The Pontiac Solstice GXP - Underrated and Gone Forever

The Pontiac Solstice GXP, right…where do I start? Well, it’s a small, two-seater sports car, and it looks a lot worse than its face transplanted sister, the Saturn Sky Redline. Both cars are essentially the same, though, because the only difference between the two is in the looks department, so reviewing the Solstice GXP indirectly reviews the Sky Redline. The basic shapes of the two, though, are identical. Short stubby rear, short wheelbase, and a long nose. In a way, these two sports cars were GM’s final effort in increasing sales for its two long-time declining branches, Pontiac and Saturn. Obviously - as neither of the two companies exists any longer - GM’s attempt came up short, but it was a valiant effort.

As my friend and I approach the car for the first time, we are very skeptical. I have seen many of these cars on the roads, and yes, obviously, they look sporty, but never have I seen one being driven with much gusto. In fact, the majority are owned by mid-agers. So, it’s no surprise that my friend’s fifty-something year-old aunt owns the one I am about to drive. Keys in hand, we circle the car, and right away, something tells me this Solstice is different. The GXP badge on the rear is preceded by a little checkered flag, and the same emblems are stitched into the black leather bucket seats. Racey. For the time being, I am so biased towards the car, that those little cues are disregarded.

Our first few minutes inside the car are spent in gaping awe; the plastics used in the interior are cheaper than the majority of items sold in a dollar store. Everything that is within reach is hard plastic, and has the unmistakable sound that, well, only cheap, hollow plastic could have. The dashboard is astonishingly simple, there are small circular buttons scattered all around the dashboard, with no interest in symmetry, and the whole interior is a dreary and dull shade of grey with no visible relief to be found anywhere. So far, the only positive among this seemingly never-ending list of negatives is that the seats feel very supportive and are easy to get in and out of.

After quite possibly the most disappointing door-closing-thud sound ever, I first ride passenger. The car is neither of ours, and being a complete stranger to the person who owns it, I have no choice but to accept this ill fate. Pulling out of the gated community, we hear the wheels chirp, turning after a stop sign. “Dude, I’m barely touching the gas pedal.” I respond confidently, claiming that “the tires must be really worn down”.

 Red light. The two of us, anxious to see how the car accelerates, wait for what seems an eternity. Finally, the light turns green, and luck has made every car at the intersection turn in a different direction from us, leaving a modest size of open road for us to take in what sort of power we are dealing with. I, honestly, am anticipating performance slightly better than a Ford Focus, and that is why when the pedal is floored for the first time, the shock is all the sweeter.

“This car is fast!” Again, skeptic Giorgi has something smart to say: “Well, most cars feel quick to 40, and then they taper off due to insufficient power.” Time for me to eat my words, as the GXP is floored again, this time from around 30mph, providing even greater eye boggling acceleration. Finally, I give in and admit that this isn’t your everyday Solstice. Remembering the racing flags, the surprising performance suddenly makes sense. After a shockingly short time riding passenger, somehow, my friend allows me to sit behind the wheel. Excellent. Standing at 6’4”, I get in the car, and I instantly notice the abundance of space. The driving position is comfortable and not cramped for someone of my height. But, since the front window is very slim, if I sit upright, all I see is the top of the windshield. In addition, the rear view mirror is right in my line of sight, and there were times - when going in to right hand turns - I was completely clueless of my heading. Since my time with the car was only ever going to be limited, I threw comfort and practicality out the window, and focused on performance.

Much to our disappointment, this GXP is a 5-speed automatic. Mated to a 2.0 liter direct injected four cylinder engine, it produces a massive 260hp and equally impressive 260lb/ft of torque, thanks to its dual-scroll turbocharger. Power delivery is a quintessential example of turbo lag, which certainly is not helped by the occasionally indecisive transmission. At 2000rpm, you put your foot down, and at 4000rpm, after the transmission scratches its balls, takes a nap, wakes up and eats something, it finally decides which gear to be in. Then, the turbo imitates the behavior as it spools up to do something productive. When it does kick in though, seat pinning performance is delivered and the power delivery is constant all the way to the redline.

So, straight-line speed is great, but how does it fare on the back roads? Well, the ride is perfectly acceptable, and through corners the GXP is flat and planted. The short wheelbase makes the car quick to change directions, but also harder to keep on course when the tail slides out. Immediate steering inputs are required, and judging how much is necessary can be difficult due to the lack of feel through the steering wheel. The delay in power delivery is also disruptive in judging when the tail will slide out. Anticipate the turbo kicking in too early, and you’ll countersteer for no reason, veering into oncoming traffic. Wait too long to countersteer until the turbo kicks in, and you’ll go for a spin, damaging your ego forever.

Nevertheless, the car is exciting and fun to drive. Pair the power with a drop top, and hours of fun is just a key twist away. I’ve also noticed that the Solstice gathers a bit of attention - but the onlookers tend to look away instantaneously, no doubt thinking, “Oh, it’s just another Solstice”. After all, a red convertible will always induce second glances. It’s no wonder that people look right away; they think it’s an incapable and misleading car, since the majority of them have been driven apathetically by middle-aged men and women. I'm here to say otherwise. The Pontiac Solstice GXP is, or was, an exciting car and surprisingly commendable. It deserved more credit before forever ceasing to exist.