McCurley Integrity Dealerships

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Driving Impressions

The Pontiac Solstice has predictable handling, good reflexes, and an impressive amount of usable horsepower and torque. One of the notable positives about Solstice is its exceptionally solid, flex-free chassis; there's little of the windshield-frame flexing that's common on other convertibles. That's why the coupe development team decided a targa top was feasible; the extra rigidity of a solid roof was unnecessary.

The GXP's turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque as low as 2500 rpm, yielding 0-to-60 mph acceleration in the low five-second range. A six-speed manual transmission might match the engine's power characteristics better than the five-speed, but its engagements are crisp, making it a pleasure to use.

If 260 horsepower doesn't seem sufficient, Pontiac offers a Stage II turbo kit that boosts engine output to 300. It's available through Pontiac dealers for $610.

With direct injection and other technologies, the more powerful GXP delivers better fuel economy than the base engine. Using the tougher 2008 tests, the GXP rates an EPA-estimated 19/28 mpg City/Highway compared with 19/25 mpg for the base Solstice. In both models, premium fuel is not required but recommended for maximum performance.

If you haven't tried a turbocharged engine in recent years, you'll be amazed at how evenly this one generates power. There is virtually no turbo lag (pause between flooring the gas pedal and surge from the engine). The GXP rolls its power on in such a smooth, linear fashion that some might be waiting for an obvious peak or kick.

There isn't one, but the driver quickly comes to appreciate the usable amount of acceleration performance available over a wide range of engine speeds. Driving at a good clip is easier in the GXP, and acceleration is less dependant on gear selection. This makes driving in urban conditions easy, and passing performance is excellent.

The shifter feel, and the plentiful torque combined with the hunkered-down driving position, contribute to a general feeling that the GXP is more muscular, more brutish, than the MX-5 and other small roadsters.

The GXP isn't tail happy, as you might expect in a light, high-powered, rear-wheel-drive car. Pushed hard, the Solstice GXP understeers. And with the traction electronics engaged, it resists any tendency for the rear wheels to slide.

The GXP responds promptly to inputs on the steering wheel, though with less enthusiasm than an MX-5. Near the center, the steering feels wooden. And the steering response isn't linear, meaning that it takes some practice to be sure how much the car will turn with a given input on the wheel.

The spring rates and damping are softer than some comparably priced sports cars, such as the Nissan 370Z, allowing more body roll in hard cornering, not a plus for high performance driving. And the Goodyear Eagle F1 tires don't generate as much grip as some of the competition. On the other hand, ride quality is exceptionally pleasant by sports car standards.

There are other identifiable traits in the GXP package that don't match up to class benchmarks. The brakes stop the car right now, with good pedal feel at first. But the harder and longer they're used, the more the pedal softens and its travel increases. In other words, hard driving can bring on brake fade. Also, the clutch engages abruptly, to the point that it's easy to stall the car during casual starts at low revs.

That said, the Solstice GXP makes a fine high-speed cruiser. It tracks straight and true at interstate speeds-plus, and it's quieter than many sports cars until the speedometer needle rotates north of 75 mph. At that point, there's wind noise around the coupe's targa top and windshield pillars.

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