2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP: Last Drive

[diddiyo]

http://jalopnik.com/5308054/2009-pon...gxp-last-drive

The story is almost too sad to tell. When GM hired Bob Lutz he knew Pontiac had to get away from the body-cladding, embrace a RWD platform, offer something with a fourbanger, make it affordable and European looking. For the Detroit Auto Show he needed to make a statement and, to quote a 2002 Car And Driver article:
"It would be a Pontiac only, shared with no other brand. It would sell for about $20,000 for a naturally aspirated version and just under $30,000 for a supercharged one like the show car. It would be basic, with a manually operated softtop." -- So close and yet, actually, not that close at all.

[...]

In the end, it's about making the right decisions, coming to the right conclusions, and taking many wrong steps to get there. It's the story of a once-great brand, and a once-great idea, not quite fully-fulfilled.

[HeatherR]

I don't agree with the review at all...I have the manual, so I can't comment on their complaints regarding shifting, but the top is manual and super easy to put up and down!

I know GM lost $ on each one sold, but I feel lucky to have picked one up prior ro them being cancelled...the GXP coupe will be a rare collector's car someday...very few produced.

[496BIGBLOCK]

Im gonna speak for my better half on this one here... Her 09 Sky Redline is her dream car and also the ring box that her engagement ring came in at the Saturn dealership so she is a bit biased... but she absolutely LOVES that car... and truthfully, so do I. We have the 5 speed auto (I wanted to order her the manual, but she had hinted to me that driving with heels on is very challenging) and it never seems to get "confused". Its a smooth, fun, attention grabbing (black on black) and very fast lil car. Saying the top is tough or is complex to raise or lower is just silly to me. If they want to complain about how something works, try to change a freakin front turn signal on a 2008 Caddy DTS, THE WHOLE FREAKIN BUMPER has to be removed... now that is worth cryin' over. Guess I will get off my fiancee's soap box now... just my .02. Wonderful car though... just liked the Sky body lines more than the Solstice.

[stovt001]

Well with the top operation, it may not be difficult per se, but considering on the MX-5 you can simply reach over your shoulder and yank it up, it is relatively more complicated than it could be. Now the multi-step process for the Solstice/Sky may not be so important to someone in California where the weather never changes, if you live in an area where rain can come out of nowhere with no warning then the MX-5's top is an advantage.