Bmr4life

I'm looking at getting a 04 with low miles, but wanted to be sure there were no major difference as the new years came out. thanks

Ytowngoat05

ls2/50 hp(05-06) hood, bumper, and a few other little things

DeepBlueZ

the '05 has....(among other less significant changes)

-larger brakes
-scooped hood
-50 more hp
-35 more ft lbs of torque
-18 more cubic inches of displacement
-500 RPM higher stock redline
-dual exit exhaust/rear fascia
-clearcoated wheels
-drive-by-wire throttle setup (no linkage)

ExTurbo

05/06's have illuminated steering wheel controlls and the option for 18" wheels, and 06's have larger power steering pulley, and a door lock button. other than that deepblueZ covered the rest...biggest difference being the LS2 and the electronic throttle takes a lil getting used to but i like it alot

gotzaGTO

a little wrong. only the 06 has the lighted controls and the lock button...

not to mention that the 06 has black tails, not the red like 04/05.

Bmr4life

Wow, 04 seems like a bad choice then. What mods does it take turn the ls1 into an ls2?

FIVE-O

Better struts, beefier IRS parts.
But on behalf of the '04's......I really enjoyed mine...had none of the issues many complaind about. If buying fron a dealer, I'd make sure to run down all repairs and TSB's. Its a good car.....If you can get it on the cheap, go for it.

gotzaGTO

its not that the 04' is a bad choice, I mean... the 05/o6 struts are leaking like crazy and the 04s never did that. The IRS parts aren't worth much, the 05/06 is breaking just as much as the 04s. The only things you are gaining from the 05 is the LS2, bigger brakes and the visual mods. And the 06 is the tails, lock button, lighted steering wheel controls and alegedly faster seat motors, though no one has been able to prove that yet.

Now for "making a LS1 a LS2", its not going to happen. LS2 will always have more displacement. Sure you can mod the LS1 to exceed the LS2's stock power, but mod for mod, the LS2 wil always be a few ponies more. The LS1 will be cheaper to mod and there are WAAAY more LS1 specific parts then there is LS2 parts. (for now) And the LS2 has oil consumption issues that the LS1 did not have.

Its all 6 of one, half dozen of the other. I'd just say buy whats in your budget for a car/mods you want to do and go with that. Good luck!

DeepBlueZ

It's only the '06s built after 2/06 that have the leaky struts. Early '06s and '05s are fine (aside from the ONE or TWO freaks).

Also, the LS2 oil consumption problem is only well-known because of the severity of the few engines that suffered from it (most of which were warrantied anyway). MOST LS2s do not use any more oil than the average LS1 (which is another engine known for being just a bit thirsty on oil).

06GTO6.0

I'm with Phil...I don't use oil at all, however, my LS1 used a shitload...

DeepBlueZ

you're a dick...

Summerwolf

iTrader: (3)

I love my 04, cheaper than the 05-06, and with the money saved from buying the car you can put that into mods that will far outperform its newer counterparts....plus the 04 has the bitchin single side exit exhaust and the clean rear fascia.

GMLIFER

iTrader: (1)

+1 Save the money, get the 04 and drop some cash on mods.

05mbm

The leaky struts go back as far jan 06 build date. Also all 06's came with the lighter in the front as an extra power outlet.

00ws6spd

Bitchin' single exhaust?Clean 04' hood?Too bad they didn't put the "gas saver" ecotec 4 clyinder in it,I would've bought.It's all about the MPG's....

SSmokd U

I am getting an 04 tomorrow. Its only got 23,xxx miles and got a heck of a deal. Getting it for less than 19K.

DeepBlueZ

that's a pretty good deal man. good luck with it.

What color/tranny combo did ya choose?

SSmokd U

I still don't know the actual color name, but its a wierd bluish-gray color, and an M6. I have never seen this color around where I am, so thats why I decided to take a color that would not have been my first choice.

Teh Wicked

I actually prefer the 06 looks over the 04, I like the hood scoops, rear fascia, dual exit exhaust an the different taillights. the LS2 is ajust a bonus in my opinon, plus the 05-06 color choices appeal to my taste better as well. the Brazin Orange Metallic's are just absolutly sexy IMHO with the Impulse blue's coming in a close 2nd.

Summerwolf

iTrader: (3)

Ummm, duals and a clean looking hood rather than lund hoodscoop wannabes....

and the split rear exhaust, looks like a grand prix rear bumper to me with the gray insert, the 04 rear end is much cleaner. All about the MPG's....when I drove mine from STL to Texas I average 28 MPG....thats better than a lotta ecotecs