Battle of the Rollers: 2007 Saturn Sky vs 1970 Jensen Interceptor

Picture this; you are stuck at home under stay-at-home orders and you need something to occupy your time since your internet connection is dead.  What you need is an engine and a vehicle that needs an engine.  Then you just need a few wrenches, some zip ties, a welder, and some fresh 5w30 oil.  The only question is -- which do you get, do you get a 2007 Saturn Sky setup for LS1 swap offered for $2500 or do you get an powertrain-less 1970 Jensen Interceptor offered for $3995, both are offered on Los Angeles craigslist.

GM Performance Package: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

The Skystice (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) was Detroit's answer to light weight sports cars like the million models sold Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Typical GM feature bloat meant the Solstice/Sky wasn't as lean a fighting machine as the MX-5, but the podium in SCCA club racing in T2 class for 2007, 2008, & 2009 gives it a certain degree of street cred.  If you want to buy a new Solstice today, you are outta luck because GM stopped production in 2010 when GM axed down both the Pontiac and Saturn brands...but used examples are cheap and handle just as well as they did when new....probably.  Find this 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP GM Perf Package offered for $6950 in Santa Clara, CA via craigslist.

Cheap Skateboard: 2006 Pontiac Solstice

The Skystice (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) was Detroit's answer to the super successful Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Typical GM feature bloat meant the Solstice/Sky wasn't as lean a fighting machine as the MX-5, but the podium in SCCA club racing in T2 class for 2007, 2008, & 2009 gives it a certain degree of street cred.  The turbo GXP model is the one to get if you want something with some turbo power, but the basic model has decent grunt from the 177 horsepower 2.4 liter Ecotec 4-banger and they are cheap, cheap, cheap! Find this 2006 Pontiac Solstice offered for $4,750 in Delray Beach, FL via autotrader. Tip from James. 

Solstice Drivetrain: 1976 Cosworth Vega

In 1970 GM's General Manager John Z. DeLorean directed his engineering staff the develop a high performance 4-cylinder engine for the compact Vega chassis.  Within a few years a combination of GM's alloy block and a Cosworth Engineering designed head was mounted into a Chevy Vega that cost nearly as much as new Corvette.  The Cosworth Vega was hand built on a special assembly line in a limited run of 4000 machines (the original plan was 4000, but , but today's example is missing the one piece that made the car special...does it still make the cut? Find this 1976 Cosworth Vega offered for $11,000 in Graham, NC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Hammer Time: 2007 Pontiac Solstice Mallet LS2 V8

There is an old expression about bringing a knife to a gun fight, but I think this next car is closer to the concept of bringing a hammer to a knife fight.  Just don't get bent outta shape if you smash a few fingers with this next beast.  Find this 2007 Pontiac Solstice Mallet LS2 V8 here on eBay bidding for $6,800 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go, located in Mesa, AZ.

Salvaged & Cheap: 2006 Pontiac Solstice

The Pontiac Solstice (aka Saturn Sky) was a Mazda MX-5 competitor from General Motors that arrived in the Pontiac and Saturn showrooms a few years late, and just in time for the 2008 carpocalypse. The Solstice that you really want to get is the turbocharged GXP version (in coupe if possible), but if you are on a tight budget, you might consider this el cheapo version.  Find this 2006 Pontiac Solstice offered for $5,900 in Seattle, WA via craigslist.  Tip from JB1025.

One of 88: 2008 Pontiac Solstice SCCA T2 Champion Edition

If you've got $20k to spend on a late model roadster for driving enjoyment, you could start looking at a new MX-5 (hey, what happened to all the MX-5 competitors -- MR2, Skystice, S2000?)...but you'll run out of budget because they start around $25k before options/taxes/etc...so you are going to need to get something a few years old...like a used MX-5...which there are plenty around -- too many -- so why not look at something a bit more obscure, like a limited edition one of  88 oddball Pontiac.  Find this 2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP SCCA T2 Champion Edition offered for $20,000 in Madison, WI via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Unobtanium: 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe

When GM first announced the Pontiac Solstice concept car in 2002, everybody rejoiced.  Here was a fun, rear-drive, light weight, sportster, from GM.  When it was released for the 2006 model year the reception was less than enthusiastic because it had porked up a bit since the concept, and was given a typically GM 4X4 riding stance (I know people blame the GM wheel-fender gap issues on Detroit streets, but I sometimes think those guys design their cars on the streets of Baghdad). Then GM released the Solstice GXP, and people were happy, but it was still no better than a Mazdaspeed MX-5.  But in 2009 GM released the Solstice GXP Coupe, and for a few precious months (until the Pontiac brand was layed to rest) all was well with the world.  Find this 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe here on eBay bidding for $22,701 reserve-not-met with 1 day to go, located in Raleigh, NC.

20k: Almost New: 2007 Pontiac Solstice

The Skystice (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) was Detroit's answer to the super successful Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Typical GM feature bloat meant the Solstice/Sky wasn't as lean a fighting machine as the MX-5, but the podium in SCCA club racing in T2 class for 2007, 2008, & 2009 gives it a certain degree of street cred.  If you want to buy a new Solstice today, you are outta luck because GM stopped production in 2010 when GM axed down both the Pontiac and Saturn brands.  The closest thing to a new Solstice you are gonna find is this 2007 Pontiac Solstice with only 3,857 miles on the odometer offered for $20,000 in Lexington, KY.

Look To The Sky On The Solstice: 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice & Saturn Sky Market Update

The people wanted it.  The press wanted it.  The engineers wanted to make it.  And in 2006, General Motors finally delivered the American-built Mazda MX-5 competitor that was so missing from its domestic line up.  The Skystice (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) was instantly loved by the people (7,000 orders in first 10 days), the press, and everyone who longed for an inexpensive US built open air roadster.  It was extremely successful in SCCA club racing, where it swept the podium in Touring 2 class in 2007, 2008, & 2009.  Unfortunately, the choirs of angels singing halleluiah were rudely interrupted by the automotive market crisis of 2008, and in 2010 GM closed the doors on the Wilmington, Delware assembly plant.  The sun had set on cheap American roadster, but prices for a used example of the Skystice couldn't be better today. 

DTO: Mallett To A Knife Fight: 2006 Pontiac Solstice Mallett GM LS2 V8

The typical comparison between the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky twins and the Chevrolet Corvette  inevitably falls into a discussion of external dimensions with bow-tied bow-tie experts spouting off all sorts of nonsense about the Solstice being within inches of all major dimensions to a C1 Vette.  The part where the Solstice goes its own path is with the use of a boosted small displacement engine - a great choice given modern technology - but nothing quite replaces the rumble of 8 cylinders up front.  The next time a curvy road is ahead, forget about carving it up with a scalpel like the Solstice GXP...instead get a Mallett. Find this 2006 Pontiac Solstice Mallett LS2 V8 conversion for sale in Merced, CA currently bidding on ebay for $25,000 reserve-not-met with a BIN of $38,000.

25k: Better Than A BRZ: 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Turbo

If you've ever surfed over to the Canadian version of craiglist called kijiji, you have invariably found a motley assortment of Zambonis, ice fishing rigs, swamp tundra buggies, Ford Model Ehs, and all manner of salvaged-from-moose-impact vehicles.  But every once in a while a rare vehicle is listed that hasn't been bitten by the tin worm or crashed while playing car-hockey on Top Gear Canada.  Find this 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe for $25,000 CAD ($24,464 USD) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada via kijijijijijijijijijijijij.ca.  Thanks to tip from Andy L.