This is for guys that are on the the fence about getting rid of their F-Car and going GTO....If u can offord to keep the F-car that would be a mute point,Anyway........


GTO
Fit and finish is awesome,ride confort is bmw like,the car does not shake or make noise and soaks up the miles effortlessly..Steering BLOWS,its slow and has no feedback,the body rolls in corners but suprizingly it handles fairly well for a heavy car.Stereo sucks,No door locks and the window buttons are in the wrong place,the car is tight and after 10K miles it only had a very small amout of rattles..IMO its a drivers car,its not a muscle car (I dont care what moniker is on the fender)

Final opinion if your feeling like u want to drive a 45K BMW,get the GTO with its muscular V8.It'll saok up miles of rode and put a BIG smile on your face...


F-Car
Fit and finsh in my opinion is good ,not on par with a GTO but still good.Ride is harsh,tight and noisy..Car rattles for sure and moves around on bumps alittle bit,steering is precise and excellent,handling is the same with no real body roll..Stereo is awesome for stock,button and controls are in the right spot but are not as well designed as the GTO.This is not a muscle car either but more of a good handing,boy race type car...Looks department,well the F-Car with its hood and wheels along with its rear spoiler has it all over the GTO,Again just my opinion.

Final opinion,Feeling young at heart and like the looks u get when drivng a F-Car because believe me I've gotten at least 20 in the last day and was stopped 3 times by a few people with the "WOW that is beautiful line."

Want raw,good handling,precise steering with road feel..
Stay with an F-Car..

Bottom line u cant go wrong with either......

 

As long as it had a LS1, its a upgrade in my book,

Well said.

 

Very different cars...if I had to drive one everyday, it'd be the GTO without a doubt. The F body is a better weekend car.

I dont understand what you dont like about the GTO stereo, mine is awesome imo. The F body unit on the other hand has crapped out on me twice.

 

UUUU MAID THE RIGHT MOVE JOEL..
GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW RIDE...
SEE THAT LOOOOOOKER AT THE SHOW...

 

this is something thats an individual thing.


as far as a DD a GTO is far better imo. fbodies are much better looking but the build quality and ride arent anywhere close to a GTO. this is my experience.

theyre both great cars and alot of fun so it just depends on what youre looking for.

 

I love 'em all.

 

Pretty good write up JS... I have owned a 2000 Trans Am and currently have the 2004 GTO M6 and you make very clear points, which are fairly easy to agree with!

Having both would have been the ultimate "package" but not feasible for all parties.. money trees seem to have a tough time replenishing once the mod bug gets ya! LoL

I feel the GTO handles and responds better to the road than the f-body did, but perhaps because my Trans Am was lowered with progressive springs, which left me ending up with a pretty much "slammed" car. Although, you'd think that would help with some handling.. With a simple shock/stut swap to Pedders in the GTO it's supposedly unbelievable how the car reacts! I'll find that out later this summer most likely...
Having no door locks does suck in some situations but nothing another press of the key to unlock the passenger side can't solve.
I have heard some issues with the factory stereo, I guess I have a freak car I am yet to hear one. I like the stock sound equipment and find it convenient and up to par to the Monsoon in the f-body!

Truth be told: "Final opinion if your feeling like you want to drive a 45K BMW, get the GTO with its muscular V8. It'll soak up miles of road and put a BIG smile on your face..." That about sums it up... nevermind the SEG after modding it a bit!!!

Thanks for posting your honest opinion between the two cars! Good to hear it from someone that has owned and experienced both for a while, compared to a bunch of people that have never even driven a GTO and bash it any chance they can... ahem BS!

Todd

 

I like both. I guess I'm in the minority and like the stock stereo, sounds pretty good to me. The window buttons didn't bother me as they are in the same place as 3rd gens. Going from the 84 Z28 to 96 WS6 back to a 89 TTA took awhile though The power lock button, or lack thereof, doesn't bother me as much as my wife. I do have the button kit that the '06 cars have, just haven't put it in.

When I first bought mine, it was like driving the WS6 again. The total feel of the car was the same, at least to me. Although it "felt" slower but was actually faster stock: 13.25 vs 13.50.

Quality is definitely in the GTO's favor. But you are somewhat disconnected to the road vs the F-Body. GTO soaks up the road and an F-Body lets you feel everything that's going on. Some like that, I do but not all the time if you know what I mean.

Either way, both are great cars in my book. Just depends on what you are after.

 

Owning both at the same time is definetly cool. The main thing that sucks about the GTO is the depreciation factor. Other then that, I dont have many complaints about the car. I think it is screwed together alot tighter then a fbody and also has higher quality materials. If you are a hardcore racer I'd give the nod to a f body for its sold axle, less weight and more friendly(read cheaper) aftermarket. If you are more into street power with comfort and class I'd give the nod to the GTO. Now with alot of $$ either car can represent either category well.

Bottom line: Do what makes you happy.

Good choice Joel. Firehawks will always retain their value and if thats what you are looking for then you got the right car. Just dont go crazy with the mods!! haha

 

I'm not even putting headers on the Hawk.Just a small verter,gears,some simple botlons,susp. mods and a tune...12.50's is as fast as I wanna go and that'll be easy w/the Hawk,I couldve added a few more things to my Goat and had it runnin 12.50's but looking back on it I shouldve went 05 GTO....

 

Nice post. I really like my friend's goat, but I love driving my Formula every day. Maybe I'll get sick of a car like this every day when I'm older, I hope not

-J

 

I have 2 f-cars and would take a 05-06 over one of my F-cars anyday. My friend and fellow member Damon_Z has a 06 GTO and I love it. I would not even compare a LS1 GTO to a F-car because i don't believe the car was worth as much as it stickered and didn't come with a LS2,hood scoops or the taillamps. Also all the upgrades/packages from the dealers such as the SAP packages. 05-06 GTO rocks IMHO

 

GTO's are very cool cars.....however comparing them to f-cars is like comparing apples to oranges. They both offer a totally different driving experience which is a result of them being designed for different purposes.

 

Compared to the GTO, f-bodies are much better for drag racing, because of their lighter weight and their sold rear axle. However, f-bodies are notorious for their cheap-looking interiors and horrible ergonomics. (I mean, how can an automobile manufacturer get away with leaving a catalytic converter hump on the passenger-side floor of a car?!) Much more popular V6 f-bodies exist and significantly degrade the overall f-body appeal.

Compared to the f-bodies, GTO's have much better-looking interiors, better ergonomics, and have roomier back seats. GTO's are far more rare and their subtle exterior, combined with the 400 HP LS2, make them the ideal sleeper. However, the GTO's wheel-hop-causing IRS, power-robbing heat soak, and high curb weight make them far from ideal for drag racing.