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The Solstice was Pontiac's first two-seater sports car after the discontinuation of the Fiero.

The short-lived Solstice is unforgettable, and in case you are looking to buy one, you're not alone. It is one of the most affordable collector-spec cars sold in recent years, with the potential to appreciate over time. We all wish the stars align for us the way they did for the Pontiac Solstice in its four years of production. GM’s Pontiac introduced the Solstice as a concept car at the 2004 North American International Motor Show.

The Swiss-American GM executive Robert A. Lutz (commonly known as Bub Lutz) commissioned the Franz von Holzhausen-designed high-performance Solstice inspired by the popular 1950s and ‘60s British convertible coupes. The end-product was beyond expectations as the roadster exhibited intoxicating performance and driving pleasure, especially with the GXP model. The best part for the automaker was Solstice's low production cost, thanks to the widely available shared parts across GM brands.

The car rolled into production in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year and met overwhelming demand such that Pontiac ended up making 21,000 instead of the planned 7,000 units for the first year of production. Demand didn’t let up the following year as over 24,000 Solstices flew off dealerships in 2007. However, the stars mismatched for the Solstice when 2008 brought the economic downturn, coupled with government pressure that forced GM to kill Pontiac in July 2009.

Related: 10 Things Most People Forgot About The Pontiac Solstice

The Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky have plenty in common, and General Motors launched both models around the same time. Both models are ideal convertible sports car options, and we're happy to share our knowledge of useful information to help you make an informed purchase.

Firstly, both cars ride on the GM Kappa subcompact RWD architecture designed for roadster applications. Thus, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky share the same 2-seat, rear-wheel drive, and convertible top chassis. The European market will recognize this platform in the Daewoo G2X and Opel GT.

For propulsion, Solstice and Sky relied on the same 2.4-liter Ecotec LE5 engine and drivetrain package, allowing them to produce a similar output of 177 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque. This was a tuned version of the same 4-cylinder Ecotec mills producing various power outputs in many GM automobiles. A 5-speed automatic or 5-speed Aisin AR-5 manual transmission delivers that power to the rear wheels via a standard open differential or optional Limited Slip Differential.

We’ll soon give you a comprehensive list of what you should know when shopping for your Pontiac Solstice, but we can tell you here and now (assuming you’re also considering the Saturn Sky) to make sure you check the glovebox. Do that because you should find a vehicle info sticker with a list of all the specific RPO option codes, which will go a long way in helping you understand which options - such as trim, wheels, color, LSD, and suspension package - available with the particular car you're inspecting.

Some circles believe the 2006 – 2009 Pontiac Solstice is a beautiful roadster rushed into production and never quite lived up to its level of beauty. Perhaps, that's partly why the car is one of the most underappreciated sports cars in the used car market. Such an assessment may be debatable but certainly invalid with the turbocharged GXP model that's considerably more enjoyable to drive.

Still, is the Pontiac Solstice actually worth your money? Firstly, Solstice is a surprisingly rare sports car you can actually buy for less than $10,000, although the special edition GXP model may set you back up to $15,000. But you aren't just looking at the purchase price. The good news is that Pontiac Solstice is just as affordable to maintain as it was cost-effective for GM to make. According to YourMechanic, the estimated cost to maintain and repair a Pontiac Solstice ranges from $95 to $2,198, with an average of $288.

Speaking of repairs, this is probably the biggest concern (or biggest incentive) for those looking to buy a Solstice. The car is rare, so, you'll easily stand out in the parking lot, but it also means the body parts aren't easy to find. It's just the body parts, though. As mentioned earlier, Solstice shares mechanical components with other GM cars, so those are readily available. Just don't face off with the lamp post.

Related: Here’s Why GM Should Bring Back The Pontiac Solstice GXP

As is typical of low-volume cars like the Pontiac Solstice, it has its share of issues you might want to know about before buying one on the used market. At the same time, the later models should have improved build quality, so it might help to keep that in mind. Now, here's a quick but comprehensive list of what to look for when inspecting your potential Pontiac Solstice.

Summarily, make sure the buttresses open completely and hitch-free. Get your hands and knee dirty and ensure the chin spoiler and front end (and the intercooler on the GXP model) aren’t damaged, considering the Solstice’s low stance.

A malfunctioning passenger airbag is common with the Solstice and expensive to fix. So, don't forget to make sure it is registering a human occupant. Solstice GXP owners have reported the water pumps failed after 20,000 miles. So, check that out too. And, of course, the engine. It’s very easy to upgrade the GXP turbo models, so you should definitely find out what the previous owner might have been up to.

Finally, take your convertible Solstice to a power car wash on your test drive to be certain there aren’t any leaks and that the seals are good to go. Those can be expensive to replace. The Solstice got nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) in 2006. We just thought you should know.

Philip Uwaoma, this bearded black male from Nigeria, is fast approaching two million words in articles published on various websites, including toylist.com, rehabaid.com, and autoquarterly.com. After not getting credit for his work on Auto Quarterly, Philip is now convinced that ghostwriting sucks. He has no dog, no wife- yet- and he loves Rolls Royce a little too much.