RE: The 2005 Pontiac GTO: THE NEW GOAT GETS MORE MUSCLE!
Alright first off, Pontiac doesn't build this car... it is build in Austraila by the General Motors ownerd Holden car company. The car was put into production there in 2000, and is a modern day version of their 1970's Monaro muscle car. The modern day Monaro uses American General Motors engines. After Bob Lutz left Chrysler and later went to General Motors, he went down to Austraila to look at the car and drive it. It was his intentions to get this car to America as a Pontiac based car to replace the Firebird/Trans Am lineup which was discontinued in 2002. Pontiac is General Motors performance based divsion, and the Monaro had all the things for a rebirth of the modern day muscle car. 2+2 seating, V-8 power, and rear-wheel drive. So few a few changes the Monaro was given a Pontiac nose, moved the fuel tank in front of the rear axle, and altered the cockpit.
Holden was excitied about the Pontiac GTO because first off, it is the first Holden built car to get to the U.S., and they believe that it is such an honor for them to be sold in America. Lutz made the GTO an American car only, not sold in Mexico or Canada, and had the engine revised in it, to produce 20% more power than the Monaro does. The interior was completely revamped for the 2004 model year, because of help of the making of the GTO. It has the most comfortible seats out of any car I have sat in, and all the car magazines praise them as well as the most comfortible seat ever produced in a car.
While many people slam this car, I stand next to it. Pontiac go make the looks a little more attractive such as the front air dam that was shown on the Pontiac GTO Autocross Concept at SEMA this past year. But believe it or not, the Pontiac GTO is faster than the original GTOs, more comfortible, and is based on the same formula that the American Muscle Cars of the past were based on. I truely have been waiting for this car to come to states since the 2000 model year. As a Mopar fan I feel a littl awkward, but if I had the money, I would be one of the first in line to get a new 2005 Pontiac GTO or heck last year's model will do. But until I see a true two-door Charger w/ huge amount of horsepower, this car will be my first choice. The Magnum RT and 300C just wont do, they are not muscle cars, they are a muscle sedan and a very sexy muscle wagon!
2004 Pontiac GTO Autocross Concept: "I say slap that front fasia on the production GTO, and you got yourself an extremely good looking modern day muscle car"!
RE: The 2005 Pontiac GTO: THE NEW GOAT GETS MORE MUSCLE!
I think Pontiac should keep the car as "low key"... the original GTO was just a Tempest with a big motor... it didn't look like different... of course now, it is legendary, so it has a strong following (blah, blah, blah...)...
the new GTO... perfect sleeper in my book... but then again, I bought a "Neon with a big wing" so maybe my tastes are goofed - hahaha...
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RE: The 2005 Pontiac GTO: THE NEW GOAT GETS MORE MUSCLE!
The GTO Autocross Concept is much better looking than the plain jane GTO. As for speeds, well they're still slower than the F-bodies were (with driver and a full tank of gas you're pushing 4,000 lbs.! [:'(]).
I do like the Autocross Concept improvements: the front facia, the sideskirts, the different rear wing ('course, I'd delete the wing altogether). Now, re-engineer that ridiculous trunk and bring the price down, and maybe we'll talk...
- novicius -
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RE: The 2005 Pontiac GTO: THE NEW GOAT GETS MORE MUSCLE!
'05 GTO is my dream car.
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'05 Cobalt 5 Speed - Lease, everyday beater when its not in the shop, shoulda got a Dodge...
RE: The 2005 Pontiac GTO: THE NEW GOAT GETS MORE MUSCLE!
