# Solstice: Pontiac hits one out of the park. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119 "2005-09-11T18:29:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/1 "2005-09-11T18:29:40Z")
So, have you all seen the new [Pontiac Solstice](http://www.nctd.com/sneakpreview.cfm?Vehicle=2006_Pontiac_Solstice&ReviewID=55)? This may be one of the most beautiful cars to come out of Detroit ever. Certainly in the last few years. It’s just gorgeous. And the early reviews are that the thing is a hoot to drive, fit and finish is outstanding, and best of all, it’s under $20,000. And next year it’s supposed to get a 250HP turbocharged engine, which is going to make this thing run with a Porsche Boxter for about half the money. And next year the same platform will unleash the equally good looking [Saturn Sky](http://www.saturn.com/saturn/showroom/future_vehicles/sky.jsp?nav=710&flashOK=yes), whcih has a totally different design. Gorgeous cars. Good job, GM. And from what I hear, there are other cars coming down the pike with similarly beautiful designs. I read an interview with Bob Lutz of GM, who said that one of their new sedan designs didn’t even get sent for focus group testing because the confidential showings to the press and others elicited such strong "ooh"s and "aah"s that they just sent it straight to production. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/2 "2005-09-11T18:42:37Z")
Maybe it’s just the pictures, but it kind of looks like a Hotwheels car to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/3 "2005-09-11T18:47:43Z")
Can’t say I like the Solstice. The weird front grills don’t do it for me. The Sky, on the other hand, looks pretty sweet. If my Honda stops running, I might think about one of those; it’d be nice to have a two-seater in time for my mid-life crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/4 "2005-09-11T18:48:31Z")
**Sam Stone** , there was a thread about this car – that also mentioned the Saturn Sky – a couple months ago: **[Pontiac Solstice looks awesome! What do you think?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=326489)**. You posted three times in that thread. That said, I really love the look of the new Solstice. I used [this](http://www.pontiac.com/solstice/gallery.jsp) as my laptop’s wallpaper for a while and got a lot of comments on it, and I just loved the raised eyebrows I got in response every time I said that it’s a Pontiac. 😃 The Sky looks pretty sweet, too… ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/5 "2005-09-11T18:49:17Z")
Wow, under 20K. This might begin to make up for GM’s colossal fuck up with the 40+ thousand dollar Chevy [SSR](http://www.chevrolet.com/ssr/) truck. Heads must have rolled over that one. Idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/6 "2005-09-11T19:23:56Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > **Sam Stone** , there was a thread about this car – that also mentioned the Saturn Sky – a couple months ago: **[Pontiac Solstice looks awesome! What do you think?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=326489)**. You posted three times in that thread. > > That said, I really love the look of the new Solstice. I used [this](http://www.pontiac.com/solstice/gallery.jsp) as my laptop’s wallpaper for a while and got a lot of comments on it, and I just loved the raised eyebrows I got in response every time I said that it’s a Pontiac. 😃 > > The Sky looks pretty sweet, too… I started a new thread because all the new car magazines have a review of the thing, and they’re all unanimous that it’s outstanding. So it’s no longer just speculation. But yeah, I could have posted to the old thread. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/7 "2005-09-11T19:27:00Z")
> [@sleeepy2](#): > > Wow, under 20K. This might begin to make up for GM’s colossal fuck up with the 40+ thousand dollar Chevy [SSR](http://www.chevrolet.com/ssr/) truck. Heads must have rolled over that one. Idiots. I just saw one of those upclose recently. Man, that’s one ugly truck-like vehicle. To the OP. I’d rather have the Sky. It looks a lot like the European [Vauxhall VX220](http://www.askaprice.com/themes/landing/vauxhall/vx2201.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/8 "2005-09-11T19:35:49Z")
I think it’s nicer than the Vauxhall. Wider and lower. Quite honestly, I think these two new roadsters are both design bullseyes. The fact that the Sky can take a completely different design direction and come out looking as good or better than the Solstice tends to indicate that this is no fluke, and that Bob Lutz’s transformation that is just starting to take hold at GM may be the real deal. On the other hand, the HHR is supposed to be Lutz’s baby as well, and I’m totally unimpressed with it. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/9 "2005-09-11T19:37:19Z")
I like it. I would like the MPG (20/28) to be a bit higher, but I like the looks. I also like the simplicity of the front end/grill. There is something about the Saturn Sky’s back end I don’t like. It looks evil. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/10 "2005-09-11T19:46:00Z")
I love the Solstice and I like the Sky. The price sounds great too. I am glad they finally figured out that affordable cars don’t have to be stamped out of the same bland mold. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/11 "2005-09-11T21:03:24Z")
First time I’ve ever seen it, but I think it’s beautiful… just love those lines. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/12 "2005-09-11T21:11:40Z")
I’m glad the little cheap convertible is making a comeback; when I was looking for one three years ago, your only choices were the Miata and the VW Cabrio (which I bought). I might look into one of these in a year or two when it’s time to trade–especially with that 250HP turbo. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solstice-pontiac-hits-one-out-of-the-park/321119/13 "2005-09-13T21:45:15Z")
I already have a Saturn and will need to get a new one soon - the Sky looks great! The Solstice? Well, the comparison to the Miata aren’t good, for me. I think the Miata is great if you are 5’10 and weigh about 160 pounds. I am neither. I would look like a Mason wearing a fez in a parade in one of those cars. Hope the Sky can handle someone taller.