GTO is going bye bye...

That's too bad. Seems like they almost got it just right, but not close enough for people to really buy 'em up. GM has a nasty habit of not getting cars right for the first few years and then killing them off right when/before they get them all sorted out. IMO they didn't make it special-looking enough to appeal to the target market; hard to sell sleepers in the age of bling.
 
I think the adaption of a widened body would have faired well for the car. It would have allowed some nice rubber out back and wheels with a nice muscular lip on them.
 
Here is my way of looking at this in a positive persepctive....Get rid of the GTO bring the Firebird back. Look how much hype the Camaro caused, here is the chance for pontiac to bring back the firebird and boost sales. Just my .02 of course
 
I believe this was decided a while ago. When they axed the 2007 platform it was going to move to. I think the kappa platform? I can't recall the specifics. But Holden has already said their farewell to the current platform. With nothing to move to, it was sort of unofficially the end of the GTO.



You mentioned one thing I think is odd about the car, that's the tire width. A car with 400hp needs more than 235-sized rubber. The CTS-V is the same way, apparently wider stuff just doesn't fit. :nixweiss



Edit: Here's the Holden release about it from last August:

http://media.gm.com/servlet/Gateway...monthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=21&docid=16799



It does seem too bad the car is gone. It's a nice car and a lot of bang for the buck. I wonder how sales have been for 2006? There aren't a lot of discounts on them or anything.
 
Joshua312 said:
Here is my way of looking at this in a positive persepctive....Get rid of the GTO bring the Firebird back. Look how much hype the Camaro caused, here is the chance for pontiac to bring back the firebird and boost sales. Just my .02 of course
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If they want to boost sales, offer a cheap V6 base model. I'd bet the GTO sells more than the Firebird sold in V8 trim (though I don't know that for fact).
 
Aurora40 said:
You mentioned one thing I think is odd about the car, that's the tire width. A car with 400hp needs more than 235-sized rubber. The CTS-V is the same way, apparently wider stuff just doesn't fit. :nixweiss
Click to expand...





This seems to be a big blow to two otherwise GREAT cars. I have driven both (hard) and I'd buy the V in a heartbeat! The lack of rubber seems to show more with the goat than the V IMO in stock form.
 
The GTO is the 'poster boy' car that totally describes what is wrong with GM today. Cars like the GTO typify the GM slump.



GM has to build cars people want to buy!! 'WANT' to buy, with a 'gotta have it' factor. as someone pointed out, they should have had a home run here, but fell big time in the 'looks' department.



Even the C6, is kinda uninspiring, when they could have went to more extreme exterior shape etc..



one just has to look at dodge, for case in point....although they are fad vehicles, they sell like crazy.



GM has rested on its laurels, and keep relying on the baby boomers (whose parents always bought Gm cars!) but today is different and change is needed.



Look at the Buick Lacrosse, yeah great a 10 yr old V8 , and front drive. When the rest of the world is going to rear drive.....holy 'cash' cow.



i've rambled enough,, and yes i am GM fan, owning three.
 
Accumulator said:
Seems like they almost got it just right, but not close enough for people to really buy 'em up. GM has a nasty habit of not getting cars right for the first few years and then killing them off right when/before they get them all sorted out. IMO they didn't make it special-looking enough to appeal to the target market;
Click to expand...



You took the words right out of my mouth!
 
Aurora40 said:
I believe this was decided a while ago. When they axed the 2007 platform it was going to move to. I think the kappa platform? I can't recall the specifics. But Holden has already said their farewell to the current platform. With nothing to move to, it was sort of unofficially the end of the GTO.



You mentioned one thing I think is odd about the car, that's the tire width. A car with 400hp needs more than 235-sized rubber. The CTS-V is the same way, apparently wider stuff just doesn't fit. :nixweiss



Edit: Here's the Holden release about it from last August:

http://media.gm.com/servlet/Gateway...monthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=21&docid=16799



It does seem too bad the car is gone. It's a nice car and a lot of bang for the buck. I wonder how sales have been for 2006? There aren't a lot of discounts on them or anything.
Click to expand...



Actually, they're 245/45/17s... not much of a difference, but just a small correction. About the biggest tire you can fit under the car without rolling the fender lips is about 8 inches, which the stock wheels/tires are. The offset on the hub (I think its around 40mm) doesn't afford much in the way of aftermarket offerings, especially with a lip. There are some, however.



I love my GTO for what it is. It's so much nicer on the inside than anything else I could get for the price that has 400 hp... which is, well, nothing. I'll be sad to see it go, but that'll just mean less cars on the road like mine.



GM needs to take a look at what SRT is doing for Dodge. Those are some very exciting cars, and if the new Charger wasn't so ugly, I'd be all over an SRT8 Charger. When the new Challenger comes out, it very well may get me out of the seat of my GTO.
 
I firmly believe had GM called the rebadged Monaro anything but a GTO they would be selling like hotcakes.



Its not a GTO but is still a damn fine car.
 
1 Clean WS6 said:
I firmly believe had GM called the rebadged Monaro anything but a GTO they would be selling like hotcakes.



Its not a GTO but is still a damn fine car.
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I have to agree with you there. I can admit the looks certainly aren't for everyone, but since I've come up close and personal with mine, I have really grown to appreciate its proportions. It's all in the details on the car.



Just out of curiosity... what exactly would constitute a GTO? Last I checked, mine was in fact a GTO :xyxthumbs Obviously, it would be more convincing if it weren't rebadged. However, it does share a lot in common with the original in terms of drivetrain layout, understated looks (we're talking the original here, not the Judge) and power.
 
Aurora40 said:
If they want to boost sales, offer a cheap V6 base model. I'd bet the GTO sells more than the Firebird sold in V8 trim (though I don't know that for fact).
Click to expand...







exactly, the new mustangs that are selling..alot of them are 6 bangers :2thumbs: ...and about the goat going out with style i believe it, as did the camaro and the transam :spot ...plus i would be all for bringing back the transam....man i kick myself everyday i had the chance to buy a 8 cylinder, 6spd, black on black with i believe t-tops..dont remember it was the final year for cheap...last one on the lot.....and i mean it was so cheap it was probaly stolen :chuckle: .....please bring back the transam...i sooooo want a car with flip up lights :usa
 
jchetty said:
exactly, the new mustangs that are selling..alot of them are 6 bangers
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This has always been the reason why Ford sells more Mustangs than Camaros and Firebirds combined...V6 fleet sales. Go look at your local rental car lot (particularly Hertz)and I bet you see countless V6 Mustangs.



BlackSunshine said:
Obviously, it would be more convincing if it weren't rebadged.
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That is my main sticking point with the car. No creative effort was applied to it and with a car as important and legendary as the GTO is...that is a travisty.
 
steck said:
Even the C6, is kinda uninspiring, when they could have went to more extreme exterior shape etc..
Click to expand...



I have to disagree with you on that. the Z06 IMO is probably one of the most aggressive looking cars out there. Not to mention the deal of century. Performance of a F430 for half the price.
 
the new v6 dropped in the mustang is no slouch either compared to the last few generations of v6's in mustangs..
 
Have you tried to get a V8 Mustang? They still sell all of them and its rare to find them on the lot. Occasionally you can find a V8, Auto vert. Ford builds a ton more V6's and its the older people and chicks that buy many of them, they want the style but dont want/need the V8 performance and fuel mileage.



The GTO seems like a nice car, but they should have sold it as what it is and not used a classic muscle car name.
 
i say put the people in charge of the Corvette in charge of a few other things for a couple years. the Corvette is the one thing done consistantly right by Chevy/GM for 40 years
 
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