It’s quick. It’s rare. It’s gorgeous. It’s a 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe, and it could be yours. Yes, the car you see here is currently for sale on Cars & Bids, so all you have to do is offer the seller more money than anybody else, and before you know it, one of the best-looking coupes that America ever made will be in your driveway, ready for you to take it for a spin. Although, while it’s called a coupe, it comes with a removable targa top, which means you can enjoy the open air any time you feel like it.
Now, for a lot less money, you could simply buy one of the much more common Solstice GXP convertibles. It’ll still have the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 260 hp, as well as the same five-speed manual. Both will probably be equally enjoyable to drive.
As good as the regular Solstice looks, though, it just doesn’t quite match the beautiful shape of the Solstice Coupe. Plus, these things are rare. Pontiac likely only made something like 850 Solstice GXP Coupes before GM killed it off, so while the convertible will probably continue to depreciate, there’s a good chance you won’t lose a dime if you ever have to sell a GXP Coupe.
Despite having 67,100 miles on it, the interior appears to be as close to showroom-fresh as a 2009 Pontiac can be in 2023. Although, as MotorTrend found out when it first reviewed the GXP Coupe, the cabin does come with a few downsides:
The driver-centric interior suffers a little from cheapoplasticity. There’s one flimsy cupholder, and it’s on the passenger side. You need to crane your arm back to operate the power window switches. Anyone with normal to large-size hands will have to open the door to adjust the seat rake. The overall feeling, peering out via the gun slit-size side windows, is either enveloping or claustrophobic, depending on your viewpoint.
Oh, well. You have to make some sacrifices for fashion. If it wasn’t a particularly attractive car, the Solstice GXP Coupe probably wouldn’t be worth it, but just look at it. It’s gorgeous. Plus, buying one gives you automatic membership to a very exclusive club. Pair this car with a manual G8 GXP, and you’ll basically have the perfect two-car garage. Come on, you know you want to buy it.
