New Toy Ride

[GXPete]

Time to share some new Pontiac Excitement!

I happened upon an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. Recently closed a deal on a new toy ride:

2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe #606






For those that aren't aware, there were only 1200 of these beauties built, all in the '09 model year, before GM pulled the plug on Pontiac. I know some of you won't like the fact it's an automatic (as you can tell from the last pic), but that suits me just fine. I was over the shifting experience desire a long time ago. What's even better is that I bought it with only 33 miles on it. Turns out some guy bought it new for his wife and she hated it, so he sold it to the dealer from whom I got it with only 17 miles on it. The dealer put the other 16 on it and now she's mine. You may also notice the lack of badging. The original owner had it long enough to do away with the rear badging and the side chicklets. It looks clean, but I prefer my cars stock, so I'll be putting them back on. And even though GM dumped the chicklets in 2010 to dissassociate the cars with the bad corporate image, I think having them on there will add value to the car later.

Now I have to go update my sig.

[01bonneSC]

Nice pickup!!!

I do like the lines of the Sky a lil bit better.

But whats the drivetrain in the GXP?

[PRD2BDF]

260HP turbo 4.

And I hate you.

I'm waiting until I become a bit older and pick up a Solstice convertible.

[LeSabreUltra]

Sweeeeeeeeeeet :D

Like a brand new car with those miles.
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[bonneville dan-o]

not a big fan of the solstice but thats a good lookin car

cant go wrong with 33 miles. alot of brand new cars i sell have up to 300miles on them

[GXPete]

For $650 I can get a GM Performance Part and boost it to 290HP, but I already spent an extra $850 on a soft top for it, plus another $75 for the storage bag for the roof panel (can't believe Pontiac didn't include that one), so no more extras at this point. Maybe next year.

[redwingsfan34]

very nice lookin car!
Congrats!

[00Beast]

I have an idea. Drive it to MN and let me take it for a spin!!

LOL, looks great!! I probably wouldn't fit in it anyways. I'm 6'6", so yeah. I remember sitting in a Sky when I was 6'1" or so and feeling cramped. That EcoTech is a real powerhouse, though. I think you need to pony up the $650 for 30 HP, lol. I remember the Hot Rod Solstice, 600HP LS7 in a Solstice, 10's in the 1/4 mile. I saw that car in person, it was a beast.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Is this a summer toy? Either way, I hope you rust-proof this jewel!

[GXPete]

This is definitely a summer toy and will spend the colder months garaged.

[petraman]

I tried to get into one of those once... My back hurt for three days after, lol. I hate being tall...

[94SilverSSEi]

Wow! Amazing car! I love those solstices but as others have mentioned I think it would he a real tight fit for me. Don't particularly care for 4 cylinders but I would snap up one of these in a second.

[92BonneSE]

Nice, I do like the Solstice in the hardtop. Ill always think the Sky looks a tiny better though. Have fun with it, I could never own one...Im almost 6'4" and it was a pain getting in and out when I sat in one at the dealer, once I was inside I was fine, I just had trouble getting my long legs in there lol

[BonneMe]

Welcome to the club! My parents have an Agressive (red) '06 with the two tone interior. I've gone to a few river valley runs with their groups, and the first ever national meet in KC in 2007. I've probably got 2,000 miles of seat time in a Kappa... And a deer accident! In a few years I'll prob be down for a GXP.

If there are RS-A's on there, RUBBER is the first thing to spend money on, not more power. Those kappas need big sticky rubber. The coupe always seems like a half assed attempt to me, and made the daily utility/usability LOWER strangely. However for performance, a solid roof is very hard to beat!

Personally i'd leave the chicklets off, we had the body shop leave them off after it was sprayed... I just typed out a sentance about a wind deflector, then realized you had a hardtop...

Get some rubber, and get to an Autocross event! That's a sweet ride

[GXPete]

The OE tire is the GY Eagle F1, and with virtually no miles on them, that will not be one of the first things I'll spend money on. You (BonneMe) and I are from apparently different molds, which is fine. I'm not the racing type. I bought the car to enjoy and have a little fun, but it won't be at much less on any kind of Autocross event. Heck, I don't even know what a Kappa is!

[BonneMe]

The OE tire is the GY Eagle F1, and with virtually no miles on them, that will not be one of the first things I'll spend money on. You (BonneMe) and I are from apparently different molds, which is fine. I'm not the racing type. I bought the car to enjoy and have a little fun, but it won't be at much less on any kind of Autocross event. Heck, I don't even know what a Kappa is!

My parents car came with GY RS-A's on it, which is by all measures a poor all season OEM tire. I think they didn't want to be caught out on a summer tire if it got cold, but if you have F1's, then you're golden!

Kappa = the platform, Just like a Bonneville is an H body, a Camaro is an F body,the Sol/Sky is a Kappa.

It's a fun sports car! I absolutely love sports cars, and wish there were more in production. If you enjoy it, you and I are from the same mold I only brought up Autocross as it's a great way to learn some performance driving and car capabilities. Totally easy on the car, and as long as the course designer isn't a bonehead, 100% safe. We still haven't gotten my mother out yet, but she's even kicked the back end out driving a few times, and isn't scared to throw it into the corners. She used to be driving miss daisy!

The one mechanical problem they have had multiple times is the limited slip diff. My father thinks it gets noisey and he can feel it in parking lots after some decent miles on it. It's been replaced twice IIRC, and had fluid swaps a few times all under warranty. This past one has been better, so they may have upgraded parts which you should have. Other than that it's run like clockwork.

[Water 97SSEi]

Your car, along with the G8 GXP, are expected to be huge collectors items in the future. They are the last two performance Pontiacs to come off the line and also they were both only made in very limited numbers for just one model year. The value of your car might be slightly reduced because of the automatic and the removed badging, but I still think if its in good condition in 30 years it will be worth a good chunk of change. I would also leave the car completely stock. So just make sure you restore those badges to the exact factory locations so no one notices

[GXPete]

Not to worry, my dealer knows me well, and knows how picky I am and they will get the badging on straight or they will keep trying until it is.

But I have to get it first! It's actually on the last leg of its journey as I type this. I should be getting a call from the transport driver within the next 30 minutes saying that he's here. He called me a little less than a couple hours ago to say he was in the state. He also went out of his way to tell me what a nice car it is. Said he's never seen one like it and has had comments about it at different stops he made along the way. One import dealer where he picked up another car came over and asked him what it was. When he told him it was a Pontiac Solstice the guy didn't believe him until he got closer and saw the arrowheads.

I'm actually having him drop it at my dealer so they can get a MVI sticker on it tomorrow. I'm having the body shop get the badging ordered (or put on if it's in stock) too. Getting anxious.

[GXPete]

Finally got to really maiden her tonight! Got it all washed and dried late yesterday afternoon but then had a guest for dinner so couldn't take it out. But got home from work tonight, off came the top (and carefully slipped into the protective bag I had to buy for it :sad5: ) and off the wife and I went. It was a sweet ride. We were concerned about the firmness of the suspension when we drove it around the lot the night we picked it up. But on the open road it was not bad at all. Smooth roads were just like any nice riding car. Bumps you feel a little more than with the Bonne, but not a lot more. And at regular road speeds we were easily able to carry on a conversation, and there was a decent breeze. It was just a blast, that's all I can say.

When we got home I tried out the soft top on it. Fits like a glove. All good. Fine automobile. Now if I can just stop worrying about my wife's first drive.

[00Beast]

How fast can she go 0-100?