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Article Comments - 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test

18 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM

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2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test - Bottom Line: Maybe we expect too much. (more)

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#1 of 18 Article Comments - 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test by Karen@Edmunds HOST

Feb 24, 2009 (1:49 pm)

Our hopes were high following the debut of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe at the 2008 New York Auto Show last year. We had not forgotten the ergonomic shortcomings of the Solstice. Nor had its functional limitations slipped our minds. It was mechanically the same curvaceous Solstice that had made us swoon in 2006. Only now it had a bitchin' hardtop.
 
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Follow-Up Test

#2 of 18 Hmmm by skylinegtr32

Feb 25, 2009 (3:24 am)

For nearly $34K plus dealer markup (you know there will be), I'd much rather buy something else. It's a shame too, cause it looks great!

#3 of 18 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP by cci_ns

Feb 25, 2009 (11:47 am)

History seems to repeat itself with Pontiac. I had an early Fiero, another car with potential if given a good suspension, engine ..... but by the time things started to be corrected its day was done.

#4 of 18 by pao

Feb 25, 2009 (11:52 am)

this is the same story line the critics used when the solstice convertible made its debut in late 05 for the 06 MY....those of us who own them love them.....and its just that....you either love it or hate it......we see no shortcomings......we told GM during a factory tour lack of storage for the removeable top would be the critics main comment....the coupe will bring a few more into ownership, convert some of the current convertible owners.....
 
racing results have proven the solstice a proven winner......its a niche car.....and in most cases a second or third car for most owners......but even those who use them as daily drivers love em.......you can overcome storage space.....we have packed for a week for two people in the car on a 1500 mile trip.....just on owners opinion.....ours is over 3 years old...40k on it..and still lovin it....

#5 of 18 FACTS prove this review wrong by jeffindfw

Feb 25, 2009 (2:07 pm)

The Sports Car Club of America is for amature road racing. They have showroom stock classes where you are not allowed to make any changes to the cars. The Pontiac Solstice has DOMINATED this class since it debuted, and that is against the Mazda Miata, and Nissan 350Z. The results of the races are available online. If the Solstice is SOOO terrible, why has it DOMINATED the Miata and others in showroom stock road racing? The Solstice is the national champion for the T2 class! It was last year as well!
 
I owned a base model Solstice for 2 years, and now have a Sky Redline (same as a Pontiac Solstice GXP), and I participate in club road racing events as an instructor. I also own a GTS Viper. I am willing to bet I have a lot more road course experience than the author of this article, and I can assure any readers that the Solstice/Sky are OUTSTANDING roadsters when it comes to handeling. The base model Solstice tires are horrible and really let the car down.
 
I am on my second Kappa now (Solstice and Sky are called Kappas), and the build quality on both have been very good with not a single problem on either one.
 
My advice? Don't listen to some hack. Go drive the car yourself. There is a Pontiac dealership on every corner. Go for a test drive, and make up YOUR mind. I almost bought a S2000 before I drove the Solstice. I'm glad I took the Solstice for a test drive!

#6 of 18 Good review, as far as it goes... by bellaverde

Feb 25, 2009 (3:08 pm)

Like any car with personality, the Sol has some quirks. None of them make me love my '07 Solstice any less. Cupholders? With the cornering this baby can do, you'll just slosh all the java out anyway. Clutch? The light feel more than makes up for the slower release. The gearbox is out of a truck and some seem to think that is a bad thing. Where I grew up, truck stuff was TUFF stuff...no exception here. No question the looks are what drew me to the car, but nothing...not the manual top (conv), nor the flimsy cupholder (still working after 2 years) has enough "disappointment" factor to make one tire of it. I have a strong feeling these reviewers are concentrating on Cindy Crawford's little mole a bit too much.

#7 of 18 Stupid review by madmods

Feb 25, 2009 (3:18 pm)

Mike Schmidt has to be one the dumbest sob's in the auto industry. The gxp is winning races with the same stock suspension he is crying about. If you need luggage room stick with a suv. It is 2 seater you idiot.
Madmods

#8 of 18 by momssol

Feb 25, 2009 (4:38 pm)

Statements like "can't keep up with the Miata on the mountain curves" show the lack of knowledge with regard to the Solstice platform. Solstice has been showing the Miatas 'how its done' for the past 4 years ... on the Autocross tracks and the Road Tracks all across the United States. The lack of body roll alone is enough to show any educated driver the advantage the Solstice has in the curves.
 
Its time the American Made bias of the rag writers is put where it belongs ...

#9 of 18 this reviewer isn't interested in a real sports car by thewb2001

Feb 27, 2009 (8:13 pm)

When he complains about things that the car lacks, I have to laugh...
 
"Comfortable cockpit with practical storage? All-day freeway comfort? We can't even stow the narrow hardtop inside the car?"
 
I don't have these in my Lotus Elise either--the most fantastic care I've ever owned --which gets driven 90 miles a day, btw.
 
It isn't the car for him; he wants something else (minivan, perhaps?)...it's not that he expected too much, but that he expected or wanted something different.

#10 of 18 sins of past by dyzio

Mar 01, 2009 (7:35 am)

it's characteristic for GM to biuld not special 1 generation of the car and even if second, refreshed model comes with much better specs, it's to late:modern Pontiac GTO, Chevy SSR, Caddy Allante and XLR (yes, but thye same with Ford Thunderbird)...
 
it's probably the same problem here:
I love that rough "american" attitude..but if You cant hide your "targa roof" in your car ? - that's too much,
they could improve interior too ! (370Z and Mustang got that !)
 
although this cars has some flaws I really love the looks and drivetrain (specs)
good luck Pontiac : I hope we'll see new retro-GTO
Pontiac is a niche brand now, isn't it?
 
modern muscle debate
ernwoprwp.pl

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