GTO is going bye bye...

[Hemi57]

When they first released the Monaro here in OZ there was a choice of the Gen III 5.7 and the Supercharged 3.8 V6. No-one would buy the SCV6 so it was dropped real quick.



The local media says the Camaro concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show was based on the Holden developed Zeta platform and that Australia may get the US built coupe imported here and badged Monaro.

 

[klnyc]

Man, put back the Monte Carlo SS with RWD.

If GM retro Goat, I bet the selling probably alot better than its now. :sosad

 

[WSUcommuter]

I always thought the "GTO" would flop in current form. The 5.7L version wasn't spicy enough to overcome the "I look somewhat like a Cavalier but bigger/Yawn" style, so GM stuck the 6.0 in the car and a new hood. This is not enough for a car with the culture and crowd following that deserves the GTO name, and I believe the public has spoken (look at the sales).

 

[TGates]

I always thought the "GTO" would flop in current form. The 5.7L version wasn't spicy enough to overcome the "I look somewhat like a Cavalier but bigger/Yawn" style, so GM stuck the 6.0 in the car and a new hood. This is not enough for a car with the culture and crowd following that deserves the GTO name, and I believe the public has spoken (look at the sales).

Have you driven one? Ah, nevermind :geez

 

[Ben Kenobi]

Have you driven one? Ah, nevermind :geez

I agree, if you haven't driven one don't jump to any conclusions. I'm just ticked that we never had them sold by GM Canada as they felt that it wasn't worth the sales to bring the GTO in. To me the styling looks subtle and clean. I'm getting to the point where I don't need boy racer styling and I'd prefer something that doesn't draw attention of the federales. IMHO it was the perfect stealth grand touring auto. It's fast, comfortable, handles well and doesn't scream "Pull me over and give me a ticket"!



I'm envious of the members that were able to buy one!



Over and out for now. :2thumbs:

 

[gbackus]

Why is everyone complaining about the GTO being a rebadged Monaro, the original was nothing but a freakin' Pontiac Tempest!. It was an old folks car that had a big engine thrown in it!

 

[TGates]

I agree, if you haven't driven one don't jump to any conclusions. I'm just ticked that we never had them sold by GM Canada as they felt that it wasn't worth the sales to bring the GTO in. To me the styling looks subtle and clean. I'm getting to the point where I don't need boy racer styling and I'd prefer something that doesn't draw attention of the federales. IMHO it was the perfect stealth grand touring auto. It's fast, comfortable, handles well and doesn't scream "Pull me over and give me a ticket"!



I'm envious of the members that were able to buy one!



Over and out for now. :2thumbs:

:tribe: Amen.

 

[hOAGART]

Long live the Mustang !!!! (Sorry im partial to the new ones )



Actually im thinking of selling it now that the fiancee isint working FT for 2 years

 

[TGates]

Long live the Mustang !!!! (Sorry im partial to the new ones )



Actually im thinking of selling it now that the fiancee isint working FT for 2 years

What's a Mustang? :getdown

 

[hOAGART]

<---- That bad boy RIGHT THERE !! :woohoo:

 

[Scottwax]

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).

Huh? Then you'd have a slower, V6 powered car that looks like a slightly larger Cavalier.



I seriously don't get V6 pony cars.



The biggest problem the GTO had was its unfortunate reseambalance to the Cavalier's exterior. The inside is completely different, however I think a lot of people just expected a performance sedan to have more distinctive styling.

 

[TGates]

Huh? Then you'd have a slower, V6 powered car that looks like a slightly larger Cavalier.



I seriously don't get V6 pony cars.



The biggest problem the GTO had was its unfortunate reseambalance to the Cavalier's exterior. The inside is completely different, however I think a lot of people just expected a performance sedan to have more distinctive styling.

True, but you also have one that is much more affordable at MSRP and for insurance, gas, etc. Ford uses those V6 Mustang sales to cushion their budget for GTs and Cobras.



Those of us who actually care how a car performs and take into consideration its driving dynamics before purchasing seem to be far and few between. Give Joe Schmo a car with a Mustang, GTO, Firebird, Camaro, Challenger, et al. badge with a 200hp V6, cheap plastic wheel covers and a low budget automatic transmission and they couldn't be happier behind the wheel of their "pony car." It makes me kinda sick, but that's just the way it is.



The car company's gotta make its profit somewhere. GM is in trouble, and I sure hope they can turn the company around. At one point not too long ago they were selling every Corvette they could produce during the C5 era. I'm not sure if that's still the case, but they desperately need the new Tahoe to be a hit so that there is any chance of them bringing some exciting cars to the market place in the near future.



The SRT cars are exciting and the Pontiac Solstice is, well, cool I guess, especially the Turbo version coming out. I just hope GM can move in the right direction from here (and pay special attention to SRT).

 

[WSUcommuter]

a low budget automatic transmission and they couldn't be happier behind the wheel of their "pony car."

So the 4-speed automatic used in the GTO is an example of a superior new design in automatic transmissions?

 

[hOAGART]

Well i do have the 6, but it is manual transmisison

 

[WSUcommuter]

No I have not driven a newer GTO but neither has 95% of the buying public. You have to draw people to your product or it flops like the GTO did, plain and simple. I can ramble off performance stats about the car all day long, such as the following (for 2005):



GTO

400 hp @ 6000

400 torque @ 4400

4-speed automatic

0-60 in 6.0

13.92 quarter mile



Versus, say a Mustang GT

300 hp @ 5700

320 torque @ 4500

5-speed automatic

0-60 in 6.18

14.31 quarter mile



Those stats didn't draw me to the GTO (which I and many others find bland and boring as previously stated) but the looks of the Stang compelled me to go drive one of them. I'm not saying the numbers do not impress, but everything else is too dull. Again, the buying public has spoken. If all else, it might keep the resale of the GTOs already purchased up in the future- so killing this car might not be so bad.

 

[TGates]

So the 4-speed automatic used in the GTO is an example of a superior new design in automatic transmissions?

When did I every imply that? I was speaking in terms of the automatic slush boxes offered with the V6 engines in the mustang and f-body. The GTO's unit is a helluva lot nicer unit than many of the other automatic offerings in the same price range and ones that are handling the same amount of power.

 

[MongooseGA]

True, but you also have one that is much more affordable at MSRP and for insurance, gas, etc. Ford uses those V6 Mustang sales to cushion their budget for GTs and Cobras.



Those of us who actually care how a car performs and take into consideration its driving dynamics before purchasing seem to be far and few between. Give Joe Schmo a car with a Mustang, GTO, Firebird, Camaro, Challenger, et al. badge with a 200hp V6, cheap plastic wheel covers and a low budget automatic transmission and they couldn't be happier behind the wheel of their "pony car." It makes me kinda sick, but that's just the way it is.

This would be why most of the kids at my high school think they're the sh*t with their V6 Mustangs and F-Bods.



Chick cars. There was no such thing as a legendary V6 muscle car.

 

[TGates]

No I have not driven a newer GTO but neither has 95% of the buying public. You have to draw people to your product or it flops like the GTO did, plain and simple. I can ramble off performance stats about the car all day long, such as the following (for 2005):



GTO

400 hp @ 6000

400 torque @ 4400

4-speed automatic

0-60 in 6.0

13.92 quarter mile



Versus, say a Mustang GT

300 hp @ 5700

320 torque @ 4500

5-speed automatic

0-60 in 6.18

14.31 quarter mile



Those stats didn't draw me to the GTO (which I and many others find bland and boring as previously stated) but the looks of the Stang compelled me to go drive one of them. I'm not saying the numbers do not impress, but everything else is too dull. Again, the buying public has spoken. If all else, it might keep the resale of the GTOs already purchased up in the future- so killing this car might not be so bad.

0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds? What, starting in second gear? I've seen quarter mile times as low as 13.2 in person for the LS2 GTO's. Please don't break out the bench racer magazine articles.



You're proving the point myself and many other enthusiast GTO owners have been trying to prove for some time now. You rely on stats to draw you to/away from a car? The bottom line is that the GTO never was and never will be for everybody. If you'd rather drive a Mustang GT (which, coincidentally, I find the new ones to be hideous) like 95% of the rest of the people out there, that's fine. I'd personally rather drive the 400 hp/400 ft-lb torque car myself, with understated looks and collectability rather than hop behind the wheel of a Mustang. (I've owned two Mustangs in the past.... never again.)



No one ever said the GTO wasn't bland. Boring? Better take one for a drive before drawing such conclusions. There's more to a car than straight line speed and often times, there is more to a car than meets the eye. Again, drive one and see.



I'm not trying to start a pissing match here, but I don't have much tolerance for people bashing the GTO without having ever even driven one, or even ridden in one. If you don't like the looks, that's fine. Is that reason enough to write it off as a poser mobile? Hardly.





Disclaimer-- If you drive a Mustang, please don't take anything I've said about the Mustang the wrong way. I'll go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you purchased your car on more than just looks/name.

 

[TGates]

...there was no such thing as a legendary V6 muscle car.

Save for a select few Buicks, I would have to agree.

 

[WSUcommuter]

When did I every [sic] imply that? I was speaking in terms of the automatic slush boxes offered with the V6 engines in the mustang and f-body :hm

Maybe so, but you ignored the low budget 4L65E that appears in automatic GTO. It should also be pointed out that on the newest Mustangs with the 4.0 come with a 5-speed automatic instead of ever-aging 4 speed units.