Pontiac Solstice - Any Info?
Discussion
Purely by chance I came across a photo of a Pontiac Solstice.
I've never seen or heard of these before (now don't laugh - I'm not an American car buff by any stretch of the imagination) but my gottahaveoneofthose siren sounded immediately. What a fantastic looking sports car!
Does anybody know anything about these cars?
Are they any good? Do they still make them?
And, particularly, did they sell them new in Britain, or how difficult is it to get one second hand?
Cheers, guys.
Tony
As far as I was aware it wasn't a great seller, but pretty cool looking car. Never had any big V8 in it, just a 4 pot, but one was pretty potent with a turbo fitted.
I've always liked them, but never seen one over here.
Pontiac was dissolved as a company around about when GM got bailed out by the US Gov. This means unfortunately they're not still being made.
To get one would involve importing one yourself from the States. The were never sold over here, except for maybe a few examples sold through the import companies, like American Car Imports.
I've always liked them, but never seen one over here.
Pontiac was dissolved as a company around about when GM got bailed out by the US Gov. This means unfortunately they're not still being made.
To get one would involve importing one yourself from the States. The were never sold over here, except for maybe a few examples sold through the import companies, like American Car Imports.
Pontiac may be gone, but it was all part of the GM umbrella. Parts are still available and likely to be for a long time.
Personally I love the styling of the Solstice, although I've not driven one.
All early reviews said it was brilliant and even a Japanese motoring show declared it the winner against a MK3 MX-5 (it's on YouTube).
I should imagine the non turbo one is a very likeable and usable sports car, peppy and fairly good on fuel.
They also offered the GPX which I think has the same engine as a VX220 Turbo. Stock they where 245hp or something, but a dealer option took them to 295bhp. For some reason it didn't review quite as well, although I'm sure it's still a blast and a properly rapid car in it's own right.
Personally I'm not so taken with the Saturn or Opel styling. But any loss of a sports should be mourned, especially when it was a good looking one that by all evidence was actually a good steer and performer.
Personally I love the styling of the Solstice, although I've not driven one.
All early reviews said it was brilliant and even a Japanese motoring show declared it the winner against a MK3 MX-5 (it's on YouTube).
I should imagine the non turbo one is a very likeable and usable sports car, peppy and fairly good on fuel.
They also offered the GPX which I think has the same engine as a VX220 Turbo. Stock they where 245hp or something, but a dealer option took them to 295bhp. For some reason it didn't review quite as well, although I'm sure it's still a blast and a properly rapid car in it's own right.
Personally I'm not so taken with the Saturn or Opel styling. But any loss of a sports should be mourned, especially when it was a good looking one that by all evidence was actually a good steer and performer.
Roo said:
Tony2or4 said:
Roo said:
Got offered one the other day.
Didn't want it.
Why was that? Was it something about the specific car itself, or to do with you not liking the Solstice as a model?Didn't want it.
The Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice were sister cars. The Sky was based on Vauxhall's VX concept car and the olstice was designed by a woman in the liberated times that we live in.
I believe they use a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder but one of the main criticisms of the car was it had a massive hump in the middle of the luggage compartment. It also wasn't that fast and the reason it failed is three letters - MX5.
Dynamically, they were not too bad but in the US, they go out and fit LS7 Corvette 7 litre engines to make them more interesting.
When I went to Florida, I sat in a Saturn Sky at one of the rides and found the seat too low and the doors too high (I'm only 5'6" tall). The other problem these cars had in the US was that lightly used Corvettes were the same price and just as economical.
I wouldn't rule one out at the right price. I have seen a black Opel GT and a bright yellow GT In Spain/Mallorca and they look different enough on the road to be attractive and really stand out next to MX5s, if not Corvettes. However, the main issue in the UK is I'd still buy a Corvette which would be the same or cheaper to insure and tax.
I believe they use a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder but one of the main criticisms of the car was it had a massive hump in the middle of the luggage compartment. It also wasn't that fast and the reason it failed is three letters - MX5.
Dynamically, they were not too bad but in the US, they go out and fit LS7 Corvette 7 litre engines to make them more interesting.
When I went to Florida, I sat in a Saturn Sky at one of the rides and found the seat too low and the doors too high (I'm only 5'6" tall). The other problem these cars had in the US was that lightly used Corvettes were the same price and just as economical.
I wouldn't rule one out at the right price. I have seen a black Opel GT and a bright yellow GT In Spain/Mallorca and they look different enough on the road to be attractive and really stand out next to MX5s, if not Corvettes. However, the main issue in the UK is I'd still buy a Corvette which would be the same or cheaper to insure and tax.
I had a non turbo back in 2007. It was a great looking car and everyone seemed to like the look of it. The problem was the handling. It was typical American and great in a straight line. I then went for the turbo version that seemed to handle better and was much more fun to drive. Still no Ferrari but much better than the non turbo. Hope this helps
Matt Harper said:
Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky/Opel GT
The non-turbo 'cooking- version' was offered in Europe as the Opel GT Roadster. To maintain the culinary theme, it sold like cold cakes and couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
Erhm... Quite the other way round... The only engine offered in the Opel GT was the 260hp 2 liter I4 turbo.The non-turbo 'cooking- version' was offered in Europe as the Opel GT Roadster. To maintain the culinary theme, it sold like cold cakes and couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
300bhp/ton said:
Objectively ignoring the business side of how well the don't sell. What are they like as a car?
Boot is non existant for a start (the only "boot space" is the space where the roof is supposed to go).Other than that, for a 260hp "sports car", it is a bit "lame" IMO.
Enough to not buy one for me, after having it on loan for a weekend
PascalBuyens said:
Boot is non existant for a start (the only "boot space" is the space where the roof is supposed to go).
Other than that, for a 260hp "sports car", it is a bit "lame" IMO.
Enough to not buy one for me, after having it on loan for a weekend
wasn't the performance and boot/trunk size one of the issues with the Plymouth Prowler as well?Other than that, for a 260hp "sports car", it is a bit "lame" IMO.
Enough to not buy one for me, after having it on loan for a weekend
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