to be honest i dont love its looks but it aint half bad... if it was cheaper i'd consider if i had to retire the evo... well as long as the label said nissan GTO or honda GTO.... having pontiac in the front troubles me when i imagine myself calling AAA to tow my car cuz it blow up

 

I want to like the GTO but the car has shortcomings in my mind.

The look is nice and smooth, compared to other Pontiacs that have too much body cladding, but it's not exciting. As other's have said, it looks like a Cavalier.

It's LS1 engine is excellent, rated with a little more power and torque than a stock Pontiac Firebird Formula or Trans Am, but it's close to 300 pounds heavier. That's gonna hurt performance.

Is this car supposed to be the replacement for the Firebird/Camaro? The GTO has some more interior room than the Firebird and has better initial build quality than most GM vehicles (reliability is TBD), but it costs nearly twice as much! If they cancelled the Firebird because people stopped buying them, how are they going to keep selling the GTO? In my opinion, the car should be priced around $25000.

 

Before you bash it too much, download the topgear video of the Holden. The US version, the GTO, gets much more power (350hp/365ft-lbs), and does 0-60 in the low 5's, the 1/4 in the 13's. Interior has been described as the nicest interier of any Pontiac ever. Quality for domestics is now better than European models, and from what I've read here about Mitsubishi quality..... Let's just say people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I'd agree with the ugly statement, but I saw one in person on the showroom floor. Black, and a very nice looking car if a bit boring. Certainly not an ugly car. Not a car I plan to every buy, but certainly worthy of far more praise than bashing.

edit: here is where you can get the topgear vid - http://www.racingflix.com/getvideo.asp?v=620&p=6

 

And MSRP is like $33,500

 

Sorry guys, but the Holden Monaro looks way better than the Evo VIII

Here's some pics of the HSV GTO, which is a souped up Monaro.





Does that not look sexy to you guys?

It handles way better than any Camaro or Firebird or Puss-tang, that's for sure.

 

Edmunds.com shows a little slower numbers:
"...zero to 60 in just 5.5 seconds and blitzing the quarter-mile in 14 ticks flat..."

Lots of power; lots of weight.

 

Sorry, don't like it ImportPePe.. Looks like a smothed out ~1994 Mustang. But thats my opinion; not intended as a flame or to start a war. Just not my taste. I like my evo better.

 

To each it's own - I don't like the Monaro, even with tons of $$ in aftermarket stuff.

 

It's cool.

I just showed some pics that don't make it look like a Grand Am, so decided to do that instead.

To each their own

 

To tell you the truth I wanted to like the GTO. I have always liked the ponitrags I've owned, '36 Silver Streak Touring Sedan, '55 Star Chief, '66 GTO, '71 Grand Prix, '73 Grandville, '87 Bonneville. But I just can't bring myself to embrace the new GTO, kinda plain looking.

 

It's hard to imagine someone seeing it as ugly. Boring, nondescript or uninspired I can see, but ugly seems a bit harsh. Hopefully it will sell well as this will encourage GM and the other domestics (and imports too) to put more hp in their offerings. I agree that it needs to be a little cheaper though. Any ideas what the street price is? If it's discounted like other GMs, then you can buy it for the high 20s, but probably not yet.

I can't wait for the Soltice convertible to come out. Put the 240 hp 4 cylinder in that thing and it will scream!

 

The GTO was rushed to the US market in less than 24 months. They did not have enough time to give it anything more retro than the name. I heard that redesigns will incorporate cues from the original GTO.

Like somebody said earlier, we'd better watch out for GTO's once the tuners get a hold of them. It's nice to know that we can whip a GTO in the twisties, but there better be a curve less than 1/4 mile down the road or the Evo will be toast.

How long before a link to this thread shows up on a GTO web site? We do it all the time when Hondas/Subbies/etc start talking about the Evo!

 

robertrinaustin

The Solstice looks hot . I'll definately test drive one of those, and if I'm good the wife might even let me buy one.

 

they are jus boats on wheels....

 

It's one of the best American cars, I've seen in a long time. The design both interior and exterior are fine. The engine and tranny are great. I'm glad someone in U.S. auto industry is trying to make better cars.