One glance at the Solstice upon the show room floor, you’ll already want to jump in and zip away. The Pontiac Solstice meshes together raw power, plenty of niceties, and breath-taking styles causing people to stare. It’s been over five decades, since the 1959 Bonneville, to find a split screen that caused so much excitement. This car is a worthy challenger to the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, with only half of the price tag.

As far as options go, the Solstice is available in two different trim packages, the basic and the GXP. The basic package includes a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that’s still sips the gas. The GPX manages to squish a punishing 260 horse power engine into a 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine. With either engine, it will be pair with a five speed automatic or manual transmission. The basic model includes electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, four anti-lock disc brakes, impressive 18 inch alloy wheels, and satellite radio. If the base package isn’t enough, the GXP then adds dual exhaust tips, a faster responding transmission, leather to the steering wheel and shift knob, and plush carpeted floor mats.

While there’s much to enjoy for the Solstice, it’s not without some draw backs. The steering comes off as sluggish. The Solstice tips the scale at over 3000 pounds, so being quick-and-lite is not upon the abilities of this car. Also, when charging out from curves, the Solstice likes to hang on. Coming off the line, the acceleration can be a bit lethargic. This car wouldn’t make a passing grade in ergonomics, with components illogically positioned and plastic components littering the interior. Trunk space is sparse, hardly holding enough for a weekend trip.

Despite the minor draw backs, the clear asset of the Solstice is its exterior style. Pontiac doesn’t have an impressive record for styling; in the Solstice, they break their bad luck streak. The Solstice has awesome styling, something from both yesterday and tomorrow. Strangers will come up and strike up conversations about your Solstice. The good personality of the car certainly exceeds the minor nits. Enthusiasts contemplating a sports car should jump into this car and not look back.

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When the author isn’t driving her Pontiac Solstice, she’s a fan of best psychics, the Seattle HCG Diet, and the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector.

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