Saw the new GTO Cavalier today

[Lhorn]

You guys are pretty harsh coming from a "grandma's car"crowd. The only thing a GN had going for it was it was fast and the black paint made it look better. Very boxy, uninspired body, non handling and braking car.

OUCH!!! He's got a point however.

I kinda like it. The exterior is rather uninspired and really doesn't stand out much, but I don't find it to unattractive at all. It's got the basis of an excellant performance car though and to me that's what counts. Good horsepower (with a huge aftermarket to make it an absolute beast), IRS, 6 speed, RWD. Attractive interior and well optioned.

 

[Grant National]

I remember when GM didn't have any rear wheel drive performance cars with 350 h.p. I think it is a step in the right direction.... I wonder what the GMS pricing is on these cars?... Still I'd take the CTS-V over this one I think...

 

[Pronto]

Well, it's rwd and has a V8. I guess anyone that likes GM products should be thankfull. It's looks are not the greatest. I don't have the money for one so it doesn't matter to me. If one dropped into my garage though I wouldn't kick it out.

 

[2 QK 4 U]

Originally posted by RobR
You guys are pretty harsh coming from a "grandma's car"crowd. The only thing a GN had going for it was it was fast and the black paint made it look better. Very boxy, uninspired body, non handling and braking car.

I'll be ordering an 05 GTO

HEY ! Back off !

That's why I have the Olds 88 to make it not look as bad

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by Lhorn
OUCH!!! He's got a point however.

I don't know. GM did enough with grandma's Regal to set it apart from the sea of other mid-sized cars back then. The monochrome paint really made it stick out among all the chrome-bumpered/trimmed stuff back in the 80s. Dual exhaust, hood bulge and badging that stood out.

I personally don't think that GM did enough with the GTO to make it stand out. At least put a scoop with nostrils on it like every other GTO made (except the Ventura-based ones with the shakers). If you think about it though, I guess they have done more with this car than they did with the original GTOs in setting them apart from the Tempests/LeMans'.

Evidently a local store owner has had one for months. Parks in the same place every day at the mall. I didn't notice it until my brother pointed it out over the weekend. I must've driven past it 100 times. That says it all for me.

Jim

 

[2 QK 4 U]

Amen turbojimmy !

 

[MeanBuicks]

Originally posted by toofastforyou
Let's face it : it's true that the older '60's GTO's were beautiful musclecars, but times have changed, and now, it's time for more aerodynamic body styles, with better road handling than the squared body lines and bias-belted tires

Originally posted by Lhorn
I kinda like it. The exterior is rather uninspired and really doesn't stand out much, but I don't find it to unattractive at all.

Originally posted by Pronto
Well, it's rwd and has a V8. I guess anyone that likes GM products should be thankfull.

These quotes are very typical when the new GTO is discussed. Folks are having to 'settle' for the bland appearance. They justify it because it's been so long since GM has offered a RWD, intermediate performance coupe.

Let me leave you with this thought and then I'm done.

There's something seriously wrong when a car company puts a better looking face on their minivan than on their flagship musclecar!

Case-in-point: 2003 Pontiac Montana

 

[PhilthMonger]

the looks are very subjective, however I love the whole package. It is a total sleeper, which falls in line with my current choice of drivers (GN/GVR4) I'm currently shopping for a new car, given my financial situation 30k or so is what I'm looking on spending for a car. I think it's the best bang for the buck out there right now. before the release of the GTO, I was looking at different cars ranging from a G35 to an Evo to an STI to a used C5....I have to say that anything with a corvette drivetrain for around 30k is a steal to me. I loved the Holden Monaro, I think I would have that front bumper sitting in my garage BEFORE I take delivery of my new GTO

 

[2 QK 4 U]

The Montana is nice looking....maybe they should just put the GTO ls1 drivetrain in the Montana?? with slicks and good weather it should run hi 13's....with the family in it maybe 14.5s 4500 lb minivan with 350 hp.....

Heck, I'm a single guy and thinking about buying one....lol

 

[monaroCountry]

The monochrome paint really made it stick out among all the chrome-bumpered/trimmed stuff back in the 80s. Dual exhaust, hood bulge and badging that stood out.

So what your saying is that these add ons made the car look different. Whereas you dont/cant see the new gto different from other gm cars? when the gto shares NOTHING exterior wise with any other pontiacs?

Be honest, forget about the generic fron end (can help that one) and this new gto looks nothing like any other pontiac.

Question
1/ GTO from holden + no scoops = cav
2/ cav+ scoop different colored bumper = sportscar that looks nothing like a cav?

 

[AsphaltAnihil8r]

LETS FACE IS THE CAV IS UGLY,, THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE THE PONTIAC G-8

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by monaroCountry
So what your saying is that these add ons made the car look different. Whereas you dont/cant see the new gto different from other gm cars? when the gto shares NOTHING exterior wise with any other pontiacs?

Be honest, forget about the generic fron end (can help that one) and this new gto looks nothing like any other pontiac.

Question
1/ GTO from holden + no scoops = cav
2/ cav+ scoop different colored bumper = sportscar that looks nothing like a cav?

I really don't see anything different about the GTO than a Grand Prix. It looks like a Grand Prix to me. All the Pontiacs are starting to look alike.

Actually, if they had taken a Grand Prix and added scoops and different badging (like they did with the Tempests back in the day) it would have been better cosmetically, IMO.

I can't answer your questions - I didn't make the Cavalier statement.

Jim

 

[Little6pack]

DISGUSTING!

I saw it again today.. One exhaust pipe out the rear LOL! GM needs to get real!

 

[dhauser]

I stood right next to a brand new one yesterday. El bland-o y me no purchase-o. Yuck!

 

[GNSCOTT]

I think the point most are trying to make when they say it looks like a Cav, Sunfire, GP, etc is that the styling is the same old tired styling if the late 80's through today. Its just drab looking, your paying $34k for a look that better look pretty damn dated pretty damn soon (or GM is in trouble). I did a little calculating and found that you can get a brand new C5 cheaper than the GTO. Kerbeck in Jersey (nations biggest vette dealer) is offering huge discounts with some ultra low financing that would make a new C5's payments cheaper than the GTO. I know, 2 different cars altogether. Just thought it was kinda weird that a vette could be cheaper.

 

[CM_Ls1]

"looks like a cavalier"

thats gotta be the most ignorant statement i've ever heard of.

isn't the cavalier a tiny 4 cyl coupe, front wheel drive powered ?

what just because the GTO is a modern coupe, that automatically makes it a cavalier (even though there is an obvious size difference between them.)

 

[Raven]

The new GTO could have been so much more. One thing it is NOT is a true "Goat".

It's visual personality is nothing short of "Oh well".

What a waste of a good drivetrain.

 

[CM_Ls1]

its not a true goat , like as if goats had a particular "look"

64 had a look, then the 65-66-77 had another look, then the 68-69 had yet again a different body...

it seems to me the look of the GTO was of the mainstream pontiacs of the time, eg tempest, lemans , etc etc .. with the biggest motor of the time.

OHHH its the scoops.. it needs scoops, is that what you mean ? and splitter tail pipes, that would make the car a GTO would it ?

 

[CM_Ls1]

there ya go !!! scoops

 

[gn85]

Originally posted by CM_Ls1
there ya go !!! scoops

Functional? Or decoration?