| Pontiac is an 82-year-old brand, known for its | | | | top and includes a double-hinged design for easy |
| affordability, style and performance. The 2009 | | | | stowing in the trunk. The GT convertible managed |
| models are designed to move the Pontiac brand | | | | turns with ease despite my efforts to burn rubber |
| onward and upward. On October 2nd and 3rd, GM | | | | throughout the autocross, testing the brakes and |
| invited me to an all-expenses-paid Pontiac media | | | | throttle. |
| event at the Bondurant School of High Performance | | | | Handling the Solstice |
| Driving where I not only learned valuable driving | | | | On day two of our high-performance driving lesson, |
| techniques, but also got to put the pedal to the | | | | the other media representatives and I went back to |
| metal and really see what Pontiac's high performance | | | | the autocross. This time, we got a chance to play |
| cars can really do. | | | | with the 2009 Solstice in both manual and automatic |
| During the autocross exercise at the Bondurant, I | | | | transmissions. The Bondurant teachers critiqued our |
| was able to test drive five Pontiac cars: two G6 | | | | driving skills as we sped through the course. After a |
| sedans, one with a four-speed automatic transmission | | | | few practice runs, they timed each of our two-lap |
| and the other with a four-cylinder six-speed | | | | runs. My first time was 1:04.7 and my best was 1:02.7. |
| automatic transmission; G6 GXP performance line | | | | The interesting thing was, my fastest time felt to |
| coupe; G6 GT retractable hard top (RHT) convertible; | | | | me like my safest run. |
| and the 2009 Solstice (both manual and automatic | | | | The Solstice GXP was by far my favorite car in the |
| transmission). The autocross course was meant to | | | | portfolio. Not only is it a very powerful vehicle with a |
| test the car's handling as well as allow the driver to | | | | 2.0L Ecotec DI Turbo VVT engine and 250 |
| practice the skills learned in the ground class. It | | | | horsepower, but it feels like a point and shoot type |
| included a variety of tight right and left turns as well | | | | of car; meaning wherever I looked and steered, the |
| as a few short straight-always where we could test | | | | car was there before I knew it. Since I was racing |
| both the speed and brake power of the vehicles. | | | | the clock, there were a few moments where my |
| A Family of High-Performance Vehicles | | | | skills as a driver were lacking. Here is where a driver |
| One of the cars I liked the most was the G6 GXP | | | | can really feel the StabiliTrak balance out the vehicle |
| performance line coupe with Hydra-Matic 6T70 | | | | so that he or she can keep on driving. |
| six-speed automatic transmission and 3.6L DOHC V-6 | | | | Be the Driver |
| VVT engine creating 252 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of | | | | One of the most important lessons I learned during |
| torque at 3200 rpm - an all-out show stopper. It is | | | | my short stay with Pontiac at the Bondurant School |
| the most powerful of all the G6 vehicles and handles | | | | is that a car by itself can only do so much. It is up to |
| and turns very smoothly. The GXP coupe has an | | | | the driver to make it run safely and smoothly. |
| aggressive front style with a back spoiler and very | | | | However, knowing the features in your car and what |
| comfortable seats. | | | | it is capable of doing is also very important and can |
| The GT convertible, although not as powerful as the | | | | even save your life. Although high performance |
| GXP, is very unique in that it looks just like the coupe | | | | features make a car more fun to drive, most day to |
| with the top up. The removable hard top allows | | | | day car rides do not require such features. |
| consumers to drive the car in any weather condition | | | | Remember the car can only do so much; it is up to |
| without worrying about water seeping through the | | | | the driver to practice and use safe driving techniques. |