Why does everyone hate the new GTO?

[TRBON8R]

Originally posted by GNSCOTT
Pic of the 1st GTO being loaded on the boat.....Prolly stopping in Hawaii and should hit early to mid december In Cali.

http://www.micro-op.com.au/execls1/gto5.jpg

GM should torpedo that ship and pull the plug on the GTO program to save themselves any further embarrassment from bringing that abortion of a car to the U.S. After that they should euthanize the new Chevy SSR which like the GTO won't last more than a couple model years either. Both projects are just more wasted money from a company that still won't develop a competitive family sedan that can compete with the Camry and Accord. Oh well, at least Caddy is finally getting their act together.

 

[AsphaltAnihil8r]

Caviler with a body kit= GTO

 

[Rogue Leader]

Geeze what would you guys rather have??? a Bunch more front drive ****boxes???

how about a half ass retro job like the T-bird that doesnt sell for crap and loses a ton of money for a company that isnt doing so great in the first place.

This is a step in the right direction, its the beginning of more good things from GM... while its not perfect yet, hey its the first year, Lutz wants to get GM out there and back into this market before it gets stomped on. IMO while the car isnt american built, it is built in the vein of GTO's of yore... regular car with a kick ass motor. If this is just the beginning knowing GM the future should be awesome (remember Turbo Buicks started with a lethargic 3.8 carb turbo).

Just for the Record BTW the last mass produced Pontiac Motor was the 301 turbo...

 

[Gary Wells]

Butt Ugly:
From the side it looks like the old Monza of the 70-80 time frame.
From the rear, the 2 into 1 exhaust with small tailpipes makes it look a little bling-bling importish. Ditto the small white or clear back-up lights.
I swear to God that the badging on the right rear bumper at a distance looks liked it says R7, (they forgot the X, no doubt),
And from the front, it looks like I don't know what, maybe the old carousel cars of the 40's-50's fairs that used to travel the country.
And you guys are going to pay how much for that thing?
Don't be Bogarting the good stuff, pass it around so we can all see what you see.
It might be faster than the old goat, it might out handle the old goat, but the difference stops there. The old goat had class, something that thing will never have.

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by Wells
Butt Ugly:
From the side it looks like the old Monza of the 70-80 time frame.
From the rear, the 2 into 1 exhaust with small tailpipes makes it look a little bling-bling importish. Ditto the small white or clear back-up lights.
I swear to God that the badging on the right rear bumper at a distance looks liked it says R7, (they forgot the X, no doubt),
And from the front, it looks like I don't know what, maybe the old carousel cars of the 40's-50's fairs that used to travel the country.
And you guys are going to pay how much for that thing?
Don't be Bogarting the good stuff, pass it around so we can all see what you see.
It might be faster than the old goat, it might out handle the old goat, but the difference stops there. The old goat had class, something that thing will never have.

WELLS SAID Can't agree more..

 

[GN One Day...]

Originally posted by TRBON8R
GM should torpedo that ship and pull the plug on the GTO program to save themselves any further embarrassment from bringing that abortion of a car to the U.S. After that they should euthanize the new Chevy SSR which like the GTO won't last more than a couple model years either. Both projects are just more wasted money from a company that still won't develop a competitive family sedan that can compete with the Camry and Accord. Oh well, at least Caddy is finally getting their act together.

Damn, you must really love just having FWD 6 cyl's. Kill off the SSR, GTO, F body is already dead. Hope you enjoy your Malibu. Unless you plan to pay for a Vette. I don't think I've heard anyone say drop it, just improve it. Much less sink the boat.

Who gives a crap if its from Australia if it gets it marketed now instead of after a costly 3 year tool up to build it here? They're either coming from Australia or Mexico, what difference does that make? If anyone is waiting for a purely American car, get some raw steel and get to work. That's the only way your going to get one.

Lighten up people.

 

[Red Regal T]

WHAT GTO????? JUST ANOTHER CHEVY. SEEN ONE CHEVY........SEEN 'EM ALL.

 

[Gary Wells]

Originally posted by:
littlesixsteve:
"WELLS SAID Can't agree more"
Please excuse the pun, but I hope that you mean "well said"
and not "Wells said", but I guess that it is no mystery who said that.
Boy, now am I glad that I have that Z06 in the garage.
It does handle, it does go, and at least it has some class.
I would gladly take 2 gns over 1 new GTO. Maybe there is something wrong with me.

 

[Turbonics]

Maybe the 04 GTO won't do any worse as a hybrid step-child than the 1974, which as we remember, combined a Nova platform with a Mach 1 shaker hood.

04 GTO buyers can look forward to being spanked by high-schoolers in Neons (20K), and MEGA-SERIOUSLY spanked by any STi (31K).

 

[TRBON8R]

Originally posted by GN One Day...
Damn, you must really love just having FWD 6 cyl's. Kill off the SSR, GTO, F body is already dead. Hope you enjoy your Malibu. Unless you plan to pay for a Vette. I don't think I've heard anyone say drop it, just improve it. Much less sink the boat.

Who gives a crap if its from Australia if it gets it marketed now instead of after a costly 3 year tool up to build it here? They're either coming from Australia or Mexico, what difference does that make? If anyone is waiting for a purely American car, get some raw steel and get to work. That's the only way your going to get one.

Lighten up people.

I'll pass on the front drive thanks. However, I don't think we should drip all over the GTO and proclaim it the holy grail of automobiles simply because it comes from GM and is rear wheel drive. Wake up GM, the Krauts have been kicking your ass with fun to drive sport coupes and sedans for the last 20 years plus! Yeah, we all know about the Vette, but I'm talking about sport coupes that actually seat more than 2 people without enduring the compromises of a sportscar like the Vette. Also, the German offerings don't rattle themselves apart like an F-Body (been there and done that).

I'm not going to praise GM for finally offering us a rear drive sport coupe that looks like a half used bar of Dial soap. They have the engineering talent to do better if they really wanted to. Unfortunately somehow it always seems that the bean counters reign supreme over the engineers at GM and second best usually rolls out the door. The GTO is a patched together stopgap effort from Bob Lutz because it was the easy thing to do. It was a quick and dirty fix to plug a rear drive car into the Pontiac lineup. Like most things of GM origin it was just another half-hearted attempt. Just the opinion of a GM guy that wishes they would pull their head out and start aiming their sights a bit higher. It's long past the time for GM to beat rather than just try to meet the competition.

 

[I eat Z06]

Well since you all seem to hate the new GTO. Since caddy is goin all rear wheel drive the Monte SS will be available with the 300 hp motor in two years. I think the GTO looks better than any other Pontiac. The best rear wheel drive non Z06 GM vehicle is the new CTS. It has the Z06 motor with a six speed and is available for the 04 year.

Nick

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by Wells
Originally posted by:
littlesixsteve:
"WELLS SAID Can't agree more"
Please excuse the pun, but I hope that you mean "well said"

What Wells said was "well said"

Z06 I will take one

 

[MeanBuicks]

The 2004 GTO has NO passion...

That's the problem. I don't think most folks are wanting retro styling, just passionate styling. Give the car some personality. And while hoodscoops would be a nice throwback, it could be done without them. Example: Pontiac Solstice.

Here is a concept car near & dear to Bob Lutz. He's trying to see it through to production. Granted, it's slated to be a 4-cyl, RWD roadster but just look at it. It's aggressive. It's sexy. It's interesting. It has attitude.

I guess there's still somebody there at GM with some taste and talent. Cut him loose on the 2005 Goat, please.

 

[Tom Tom Turbo]

GM has some great ideas....on paper. Then when everything boils down, we get shafted on the final product. When the SSR concept came out it, they stuffed the 6.0 in it and it looked like a hauler. Then it came out...with the 5.3 and $4000 more than what they said it would be.

Enter the new GTO...this time we get hosed on the styling department. It seems GM took a Cavalier, hooked a 3500 HD on each end and started pulling. They got the drivetrain right, but screwed up the whole looks department.

Look at the Chevy SS concept and tell me that wouldn't sell as a replacement to the Impala SS. It seems the other companies are jumping ship from the ordinary before GM does.

My votes for best cars/concepts out right now:

1. Mazda RX8
2. Ford 427 concept
3. Caddy CTS-V
4. ZO6
5. GTP comp G

 

[I eat Z06]

I tottally agree with tom. I hate to say this but ford is comin out with better looking and performing vehicles than gm right now. They have the GT (frickin awsome), retro mustang (finally looks good and performs), next gen lightning, marauder, Jag XJR, Jag XKR, Jag S-Type R, and the new Aston Martins. Their design teams are making their concepts come to life unlike gm. I give kudo's to all their brands performance teams. GM needs to take notice. The Silverado would whoop the SH*T out of the Lightning if GM supercharged the 6.0. If you look at pics it is almost identical to the concept truck. The GTO does need some styling ques, like more straight edges. But I am glad they didnt go retro. The powerplant and drivetrain are in a nice spot, and the body is conservative when it should be a little on the wild side. Caddy is making a name for itself in performance with the new CTS. Changing all of their vehicles to RWD. Finnally the monte's get a supercharged engine this year. If my 01 SS had a supercharger maybe I wouldnt have sold it for the WRX. Waiting for the next gen Vette, first time since 1962 to not have flip up head lights. Another area that GM needs to worry about is diamler chrysler. The new rwd cars are mostly Benz underneath (crossfire). There are many more to come. The SRT 10 truck is sweet, Viper, Crossfire is good lookin, Hemi car, new durango, and the full size car line up is converting to rwd thanks to Benz. GM GET OFF OF YOUR ASS! Start making the best vehicles in the world again. Like a new GNX (there was a concept) We want them.

Nick

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

Originally posted by Turbonics
Maybe the 04 GTO won't do any worse as a hybrid step-child than the 1974, which as we remember, combined a Nova platform with a Mach 1 shaker hood.

04 GTO buyers can look forward to being spanked by high-schoolers in Neons (20K), and MEGA-SERIOUSLY spanked by any STi (31K).

some people just don't care about winning every race. Last time i checked, streetracing, still illegal! You can only go so fast without getting a ticket, wrecking or killing someone. Maybe i don't wanna buy a cobra, maybe i don't want a Lezbaru, maybe i don't want a neon. To say it will get spanked my an STi on the street is ridiculous, you are banking on everyone knowing how to drive a stick right. First hand knowledge of someone gettin their ass handed to them in an STi casue they couldn't drive. Having more power or more potential isn't a garentee of anything.

About caddy getting it right? wrong! lost respect for caddy when they started making trucks and can't remember what chrome is. The newer caddys look like prototypes thats never got finished. Ugly headlights!!!

How much longer are we gonna have to hear about the cobra? regardless of how fast it is, its still a mustang and they are everywhere. I just can't stand to look at another one and i don't care if it has an allison aircraft engine in it. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T LIKE MUSTANGS.

 

[Steve Wood]

Re: The 2004 GTO has NO passion...

Originally posted by MeanBuicks
That's the problem. I don't think most folks are wanting retro styling, just passionate styling. Give the car some personality. And while hoodscoops would be a nice throwback, it could be done without them. Example: Pontiac Solstice.

Here is a concept car near & dear to Bob Lutz. He's trying to see it through to production. Granted, it's slated to be a 4-cyl, RWD roadster but just look at it. It's aggressive. It's sexy. It's interesting. It has attitude.

I guess there's still somebody there at GM with some taste and talent. Cut him loose on the 2005 Goat, please.

Ditto...and double ditto what Wells said well. Nice drive train looking for a body. Darn sure ain't no GTO, or what GTO was supposed to stand for. Just an attempt to grab some easy money.

 

[Turbonics]

Investors wanting to put $$ in low-production number cars should flock to the GTO and SSR, because both are doomed to being produced in VERY low numbers, before being mercifully canceled.

Like 'em or don't...they're not going to sell in the numbers projected or required at those prices in a bruised economy just now perhaps beginning a long slow recovery.

Honestly, who wants a V-8 Camry clone for 35-38K?

 

[I eat Z06]

88 Cutty: I agree with you about how to drive a car. An AWD stick is hard to learn. So that guy in the WRX was proably a new driver and/or didnt know how to launch. Are you shure it was an STi, there arnt many around. If the guy knew how to drive the car it proably would have won/ put up a good fight (depending on what you were in). Plenty of places to haul ass, they are called race tracks. They are all over the place, unless it is the off season. And Cadillac is getting it right. The STS, Escalades, XLR, and CTS look sweet. 400 hp in a midsize sedan from the factory with a 6 speed manual and a reputable emblem on the front. I dont see anything wrong with that.

 

[onefastjackass]

I just wish GM would stop being afraid to produce a car that had a high horsepower engine in it that doesn't have corvette on it.

What I mean is that ever since the turbo bucks came out faster then the corvette and pi$$ed off all the vette owners GM has been afraid to put the top dog engine they make into anything so all you get is a watered down version.

GM needs to relise that the corvette is all about handling and prestige and not abut straight line.They should make a fullsize car with performance in mind.