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Pontiac GTO
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Comments
That swirl mark remover sounds interesting and the Enhancer with the antistatic properties sounds very practical. If I can get it down to strip it and polish it I might try it...
There's a new product coming out in late June that promises to do that, but I can't talk about it :-)
--Robert
Except for the Meguiars product for tires, and Sprayway glass cleaner, I only use Zaino products on my cars.
(Read between the lines above :-)
--Robert
GM in the Driveway Certificate (=GM Supplier price - current GMS price + 4.5%) - these are available from any GM employee for free (can give out 2/month - they are available on other web sites, if you ask)
subtract $1k Hot Button rebate (now expired)
0% 36 month financing (now 6.25% for any time period)
Pontiac GTO v. Subaru STi
--Robert
(not affiliated with Zaino :-)
Not often you'll get that much car for that kind of money.
What is an Absorber?
Sounds like you use the ZFX & Z2 pretty regularly. Though it is quick and easy, I'm just wondering if that is necessary?
I'll have to try Dawn for the cleanup and check out that Meguiar's - both you and Taylor mentioned that.
Off to wash the car now (darn, wish I had ordered that Z6 & Z8 earlier last week).
Thanks again.
Though you say 'Sadly, Zaino polish application is an all day event for me' - I'll bet you enjoy it. Good therapy to spend a day cleaning and polishing your auto and an added bonus to see people's reactions.
Thanks for the info.
p.s. I like that leaf blower idea.
ClaireS, Host
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I just ordered a silver w/red interior yesterday and was not informed of this.
I am not aware that there is a non-GM owner incentive. I'd question that more than anything.
As to whether or not the dealer has it in stock, use GMBuyPower and search that particular dealership's inventory. This doesn't necessarily indicate stock status, since GTO's are shown in the dealer's inventory when they get a VIN number/ship from the docks in Benecia, CA. It takes awhile to get from their through the Fairfax, KS railyard, to the closest railyard to you, and then by truck to the dealer.
If they do have it they haven't had it long, as the 18" wheel option started assembly in early March. It takes about 3 months to go from the factory to the dealer - up to a month waiting to fill a boat, 4 weeks for the boat trip, and then up to 4 weeks to get the spoiler installed and the vehicle shipped to the dealer.
I've seen the 18" wheels in person (Chicago Auto Show), and they're OK, but not great. I do prefer them to the stock wheels and, for only $500 more, that's not bad (compared to the cost of selling the stock wheels and tires, buying new wheels and tires). Here's a picture from Pontiac's web site:
18" wheels and tires may be a tradeoff if the roads are junk where you live. I wouldn't dream of trying to drive a car with the 18" wheels and tires (Bridgestone Potenza RE040's, IIRC) in wintertime.
I much prefer the Monaro CV8-R wheels:
I will probably end up getting these (about $1600 for the wheels, shipped from Oz) when my stock tires are shot.
--Robert
1) Traction Control turned off? Be careful, don't leave T/C off going around curves unless you're familiar with a RWD car... otherwise you'll lose the rear end and spin her out. Best to try this in an empty parking lot (like your local high school on a weekend).
2) A/C turned off? This does sap power.
3) How many miles on your car? I have 2300 miles on my '04 (pulled it out of storage a little over 2 months ago) and I can feel it getting stronger - chirping the tires on the 1-2 shift, plus the exhaust getting louder.
Having said that, torque management is pretty strong on the Auto cars. Consider getting a device like the DiabloSport Predator (http://www.diablosport.com). This is a handheld tuner that you can use to change your car's computer settings - reduce/remove torque management, increase shift line pressure, et. al. Kind of requires you to know what you are doing, but it does have a default "performance tune" that you can download - will really make your car feel more powerful (can always reload the stock tune if you don't like it or need to take the car in for service).
The '04's are NOT "drive by wire" - there is a throttle cable. The '05's are DBW, and there have been some issues...
Remember, the GTO is 300+ pounds heavier than your GTP was. It is going to take it a little while to get going - but once you do, the GTO will pull like a freight train (3000 rpm and up), whereas the GTP tends to gasp a little around 40-45 and then around 70-75 on WOT (my experience).
Hope this helps,
--Robert
--Robert
1) What's the altitude where you are?
2) Temperature? Humidity?
Both will affect performance...
I *think* the dealer can check the throttle cable using a Tech2... can anyone confirm?
--Robert
I also have a GTP, a '98 and unfortunately it feels like a toy now.
Another thought would be to replace the stockers with NGK TR-55's. I've got 8 of 'em, waiting to install until I have a little more time... cost me under $20.
--Robert
I told him i'd like to go to the salvage sale get an LS2 powertrain for my Z28 & put it in..
He said they'd most likely have to smash & bash them for insurance reasons..
Anyone hear about or see the wrecked cars ???? :confuse:
1) It was Iowa, not Ohio, and one train crashed into the rear of another, stopped one
2) about 40 cars were wrecked, the rest "repairable"
3) The wrecked cars were sold to Nordstroms Auto Salvage in South Dakota, who is parting them out:
http://www.nordstromsauto.com
Google for (GTO Train De-rails in Iowa) (without the parens) to find out more.
Hope this helps,
--Robert
I have seen the dyno slips from an '04 owner who took his car to the track. Made one run, took a little time to install his K&N (and cool down the engine - heat soak IS an issue with these cars), ran it, cooled down, then ran it again. There was a minor improvement on the second run (car was still learning), and a major one on the third run. I have also seen the results of back-to-back dyno runs, and the second run showed a 12 rwhp improvement. I am a believer, and will probably spend the $225-$250 for a K&N at some point in the next month or so...
I know K&N is close with their '05 LS2 intake, but, until I see dyno or track tests showing as much improvement as on the '04's/LS1, I wouldn't be the first one on the block to buy one...
--Robert
The dealer wanted an additional $10k for it - they had added some nice rims and bigger tires as well.
It was nice but not the worth the extra $, imo.
I figure I'll upgrade the wheels on my own.
I did like the dual exhausts - that does look pretty nice.
I bought a black automatic last month.
Enjoy your new Goat.
I not only will insist on a replacement, I am asking for the current "employee discount price" that is in effect as compensation for my dissatisfaction. :sick:
Send me an email (my contact info is in my profile) and I can get you a phone number for GM Executive Relations. You need to emphasize to them the inconvenience this situation has caused you, and the hassle of taking the vehicle back 4 times. My guess is they will offer you either free maintenance or extend your warranty for some time. Good luck on pushing for the difference in price - when my buyback happened, it was in the middle of the December GTO "fire sale" - I got a new car, but no difference in incentives :-(
--Robert
There are 2 throttle position sensors on the pedal assembly... and it seems there are some intermittent failures with these sensors. When one of them "drops off", the BCM (Body Control Module) throws a SES light (code P2138), and the car drops into "reduced power" mode. Sometimes, you can make this problem go away by stopping the car in a safe area, turning it off, then turning it back on - this somehow resets the "stuck" sensor. Makes one think Microsoft had something to do with this design :-)
There is a service bulletin on this issue. The original part for the pedal assembly is 92067194 - I believe the new part number is 92183442. The new part was "supposed to" be done by the middle of this month - have your dealership contact GM TAC and inquire about the availability of this redesigned part.
Hope this helps,
--Robert (GTO geek :-)
Have you heard of this happening on a 6 speed before? Mine is an automatic and the low end seems to lack power regardless. GM is supposed to call me tomorrow to make me their offer. Extended warrenty at their cost is something I would entertain since I took out the extension along with Gap insurance at the time of sale. Makes payments a bit stiff.
Thanks for your help
Wayne (first time GTO buyer) :lemon:
I have heard of other '05 auto owners griping about slower speeds/less performance than they have expected. I believe this is due to the torque management/electronic nannying on the '05's. Us '04 owners have options - I played with a Predator tune on my first '04 - made the car an entirely different beast. Things like the Predator, EFI Live, and HPTuners are not yet ready for the '05's - I would imagine within the next couple of months they will be (I know someone who is testing HPTuners for the LS2)...
--Robert
I wonder if any were featured in the original Mad Max movie - that was full of Aussie musclecars.