Seeing the Solstice on the show room floor, you’ll want to jump right in and take off. The Pontiac Solstice meshes together raw power, plenty of niceties, and breath-taking styles causing people to stare. One needs to go back into the time machine until the 1959 Bonneville to refer back to any other worthy Pontiac split-screen. This car delivers the same thrills as the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, with only half of the cost.

As far as options go, the Solstice is available in two different trim packages, the basic and the GXP. The basic package includes a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that still turns in respectable gas mileage. The power-packed GXP package places a whopping 260 hour power turbocharged engine into a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine. No matter the engine pick, either engine is mated to a five speed auto or manual transmission. The base model does include electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, anti-lock disc brakes all the way around the car, generous 18-inch alloy wheels, and crisp satellite radio. The GXP package takes all of this and adds stunning dual exhaust tips, a tuned-up transmission, a gripping leather shift know and steering wheel, and plush carpeted floor mats.

There’s certainly a lot to enjoy about the Solstice, it’s certainly not a perfect car. The steering can be slow and unresponsive. The Solstice can be a fat hog of a car at over 3000 pounds. Also, when zipping out from corners, the Solstice is prone to hang on. Taking off, the acceleration can be less than impressive. This car is not comfortable, with components in illogical spots and substandard parts made from third-world wages. Trunk space is sparse, hardly holding enough for a weekend trip.

While the Solstice has some minor bummers, the best feature of the Solstice is its body lines. Pontiac isn’t known for head-turning styling; with the Solstice, they finally turn the tide. The Solstice has aggressive styling that’s a bit of a mash-up between a Jaguar and the Bat Mobile. People walking by will turn their heads and check your car out. On the balance, the positives outweigh the negatives. Drivers in search of a top-down driving blast will not regret this selection.

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When the author isn’t driving her Pontiac Solstice, she’s a fan of best psychics, the Seattle HCG Diet, and the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector.