Reviewed by: Jeff Fortson of JeffCars.com
Date: August 2007
Profile of the
2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Buyer
|
| Average age of the buyer: 51 |
| Percentage of female buyers: 35.90 |
| -Top three most popular colors: Red, Black & Silver |
| -Top three most traded-in vehicles: Pontiac Solstice (not-turbo), Ford Mustang, and Pontiac Grand Am |
| -Average finance rate: 6.49 % |
| -Average down payment: $6,957 |
| -Average 60-month: $410 |
Source: The Power Information Network- Data based on retail sales: Jun. – Aug. 2007 |
Arrival Date:
This sporty roadster was introduced in 2006.
Target audience:
This Miata-fighter is targeted at those looking for a little excitement from Pontiac, at an affordable price.
Replaced:
This is an all-new vehicle segment for Pontiac.
What’s new:
For the 2007 model year, a turbo model has joined the line up, spitting out over 260 horses from under the hood.
Body type/Seating:
It’s only available as a two-seater roadster.
Popular Standard Features:
-Power locks
-Power windows
-Remote Locks
-AM/FM/CD player
-Cruise Control
-18-inch polished aluminum wheels (on test vehicle)
Safety Features/Awards:
- NHTSA ( National Highway Traffic Safety Administration):
*Frontal Crash (Driver/Passenger): 4 out of 5 stars
*Side Crash Front Seat: 4 out of 5 stars
*Rollover: 5 out of 5 stars
-Air Bags
-Vehicle Stability System (Traction Control System)
-Tire Sealant & Inflator Lit
-Day Time Running Lights
-ABS (standard on test vehicle)
-Remote Keyless Feature
-Rear Window Defroster
-Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls (standard on test vehicle)
Warranty:
Basic warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first)
Powertrain warranty: 5 year or 100,000 mile (whichever comes first)
Maintenance Included: No
Towing Included: Yes
Engine/Gas Mileage: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo, manual, 260 horsepower, 19 city/28 highway (featured on test car) fuel efficiency:
2.0L 4-cylinder turbo, automatic, 260 horsepower, 19 city/26 highway
Fuel efficiency:
Since this is a 4-cylinder turbo, it’s relatively fuel efficient. The turbo model achieves better gas mileage than the non turbo Solstice. While test driving the vehicle for a week, I managed to inch out 500 miles off of a tank of gas.
Looking forward:
In the near future, a Solstice coupe will be added to the line up. With the top down, there isn’t much room in the trunk. But, what should you expect in a roadster?
What’s so special:
After being out in the market for over a year, this rear-wheel drive roadster is still a head-turner. The Solstice’s front-end is reminiscent of the 1950 Corvettes. Surprisingly, the manual top is easy to operate, taking a matter of moments to store in the trunk.
Overall, the standard five-speed manual transmission is fun to drive and its handling ability allowed me to push it to the limits on curvy roads, with the 18-inch tires. (An automatic transmission is an available option, but it wouldn’t be as much fun to drive.) If GM continues producing cars with this type of build quality, they will continue to woo over quite a few import owners.
How much:
The Solstice GXP reviewed listed for $31,004. The Solstice had a total of $3,889 in options - premium leather seats with the letters GXP stitched into the seats, an air condition, six-disc CD changer with the seven-speaker Monsoon speakers, XM satellite radio, a premium headliner, a rear spoiler and a premium paint job. For this price point, the vehicle is definitely worth every bit the dealers are asking. |
