the bigger engines, fast.

Actually, it's also close to how it used to be done with British sportscars as well. The Spitfire is a Herald with a different body and some chassis rails cut off. The MGB, Sprite and Midget all used running gear from saloon ranges. It made them cheap to develop, and cheap to produce.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Blake Noble 01/30/2014 at 08:21

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I've always liked the Solstace/Sky duo. It's gotta be the GXP/Redline trims though.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Milky 01/30/2014 at 10:02

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What a shame, the turbo'd cars are awesome drivers.

dol_baby > emjayay 02/21/2014 at 08:20

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Drwatson90 > Blake Noble 02/11/2016 at 12:06

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I’m the dreaded third owner of a solstice GXP with a 2.0 turbo engine in it. I have had it for a year and this is what I have put up with so far.

MAP sensor failure causing the turbo to shut down
Intercooler mushroomed and needed replacing as well as all air charge piping
Differential bolts sheered in 2nd gear
Roof blew open going 65 miles an hour

I think I’m good for repairs for now but I’m expecting more.

All of that aside, I absolutely love this car. Any time the weather is just right, the drive is sensational. It is like driving a go cart on the road. There’s not many creature comforts that distract you from what the cars purpose is. To drive. If you get one, try to go for that turbo motor but be ready for some repairs. Set aside another 1000 as a just in case budget. It wont be winning all of the drag races but that’s not what its about, the fun in driving can be felt with one of these guys and they look fantastic.