NIRVANA

I agree. I think that looks terrible. They finally get true duals right and then screw it up like that.

Blue2002SS

iTrader: (13)

haha Z28 fast not really!!! to heavy, and as far as Corvette handling, you must have bumped your head or never drove a corvette!!!!!!

MrYenko

Because they already had to move the gas tank around to meet US crash requirements.

Remember, the GTO is an import. :p

Hopefully, itll spark some interest in the GM bean counters to establish a plant in the US that can produce V8 RWD CARS...Instead of trucks.

cvp33

Blue2002SS -

GTO faster than Z28-YES. 350 HP vs. 320 HP. More importantly 365 ft./lbs. of torque @ 4,000 rpms.
Corvette handling - MAYBE. IRS vs. Z's antique rear end.
Bumped head - YES. Down shifted the SS at 150 mph. Big mistake.

McRat

I love how everyone praises BMW's $50,000 M3 and trashes GM's $35k GTO.

This car is not designed to compete with dead Camaros. It is designed to compete with tomorrows sports coupes.

I for one, think it's a winner.

DragginTA

I've got a thought! After turning production states side, how about dropping in an all aluminum version of the 400 block or better yet (gasp) the 455!

NIRVANA

Keep dreaming! That ain't gonna happen.

CMNTMXR57

The average weight of an F-body = 3,200lbs (1LE's and strippers) to 3,900lbs (convertibles)

The average weight of the new GTO = 3,500 - 3,900lbs estimated of course

The weight of my fully loaded Z28 with half a tank of gas = 3,460lbs

The weight of my fully loaded GTO I estimate = 3,600lbs (the 3,700lb figure above is on the higher side).

You are not talking a huge 1,000+ pound difference or anything.

As to the ratings CVP posted, those are bench racing stats. The last LS1's in F-Bodies were tick for tack with the LS1 coming in the GTO for the most part. The GTO may gain a little on torque some and also has a slight advantage in gearing (3.46 I believe) for either auto or M6.

If you have a stock Z28 running 13.2 and a slightly heavier GTO running 13.4 (due to it's slightly higher weight), I still consider that Z28 times, don't you? Of course then there will be those 12 second monsters from teh factory as well as 12 sec passes generated by those who know how to drive the thing.

I don't see where GM missed anything...styling is subjective. I like it a little more "subtle" just like I chose a plain Z28 over a WS6 Trans Am.

Vendetta

I love the new GTO... if it runs 13.4, that's awesome. The car is a big heavy luxurious sleeper. I like it.

CMNTMXR57

This is specifically for Blue2002SS

This is Mark Skaife. 5 time Australian V8 Supercar champion taking a HSV Clubsport R8 out for a little test spin, he seems to like it! While the GTO isn't identical to this car (mainly because of the extra set of doors), you can see this car ain't no slouch. I would put it against any STOCK F-body any day in terms of handling and I would definetely not be ashamed to run it up against a Vette at a sanctioned event. Will it handle as well as a Vette at the extreme limits of tire adhesion and chassis setup. Probably not, but compared to anything else out there, I don't think you'd be dissappointed.

Bump your head on this; Enjoy

http://www.hsv.com.au/cars/vy2/video/premiere.wmv

Excal

well it can't really compete with tomorrows sports coupes..

because it looks worse than most, and on top of that besides the ol' STANGER, what is coming at above 3500 pounds? the 3500 pound grand prix, from pontiac.

well compared to "future sports cars" like the rx-8, sti, evo, 350z ect etc ECT, it's really underachieving.

maybe this is what the 4th gen f-bods should have been, but not what a GTO replacement was.

when the originals GTO came out, The feeling was that it could, on any given sunday, beat the almighty Ferrari GTO in a street-blast.

on any given sunday, this will be confused with a new grand am or another pontiac. Thank god at LEAST it has the almighty ls1 that the f-bods and c5s put to fame.

CMNTMXR57

Styling is subjective. I for one like it, much like I chose the little less flamboyant Z28 over the WS6 Trans Am.

How exactly is it "underachieving"?

If that's the case, most F-body's are "underachievers" too!

If this were a replacement for 4th gens, the F-Body community would be up in arms bitching over something petty too!

cvp33

Excal,

You rock! 3 posts in one day, all negative and all regarding the GTO. You are the man! Sounds like you may be the "expert" we've all been waiting to hear from. Where were you back in July when I made the terrible mistake of ordering my Impulse Blue GTO with 6 speed. NOT!

DANSLS1GTO

I think he was drooling over his 250, 240, 230HP and dropping RX/8...
Dan D.

C5Vert

I for one think the car is right on, and very much in tune with the original. Sure, as with any car, you can pick the details. But there are many - myself included - who want a car that can be used to comfortably carry four, and have the performance of a Z28 (I've had two of them).

In fact, one of my favorite all time cars was my 1990 Thunderbird SC. Many similarities here.

BTW, I really doubt that the 2004 model run will be sold out. There are many good coupes on the market know (such as the G35, RX8 and others). The two door coupe market tends to saturate fairly quickly. Heck, Acura just dropped it's 2 door version of the TL due to low sales (yes, it looked awfully frumpy, but wasn't a bad car).

If it becomes pretty available, and the prices aren't too high in a year or so, it may replace my G35 - nice compliment to my other cars, huh? (see sig).

cvp33

In 2002 Chevy sold 41,777 Camaros and who knows how many Trans Ams, let's say 15,000. That's almost 57,000 performance coups. Think it was just a last year fluke? In '99 they sold over 42,000, in '00 over 45,000 and in '01 nearly 30,000. Still think they can't sell 18,000 GTO's? I think they're gone.

1dirtyZ

iTrader: (1)

TA ws6 , think again! they already have a 427 , and it's from the factory.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame...v&num=1488

and:

http://www.fast-autos.net/holden/holdenhrt427.html

C5Vert

Let me say, you may be correct. BUT, don't forget that many Camaros (like Mustangs and firebirds) sold with 6 cylinders for under $20 K to high school and college kids. The GTO will be in the Mid 30's going against some pretty high quality competitors. It would be interesting to see how many G35 Infiniti coupes are being sold, as that seems to be the hottest item in that price and car class now.

McRat

Prediction:

The GTO will be trashed by all the "Tea and Crumpet" car mags like Rodent Track and Motor Turd. It's numbers and race results will surpass the competition, but the "car of the year" will be given to the Yugo SUV for the 10th straight year.

McRat

BWAHAHAHAH!!!! Spoken like someone who had never even sat in a Pontiac GTO from the 60's. What a piece of ****. Compete with the Ferrari??? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Whew! You're killing me here.

RX8's are pushing a whopping 170rwhp with **** for torque. Want me to post the lap times of the RX8's I raced against last weekend? None made the top 10. Slow AND average handling and so ******* ugly you should wear a ski mask when driving it.

I will bet you anything that a M6 GTO will violently ***-rape a RX8 in ANY form of automotive competition.

Go stick your rice "pseudoracers" up your ***. Yes, there are fast Japanese cars, but the RX8 is a ******* slug, a butt-*** ugly ******* slug, and overpriced to boot.

You're going to be choking on the big one very soon. Haven't you ever noticed that GM releases a new model then cranks up the heat the next year or two? Did you know that the LS1 "spec" is going away. Everything is going to be LS6 and stronger by 2005. You really believe Japan is going to increase their HP by 50% within a year? Or the M3 will get a 400hp motor next year?

Keep dreaming, and cling to your Fast and Furious dreams. Just don't cry when American family cars are humiliating you in public.