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Car of the Day: August 15, 2009; Maisto '07 Pontiac Solstice
Topic Started: Aug 15 2009, 12:12 AM (644 Views)
JustDavid
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SUV
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Today’s Car of The day is Maisto's 2007 Pontiac Solstice.

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The Pontiac Solstice is a small sports car from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. The exterior styling of the production Solstice is similar to that of the 2002 Solstice concept that preceded it. Production of the Solstice was to be running before summer 2005, but delays at the Wilmington plant pushed volume production to the fourth quarter. The new hardtop targa 2009 model was announced in mid 2008. The Solstice uses the GM Kappa platform, which also underpins the Saturn Sky, Opel GT, and Daewoo G2X.

The Solstice was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for 2006. It has been a runaway hit for Pontiac, with 7,000 orders in the first 10 days of availability and 6,000 more orders before winter. Although first-year production was planned at 7,000, GM apologized to customers for delays and increased production, delivering 10,000 by March 1. The base price was adjusted upwards to $20,490 in mid-December. The Solstice currently has an MSRP of $22,115.

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The GXP version of the Solstice debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006. It is powered by a new 2.0 L (121.9 cu in) I4 Ecotec engine equipped with a dual-scroll turbocharger. The engine's output is 260 hp (193 kW) and 260 ft•lbf (353 N•m). This is the highest specific output of any engine in the history of General Motors at 2.1 hp (1.6 kW) per cubic inch, and it is the first gasoline direct injection engine from an American automaker. According to pontiac.com, the GXP goes 0 to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds.

Other GXP features include standard Stabilitrak traction control, a limited-slip differential, and anti-lock brakes. Summer tires on 18 inch wheels are standard.

A targa coupe version of the Solstice was unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show. Engine choices are the same as the convertible versions. The roof can be removed, but the hard roof cannot be fit into the trunk. An optional cloth top is available, which can be fit into the trunk.

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For less than $1, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of the Solstice. The scale seems fairly accurate, and the inclusion of the interior not typically found on Maisto is decent. I’d like to see better wheels though.

Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Solstice

Posted Image





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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

This is one of Maisto's better attempts in recent years. Since it's a convertible, we get an interior on this one. It's also should be held in place via two small screws instead of the conventional rivets too. Makes it easy to swap out those less than admirable wheels.

Nice job David on Cotd. :wave:
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
Our local Pontiac dealer had one of these displayed all winter in the hockey rink foyer. A red one with the hard top roof, I often looked at it. Boy oh Boy, GM should of dropped Buick and kept Pontiac, because this car is smokin' hot, I almost had my wife talked into buying one, but she thought it was a tad small for the family. I sure hope the Solstice shows up badged as a Chev or a Buick or even a Cadillac because this car is too good to lose.

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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

James, Saturn has a version called Sky which is mentioned in the wiki article. GM makes the same car in other markets and is sold under the Opel brand. The Opel version is the GT.
Edited by craftymore, Aug 15 2009, 12:44 AM.
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
Well we know tha Saturn is also dead, I guess our only hope is Stronach's Opel division, maybe he will continue to produce the Opel version. With what I know of Stronach. all us Canadians will be driving Opel's in 5 or 6 years. The government will make it a law. (LOLOL)

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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
This is one very nice casting for around 77 cents at Walmart ( and Walgreen's Speed Wheels)when you can find one! The quality and look of the body is very good. I have two coupes, one by Maisto and one I think is Matchbox. Both are good but not as nice as this convertible. Also, Maisto made this casting a tad smaller than the average size, so it looks good when placed next to other castings, instead of looking out of place in scale.

All around, a good production by Maisto, "One of Maisto's better attempts in recent years, " to quote CRAFTYMORE. This is an excellent choice for CotD :) :) :)

Speaking of the Saturn SKY, that car has a hotter looking edgy appearance, and several magazines said it was an improvement in several ways over the Solstice. Poor marketing!! Many people don't even know about this car!
Edited by ivantt, Aug 15 2009, 09:10 AM.
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
Looks good on my diorama.
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
craftymore
Aug 15 2009, 12:43 AM
James, Saturn has a version called Sky which is mentioned in the wiki article. GM makes the same car in other markets and is sold under the Opel brand. The Opel version is the GT.
I saw a Saturn Sky today, it passed me on the highway. Black top down, and your right it is a little edgier then the Solstice. the rear end is more sharper, I think I like the Solstice better

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JustDavid
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SUV
It's too bad GM didn't advertise the Sky. Perhaps they would've sold many more.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Nice casting of a car that has turned my head more than once!

But these are the cars GM (Government Motors) is no longer allowed to build. Sporty? Fast? Passe. Tragic is more like it. :( I had hoped that GM would be able to keep Pontiac as a niche division and keep this car and maybe one or two other models. Buick is too popular in China to cut it off here. *Grumbles* Then again I would have axed Buick before Oldsmobile...
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james_autos
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Minivan
I picked up one of these from Walgreen's when I was last on holiday in the states. I think it was actually 50c, and at the time the exchange rate was about $2 to £1, so it really did seem like peanuts for such a nicely done little model. Now if only Maisto put as much effort into their other castings.......
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