2005 GTO? Or an '04 with mods?

[Raven]

I'm really getting into the '05 GTO. But I also have found some unbelievable bargains on the '04's, plus a few used ones.

IF you were considering a new GTO, would you go with the '05 (which will be ~$31k+) or an '04 to save some serious bucks?

I was thinking about an '04 with an aftermarket hood on it to help the plain-jane looks. Here's one version (by MPD) that is really awesome and is what should have been on the car from day one, in my view!

 

[RBE17]

If I were to buy one, I'd go w/ the '04 and take the saved money and use it for mods. Let's face it, how long will it actually stay stock?

Later,


Steve.

 

[BoostKillsStres]

Just me, but I'd like to see something that looked a bit more different than a 2 door GrandPrix/GrandAm w/ a hood scoop.

 

[Little6pack]

Make mine a 69 Judge please

 

[tc86gn]

Buy a grand am and save your money. The car has no class. It looks like a soccer mom car!!

 

[strikeeagle]

There's no question what I'd do, because I already did it. On 12/13/04 I bought an '04 Barbados/Black M6. For $13,909 (!!!) under MSRP.

The car is AMAZING. And in 23 months, when I give it back to GM, if the picture looks the same, I'll buy an '06 or '07 with an LS2 or LS7 or whatever the then current power plant is.

IF ANY TR OWNER IS EVEN REMOTELY INTERESTED IN A GTO FOR DIRT CHEAP, FORGET THE CRAP THE RAGS SPEW, GET OFF YOU DUFF NOW AND GET TO YOUR LOCAL PONTIAC STORE. THESE CARS ARE DRYING UP EXTREMELY FAST AND THE DEALS ARE OFF 1/3/05...

 

[jpratt]

When I first saw the 'new' GTO in a articel, I showed it to my wife and she said " Oh a new Cavalier." Since then I cnat stand to look at them. They all look alike and I do not think I would own one unless it was heavily modded and looked different than the rest.

 

[strikeeagle]

jpratt,

Your Cavalier camparison underscores one of the MANY beauties of the GTO. It is "every-car". NOBODY has the foggiest clue what it is. People pull up to you at a stoplight or in traffic in you name it, never suspecting you have an LS1/Tremec T56/Dana, and you can absolutely humiliate them. It's, well, HILARIOUS.

These cars are so much more stealthy than my GN. EVERYBODY knows what a GN is and NOBODY will take it on. With the Goat everybody thinks I'm driving the latest jellybean. Yeah - a jellybean that goes 13.1 in the quarter!!!

One ride with me through a little traffic and you'd have a permanent SEG. Don't fall for the conventional wisdom people espouse. Go drive one, then tell me what you think. These cars are (IMO) the best kept secret in automobiledom - totally misunderstood. And they are selling for under $20K. It's like the late 60s all over again...

 

[ledzeppac]

They might drive great but they look stupid

 

[strikeeagle]

I'm paying $106.77 per month on a 23 month Smart Buy. Up front money? $67.50. THAT'S IT - CAR, FREIGHT, TTL...

So, for $2,455.71 I'm driving a brand new GTO for 23 months. I'll leave it at that. If you don't get down to Pontiac and drive one you're missing a blue moon opportunity. I know some of the TR faithful have already picked up on these deals. Good for you, ladies and gentlemen! I'll see you on the GTO, LS1, etc. boards, and on the road. For the rest of you, free your mind, and be rewarded...

 

[JDSfastGN]

I would get the 05 if you have the money for it, but the cheaper 04s with a cam/longtubes will run mid to low 12s or so. Both are a great deal for the car. Don't listen to the haters, the things they say about the GTO can be said by the misinformed about our cars, they look a lot like other Gbodies to non car people. The GTOs are awesome packages with good looks and awesome interiors. I'm a big fan of the 05s new rear facia/dual outlets, and the sport package front end with the autocross grille and bumper. Ill take one in black and no spoiler

 

[TurboJunky]

The only new GTO I'd buy would look a lot like an '05 Mustang.

I liken the designers at GM to students in a high school drafting class compared to those at Ford. GM's not thinking "outside the box". Because of that they're getting kicked in the "box".

 

[strikeeagle]

Fair enough. As a practical matter, I thank you for hating the GTO. Otherwise, I wouldn't own one, as I couldn't justify paying $553.16 plus per month for 60 months, depending upon APR. And get this, PLUS $2,805.68 TTL here in The Empire State. As it is, my total outlay for 23 months is less than the TTL would be on an MSRP purchase.

That Mustang would have to be awfully, awfully nice under present circumstances...

 

[jpratt]

Strikeagle,

I hear what you are saying. Most people in my part of the state have no idea what a GN is. I could go out and buy a plain jane Contour and supercharge it, NOS it and whatever else and whoop up on everybody else in town. But it is still not something that would be proud to own. People see the GN as an odd vehicle and they ask questions. With the GTO the might ask q's after they get caught up to you at the next stoplight. BUt in the GN I can go slow and cruise or whoop em and still impress most people. I also have a 99 GT vert, a Dodge Cummins, and a Durango, ofcourse they are run of the mill everyones got one. To me the GTO looks too much like everything else out there. Maybe in 18 years when all the Cavaliers are gone and the GTO is still tearing up the street I might think different. I would never dis anyone for driving what they think is a nice car. I have after all been beaten by an 80's POS Suburban in the 1/4.

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Originally posted by strikeeagle
I'm paying $106.77 per month on a 23 month Smart Buy. Up front money? $67.50. THAT'S IT - CAR, FREIGHT, TTL...

So, for $2,455.71 I'm driving a brand new GTO for 23 months. I'll leave it at that.

I've seen some of these lease deals. The claimed residual is idiotic ($21,000!). They'll never be able to get that much for the cars after they're turned it.

I'm seriously considering one... but I'll wait two years, and pick up a lease return with less than 24K on the clock and actually OWN it for ~$17,000. In the meantime, you'll have to cough up 21K if you want to keep yours.

As to them drying up... they aren't. GM can't sell them. The initial price was too high, the dealers marked them up from there and wouldn't let anybody test drive them without cash up front.

As to the original question in the thread...

If you want to buy new, wait for the '05. If you want to save a ton of money, wait for a used '04 to come back from one of these crazy leases.

 

[strikeeagle]

Turbo6inKY,

Yes, my Smart Buy residual is ludicrous - $20,909! No way will the car be worth that in 23 months. However, let me tell you what I think might happen. GM will recognize this (actually, they've already factored it) and hopes to sell me the car in 23 months for much, much less. In fact, I have no plans whatsoever to buy out the car. By then I'll opt for an new GTO with the LS2 or LS7 or whatever it has come the end of 2006. Or, who knows what GM, or Brand X for that matter will be selling then?

Like my salesman said when I broached this question with him, and I agree, lets face it, GM does not want the car back, and they WILL deal.

Just some food for thought.

 

[RobR]

I was going to wait to get an '05 back in '02 when they announced they were going to make them. But I couldn't pass up the deals you could get with them. I bought mine in Sept. when it was $3500 rebate. Now they are really nice with the $5500 you can get.

Pretty much a no brainer

 

[RobR]

Originally posted by jpratt
When I first saw the 'new' GTO in a articel, I showed it to my wife and she said " Oh a new Cavalier." Since then I cnat stand to look at them. They all look alike and I do not think I would own one unless it was heavily modded and looked different than the rest.

That last sentence just cracks me up...coming from a GN owner

 

[NEARING]

LOL.

I'll bet people made the same sort of comments about GN's back in the 80's too.

 

[TClassic]

StrikeEagle,

So in 2 years when the cars Wholesale Worth is 16,000 (Or LESS!!!) YOU then have to Cough up $5,000??????? Good LUCK with that!!! It would be cheaper to RENT the dam thing!