What the hell was GM thinking...
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 559
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From: Garden City, Michigan
Originally Posted by 1COOLPC
But the only reason it ticks off some of the older GTO generation (And a lot of the Mustang and F-Body guys of which I am an ex owner of a 2002 Z28.) is that it isn't laden with add on scoops, ductwork and fender flares, or whatever. Anything tacky, doesn't matter if it really works or not. All aspects of performance are right where they should be and superior to the original car. And, from what I found to read the key players in the original GTO all said that this car is a worthy successor and that they liked it. The GTO performs better than any European import that cost $20,000 beyond what this one does. The interior is as nice as any car I've ever been in and the fit and finish is terrific, as good as any. Yes, it's missing a dead pedal, the shifter is a little funky at times but big deal, every car has growing pains and this is a superb first year release. An absolutely stunning automobile to anybody who knows it.
Sorry to say but my opinion is that the fault of this car failing is not on GM but on American car buyers not having taste. (And the Pontiac dealerships being foolish.) There is nothing wrong with the GTO exactly as it is today. When it comes to quality vehicles the majority of Americans don't have a clue. I'm an American and I love my country and its people but sometimes this aspect is depressing. It's sad to me that a car like the GTO is doing so poorly for such mundane reasons.
Sorry to say but my opinion is that the fault of this car failing is not on GM but on American car buyers not having taste. (And the Pontiac dealerships being foolish.) There is nothing wrong with the GTO exactly as it is today. When it comes to quality vehicles the majority of Americans don't have a clue. I'm an American and I love my country and its people but sometimes this aspect is depressing. It's sad to me that a car like the GTO is doing so poorly for such mundane reasons.
Well put.
Dan
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 246
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From: Plano, TX
Originally Posted by DANSLS1GTO
I agree on your take with the Aztek - but I'm of the opinion that the C6 is a step backwards. why change a good thing? The C5 is the best appearing 'vette' ever, period - especially the FRC - damn that's a sexy beast. Put the GTO buckets in the front and arrange the interior a bit better so us short people can see and you've got the absolute 'ultimate driving machine'. I honestly think the C6 is a huge step backwards. I personally would buy a GTO and strip it weight wise and do a bunch of upgrades over buying the C6 if I was in the money for an ultimate speed machine (and what else is a corvette, really).
Dan
Dan
) and think Wow! that Pontiac Aztek is cool! Almost as cool as that C6 I just designed!Uhmm, NO the Aztek is a POS
and belongs right next to the AMC Gremlin, AMC Pacer, AMC Matador in the all time crappiest car design in the history of mankind hall of fame! Other than that, I think the Aztek is a fine design... 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 1
From: Chicago (Elgin), IL
I have one of each in the driveway and I'll tell you exactly why I chose the new GTO over another F-Body in the driveway. If you would like a lengthy, detailed list, I'd be happy to provide it. But in order to save space here, I'll sum it up like this;
The F-Body has the precision of a 20lb sledgehammer. Yes, it's fun to annihilate your adversary while leaving tire through three gears and having the car sideways. However, in the process it is a brutal work implement and punishes the driver and any passengers in the process. Don't get me wrong. It's quick/fast and gets the job done but has the precision of an overweight, clumsy ballerina with poor build quality.
The GTO on the other hand is like a fine, precision, surgical instrument. It may not be as "brutal" on it's victims as the F-Body but still dispatches them nonetheless. (FWIW, my GTO is quicker stock for stock vs. my Camaro....hmmm!!!). It doesn't punish the occupants of the vehicle in the process of going about it's business and is much more comfortable and overall user friendly.
As to the other vehicles, I've owned nearly every GM truck they've made over the past decade and a half. They are the best executed vehicles GM has except perhaps the Vette or Caddy's. It is also the most profitable, so being the smart business people GM is (hey, they are in business to make money ya know...what a concept), they kill the deadwood and boost production of their highly profitable. Wouldn't you do the same?
As to the Impala. I have one of those in the family too! It does EXACTLY what GM intended it to do....be a comfortable, reliable family sedan. Just as the original Impala was to that generation. It's styling now is just as bland as it's styling was in the 60's compared to other cars on the market at the time. It just so happens that a few gearhead's said "what if we throw this fire breathing motor in it?" that people cling onto in nostalgia of the vehicle. Anyway, I digress, my Grandmother doesn't give a sh*t how quickly her FWD, V6 powered Impala covers the 1/4 mile. Sorry to break that news to you! Another news flash, the majority of the automotive purchasing population doesn't care about 1/4 mile times either! Times have also changed, V6 and front wheel drive are standard fare on the majority of of cars on the road period. So GM went with what the consumer wanted, FWD and V6. So sad, to bad! And as an additional tidbit of information, I believe the current Impala is a top seller (and profitable) for GM amongst passenger cars, so something for it must be working, incentives or not.
Sorry bench racers!
The F-Body has the precision of a 20lb sledgehammer. Yes, it's fun to annihilate your adversary while leaving tire through three gears and having the car sideways. However, in the process it is a brutal work implement and punishes the driver and any passengers in the process. Don't get me wrong. It's quick/fast and gets the job done but has the precision of an overweight, clumsy ballerina with poor build quality.
The GTO on the other hand is like a fine, precision, surgical instrument. It may not be as "brutal" on it's victims as the F-Body but still dispatches them nonetheless. (FWIW, my GTO is quicker stock for stock vs. my Camaro....hmmm!!!). It doesn't punish the occupants of the vehicle in the process of going about it's business and is much more comfortable and overall user friendly.
As to the other vehicles, I've owned nearly every GM truck they've made over the past decade and a half. They are the best executed vehicles GM has except perhaps the Vette or Caddy's. It is also the most profitable, so being the smart business people GM is (hey, they are in business to make money ya know...what a concept), they kill the deadwood and boost production of their highly profitable. Wouldn't you do the same?
As to the Impala. I have one of those in the family too! It does EXACTLY what GM intended it to do....be a comfortable, reliable family sedan. Just as the original Impala was to that generation. It's styling now is just as bland as it's styling was in the 60's compared to other cars on the market at the time. It just so happens that a few gearhead's said "what if we throw this fire breathing motor in it?" that people cling onto in nostalgia of the vehicle. Anyway, I digress, my Grandmother doesn't give a sh*t how quickly her FWD, V6 powered Impala covers the 1/4 mile. Sorry to break that news to you! Another news flash, the majority of the automotive purchasing population doesn't care about 1/4 mile times either! Times have also changed, V6 and front wheel drive are standard fare on the majority of of cars on the road period. So GM went with what the consumer wanted, FWD and V6. So sad, to bad! And as an additional tidbit of information, I believe the current Impala is a top seller (and profitable) for GM amongst passenger cars, so something for it must be working, incentives or not.
Sorry bench racers!