2004 Pontiac GTO Preview @ Autoweek **Updated 11/19**

[NFS4]

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=09661586

I guess this would be the ultimate sleeper b/c that damn thing looks about as boring as a Camry


**Updated 11/12**
Reborn GTO performs like a true sports car



**Updated 11/13**
Pontiac GTO: Lusty performance disguised in a phone-company fleet car.



**Updated 11/19**
First Drive: 2004 Pontiac GTO

 

[beer]

This is supposed to be the only thing to resemble a replacement for the firebird/trans am, right?

 

[Analog]

A sad tribute to the original Goat.

 

[Rent]

"Noticeable in its absence: any cladding."


Bwahahahahahahhaha

 

[DivideBYZero]

By NATALIE NEFF

LOL

 

[Aharami]

looks dull. interior looks "unique" with the green and the red

 

[DivideBYZero]

Not really a GTO, just a rebadged Holden/Opel/Vauxhall Monaro.

 

[MorphineChild]

wait till it hits the streets!! I think the GTO is an awesome car, no retro POS like Ford is doing. This thing will hit the streets in the US and be as admired as the Holden Manaro is in Australia. The fit and finish on this car is suppose to be outstanding, not to mention 350 bhp, 365 ft-lb and a Z06 6 spd!! Watch for the first televisions to air tonight during Monday Night Football.

The first GTO was nothing flashy, so how is this a sad tribute, it beets the original in every category, speed, power, cornering (IRS), fit and finish, luxury....

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Bland, maybe, but the coupe profile and large wheels make it look a hell of a lot sportier than a Camry. Was the original GTO flashy, compared to other vehicles in it's segment. Wasn't the original GTO simply a Pontiac LeMans with a hood scoop and dual exhaust?

Awesome price and performance. It will definitely be a class leader for it's segment.

 

[vi edit]

wait till it hits the streets!! I think the GTO is an awesome car, no retro POS like Ford is doing. This thing will hit the streets in the US and be as admired as the Holden Manaro is in Australia. The fit and finish on this car is suppose to be outstanding, not to mention 350 bhp, 365 ft-lb and a Z06 6 spd!! Watch for the first televisions to air tonight during Monday Night Football.

I dunno about the fit & finish. C&D had a ton of problems (and not just small ones) with their week long test drive of theirs.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I love sleepers. You get all of the speed without as many of the tickets.

 

[MorphineChild]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

wait till it hits the streets!! I think the GTO is an awesome car, no retro POS like Ford is doing. This thing will hit the streets in the US and be as admired as the Holden Manaro is in Australia. The fit and finish on this car is suppose to be outstanding, not to mention 350 bhp, 365 ft-lb and a Z06 6 spd!! Watch for the first televisions to air tonight during Monday Night Football.

I dunno about the fit & finish. C&D had a ton of problems (and not just small ones) with their week long test drive of theirs.

These are also pre-production cars, the Holden Manaro has been around for years and no complaints of problems. Look at Motor Trend they didn't have any problems with there car. I guess we will really know when they become available to the public (around Thanksgiving 03). Hopefully everything is as pontiac says it is. Price is supposed to be published today, pontiac all along has estimated $33k

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: MorphineChild
wait till it hits the streets!! I think the GTO is an awesome car, no retro POS like Ford is doing. This thing will hit the streets in the US and be as admired as the Holden Manaro is in Australia. The fit and finish on this car is suppose to be outstanding, not to mention 350 bhp, 365 ft-lb and a Z06 6 spd!! Watch for the first televisions to air tonight during Monday Night Football.

The first GTO was nothing flashy, so how is this a sad tribute, it beets the original in every category, speed, power, cornering (IRS), fit and finish, luxury....

Retro POS?:| That Retro POS would own this GTO (granted it costs $150,000). The new GT is a ground up new car. The new "GTO" is a warmed over Holden Monaro.

 

[XZeroII]

Sweet. I'll be heading to my local pontiac dealer in a few weeks to test drive one of those

 

[BigSmooth]

Only 35% of sales are expected to be with the manual? I wonder what percentage of non-Z06 'Vettes are sold with manuals.

Whether this car should have been called a GTO is debatable, but the price/performance ratio is very good. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice in this segment, but it's a solid (if bland-looking) offering.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Only 35% of sales are expected to be with the manual? I wonder what percentage of non-Z06 'Vettes are sold with manuals.

Whether this car should have been called a GTO is debatable, but the price/performance ratio is very good. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice in this segment, but it's a solid (if bland-looking) offering.

I think roughly 75-80% of all non-Z06 Corvettes are automatics.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Only 35% of sales are expected to be with the manual? I wonder what percentage of non-Z06 'Vettes are sold with manuals.

Whether this car should have been called a GTO is debatable, but the price/performance ratio is very good. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice in this segment, but it's a solid (if bland-looking) offering.

I think roughly 75-80% of all non-Z06 Corvettes are automatics.

Retro POS? That Retro POS would own this GTO (granted it costs $150,000). The new GT is a ground up new car. The new "GTO" is a warmed over Holden Monaro.

Couldn't he be talking about the Mustang?

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: MorphineChild
wait till it hits the streets!! I think the GTO is an awesome car, no retro POS like Ford is doing.

What retro POS would you be talking about?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
Sweet. I'll be heading to my local pontiac dealer in a few weeks to test drive one of those

I doubt it, I think most if not all of them are already spoken for.


But I can't believe Chevy let pontiac have the FULL corvette motor. Heck Chevy would not let the F-Bodies have the FULL Ls1 Corvette motor. I think the f-bodies got a 225 version of the 350hp corvette motor. But I can wait to see what ti will do.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Only 35% of sales are expected to be with the manual? I wonder what percentage of non-Z06 'Vettes are sold with manuals.

Whether this car should have been called a GTO is debatable, but the price/performance ratio is very good. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice in this segment, but it's a solid (if bland-looking) offering.

I think roughly 75-80% of all non-Z06 Corvettes are automatics.

Retro POS? That Retro POS would own this GTO (granted it costs $150,000). The new GT is a ground up new car. The new "GTO" is a warmed over Holden Monaro.

Couldn't he be talking about the Mustang?

Possibly

 

[Danman]

It looks like a Grand Prix, I'm disappointed in Pontiac, WTF is wrong with them.

 

[MorphineChild]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Only 35% of sales are expected to be with the manual? I wonder what percentage of non-Z06 'Vettes are sold with manuals.

Whether this car should have been called a GTO is debatable, but the price/performance ratio is very good. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice in this segment, but it's a solid (if bland-looking) offering.

I think roughly 75-80% of all non-Z06 Corvettes are automatics.

Retro POS? That Retro POS would own this GTO (granted it costs $150,000). The new GT is a ground up new car. The new "GTO" is a warmed over Holden Monaro.

Couldn't he be talking about the Mustang?

Possibly

New Ford Mustang and the hugely dissapointing T-bird. The GT is an awesome car, I love the styling on that, but in general the retro look is a failure. Heck, they can't give the T-bird away, it is heavy, slow, expensive..... GM is trying the retro style with the SSR truck which IMO is way overpriced and will fail as well, the only company who did it halfway decent was Chrysler, they were first to the punch. I would never buy a PT Cruiser, but many people like it. I think retro is a fad and will pass very quickly, the GTO is made to be a car that will last, not just another phase to fit the industry.

 

[vi edit]

I'd hate to be a car manf. You can never please everyone.

A car is either too ugly.
Too over priced.
Too underpowered.
Not good enough of an interior.
Doesn't perform well.
Gets bad milage.
Doesn't have good safety ratings.
And so on.

You have to compromise somewhere.

Pontiac compromised in the looks department. You are getting vette level performance (and more functionality) for a good $10,000 less. Find another new car $33k that can perform like the GTO.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'd hate to be a car manf. You can never please everyone.

A car is either too ugly.
Too over priced.
Too underpowered.
Not good enough of an interior.
Doesn't perform well.
Gets bad milage.
Doesn't have good safety ratings.
And so on.

You have to compromise somewhere.

Pontiac compromised in the looks department. You are getting vette level performance (and more functionality) for a good $10,000 less. Find another new car $33k that can perform like the GTO.

The didn't compromise on anything. They didn't even DO anything. They just took another car and slapped a pontiac badge on it.

 

[vi edit]

The didn't compromise on anything. They didn't even DO anything. They just took another car and slapped a pontiac badge on it.

And?