Vehicle Description
Pontiac's slogan had been "We Build Excitement" and, had it not
been for the Great Recession that led to the demise of that
once-revered division of GM, Pontiac could very justifiably hold up
the Solstice as irrefutable proof that they, in fact, did just
that. Introduced to a zealous response, the 2006 Solstice nabbed
both North American Car of the Year and Automotive Design of the
Year honors, and made such an impact on its segment that competitor
Mazda almost immediately identified Europe as its most promising
future target market for its competing MX-5. This 2006 Pontiac
Solstice, with under 39,000 actual miles logged, represents your
chance to pick up the object of all that excitement at a good price
and with years and years of service still ahead.
Decked out in a metallic dark blue that accentuates the curvature
of its design the Solstice caused an instant stir ... and it's easy
to see why. Designer Franz von Holzhausen (now chief designer at
Tesla) already had some serious design credits to his name and
certainly showed his artistry this time around. Sitting low to the
ground with an aggressive, wide track, this is a car that looks
like it would handle like a dream and it delivers on that account,
consistently logging skidpad numbers in excess of .90g when it
rolled out to the public. The front end, with its distinctive
vented fronted bumper area and elongated headlights, has a
decidedly European flair to it - not surprising, considering its
creator - and the back, gracefully rising above the cockpit as it
does, gives the Solstice a slightly inclined look, as if coiled to
strike. Its manual convertible top remains in good shape, still
fitting snugly against the windshield where it's positioned flush
enough to minimize wind noise.
Inspired design doesn't end at the exterior. The well-executed,
two-tone, black and tan interior is a perfect complement and
remains in very good condition. The bucket seats straddling the
transmission tunnel have plenty of bolster to keep occupants in
place and their high backs provide a fine mixture of comfort and
support. The instrument panel is particularly well-designed, an
asset that caught the attention of Car and Driver when they first
reviewed the Solstice in 2006. The white-faced gauges just beyond
the wheel are well-placed and easy to read and all features are
within very easy reach. One of the weapons this convertible had in
its arsenal when competing with the popular Mazda/MX-5 was its
superior interior width and you can see right away that, despite
this being a relatively compact car, there's a respectable amount
of shoulder room for driver and passenger. It's also well-equipped,
with an A/C system in optimal form, cruise control, an AM/FM/CD
stereo system and power windows. Safety features have been looked
after, as well, as it comes with both driver and passenger
airbags.
Under that sloping, European-inspired hood sits a 2.4ltr inline
4-cylinder engine paired with a 5 speed manual transmission.
Equipped with Multi-Point Fuel injection, the powerplant is a great
match for this relatively lightweight vehicle, capable of
propelling the Solstice to a 7 second 0-60 time. It's a sports car
that actually delivers on driving expectations, with very exact
power steering, a short throw shifter that's combined with a light
clutch, and 4 wheel power brakes that are capable of stopping the
car so quickly (60-0 in just 115 feet) that, according to Car and
Driver, the experience elicited "flop sweat" when they tested
it.
Looking for a low-mileage, true modern American sports car that's a
blast to drive? You have to check out this 2006 Pontiac Solstice.
Call today!