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Comments
--Robert
My daughter closed the passenger door with her book bag half way out and it put a hole in the speaker cover on the door. Picked up the new piece ($42) but have not put it on yet. It looks like I have to take the whole door panel off to do this. Anyone know positively?
I realize that on high-end models it sometimes makes sense to lease the vehicle then flip it or purchase it at the end of the lease or the leasing deals are sooo attractive the lease is a better deal ($$$ sometimes come out better that way than to finance it), but since the GTO is not a high-end vehicle, at least to me, and I would be paying cash, just was wondering if anyone else out there went the cash route.
GMAC has low (0.9/36, 1.9/48, 2.9/60) finance rates available to qualified lenders. Unless you're worried about the loan amoun/term impacting your credit, I'd finance the vehicle for 36 months and put the cash in just about anything (it's not hard to get better than 0.9% return). You can always pay the loan off within 6 months if you're nervous/uncomfortable...
--Robert
--Robert
As with you, I know all about the leasing and financing deals out there. That's the point I was trying to make with the original post. I will also use the supplier's discount as I work for a GM supplier. I was just wondering what people were paying for this vehicle, preferably in cash, not so much financing and definitely not leasing it.
To me, there isn't any car out there that's worth me financing. Having owned, driven, worked on and raced so many, cars aren't important enough to me to finance. A house yes; a car, no way. Leasing could, maybe, possibly be an option for a VERY high-end vehicle, by this vehicle isn't high-end. It's decent and finally priced where it should have been in the first place, but again, cash and carry for me.
1. I'm not looking to finance the car.
2. Know all about the financing rates.
3. Don't want to lease the car.
4. Not nervous, uncomfortable, I DON'T finance cars.
5. Did I mention, I pay cash for cars, don't go the finance/lease route?
6. Don't see the point of financing a vehicle and paying more for it overall (there is that interest your paying, why give money away?) when you have the cash to pay for it up front.
7. Got over an 800 credit rating, so I think I'd qualify ;}.
8. Have money growing in other things.
Again, I'm sorry if my original post sounded as if I was looking for leasing and financing information. I wasn't. I'll try to be clearer in future posts, if possible.
Personally, if I were in your situation, I would pay the 0.9% interest for 3-6 months (while the money sat in a bond, or the stock market, making more than 0.9%) and save the $3500. But, it's your money, and your call.
--Robert
In typical Disney fashion when the ride is over they dump you out into a gift shop. I asked a GM rep if they had any GTO merchandise and was greeted with a blank stare.
There was also a large display area of new cars. Lot's of Cadillacs and Chevys with one lone Grand Prix in the corner.
With the refreshed Bonneville, the GTO, and the G6 all recently released what gives?
The next biggest bang-for-the-buck is probably long-tube headers/exhaust. Follow that with heads/cam, and a supercharger (the Magnuson is impressive, but it apparently suffers quite a bit from heat soak; there are also Vortech and Whipple units).
What I have read hasn't said much about gains from different MAF/intake tube/wider throttle body. Those HP gains are pretty minimal.
As to the Predator, I know a fellow GTO owner with one of those. His car, like mine, is an A4 unit, and I drove it after he tuned the car. Made a huge difference (greatly reduces torque management, and takes away the little bit of the "auto sloth" feeling at low speeds. Shifts were noticeably harder (jolts the car), and I've heard some not-so-good things about knock retard during WOT with the stock Predator tune. I'm contemplating getting one in the spring, after I install the K&N, but I plan to buy from a vendor who will customize the tune for me for no additional charge.
I think the Predator is less useful if you have a stick vehicle. I also believe it to be less useful if you are going to do further upgrades to the vehicle - probably better off with a custom tune from someone using HPTuners or EFILive. The nice advantage of the Predator is that it makes it easy to return to the factory tune, should you need to take the car in, and that it also doubles as an ODB-II code reader. You can also resell it if you don't need it any further, unlike just paying for a custom tune.
--Robert
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
$500K?! What are you doing looking at a GTO??
http://media.gm.com/news/incentives/2005pricing.html
I was in the same boat in late August - loved the Cosmos, didn't care for the hood scoops on the '05, didn't want/need the HP, can't afford that car at list. The GMS, $3500 and 2.9/60 is what sealed the deal for me - due to much higher interest rates, proved that it was actually more expensive to buy a used car (like I had been doing), than a new one with a full warranty.
Of course, my Cosmos turned out to be a problem child, but GM is now exchanging it for another, so I'm very happy...
--Robert
corkfish - I think it will come with the scoops but you can get rid of them via a "delete" option.
--Robert
Pontiac will cut GTO production by about 30 percent next year, from its 2004 target of 1,300 to 1,500 units a month to 1,000 a month in 2005.
Larry Pryg, marketing manager for Pontiac's premium mid-sized cars, admitted Pontiac did not conduct enough initial market research on the GTO, misallocated inventory and missed its initial estimate.
"We will adjust production levels, and 12,000 units a year seems right for this vehicle," Pryg said at a press event here.
The article also says some inventory allocation will be shifted from the North-Central region and sent to other areas such as the West Coast.
I was really impressed with the new GTO, 400HP and 395 ft lbs torque from corvette engine.
New split dual exhaust, optional 18" rims,
cold air induction and front spoiler.
Recaro seats are very comfortable, just might trade in my 330i in January for a new ride.
I personally couldn't afford the elevated pricing of the '05, but don't need the HP, don't care for the hood scoops, or the new rear end. I do like the separated dual exhaust (the '04 is dual, just both exit the left rear of the car), but it's not worth waiting for, in my situation. I still say you can buy, and hop up, an '04 for far less than a new '05, but it's your $$$ and your call.
--Robert
from near or underneath the wheel well.
(like the '05 GTO at the auto show).
Ram air is taken from the hood scoop.
Ron
How did you confirm the dead pedal for 2005? Did they add any space between the side wall and the clutch? During my test drive my foot kept getting stuck under the clutch because there was not enough room to move it up to shift.
Thanks
I am considering trading it in for a 2004 GTO 6 Speed but am worried about reliability, value, etc.
My local dealer is hung with 12 cars mostly sticks so I am sure I can hook a good deal.
Just cant make up my mind..........wish I could keep the Toyota and get the GTO!
was a aftermarket accessory from GM.
I'm not sure of the set up currently on the '04s.
Usually aftermarket CAI systems mean larger
air mass meter and larger throttle body for increased air flow. Thus allowing the engine to be less restricted than stock set up. Which means more HP.
They had 2 '05 GTO's at the sf auto show, one stock and the other tricked out with the GM aftermarket goodies( 18" wheels, special front spoiler, CAI, and some other stuff that I forgot.)
I should know more in early January, their sending me a pre-launch info kit before the new model comes out.
I believe the '05 has a similar, if not exactly the same, setup. The hood scoops just allow cold air to enter the engine compartment - they are NOT routed to the airbox, so it is NOT RAM Air. There is no real performance enhancement, except maybe heat extraction/ventilation by the air coming into the engine compartment.
Hope this clarifies things,
--Robert
Here is what I have found for 2005 MSRP Base Pricing for each model:
2005 Chrysler 300-Series 4dr Sdn 300C
MSRP
Base $32,870.00
2005 Ford Mustang 2dr Cpe GT Premium
MSRP
Base $25,705.00
2005 Pontiac GTO 2dr Cpe
MSRP
Base $32,295.00
They compared the Vauxhall Monaro (basically the GTO), the Chrysler 300, and the Jag S-Type. They REALLY did not like the driving dynamics of the 300 (brakes, ride, handling, inability to turn off the traction control). I'll leave it as a surprise to which vehicle "won" the comparo (it's quite hilarious, actually).
How many people will be in the car with you on a regular basis? If it's just 1 or 2 most of the time, I'd say stick with the Mustang and the GTO. If more than 2 occasionally, drop the Mustang (back seat is useless, unlike the GTO). If 3 or 4 most of the time. I think you'd have to rule out both the Mustang AND the GTO.
I don't know street pricing of Mustangs or 300's, but I've heard lots of stories of $2k-$4k Additional Dealer Markup on the 'stangs, and even a few on the 300's. The GTO has the opposite problem, unfortunately.
Most dealers will sell the car for invoice ($31.2k for M6, $31.7k for A4) or less (some who have had the cars on the lots for awhile are even giving up some or all of their 3% holdback). You have the military discount, and then each GM dealer gets 24 "coupons" of $500 ea. to close a deal (and can use up to 3 coupons for each deal).
Factor in the $3500 GMAC finance rebate and the 0.9/36, 1.9/48 and 2.9/60 financing, and, depending upon the tax and license fees where you will be registering the car, you should be around $27-$27.5k out-the-door for a 2004 GTO. This is considerably less than the '05 GTO and you can easily improve the appearance and performance of the '04 to surpass the '05 for less than the price difference.
BTW, pricing on the 2005 is not officially released until Wednesday the 1st. The number you have seems low (perhaps before destination and gas-guzzler - I've heard $34k+ for the 2005). There's no incentives on the '05 yet, either.
Hope this helps,
--Robert