2006 Pontiac Solstice
By John Rettie

On sale late summer
of 2005
Pontiac Soltice $19,995

Grand Banks 58 Eastbay
By Eric Colby
Flybridge: Son of Neptune
Model 3196S
 $45,400

According to the Guinness Book of Records the Mazda Miata is the world's top selling sports car. That's not surprising as it's an affordable, fun, real sports car. However, it could lose its title within a couple of years to a Pontiac.

A Pontiac, you ask?

Yes, the Pontiac Solstice. A couple of years ago one of the best concept cars unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the Pontiac Solstice. It was conceived by Bob Lutz, soon after he'd been hired by General Motors to help turn around the auto giant's so-so line of cars and trucks. Amazingly for GM, it managed to design and build the working concept roadster in less than four months using a variety of parts culled from several cars and even an SUV.

OPEN SEASON. 

Should you get caught in inclement weather, this Ray Hunt–designed boat powered by 2,800 ponies is ready to thunder through whatever you face. With Mother Nature whipping up frothy chop on top of two-to-three-foot seas, we hit a top speed of 37.2 mph. What was even more impressive, however, was midrange acceleration. At 25 mph, I nailed the throttles and started the stopwatch. I hit 35 mph in 15 seconds and wide open in 19.5 seconds. This is a 72,500-pound boat. It’s rare that you feel such a punch in a boat of this size and weight.

Of course, a Hunt hull has impeccable manners. I cranked out turn after turn and the boat handled flawlessly, cutting neat 110'-radius circles. In tight quarters at slow speeds, the trolling valves knock down engine rpm, making the 58 Eastbay Flybridge downright docile.