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Here Comes the Sun: Pontiac Solsticeby Jim Corbran |
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This is one of those cars which almost makes you wish you lived in a more roadster-friendly climate; like, oh, say a post-Schwarzenegger California. The evening I got the call from Adam Levy over at Don Davis Pontiac inviting me over for a test drive of their new two-seater, it was not what you’d call top-down weather. In fact, it was downright chilly. But as Mark Davis and I got ready to climb in for a drive, we both considered dropping the top anyway, because with a car like this it just seemed like the thing to do. Yes, we considered it. For about a nanosecond. Then we came to our senses and took off into the night with the top where it should be on a November evening in WNY: up.
Since going on sale a few weeks ago, buyers have been snatching up Solstices faster than a political spin doctor can de-foot his boss’s mouth. Right now there’s a waiting list. The folks at Don Davis went and got the silver car which I drove from an out-of-town dealer just to have on hand for test drives. If you hurry over there you might get the chance yourself before someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse.
And that wouldn’t be hard to imagine, after driving it. Two seats and a close, tight cockpit with a surprising amount of room inside. Everything, as it should in a car this size, falls right to hand. The five-speed stick shift has short throws which get the most out of the 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine. For now that’s the only powertrain available; a five-speed Hydra-Matic will soon be offered as an option. The two lucky occupants of a Solstice will find themselves looking out the windshield, in the classic roadster style, over a long hood; while behind them is the prerequisite short deck found on so many cars of this ilk. Pontiac designers hit all of the right notes when they penned the Solstice, including pushing the wheels out to the four corners for both maximum style and use of interior space. The only place they may have missed the boat is in the trunk area. No problem with the way it looks; I find the rear view its most striking. However, you’ll never find “businessmen” driving Solstices on “jobs,” as there’s no way you’d ever fit a respectable corpse in the miniscule trunk—a trunk that just about totally disappears once you lower the top into it. But who buys a two-seat roadster for the trunk space? Most will probably buy one not as their primary vehicle, but more for fun. And that’s what they’ll have if my test drive was any indication of what ownership would be like. The Solstice was definitely a gas on the twisty two-lanes; not that driving the interstate was a drag, just not as much fun.
I’m sure by now you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop (even though I don’t believe I’ve yet to drop the first one). That is: how much, already? Well, prices start at $19,420 (plus $575 destination charge). That’s right, for under 20 grand you can own the car of the hour. Okay, it won’t have air-conditioning (add $960), but if you’re hot, put the top down fer cripe’s sake. That’s why you bought this thing in the first place, ain’t it? Power windows? Nope, but hey, there’s only two anyway! You will get: a tilt wheel; am/fm/CD player with six speakers (how many more could you possibly need in a two-seater?); four-wheel disc brakes and 18-inch wheels; three cup holders (for two passengers?); and yes, a heater, so you can even put that top down (unlike some people we know) on those chilly November days.
more info at: www.pontiac.com
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Issue Navigation> Issue Index > v4n47: W: The Incredible Shrinking Man (11/23/05) > Here Comes the Sun: Pontiac Solstice This Week's Issue • Artvoice Daily • Artvoice TV • Events Calendar • Classifieds |
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