Little GTO draws big flak from car buffs; GM's rear-drive muscle car evoking emotion

[NFS4]

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=00722535

 

[Ornery]

• Hork! :disgust:

 

[bunker]

Why did they even bother to give it the GTO name??? At least take some styling cues from the classic!

 

[CraigRT]

Well it's one of the nicest looking GM's I've ever seen, because someone esle designed it... I like it !

 

[BigSmooth]

"From what you see on the Internet, it looks a little like a Grand Prix or a Grand Am. But it'll sell because of performance. What else is there out there that's a rear-wheel drive V-8 coupe?" McNamara asks.

I was thinking the same thing at first, but look what happened to the Fbody.
Performance means a lot, but the car still has to appeal to more than just enthusiasts if it is to sell enough to stay alive.

 

[Ornery]

• Idiots even put the fuel door on the wrong damn side! :frown:

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Ornery

• Idiots even put the fuel door on the wrong damn side! :frown:

Burn 'em!!! :|

 

[Quixfire]

That is like when Ford planned to make the Mustang a FWD car; hence they renamed the car a Probe. If GM wants to remain a leader in this industry, they better quit craping on their loyal car owners.:|

 

[KokomoGST]

Heh, it looks like the rest of the fugly Pontiacs because of the nose. Gosh, understated hood vents (doesn't have to even be hood scoops) would have made it nicer and more muscular.

When I think GTO, I think muscle car... not sleek coupe.

 

[gregshin]

i dunno why you GM fans dont like this design? I think it looks great...i might even buy it

 

[Triumph]

I can't speak to it being an honor to the GTO name, but I think it's a great car, based on its own merits. RWD, LS1, 6 speed, mmmmmm.

 

[Cfour]

I'm a GM fan and I love the design... this is everything the GTO was and much much more than it would have ever been. Everything is improved on it.. so I say why not call it a GTO. Its roomy, and aggressive but at the same time doesn't look like an all-out sports car. Not to mention the 350+ hp w/ the z06's 6-spd. tranny.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Cfour
I'm a GM fan and I love the design... this is everything the GTO was and much much more than it would have ever been. Everything is improved on it.. so I say why not call it a GTO. Its roomy, and aggressive but at the same time doesn't look like an all-out sports car. Not to mention the 350+ hp w/ the z06's 6-spd. tranny.

i'm with you. i'd seriously consider this car. dayum.

 

[Cfour]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Heh, it looks like the rest of the fugly Pontiacs because of the nose. Gosh, understated hood vents (doesn't have to even be hood scoops) would have made it nicer and more muscular.

When I think GTO, I think muscle car... not sleek coupe.

Hood scoops and other enhancements are supposed to cme in '05 I hear... I'm not sure they had time to fit everything they wanted on the car for '04.

edit: about the split face... so you don't like BMWs for the same reason I take it?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: gregshin
i dunno why you GM fans dont like this design? I think it looks great...i might even buy it

It's a simple matter of name. They are just trying to capitalize on the GTO name. It's a nice looking car, and the hi-po RWD aspect is very appealing, and it's not even all that expensive, but for a lot of us, when you hear "GTO" there is a specific image that comes to mind, and the Monaro doesn't even give us a glimpse of that image.

I agree that it shouldn't be a clone of the old GTO, but it should at least have some styling cues that hint at why it is called GTO.

Otherwise, just call it a Monaro. Like Kraut says, people will still buy it just b/c it's the only game in town. If they called it a Monaro, no one would bitch that it doesn't look at all like a GTO.

 

[Triumph]

Simple solution: Rename the freaking car. Maybe people will shut up then.

 

[Vic]

Prices are expected to start around $35,000

Uhh... someone forget to tell Pontiac that, GTO name or not, that's about $10k too much? If they want that price, they might want to consider making it a little less grandfatherly looking...

edit:

Originally posted by: Triumph
Simple solution: Rename the freaking car. Maybe people will shut up then.

Then they won't get that $35k/car :disgust:

 

[Cfour]

I've heard 35k fully loaded..

 

[Citation]

Sure the styling isn't the most flashy, but I can deal with that. It still looks pretty good. Maybe they just shouldn't have used the GTO name. However the thing that bothers me most is the price tag. Who is going to buy that? Granted it has a 5.7 liter but the corvette is just a skip up the ladder in price and looks much better too aside from the superior performance. If this is GM's anwser to killing off the F body then booo to them. It helps, but it helps a lot more if it was 25 to 30 thousand.


-Cit

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Citation
Sure the styling isn't the most flashy, but I can deal with that. It still looks pretty good. Maybe they just shouldn't have used the GTO name. However the thing that bothers me most is the price tag. Who is going to buy that? Granted it has a 5.7 liter but the corvette is just a skip up the ladder in price and looks much better too aside from the superior performance. If this is GM's anwser to killing off the F body then booo to them. It helps, but it helps a lot more if it was 25 to 30 thousand.


-Cit

But not everybody needs/wants a 2-seater. The 'vette is tiny. The GTO would be more practical for the average joe-sixpack who wants some performance or a fun day at the drag strip, but can still throw the kids in the back, the junk in the trunk, and take the family on a weekend trip to the beach.

 

[Cfour]

Originally posted by: Citation
Sure the styling isn't the most flashy, but I can deal with that. It still looks pretty good. Maybe they just shouldn't have used the GTO name. However the thing that bothers me most is the price tag. Who is going to buy that? Granted it has a 5.7 liter but the corvette is just a skip up the ladder in price and looks much better too aside from the superior performance. If this is GM's anwser to killing off the F body then booo to them. It helps, but it helps a lot more if it was 25 to 30 thousand.


-Cit

If you call 15 (35k to 50k) grand a skip in the ladder in price, please tell me where you work! I want in. Also, the GTO and the Vette are different cars and have their own advantages over each other.

 

[KDOG]

The article did say that there will be SLP aftermarket appearance packages and also special SLP versions of it available right on the lot. Lets see what they do with it...

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Cfour
I'm a GM fan and I love the design... this is everything the GTO was and much much more than it would have ever been. Everything is improved on it.. so I say why not call it a GTO. Its roomy, and aggressive but at the same time doesn't look like an all-out sports car. Not to mention the 350+ hp w/ the z06's 6-spd. tranny.

i'm with you. i'd seriously consider this car. dayum.

Yep

 

[notfred]

Notfred predicts: Good looking Mustang contines to outsell boring looking GM muscle car for the next several decades.

 

[Ronstang]

It's a GM people.......everyone should be used to them being ugly by now.