itching to get a GTO

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T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
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I'm 21 and i own a 98 maxima right now. My father is in need of a car as my little bother is about to get his lincese and he will take my father's car since its the oldest. I've been itching for a new/newer car for a while now but i really had no exact reason. My car runs great and with only 87k it should be good for aleast 50k, i've done all maint. Now my dad told me he would give me 6k for my car if I wanted to get a newer car, since i paid 8k for my car.

I've looked in the areas of cars i would like and i found the GTO to be nicely bundled at 16-20k. Its fast, comfy and a practical car for daily driving. Since i'll be having payments i won't be modded what so ever. I dont carry people so a 2 door would be idea. I always wanted a faster car and 300hp seems like a great increase. I can handle the payments, i haven't gotten the insurance quotes yet. I was wondering if any of you guys actually own one or have a friend that owns one.

I never owned american car nor have any of my friends to get an idea of how solid they are. I see the have a noticeable heatsoak issue but all cars heatsoak. There is a strut rubbing issue that is solved with an alignment. I haven't see anything crazy on them. I'm glancing thru TSB as of now and nothing comes up as major issues. Everything is more or less fix it once and forever.

Going to test drive some over the week and see. I've found a lot of 04 models near or under 50k priced at 16-18k. A lot of it happens to be the 05-06 has a engine upgrade of 50hp going from LS1 ~> LS2 and i honestly dont care of as now.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,369
8,492
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insurance is going to be ridiculous for you.


and it's an australian car, not an american car.
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
I loved mine, had it from the age of 21-23 (a ridiculous GM employee lease rate). If you don't cart people around (I didn't), I have to wonder how big of a difference insurance would be between a GTO and a vette since they're both 2-door coupes. The GTO sure did have a nice interior though...and look at it this way, you know you'll be getting a GTO with all the options since there weren't any! (other than ext/int colors for the most part)
 
AMCRambler

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,709
30
91
I've been considering picking one up too. I've been eyeing the 2005-2006 models(400 horsies oh my!), but then I'm also 27 and well established so I'd be able to afford the payments as well. What you need to remember is that these cars are not holding their value. Most American cars don't but the GTO was an especially poor seller so if you keep it for 3-4 years don't expect to be able to sell it for more than 11-12k. Other than that, it's a great car. If you can swing the payments and it's not going to put a major financial strain on you only getting 17 city/23 highway mpg then go for it.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
Why not to get one? It is a goat.

Get a Cobra instead.
Click to expand...
But...it's a Mustang....


OP: Try to find yourself a good deal on an 05. The 04's are a great value, but the LS2 friggin' rocks and you can't beat the HP/dollar ratio. If you step up to an 06, you get a door lock/unlock button & an ashtray (w/12V plug) standard :) The 04/05's didn't have those!

Before you buy the car, have the front wheels pulled and inspect the struts & tires for "strut rub." Also, I believe some 04's had an issue with the fuel rail covers rubbing a fuel line or something - probably fixed with a TSB, but something to check.

Head over to LS1GTO.com. You can find people selling their Goat's there and of course get good info on purchasing/price/things to check out, etc.

I love my 06 Spice Red 6-speed 17" wheels (only two options on the car: transmission and wheels). When the 05/06's were "new," they were the best HP/$ value of all new production cars at the time.
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
i calcuated most of the stuff 18,500 + tax/ plates of etc. 60months = 300$ a month payment. i left a message to my agent from state farm, she didn't get back to me.

I can handle 300 car payment and 500/ 6 month insurance. the insurance i will place under my father's name so reduce the prices.

i've been looking but haven't drove one yet but 18,500 seems to get a 2004 LS1 with 50k miles or 20k with 30k miles. the LS2 powered 05/06 seems to go for 25k tag for the most part.

350-400 is insane. for someone like myself i'm honestly bother of getting wraped around in a tree or something. I've driven older vettes but not too often and a couple of Ls1 powered TA's. Myself being asian i dont have too many encounters with GM products.

As of right now the only thing holding me back is can i really justify this car being practical, sinc its going to be daily driver in chicago where it does snow heavy at times. My other choices right now are a 04 TSX with it being 100k acura warranty being around 21-22k

i can easily pull the trigger on the TSX but i dont want to regret not getting the goat
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Insurance won't be too bad. I have State Farm (23yo, nothing on record) with the Goat and a 97 Subaru with full coverage on both - my cost is like $160/month. It's better than any of the other cars I was considering, IIRC.

$18,500 for 50K miles? I dunno dude, that seems like a lot. Where have you been shopping? You may want to consider buying privately. There was a guy selling his 04 for that price and it was the fastest all-motor Goat out there - ran like 11s in the quarter, no joke. Get on LS1GTO.com and find some cars for sale. The guys there are pretty stand-up overall - if you find a senior member selling his 04, you'll likely be done right by him.

350HP vs 400HP isn't the only difference in the two. Peak power is one thing - power under the curve is another. The LS2 has a fatter torque curve. I briefly drove an 04 6-speed - the LS2 just has more grunt in the sub-3K range, more of a pleasure to drive sanely IMO.

You can also probably find some owners in your area on the board and arrange a meeting, maybe a test drive if you're lucky. At the least get a ride in one :D
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
When I was searching for cars, I was looking at the Cobras/Goats but hell insurance for these cars for a 21yr old in LA is high as hell. Had to settle for a turbo Neon. If you can handle the insurance then go for it. They are fun rides indeed.
 
SolMiester

SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
5,330
17
76

Get one, awesome car.....i have the 4 door luxury version 'Calais', with the supercharged v6.

These are great rear wheel drive fun machines...lol

outside
inside

160k now and doesn't miss a beat.
 
AMCRambler

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,709
30
91
Originally posted by: SolMiester

Get one, awesome car.....i have the 4 door luxury version 'Calais', with the supercharged v6.

These are great rear wheel drive fun machines...lol

outside
inside

160k now and doesn't miss a beat.
Click to expand...

Holden made a four door model of the car? haha, now THATS a sleeper, lol. Probably looks even more like a Grand Am.
 
D

Dman877

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2004
2,707
0
0
I'm in the same position. I have an 04 TSX with about 45k on it and I love the car except it needs more power low in the rev range. I'm sick of having to redline it for good power. I looked into getting my car supercharged but even supercharged, I'd still have to rev the hell out of it.

Right now I'm stuck between a GTO and a 540i 6spd. 2004 GTO with 20 - 30k around here go for 17 - 20k but I'm worried about parts. I've heard that getting parts for these cars is nearly impossible.

540i's from 1999 - 2001 with 50 - 80k are going for like 15k and it's really tempting me to get a 55k car for 15k :).
 
AMCRambler

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,709
30
91
Originally posted by: Dman877
I'm in the same position. I have an 04 TSX with about 45k on it and I love the car except it needs more power low in the rev range. I'm sick of having to redline it for good power. I looked into getting my car supercharged but even supercharged, I'd still have to rev the hell out of it.

Right now I'm stuck between a GTO and a 540i 6spd. 2004 GTO with 20 - 30k around here go for 17 - 20k but I'm worried about parts. I've heard that getting parts for these cars is nearly impossible.

540i's from 1999 - 2001 with 50 - 80k are going for like 15k and it's really tempting me to get a 55k car for 15k :).
Click to expand...

I'd think as far as parts go, BMW parts would cost you more. Maybe you're right as far as availability goes though.
 
G

GoatMonkey

Golden Member
Feb 25, 2005
1,253
0
0
I know the 540i is tempting. I would like one too. Apparently they have common problems with their cooling system. Plastic radiator, undersized water pump, thermostat breaks a lot. Some have electrical problems also. Engine and transmission are supposed to be solid though.

It would be awesome, but it's a different kind of car though. It's kind of smooth, classically styled, bigger interior, great suspension, plenty of power. It's the kind of car that makes you feel under dressed if you're not wearing a suit. Like I mentioned in another thread, it's one of the few cars that women can identify more often than others. Unfortunately, you still have to do the work of meeting them and convincing them to go on a date in the first place. If I were to get one I'd have to make sure it has a warranty, and sell it as soon as the warranty expires. However, a friend of mine has a 528i with 115k miles and it's been running well for the last year that he has owned it. Just a replaced thermostat in that time.

The basic engine parts on the GTO shouldn't be too hard to get. It's other things like if you broke an interior trim piece and wanted to fix it, or pretty much anything else that is specific to this car. It's kind of a crapshoot as to whether the parts are available somewhere in the U.S. without having to order from Australia. On the other hand, GTO just has awesome power, a nice independent suspension, big comfortable front seats with a back seat that your friends can sit in without too much folding, and it has the stealth factor (except for the hood scoops) to avoid cops.

Tough call. Both of them are not very good at gas mileage, but I think the GTO can take regular unleaded. It's going to have to come down to your personal opinion.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Parts for a GTO are for the most part a non-issue. The engine is of course used in a number of U.S.-produced vehicles, the transmission is a universally available T56, and while the differential is more unique there are several vendors offering replacements/upgrades.

The only thing you might have to worry about is interior/electronics/body parts. And the reality behind that is that there is plenty of supply in the U.S. as is (look up Cleveland Pick-a-part) and the Aussie vendors are setting up shop here too.

In a decade or two, yeah you might not be able to get certain parts. For the 100-200K miles, I wouldn't worry about it personally. Several people are nearing 100K in their 04's with no major issues.

Not to mention, you WILL pay an arm and a leg to keep a BMW running. That's my only beef with them, I'm not at a point in my life where I can or want to flush money down the toilet paying someone else to fix it, regularly or otherwise.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
The basic engine parts on the GTO shouldn't be too hard to get. It's other things like if you broke an interior trim piece and wanted to fix it, or pretty much anything else that is specific to this car. It's kind of a crapshoot as to whether the parts are available somewhere in the U.S. without having to order from Australia. On the other hand, GTO just has awesome power, a nice independent suspension, big comfortable front seats with a back seat that your friends can sit in without too much folding, and it has the stealth factor (except for the hood scoops) to avoid cops.

Tough call. Both of them are not very good at gas mileage, but I think the GTO can take regular unleaded. It's going to have to come down to your personal opinion.
Click to expand...
See my post above re: parts. It's not a crapshoot, they are here and Aussie vendors are setting up shop here too.

LS2 takes premium, LS1 says it can take 87 - not that I'd run it. It's a performance car, not an econobox.
 
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GoatMonkey

Golden Member
Feb 25, 2005
1,253
0
0
Ok, maybe you no longer have to order parts (non-drivetrain) from Australia, but still they are not as readily available as something like a Malibu. I'm sure it will get better since more upcoming cars are being based on Australian platforms now, like the G8 and Camaro.
 
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