2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: Great moments in cupholder history
by Alex Nunez on Jul 14th 2009 at 11:58AM 
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe's weird cupholders – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you've ever driven a Pontiac Solstice, you know that it's a very pretty but extremely flawed car. In the interest of getting the concept car's look exactly right in production form, GM had to make a host of compromises, which manifest themselves in a number of ways.
You all know about the roadster's ridiculously recalcitrant top mechanism and dearth of usable space for both humans and cargo. What you may not be aware of is that inside the cockpit, there are three cupholders. One is actually semi-usable – it pops out of the transmission tunnel on the passenger side but is a bit flimsy and threatens to dump on your passenger's lap. In the convertible, the other two are mounted in a pop-out tray below the storage bin between the front seats. Perhaps they were designed by someone with a cruel sense of humor. Or maybe by a fan of comic books, because unless one possesses the flexibility of Reed Richards, it's essentially impossible to reach for a drink nestled in one of them without incurring some sort of sports injury.
After our man Sam Abuelsamid reviewed the 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe, I got to spend a week with one myself. (My car had a manual gearbox – the only difference between the two). One of the first things I noticed about the interior is that the tray with the useless cupholders is absent from the space between the seats. I opened the owner's manual and, sure enough, the only cupholder mentioned is the one in the tranny tunnel. But while loading the "trunk" (as it were), I discovered an undocumented feature. Well, two of them, actually.
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Núñez/Weblogs, Inc.
You see, despite what the manual officially says, there are two additional cupholders in the Solstice Coupe. Warning bells should now be going off, because if I'm seeing cupholders only by peering down through the coupe's open cargo hatch glass, you know something weird is going on.
Behind each headrest sits a cupholder. No, that's not a typo – I said "behind each headrest." They're molded into these rectangular storage bins General Motors put back there. Obviously, someone at GM wanted to uphold the Solstice tradition of bizarrely-placed cupholders.
The irony is that they're actually more useful than the ones in the roadster, which are, you know, not. The idea is that the driver can simply reach behind the passenger's head and grab his or her beverage, and vice versa. I would not necessarily recommend this, mind you, because these secret "Easter egg" cupholders aren't particularly good at holding things – a half-liter water bottle tips pretty easily, for example. A small coffee cup sits so low that it requires a bit of hunting and careful lifting, and that has distraction-caused disaster written all over it. Careful with the tall drinks, too – you stand to bump the coupe's crossbar while pulling them it out.
But there you have it: One final quirk in the final Pontiac Solstice model.
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Núñez/Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
JayP 12:06PM (7/14/2009)
I hope Lutz finds a place in New GM for the Coupe. Sad to see it die so soon.
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Kinsey 1:04PM (7/14/2009)
I love it! I still want this car tho. GXP stage 1 of course.
geo.stewart 1:13PM (7/14/2009)
I'll go with the Euro-mentality on this one.
Why are there cupholders? I'm D R I V I N G.
Its not a breakfast nook, dining room, bar, tavern or saloon (tee hee hee), its a sports car.
With all of the rants about distracted driving, why the picking here on a cupholder. If anything, rant about the $50 (10 materials, 40 on tool and design) wasted on useless cupholders rather than on better dash materials or putting the window switches on the center column ala HHR.
Jim in Tampa 1:50PM (7/14/2009)
I don't give a hoot if Europeans don't think cup holders should be in a car. I want easy to use, easy to clean, easily located cup holders to hold my bottled water when I drive.
A well located, easy to use cup holder is generally, in my opinion, no more distracting to a driver than turning on the wipers.
geo.stewart 3:16PM (7/14/2009)
Jim in Tampa,
you need to read any one of the studies showing that fueling the body and talking on the cell phone wreak more havoc on reflexes that driving with a BAC past the legal limit.
doesnt affect your ability to drive? a water bottle takes one hand off the wheel (assuming a loose or nonexistent top) and an obstruction to your view (unless you have a straw) at the least, assuming you dont spill the drink by accident.
If that doesnt impede your ability to drive or react, then I really dont want to ride on the road in Tampa.
Aloysius Vampa 3:23PM (7/14/2009)
geo.stewart, you don't want to be on the roads in Tampa anyway. I hate driving here.
Mr.Oak 12:07PM (7/14/2009)
"the other two are mounted in a pop-out tray below the storage bin between the front seats."
This article was about THE Pontiac Solstice right? If so, exactly where are the rear seats?
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bluvalley 12:14PM (7/14/2009)
A friend of mine has the convertible and in order to use the cupholder under the storage bin you must have been born with a third arm. This isn't mentioned in the manual?
Taylor. Yes, Taylor. 4:47PM (7/14/2009)
I have a solstice with cupholders in the exact spot as the solstice soft top and it's really as bad as they say. Yes, it's not the best place but it's WAY better than what they did in '09 on the soft tops, which is replace that cupholder with... Nothing! It's just a glued plastic panel. I'd rather have akward cupholders than none, because when you have a passenger, that other cupholder is in their way. And say what you want about drinks being a danger, but on roadtrips or anything like that, a drink is nice and I'm not likely to hit anything crazy driving down a long straight road. Don't go reaching for your drink in the middle of traffic, of course, but the same goes with changing radio stations, etc. Don't do distracting things at the wrong time, that's all you need to abide by.
-Taylor
Aloysius Vampa 12:10PM (7/14/2009)
When I had my S2000, my cupholder (well, water bottle holder) was behind the passenger seat. I could stick a bottle in there and it would hold.
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Pat 12:28PM (7/14/2009)
I usually use that spot too! The cupholders in the S2000 (and most likely the solstice/sky) are more for holding cell phones, change, garage door openers, etc more than cups.
I use a camel-back for longer trips. Throw the shoulder straps over the "shoulders" of the seat and I'm all set.
Aloysius Vampa 12:58PM (7/14/2009)
I never thought of that idea. That's awesome.
Bonus points if you route the hose up through a racing helmet.
PJ 2:50PM (7/14/2009)
That's where the waters/sodas have always gone in my Miatas, too.
One of my biggest pet peeves is interior designers who put the cupholders *in a purpose-built sports car* right where your shifting arm sits. In a Camry, fine, but in cars sold almost exclusively with stick (or don't even have a slushbox option, as in the S2000), what gives?
1337 2:58PM (7/14/2009)
I do the camelbak for long motorcycle trips. :) I don't need no stinkin' cupholders.
tgriffith 12:11PM (7/14/2009)
A co-worker of mine bought a new Solstice as her very own first car. She loved it and looked great it in!
On your first car, you tend to look past the flaws and appreciate that the car is yours. :)
http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2009/07/14/the-cars-that-got-away/
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Bobmarley 2:13PM (7/14/2009)
lol! so true...mine was a 1985 Celica GT, 22RE and RWD!!! I look for them on creigslist once in a while
Lucas 12:13PM (7/14/2009)
I've driven a solstice and sky and both we so awful in every aspect - expect the driving experience - I was amazed they made it to production.... it's shocking!
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FThorn 12:35PM (7/14/2009)
"expect the driving experience "
Is that what you wanted to say? English your first language?
Aside from that, I was thoroughly disappointed in the Sky/Solstice, after driving the competition.
Lucas 12:54PM (7/14/2009)
You're busting my balls over an except/expect typo? Get a life.
OKC08SKYRL 12:58PM (7/14/2009)
My 2008 Sky Redline is the best car that I have ever owned.