If I have to find a negative about the engine, it's possibly a tad noisy when pushed to the rev limited redline, but being a sports
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| The standard short-throw five-speed manual transmission mates upto the engine nicely, offering fairly smooth gear changes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
car this is hardly a problem that would concern most owners. What I found must more to its credit was a rev limiter that holds the line without cutting out or getting choppy. Few cars, deliver such sporting behaviour.
The standard short-throw five-speed manual transmission (made by Aisin which is a Toyota-owned Japanese brand that incidentally also provides six-speed automatic transmissions to Ford, Mazda and others) mates up to the engine nicely, offering fairly smooth gear changes with some "notchiness" when being coaxed into fifth. Its intervals
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| The placement of the car's three foot pedals is ideal for the "heal-toe" technique, preferred by many experienced drivers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
are nicely suited to the engine's powerband though, allowing quick acceleration by optimizing the engine's sweet spot between shift intervals. Its fifth and final gear felt a bit too tall, however, making for sluggish acceleration unless dropped down a cog or two, but what might be more important to those using their Solstice for commuting purposes, the lanky fifth gear enhances the car's fuel economy, which can only be a good thing these days. Also positive, the placement of the three foot pedals is ideal for the "heal-toe" technique, preferred by many experienced drivers. By the way, a five-speed automatic transmission will become available later this year for those who'd rather do less work.
