New Pontiac GTO

[RCSignals]

http://ultimategto.com/scripts/showcar.cgi?type=show&pic=/2004/04_00098_1 (A look)

GM announced this as the return of the American Muscle car.

Personally I think it's GMs answer to the Marauder, but many people disagree, saying it's to make up for the Camaro/Firebird, and also that a two door could never be a competitor to a fordor.

I also find it interesting that it will supposedly have a $35,000 price tag, and i've read very little complaint over that price, yet almost everyone thinks a Marauder is priced to high. Odd.

[UncleLar]

I'm not knocking it,but I've heard Austrailian fit,finish,and build quality aren't up to snuff.It looks to be a decent car,so I hope what I've heard is wrong.

[RCSignals]

UncleLar

I've heard that about current Holdens as well. I guess we'll see if GM imports them as finished cars or "knockdowns" to be completed here

[the fat bastid]

well the camaros and firebirds where known as squeak-boxs for some time so this isnt a surprise. like my friend said 'you're really buying the ls1 with some other stuff attached to it'. But for $35,000 it should be better then that.

I hear they are gonna be pretty limited.

At least they are done right. the first year will have 360hp with an option for the 2nd year with a 400+ hp ls6. nice.

but man, i really wanted another icon of the past remade into a fwd v6 with like 200hp :D

[Geo]

I had heard that the fit and finish for Holdens was superior to ours. I do know that the guages will not have the Pontiac trademark red backlit guages but that they will come from Australia with the Monaro's performance red face guages. I guess this is to save cost.

GEO

[Moparzz]

I had trouble with the link in the first post so I went to the home page on the site and located a picture. I'm not that impressed. If your going to do a retro of a famous muscle car it should at the very least have some of the original look (new T-Bird etc.) Here is a link that will get you to the picture.

http://ultimategto.com/monaro01.htm

[MassMarauder]

Moparzz, I agree, it does absolutely nothing for me....The GTO name should NOT be attached to that car.
Long live Marauder!!

[chapel1]

It maybe fast!And it will fit right in with some rice burners.Because it's no GTO !
GTO'S looked awsome and were American icon's.

[chapel1]

OH! And it ain't no Pontiac either!

[cyled]

That is nothing close to a GTO. I knew three guys with GTO's. A 65 (390 tri-power.. mmmmm), 67 goat, and a 70 Judge. I just don't think it would be an collector car like the Marauder. This is as bad as the w'impala.

There needs to be a gentlemen's agreement that the big three cannot not compare their cars to muscle cars if they are front wheel drive. When I bought my MM it came down between a 2000 Vovlo s80 and the MM. I just could not bring myself to buying a front wheel drive car even though the Volvo is actually a safer car (did a lot of research). Though they did a good job of masking front wheel drive, when the twin turbo's kicked in you could still feel it. When I hit the gas peddle I want to know where the car is going and be able to easily correct it if I have to.

Not sure if this GTO is suppose to be RWD or not, but I my opinion of FWD still stands. Just thought it was a goood place to vent. :-)

Anyway rant off.....

[RF Overlord]

I had the pleasure of driving both the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore when my wife and I visited Australia in 1994...I know that was quite a few model-years ago; the Falcon was a wonderfully comfortable car to drive for long distances (and ALL distances in OZ are long!), but truthfully, the Commodore handled better (IRS vs. live axle). I would have been very happy with either of those cars over here, so if the new Monaro/GTO is an improvement due to 9 more years of practice, I'll bet it will be worthy of the GTO moniker...at least as much as any modern car could be.

BTW, the Monaro is a RWD car, with either the blown 3.8L V6 or a Gen III 5.7L V8...it might not outrun a 389 Tri-Power, but I'm sure it will be no slouch, either...this is NOT just a cosmetic package...

[4DRHTRD]

I've seen and sat in the Monaro when the GM Aussie guys brought it out to the Pavillions car show here in AZ. Gotta love a car that will do low 13's stock and mid to low 12's with minimal mods.

I will be picking up the 4 door version of that bad boy when they import it in the next couple of years. I got it straight from the horses mouth that "They're on their way!"

Hmmm, V8 - RWD - 6 spd gotta love it.
Except my car will be a 7 speed by the time the new Impala comes to the states.

Mike

[jefferson-mo]

THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING COMING FROM FORD.."THE 500"

WITH ANY LUCK IT'LL BE BASED ON THE AUS FALCON XR8

SAME IDEA V8 RWD 6SPD

:burnout:

[derik]

Pontiac site shows a concept GTO which they say is the one coming out for 2004. Better looking than the "spy" shot.

http://www.pontiac.com/pontiacjsp/passion/concept/main.jsp

[RF Overlord]

OK, it's Friday, and I've been trying to avoid work as much as possible, so I was noodling about on the Pontiac site (they have the new GTO listed now)...

DIG THIS: it doesn't have an oil pressure gauge! Before y'all start yelling "neither does ours!", the new GTO doesn't even PRETEND to have one...there's nothing to convert from fake to real...now I'm insulted...a GTO without proper instrumentation...it's a travesty... :down: :mad: :shake:

[TripleTransAm]

To quote one of my coworkers... "that sucks donkey balls"...

Absolutely shameful...

[dhawke98]

Let's be fair though, it is supposed to get some body work for 05? and look a bit better. The one I saw at the Phoenix car show and the one at the dealership (owner's own car) look ok. A bit small, same size Caddy CTS.

[MapleLeafMerc]

Bah, humbug! Looks like every other ricer bug on the planet. :bs:

[RCSignals]

Let's be fair though, it is supposed to get some body work for 05? and look a bit better.

What incentive to buy a current one. This years doesn't look right, so we're going to make it look better for next year. But please buy one now :)

[jgc61sr2002]

- The 04 GTO was put together in in a very short time frame. Look for improvements in the near future.

[dhawke98]

At least going this way, while it may not look like a GTO (our cars don't look like the original Marauders either)(sure that one will get me in trouble) GM will have a chance to make sure everything is right, before the true enthusiasts buy a better looking GTO. Look at some of the kinks that weren't worked out of our cars. That panel above the sub woofer for one.


Sorry just trying to put a positive spin on it, if for no other reason that my wife has suggested we get one next year.....

[TripleTransAm]

... (our cars don't look like the original Marauders either)...


OH MY GOD! I think THIS is the BEST way to sum up the whole issue! Time goes on... things change...

Now, it's completely subjective as to whether styling is appealing or not. It IS a personal thing, after all. But it's tough to bring subjectivity to mechanical analysis:

Good points: looks like it's got it where it counts (drivetrain) and looks like it'll haul the mail. Looks like they paid close attention to the exhaust note as well. The ergonomics seem good.

Bad points: well, for starters, the lack of oil pressure gage. Not sure about any other mechanical shortcoming? Anyone?

[71red]

These Caveliers with nice rims remind me of the BMW Z3s that are really suped up Miatas. lol

Since this is a thread about another brand, anyone seen the (forthcoming this Spring) Dodge Magnum RT station wagon that is equipped with a 5.7Hemi w/340 HP with Dual Exhaust? I have to admit from the pics that i saw and the practicality of it, its pretty cool. The thing looks BIG though, not many ther specs available on it yet.

[TripleTransAm]

Well, it sounds like a good alternative to an SUV or minivan, should I ever find myself in that situation...

[jgc61sr2002]

Well, it sounds like a good alternative to an SUV or minivan, should I ever find myself in that situation...
Steve - A Black GTO would go nicely with your fleet. :coolman:

[TripleTransAm]

Two problems with that scenario, John.

1. not 4 doors.

2. a 5th black car would complete my downward spiral to complete insanity. Trust me on this one....

Truth be told, I *might* have been convinced to go for the GTO had it been offered in Canada at the time when the seeds of Honda-replacement had been sown in my mind. The thought of another LS1 in my fleet was VERY very enticing.

But in the end, no GTO for Canada, and when I spotted the Marauder at the Montreal 2003 International Auto Show, it was all over...

BTW: I was referring to the Chrysler wagon as an alternative to a minivan or SUV...

[marauder307]

Here is what one looks like in person. Saw two of 'em (one red auto and one black 6-spd) at the STL Auto Show today. THEY ARE REAR WHEEL DRIVE, for all those debating where the drive wheels are. 'Bout the size of a CTS, as rightly guessed. That engine looks like it used one helluva big shoehorn to get it in; it's the LS1 5.7L. The interior shot is from the black one. I've posted more pics in my gallery here at the webpage:

[RCSignals]

Here is what one looks like in person. Saw two of 'em (one red auto and one black 6-spd) at the STL Auto Show today. THEY ARE REAR WHEEL DRIVE, for all those debating where the drive wheels are. 'Bout the size of a CTS, as rightly guessed. That engine looks like it used one helluva big shoehorn to get it in; it's the LS1 5.7L. The interior shot is from the black one. I've posted more pics in my gallery here at the webpage:

Darn, those "attached thumbnails" are still not shoing for me! :mad2:

[marauder307]

Gotta be logged in RC. They didn't show for me either, when I tried viewing them as a guest...