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Ford Mustang (2005) vs. 2005 Pontiac GTO
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I doubt it will happen.
If it did, the 05 GTO would beat an 05 Mustang GT. That really isn't debatable. Even so, I would much prefer to OWN an 05 Mustang - blue with white stripes and Bullit wheels, please.
As far as which handles better, there is still not enough evidence to prove either one. The Mustang does seem to pull better slalom/skidpad numbers, at least against the 17" tire equipped GTO (those tires are hardly performance tires), although those measurements are hardly an indicated of true handling. Interestingly I was reading a R&T over the weekend and the GTO pulled a better number on their figure 8 test, which looked to be a small tightly wound track where I would of though the lighter Mustang would have had the advantage. Of course, the GTO is still way faster, has better breaks, better interior, and is much more solidly built.
Those last to points are highly subjective. The Mustang is very solid and whether or not an interior is better is totally up to individual taste.
True you could put the GT on a better tire, but the same could be said for the GTO too, test it with it's optional 18 inchers.
As for the interiors, Consumer Reports in their latest June review of the Mustang Convertible said the interior feels cheap. Much of the interior is covered in thin, hard plastic that has a cheap feel and look. As per CR magazine. New Mustang is much nicer then previous generations interior. It's all subjective.
I have driven an 05 Mustang V6 and have to wonder if Consumer Reports even drove the car. Cheap interior? To me, the interior is solidly above average.
While I've not spent time in the standard interior of the Mustang, the Iterior Upgrade Package, and all the aluminum is, to me, stunningly good. I just returned from my Mustang's first road trip. The car felt like it was built from a solid piece of steel.
Performance? I've posted some track numbers here (amatuer ran a 13.6 1/4) as well as the numbers from independent tests from the trade rags. In short, there isn't enough difference in performance between the GTO and the Mustang GT to claim one is substantiall faster than the other. GTO's weight is probably the biggest culprit.
As for Performance, the GTO is faster then GT, maybe not by much, but it is. GTO 13.3 1/4 mile vs GT 13.8 1/4 mile in January Car & Driver. Half a second faster.
I have seen amatuer's run as FAST as 13.1 1/4 miles on Stock GTO's including the stock BF goodrich tires. The avg seems to be 13.1 to 13.4 if you know how to drive.
Fastest amatuer track time I saw was 13.8 secs in the 1/4 for the GTO and 13.6 secs for the Mustang (posted a video of the run between the Mustang and a highly modded 10 sec 'Cuda. GTO and Mustang were bone stock....including tires.
Those results will vary widely, though given the different experience levels of their respective drivers and track conditions.
When I was shopping, I had the GTO brochure and saw what GM said the car would do. But, I consider them biased (since they make the car) and discounted what they posted. I've yet to see a GTO run a 13.1 stock (also have yet to see a Mustang GT run 13.5 stock...which is what the trade rags were getting). I did see video of the Mustang GT run the 13.6, though.
In either case, both would be driver dependent they are so close.
We've seen a GT run 13.6;
Can anybody find a video of the GTO running a half-second better (13.1)?
Or, perhaps even a couple good videos of GT vs. GTO? It has to have happened by now!
No, both Car&Driver and Motor Trend got the 2005 GTO to run a 13.3 1/4 mile. That was FIVE tenths or HALF second faster then Mustang GT which was rated at 13.8 in car and Driver.
Where as in the Mustang I believe the 5spd manual is faster, it has 3.55 axle, Automatic is 3.31 axle. Can't get 3.55 axle with automatic.
Strong public sentiment led Holden officials to bring back the Monaro name for its all-new 2001 coupe.
Monaro became an instant classic when it was released in Australia last October and has become the most high profile, sought-after car on Australian roads today.
http://www.jdpower.com/awards/industry/winners.asp?StudyID=909
GTO was named as MOST APPEALING SPORTY CAR by JD power
2004 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study Summary
The 2004 APEAL Study is based on responses from 102,951 new-vehicle owners who were surveyed during the first 90 days of ownership. The study, now in its ninth year, is based on eight categories of vehicle performance and design: engine/transmission; ride, handling and braking; comfort/convenience; seats; cockpit/instrument panel; heating, ventilation and cooling; sound system; and styling/exterior.
Personally I think it looks better on the V6 Stang with NO lights in the grille, but just my opinion. But I would be curious to see the laws on that.
I don't know about any reported incidents involving tickets. Sounds like a web rumor to me. I'm sure it's possible; I'm sure if I search long enough I could find reported incidents of people getting tickets for the factory exhaust being too loud. If I were to receive such ticket, I would assert that such law was specifically regarding driving lights added by on owner, not standard equipment foglights from the manufacturer. I wonder how many Harley's have exhaust systems which violate noise ordinances? If the worry about foglight placement would keep someone out of a GT, they probably have no business being in the car in the first place.
The GTO cost more because, duh, it has more expensive mechanicals. In 50 words or less, define "BETTER".
Is the GTO or the Mustang the "better" car? Gee, doesn't that kind of depend on what criteria you chose? I wish you GTO guys would admit that for SOME people, the Mustang is the "better" car........
The Mustang also took top honors in the "under $25,000 coupe" segment, gathering twice as many votes as the runner up in the category, the Mini Cooper. On the overall favorites list, the Chrysler 300 sedan came in second and the new Chevy Corvette was third.
yeah baby-mustang wins again!!!!! gto didn't even make the list-because its butt ugly
I believe in the state of NJ and many other states, it's illegal to have any other lights lit above your bumper unless they are your headliights or parking/signal lights. Those foglights in the grille of the 2005 Stang may be illegal! if turned on! The laws very by state etc.
As for exhaust systems the GTO's was made to be 80 decibels or less which just meets the 50 states laws on exhaust. Like you said, I have had cars with much louder exhaust and the cops never bothered me.
BTW Consumer Reports picked the Toyota Solara Convertible over the Mustang V6 convertible in the June issue!
Likewise between a Mustang GT and a GTO. Is the GTO faster in a straightline? I'll step up and say 'yes'. How much faster is debateable (apparently, endlessly). Is a tenth or so (or a half second or so) really that important? The Mustang is no slug and most of us won't be dragracing the car (or randomly happening upon a GTO at a stoplight) on any regular basis. For those who do, the cars will probably be modded somewhat and then ALL points of debate pertinent to this thread go right out the window. Are they both fun to drive? Are they both quick? Are they both decent handlers? Are they both well constructed/reliable/luxurious/stylish/etc.etc. I say leave that up to individual buyers to determine since many of these things are somewhat subjective.
RE: Consumer Reports - ummmmm, consider the audience who uses CR as a major basis to chose automobiles. Now, would it really make sense to these types of buyers for the editors to chose the Mustang over the Solara? BTW, why should GTO fans even CARE which V6 convertible was favored? When shopping for a V6 convertible (as opposed to a V8 'vert), the buyer is obviously more interested in cruising/creature comforts/style than they are pure performance. The type of buyer who would cross shop a Solara convertible and Mustang V6 convertible wouldn't be caught dead in a Pontiac showroom looking at a GTO; and vice versa.
As for CR... they have always been biased against American cars, so it was no surprise they liked the Solara better. They always go for the Toyota/Honda cars.
Just because someone bought a Mustang over a GTO does not mean they did so because they could not afford the GTO!
Among the many unique attributes we have already discussed, Mustang buyers might like the styling better than the GTO, or just think the GTO is too bland. Maybe they like the way it handles as in a slalom, maybe the shifter feels better to them... etc, etc.
Maybe they are afraid that after a year or two they will get tired of answering the question "They didn't make those for very long, did they?"
Oh, and also, all the advertising about the big rebates and GM card cash towards GTOs kind of undermine your "unaffordable", "price premium" argument. I saw a LOT more information about how much of a discount I could get on a GTO than I did for the car itself.
Hey, that's another question Mustang buyers won't hear... "They had trouble selling those, didn't they?"
I agree, and for every 1 GTO sold there are nearly 17 Mustangs sold. If I were to buy a Mustang I would have to have it uniquely customized to differentiate it from the others. I prefer the exclusitivity of the GTO. Only 12,000 this yr vs 200,000 Mustangs
Personally, I agree. Simply because, all else being equal I prefer more hp. But I could certainly empathize with someone who would rather spend the $6k on something else, like maybe flying lessons.
Just because someone doesn't spend upto the $25-$28k for a Mustang GT (or a bit more for a GTO), doesn't mean they're UNABLE to. They just have different priorities.
Peace.
I got two tickets with the stock GT exhaust which were basically glass packs. Sounded pretty cool I must say. The first one I fought and lost and had to pay a fine. The second one was a fixit ticket and I took off the chrome tips and put in steel wool. I guess I put in too much cause it wouldn't go over 45mph with all the back pressure. It was quiet though and I got it signed off.
The new Mustang is a fine car. I've always said that. I'm surprised Ford did such a good job the first year with its new platform.
The problem is I just can't stand Mustangs anymore. On the same day this week I saw a 35th Anniversary Edition and a 40th Anniversary Edition. What Ford won't do to sell these cars. They should have been called the 27th and the 32th Anniversary of the tired old Fox Body. Actually the 35th looked nice with a nice leather interior. But the 40th had a weird black cloth interior with a cheap looking light colored plastic dash and doors. They even cheapened an Anniversary Edition. But isn't that what Ford is about. Mass producing cheap cars for the masses.
Umm... Doesn't the GTO come only one way. So wouldn't it stand to reason that GTO owners are just as likely, if not more so, to encounter that same question? :confuse: The only thing that differentiates the GTOs from each other is the color. At least with the Mustangs, you can have different interior options as well as interior color, and so on.
Only 3 minor changes and 2 new colors for 2006 GTO. They are getting rid of Yellow and Midnight Blue and replacing that with Spice Red and Brazen Orange.
Hey, small world. I currently own a 66 GT FB (non-hipo 289 ). I've replaced the clear lens foglights in the grill with amber; looks pretty good with the dark ivy green metallic paintjob. Re: the tickets for the stock exhaust (glasspacks) - I imagine that was years and years ago. I can't see a cop in todays age giving a noise violation ticket for that sound. If one did, I would acuse him (justly) of having no soul.
Yes, but NOT as likely, 12,000 GTO's or 200,000 Mustangs. Much less likely to see another GTO. There is the SAP, Sport Apperance Package on GTO and 18" wheels option.
".........At least with the Mustangs, you can have different interior options as well as interior color, and so on........"
You have different color interiors on the GTO as well. Black is std, but Red and Blue interiors are NO cost options.
LOL, and GM isn't?
The 2004 Mustang we just bought was a 40th Anniversary. I actually like the dual-colored interior better than the all one color interior of her 2001. But, once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.