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Pontiac GTO
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I really wish that they would have had one to sit in and check it out closer.
They also had a 2004 GP there that had been built just for the autocross - supercharged 5.3L V8 - too bad we'll never get to see it in production.
I loaded a few pix on the Sony Imagestation: (it may require you to create a log in to view.)
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287760083
At the Chicago show you could sit in the gto. There were 4 of them there, 3 you could sit in. All different colors. I was kind of bummed the blue one didn't have the matching blue leather though. The red one did.
The dumbest thing though was all 4 had their hoods up. So you couldn't really get a good feel for what the thing looks like.
I think it is extremely understated but I do not get why people say it is a disgrace. The original GTO (my dad still raves about his from college)was not exactly a ferrari. It was blocky & gigantic! Am I wrong here?
As examples, I went to a local dealer this past weekend. GMBuyPower showed they had 7; in reality they had 3. And two of the other 4 have deposits on them before they arrive. (This dealer is starting negotiations at $5000 above MSRP.) Also visited a dealer 240 miles away when I was in the area 2 weeks ago. GMBuyPower showed they had 3; they really had only 1 (which had an availability surcharge of just over $4000), and were expecting the second within a day. A third dealer, 50 miles from the second, had 1 in the showroom; GMBuyPower showed 2.
Points: 1. Can't use GMBuyPower for an accurate inventory count because some may not have arrived yet, and some on their way may be already sold in advance. 2. Don't expect discounting to come anytime soon, given that some are still apparently willing to pay over MSRP.
Unfortunately, I don't think it will be any better next year... sounds like a lot of us are waiting for the hood scoops, split exhaust pipes, and possible LS2 in '05. In fact, demand may be even greater for the '05 than the '04, thus keeping prices up and making it impossible for me to get a GM Supplier Discount...
There are dozens, no hundreds of dealerships selling at MSRP or below.
Just go to gmbuypower.
Retro was a no-no, because people back then wanted nothing to do with the past.the past was just Depression and War. The only collectors of old cars were Model A folks mostly. Old 20s and 30s cars were junked as soon as something bad happened to them.
It was all about the future and car design was very much tied to optimism and fantasy.
Also screwball designers like Virgil Exner didn't help.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
When GM equips the car with seat heaters, sunroof, 5sp auto, and some other little luxury items that a 30K+ car should have, this will be a complete car. Overall I like it.
I was also mightly impressed with the Solstice. Its such an un-GM car. I had to pinch myself.
M
They're keeping the aesthetic throughout the line so even though the Solstice looks totally new it looks like a Pontiac. As does the vibe, gto and new G6 which I think is a very attractive american sedan. Far better than the new offering from Ford the 500.
If Pontiac keeps it up and does away with the "Grand" cars for good I think they'll be top on American style and hopefully some performance. The do need to replace the Sunfire though. Maybe a solstice coupe?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The shifting is too sloppy, but what the hell. The sound of the engine makes up for all. I like the subtle looks, especially at my age. It's not "in your face", until you crank her -- then it's in your face.
At 63 years old I'm stunned by the interest in this thing. In Connecticut I have been hailed on the highway to show off the sound -- young kids want the sound! Other young ones ask knowledgable questions about it: I say, "You're too young to know about the GTO". Their response? "My father had one and ..." etc.
The biggest drawbacks are: I don't listen to the radio anymore -- got to listen to the engine; fuel cost is going to go through the roof -- I have this compulsion to delay shifting until I get "the sound".
I sold the 2000 Audi A6turbo 'cause it was getting very boring. This GTO is not boring. I really like it a lot.
Price? MSRP -- a great dealership in Carmel, NY.
Feel like a stupid kid again.
P.S. negative Ghostbusters, the pattern is full.
ruski, "Goose, it's time to buzz the tower"
The reason, per GM for the missing items is because they only had a short time and limited budget to adapt the car for the U.S. market. You know GM isn't going to spend much on a niche product (18K units) like the GTO. They should "find" the money to upgrade the car for 2005. I mean how much could a sunroof and seat heaters cost?
M
"I feel the need......."
"because I was inverted at the time...."
FYI - I went to a dealer in Akron, OH on 1/24 to eyeball his silver/red stick. Last night I happened to be going right past his place after hours. All the lights were still on and a few employees still walking about - and there was that silver/red still sitting in the exact same spot. The only thing that changed is that he recently acquired an Impulse blue on blue Automatic. Didn't see it but GMbuypower has been indicating for weeks now that he has it somewhere. Anyway, being that this dealer has been sitting on the silver for almost a month now, I wonder if he's getting ready to move off of MSRP. Might have been able to save a trip to Rhode Island from Indiana - but then "getting home is half the fun!"
Have fun with the new wheels!
This relates to America's "bigger is better" success story, and it's not just about cars. It's about bigger and better health care, real homes with some land, "Lord of the Rings", rockets to the moon and beyond. We are leaving Europe, totally, in the dust.
The GTO does have the more classic appearance of a European car, but millions of Americans can hope that one is in their future. In socialist Norway the import tax on a American cars is at least %100. My Norwegian brother-in-law will never be able to afford one, but told me his VW Beetle was "upscale" in Oslo (I stifled a laugh). There are almost no real upscale autos on Norwegian highways (as there were 30 years ago).
Average Americans have choices the average European can't dream of. Only wealthy European can choose: To GTO or not GTO?. But that is the what socialism does: It produces less and less for more and more people, with the rich elite always, always on top, keeping busy proclaiming how much they love the common man and choosing between a Porcshe or Ferrari -- or a GTO. It's interesting that all incredibly expensive cars are made in socialist Europe.
Since reading mlm4's smarmy criticism of "bigger is better" America I'm going to enjoy my goat even more. The last place to look for leadership in anything but costly cars is Europe.
Toth Buick-Pontiac-GMC Truck 330-644-3400 and ask for Steve Toth.
BTW, I see on GMbuypower that he's no longer showing the Impulse blue, but another dealer is now showing one so maybe Toth traded it to them?
Let us know how it goes!
I've never been a pilot in a jet but walking up to the car each time, you do feel like you're about to take off on an adventure.
I can't tell you how many folks stare at this car. On the highway I had a 12 year-old kid next to me just staring mouth agape. Some guy in a plane un-customized Civic gave me a thumbs up after catching up to me at the next red light.
It's just a very addictive car. The gas mileage is horrific though and I don't know why they have a screen that keeps tabs on avg mileage. Otherwise you wouldn't notice until you hit the pump.
The interiors matching blue is just cool. Although my girlfriend thought it unattractive. I'd probably go with a black with red leather if I had my choice.
Oh and did anyone else look around foolishly for the door locks?
As for not listening to the radio? The car screams for rock, classic rock, hard rock, metal anything with some power to match the engine. Plus it sounds great.
I think it's decent that people realize that it's THEIR money and have the guts to walk out when a dealer pulls that crap. I mean, so many people got burned during the PT, Beetle and Mini craze and now, with the exception of the Mini, most are sitting on lots or owners are trying to get rid of them at a loss, a huge one. Seems as though the cars got Dixie-Chick'd.
Just curious though, how many of you bought a GTO at that rip-off price just to be the first on your block to have one or know someone who did?
Are dealers doing GMS on the GTO? Hmm. I did look up the GMS price and it's pretty decent. I start saving as soon as my Aurora's paid for in a couple of months. Of course, I've still got to drive one (right now, Milwaukee-area dealers will only let you drive one if you sign a purchase agreement/put money down first - yes, you can back out of it if you don't like it).
Other than a lack of lateral headroom, I really, really liked sitting in one (I've admired the Monaro, and most Holdens, since before Bob Lutz re-joined GM in 2001). I'm not letting myself drive one for a few months, because I don't want to get the fever before I can act upon it...
--Robert
I'd only wait until next year just to see if there really will be a 6 liter engine and the dual hood scoops.
I haven't driven one yet either, even though I'm a Pontiac salesman. We only have one and they aren't letting anyone drive it yet.
With the possibility of the free trade agreement being signed it will remove the 25% duty on our "utes" going to the US so if it happens expect an El Camino badged Holden ute soon after. Some of these are awesome!
I'll never go back to listening to FM radio again... could always install an XM receiver/antenna in the car, but would prefer factory as it's "cleaner".
--Robert
Interestingly enough, I bumped my head on the same trim piece when I sat on the passenger side. Without driving it, it's my #1 concern about the car. I really thought the back seat was alright, except ingress/egress wasn't the greatest (but then again, my wife and I are DINKs and I rarely go to lunch anymore/am not driving around 3-4 people - plus hey, it'd be my car, I'm not riding in back!
The trunk, as has been covered before, is smallish, but it's packaged well. I was initially disappointed with the lack of struts for the trunk (the hinges go into the trunk, taking away even more space) but the way they packaged the fuel tank, they left room for the hinges to go around either side of it. There's enough room in the trunk for groceries/probably a golf bag (I don't golf, I wouldn't know), maybe some duffels or a couple of small suitcases, but that's it.
--Robert
Didn't turn my head to the left so I can't comment on the headspace issue.
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nb2169
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Straight-line performance isn't all there is to the new GTO, folks. This GTO isn't all about cheap performance at the expense of all else. It's supposed to be a mature performance car with fewer compromises. Larger and more comfortable means heavier and slower. You want 12 second quarters with comfort and high-quality? You're not gonna get it for $33,000.
The fact is if they'd called the Monaro HSV for NA anything but a GTO there would be much less excitement. It's true there is higher performance available for less $ but the new GT0
is gonna do well because it offers kick-@$$ v8 performance in a modern package at a reasonable price.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
At lunch today the deli owner came out and said he didn't know the new GTO was out yet. Within two minutes three different guys gave the thumbs up. All smiled at the goat, like it was a living thing.
I had a 427 vette years ago and dumped an Audi A6 Turbo for the GTO: with neither of those cars did other individuals come out of their shells to communicate an interest in the object, the car. This GTO is a phenomenon.
I can't drive anywhere without some deliberate effort of a stranger to communicate his interest in this car. It's like we're kids again, guards down, and sharing a common interest. My theory for this is that really expensive cars, which appeal mainly to a snobbish, elitist type person, put strangers off. I would never go up to an owner of a Maseratti and ask questions about his car -- and I'll wager he wouldn't want me to do that. But the GTO is like a popular sport which lowers barriers and encourages exchanges. I feel like a one man road show, and the nods, thumbs up and motorcycle wrist twists (meaning, "Throttle it up so I can hear it") are a really pleasant addition to a day. There is no envy in the admiration for this machine, in most cases, and it's a cool thing to observe.
Misc.: agreed, the door unlock concept is mysterious; I live in Connecticut, USA, and it would be helpful if others located themselves; in St. Petersburg, Fla. Feb. 18, I read an add selling a GTO for 40,000 -- first one in the county the guy said.
Back to jets: the torque in this thing in second gear, 4000 RPM, is not unlike plugging in afterburner. More horsepower in this unit is going to be very tempting. By the way, the feel of the interior of this car is definetely comparable to the Audi A6. The Mach 1, which I checked out before ordering the GTO, is totally inferior in that regard -- tacky, in fact.
The fastest way to warm up a car is to drive it
moderately. An engine idling when it's dead cold
takes longer to get the rings and block to operating temps,
which causes metal fatigue etc.
Check your owners manual, your dealer or any motor-head friends. Good luck with your GTO and have fun. :^)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93