Pontiac sells the 2006 Solstice in a single trim, with a standard convertible top, for a base price of just $19,995 including the $575 destination charge. That’s an impressive figure for what is designed to be a world-class sports car, but in most respects you do get what you pay for. To keep costs down, the engine comes from the Chevrolet Cobalt economy car, the five-speed manual transmission is a modified Chevy Colorado pickup truck unit, and the reverse lights are straight off a GMC Envoy SUV.

Even so, that advertised starting price is about as realistic as dating a supermodel; not impossible, but improbable. No dealer would dare stock a Solstice with old-school roll-‘em-yourself windows, manual door locks, and plastic inserts where the front fog lights are supposed to go. To pay less than 20 grand, you’d need to special-order the car after the initial buzz died down and dealer premiums vanished. But by that time, prices will have risen. Even if they didn’t, it’s not like you could do this anyway – the first year of Solstice production is already sold out. So the $20,000 Solstice is a figment of a GM marketer’s imagination.

Everything most people really want in a modern automobile is optional on the Solstice. If you want cruise control, you’re spending $465 for the Convenience Package, which also includes fog lights and a driver information center. If you want power windows, remote locks, and electric mirrors, the $625 Power Package gets added to the bottom line. If you want air conditioning, it costs $960 extra.

Now you’re over $22,000. A leather appointed interior comes in the Premium Package, which is nicely priced at $690. Other goodies on the option list include antilock brakes for $400, a limited slip rear differential for $195, front floor mats for $60, and 18-inch wheels in either a polished or chrome finish for $545 and $795 respectively. OnStar telematics with a one-year Safe and Sound subscription costs $695, and an upgraded stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and Monsoon speakers costs $890. Add XM satellite radio for another $325, not including the monthly subscription fee. Indeed, a fully-optioned 2006 Pontiac Solstice is priced higher than $26,000. And that’s with a manual transmission. An automatic arrives later in the model year, pushing the price close to 27 grand.

Color choices have interesting names. Select from Aggressive (red), Envious (green), Cool (silver), Mysterious (black), Sly (dark gray), Deep (dark blue), and Pure (white). Interiors can be outfitted in the standard Ebony (black) cloth or optional leather in Ebony or a two-tone Steel (gray) and Sand (tan) color scheme. Top colors are all black all the time (Midnight?).