Yeah, I wasn't comparing Pontiac to Mitsu or the GTO to the Evo. By no means do I think my Evo interior is anything above "bland, but functional." The key word is "quality." I have never been inside a Pontiac, or even a GM for that matter, that had quality interior. Cadillacs, maybe, but even the inside of an Escalade made me think I was inside a regular Chevy. Again, I'm not referring to aesthetics or "cool" factor, but rather quality. If the GTO has significantly higher quality interior than z28s, GTPs, Grand Ams, etc etc, then maybe it's good, but it would be a first in my experience.

 

I considered it.

A 2002 Firebird WS6 was faster and cheaper.

4 wheel independent suspension is great but 3700 lbs isn't.

Rhys Millen gutted his drift Goat and it's still 2900 lbs.

I already have a V8 drift car.
http://216.162.194.228/camaro.wmv

 

Test drove the 04 GTO when they were giving them away. Just didn't feel like you were connected to the road. Something wrong with the shifter too - way to far to the right. Perhaps a left-over from the Aussie version with the wheel on the right.
And the trunk is a joke.
Nice interior though.

 

after the drift race i saw last weekend in New Jersey, which the GTO won, I have been very impressed with the car since, yes pontiac sucks, but so does mitsubishi besides the evo, the rest of there cars are garbage.

 

personally I think if you are thinking about the GTO...you are not in the market of the EVO....cos they are completely different cars....built for totally different purposes....

GTO=high way cruiser, EVO=track ready, all weather racer.

It's more like GTO vs Mustang GT, and EVO vs STI/Elise

BTW, I also test drove the GTO...nice...but that's it. The steering is as communicative as men after sex, the tranny is as clunky as a semi-truck. Also...the steering wheel is so big that makes you feel like you are driving a school bus for that matter. Nice throaty exhaust note though.

 

GTO = DRIFT CAR!!!!! I Like em. But once I went AWD I dont want to go back unless i have a AWD because it snows in MD and RWD is not my thing in the snow.

 

I'll call BS on this one. Care to share more information? Would those 3 or 4 mods include a nitrous system, a supercharger and bias-ply slicks?

The GTO is a car that makes sense if you want more luxury than an Evo and don't mind driving a really heavy car.

If you are just looking for a max performance RWD V8 package, you'd be much better off starting with a low-mileage LS1 f-body. Much much lighter than a GTO and it will fit much wider rubber, so it will easily outhandle a GTO as well with a few mods. Powerwise, an 01+ LS1 f-body will out accelerate an 05 GTO too. Take that money you save from buying a used car and add a turbo kit, forged bottom end, ported heads and a hotter cam. Hello 600+ whp and no lag!

 

Oh, and interior quality is a personal opinion...the overall design scheme of the GTO seems better, but I think the Evo's seats (esp. with the leather option) are much better and feel much more like they belong in a high performance car, and I think that the Evo's steering wheel is much more race-inspired...I like the GTO's gauges a bit better because they're bigger and more brightly lit, and the GTO's stock radio is MUCH better than that POS Mitsubishi put in the Evo.[/QUOTE]


My friend is a tech at a Pontiac dealership and I noticed the stereo remained unchanged from the Australian version. The volume knob is on the right side (closest to driver) as is the fuel door. I think the GTO's interior is probably the highest you're gonna find in a American car (imported American car). I really like the GTO but it's not a very practicle car as where the Evo still has 4 doors and more trunk space than the GTO mainly due to the relocation of the fuel tank. I think Pontiac should've done something to make the front of the car look better. Well I guess they have for 05 with their appearence package. I think they should've brought it over looking like the HSV version. Maybe it's an Australian thing. Check out their version.


Dave

 

It looks like you already made up your mind Go GTO if you feel that strongly man, its your money...not ours

 

Yes I thought about it. I would have bought a GTO except I really wanted an AWD car this time around (if I lived where it rarely rains I would consider another RWD daily driver). Everyone talks about AWD like its hot (and it is nice to have when it's slippery out) but there's a reason most racecars on pavement are RWD. A few mods and I suspect the GTO would handle great. But therein lies the problem, both are fast out of the box but you'd have to modify the GTO to get it to handle well.

 

I don't like Pontiacs anyways so my vote goes to the 05 Evo.

 

Nope!

 

I'm sorry... and I'm not just biased towards the Evo... I can admit other cars that are better... but there is absolutely NO comparison between the two... none... You're comparing a car designed for a Grand Touring style commuter... to a one off near track ready machine...

the GTO, with its 400hp is pretty damned quick... but thats about it... after drivng an 04 (350hp then) I've got my impressions... way too much body roll... the added heaft does not flatter it either... yeah, you can get the tail out, which is fun, but doesn't mean fast... motors very responsive... engine note is superb... braking is completely insufficient, especially after a handful of stops... Interior??? very very nice i think... def a step up in GM quality... feels better than their caddy's...

And why attack Evo's one weakness to give the GTO a leg to stand on??? Yeah, it maybe a highway star, whooptie-doo... that's the ONLY thing it's going to win... actually where most races occur, is light-to-light, and have fun being owned by AWD... even if you're a pro, you're not going to get 1.8 60's outta that lead-sled... You mess with someone on a backroad, good by, you're smoked... then you come across someone that prowls the highway with their Evo specifically, have fun getting owned... it's cheap to make the evo pull high and hard... then, if you live in snow areas, you're gonna lose-you deal with lots of rain, Evo wins in driveability as well...

Don't get me wrong, i like GTO's for what they are... just if you want something based off sporty intentions, it's not in the GTO... why??? soon as you sit in it's bean-bag like seat, it kills the racey feeling...

and to sum it up... if you feel that the GTO is a worthy competitor to the Evo in performance, you shouldn't be even looking at an Evo, the Evo is not a car for you as you surely can't drive... and it's not just coming from me as i don't see editors nor pro-drivers saying that they couldn't of gone any faster through that twisted mountain road in a Ferrari talking about their GTO sorry to put it so harsh, but, that's the bottom line...

anyways... just go buy a anni-LS1 WS-6... the white one's with blue stripes and blue wheels, and that sweet white and black leather interior... they look hot and despite their live axle, they handle basically just as good...

 

found it interesting that after only 1 year, and some dismal sales results, pontiac put in the vette motor to spice up sales...have only seen 3-4 around town here, but the new mustang, am now seeing them EVERYWHERE...I think that pontiac would have sold a ton more of the gto's if it would have been a camaro/trans-am. don't think there is enough of a following from the old gto's to sell and most of them are interested in the 60's car, not a 03 rebirth. it is a nice car, but it doesn't seem to have much of an audience.

 

That car has had the LS1 in it since 97 or 98 in Australia. For 05 all of the Holden Monaro's and GTO's get the LS2. Let's hope the LS2 helps their sales for Pontiac's sake anyway. It just looks like that's the reason they put the LS2 in there but really the LS1 was just phased out. Besides, Pontiac doesn't even really make the car. I heard rumors that they might open another plant closer to home and bring some other Holden models here like the Ute as a El Camino. I think that would be sweet if they priced it right. Oh btw, I like both cars but the Evo gets my vote.

Dave