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#2 of 4348 Sad imitation of former Muscle Car by 1934auburn Feb 11, 2003 (12:24 pm)
Pontiac is on the right track with going retro (but it's not as if it's a new idea either). However, the 2004 GTO (an import rebadged for the American market) is definitely NOT what they should have done to a car that truly has become an icon of American Muscle Car culture.   I would jump at the chance to own an original 1970 "Goat," and I'd also jump at the chance to own a 2004 GTO that had more than just the name in common with its predecesor.   This thing looks like a late 1980's Ford Probe or a 1999 Acura Integra.   Pontiac needs to look to Chrysler (PT Cruiser, Prowler) or Ford (Mustang) for inspiration for an homage to a former high point.   I don't care how well it handles or how fast it is - the 2004 Pontiac GTO may be the most boring looking vehicle on the road when it comes out! Replies to this message: cappgoat (Oct 10, 2008 9:57 am) hippe (Oct 10, 2008 5:00 pm)
#3 of 4348 most boring? by argent Feb 11, 2003 (6:53 pm)
Ah, clearly you've not seen the photos of the new Malibu, then. The neo GTO just looks like a next-generation Grand Prix, mostly...not bad, per se, but pretty typical modern Pontiac.   Let's not kid ourselves, though, the original Goats were just slightly glitzier Tempests with big engines. If GM wanted to take the cheap approach to reviving the GTO they'd have dropped a supercharged 3800 engine out of the Bonneville/Grand Prix GTP into a Grand Am, which would be the closest modern equivalent. the original GTO formula (big car engine in intermediate car). They've certainly considered it (I remember a previous-generation Grand Am running around in the early 90s with a hotted-up 3.4L OHV minivan V-6 and ugly orange paint...), so we may at least be grateful that the 2004 GTO is a V-8 powered rear-driver.
#4 of 4348 1934auburn by jemiller Feb 12, 2003 (12:02 pm)
Uh...have to disagree.   Without getting into the relative merits of Mustang, PT Cruiser, and Prowler (IMO the PT Cruiser's only merit is that it's cheap, the Prowler has no merits) the current track record of trendy shapes is troublesome.   BMW Z3 sales dropped off fairly precipitously after a couple years and the coupe (as wonderful as the M Coupe - the Flying Florsheim - was to drive) never sold. New Beetle sales have gone through the floor. Don't know how the PT Cruiser is doing, it's a cheap Neon wagon so maybe there's some fleet buyers. The Thunderbird has nose-dived (deservedly so, it's boring as hell.) And so forth.   Having been in and around Monaros, all I can say is that it looks better than a 3-series Bimmer, far better than anything that GM has put out in the US in the past ten-plus years excepting MAYBE the C5. It's got the right proportions, unlike the old long-nose F-body and any of the FWD junk. It's a clean shape, one that will hold up well over time, unlike oddities like the CTS. And the only US GM product that can top it for assembly and material quality would be the DTS.   Most importantly for me, it's a real car. It's got the drive wheels in back, and the front wheels pushed out to the corners for decent weight distribution. The suspension is very good - okay, it's a late-'80s Opel chassis with some updates, so it's not quite at E-class Benz level, but it's still leagues better than anything GM does in the US short of the C5 and CTS. It's got a real engine, a real drivetrain, real tires. The seats (at least what it gets in Australia) fit six-foot-plus drivers nicely.   I'd just as soon see it sold as a Holden Monaro, because Pontiac's spent most of the past thirty years trashing its own brand, but in any real measure of performance, stock-to-stock, it'd beat any old GTO ever built. Take a '64 GTO in *real* factory trim (not Wangers-tweaked magazine-test trim) on *stock* tires (not "cheater" slicks) with *stock* shocks (not air shocks with the right-rear pumped up) and you were looking at maybe a low-fifteens quarter, never mind ever trying to stop or turn.
#5 of 4348 GTO opinions? by carguy147 Feb 12, 2003 (12:35 pm)
Folks,   I write for a national business publication and I'm writing a story about Pontiac. I'd like to get some of your views on the GTO and Pontiac. I would interview you by telephone and you would have to be willing to be quoted by name. I'll tell you who I am and which publication. You'll recognize the publication. If you can help, I'd be grateful. Send me an email with your contact info to carguy147hotmail.com   -- Car Guy Replies to this message: bklyn77 (Nov 23, 2006 6:19 am)
#6 of 4348 New GTO by 1badsidekick Feb 16, 2003 (11:37 pm)
Okay, heres my two cents. I agree that the GTO, which is based on the Holden Monaro that is sold in Australia, looks like a slightly updated 2 door Grand Prix. My dad has a '98 GP GT 2 dr, and that is one heck of a car, even with just the 3.8 200 horse V6, it has get up and go. I can only imagine that with the GTO being along the same lines as that GP, with the LS1 in it, it would definetly fly. I do like the styling, although they could have gone elsewhere with it. One more thing, if Pontiac is going to sell this car in the US with the single side double tipped exhaust, get ready for the complaints. If you're going to make a sports car, put the dual exhaust, with either double tips or a single 2" minimum pipe on each side. The Trans Am came out a couple of years ago with a single pipe on one side. It looked rediculous on such an awesome car. My dad (before his GP) had an '84 Mustang GT, with the same problem: dual tips on one side. Everyone was always asking him "where'd the other side of the exhaust go?" They put dual exhaust on just about everything now, like the Nissan Murano SUV. Okay, I'm done now.
#7 of 4348 GTO by aviatorman Feb 18, 2003 (3:45 pm)
My input on the new GTO is good. I like the styling, although it resembles the GP. What I like more is that it is going to be based on a Holden product. The power train sounds good, too. I hav4e heard that the production car will have 360 horsepower, better than the projected 350. Also has anyone heard a possible release of the Goat.
#8 of 4348 gto by baylyjohn21 Feb 20, 2003 (8:03 am)
this pontiac gto a rebadged imported holden monaro from australia may not be the flashiest looking car you have seen but then thats not what cars were designed for.in australia cars are designed to get you from point a to b as quickly and safely as possible on some of the worst goat tracks (called highways) you've ever driven on.it is available in 2 forms in australia supercharged 3.8lt v6 4 sp auto and the 5.7lt v8 with 6sp manual or 4sp auto.if your interested it runs 1/4 in under 14 sec standard and has been selling for 6 mnths .it has 4 wheel disc brakes,traction control and already had a change to the exhaust system,has 11 mtr turning circle at 2.4 turns lock to lock.the car handles magnificently stops abruptly and is easy to drive.the car is definitely made to drive in australia not for wide 3 lane virtually straight highways of the usa but then it does require some skill to drive a car around curves and hilly winding roads not straight lines and ovals.so all in all the car does what it was designed for...to drive not pose
#9 of 4348 GM finally wakes up by joey2brix Mar 02, 2003 (2:56 pm)
Lutz is doing a great job trying to turn an old rusted battleship like GM around. With such a large international collection of divisions, it shocked me that GM never reused platforms and engines for domestic use. The Camaro and Firebird died a slow death. This great demand for a "muscle car" does not exist in enough numbers to justify a production line. I'm sure the Vette is a money looser for GM in the quantity its produced. The Murano was an excellent low volume choice to fill a need for a proven 2 door /rear drive V8 sport coupe. It has enough modern styling, power, options and hopefully quality to apeal to a broad spectrum of customers. It's not a BMW killer, but will give the Mustang a run for it's money. Replies to this message: danman (May 03, 2005 9:58 am)
#10 of 4348 joey2brix by ruski Mar 07, 2003 (7:53 am)
Murano?

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