GTO not doing so well :(

[Hobbs95]

The curb weight of a 4th gen f-body is 3300 +/- and i read that the GTO is aroung 3800 +/- thats outrageous for a car trying to perform with these rice buckets and mustangs.
maybe this mach i and hemi are out performing but this is my second f-body and i'll never buy a ford or dodge... maybe a vette down the road.

[FireFinder20]

Well, I know here in NE NJ the GTO sells for at or a little less than sticker...they can't give the car away. Since the local Ford dealership marked up the Cobras 5-15k over sticker (no exaggeration!), they now can not give those away, either. Folks around here are flocking to the Z's and the G35 coupes...

I like the GTO, except the back seat thing...the ingress/egress from teh back seat is a nightmare for my 10 year old, so that kills it for me. The Cobra is ok, but they have their issues, besides, I did the Stang thing for 9 years. They don't make the F bods anymore and the Vette is impractical. I don't wanna jump ship to the Japs, but they make the only 'affordable' front engine, rear drive manual trannied coupe out there that can get out of it's own way...


just my .02

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Well, in the looks department, GM is making some changes. The 2005 model will feature:

-Dual exaust with single outlets mounted on both the left and right side. (where they should be IMO)
-Hood Scoops
-Recessed Grill

I believe there may be some other smaller changes. Like a dead pedal for the driver.

In addition, the 05 should also feature an LS2! That should solve power issues.

Whether you like it or not, a new redesigned model will be produced and sold in N. America around 2007.

[Gary94Formula]

A local dealer here has 5 of them and can't get rid of them. I just can't see spending that kind of money on it. I think they are going close to sticker.

GM really needs to get their act together. I've pretty much always had GM products, but my wifes 2002 firebird and my 2001 Crew cab S10 aren't screwed together very well. It's too early to tell on the 2004 Impala LS we just got, but so far it seems nice.

Gary94Formula

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Originally posted by Joe K. 96 Zeee!!
Well, in the looks department, GM is making some changes. The 2005 model will feature:

-Hood Scoops

.....

If they look anything like the abhorrent, tack-on, fake scoops that some dealers are putting on, I might just puke.

[Barry 94Formula]

Another problem may be that everyone knows that the car will be redesigned and will get more power. So why buy now? I would wait and see what they do. If it does get the LS2 then those who buy now will e stuck with 350hp LS1.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Originally posted by Barry 94Formula
Another problem may be that everyone knows that the car will be redesigned and will get more power. So why buy now? I would wait and see what they do. If it does get the LS2 then those who buy now will e stuck with 350hp LS1.

On this note... I just found out that GM "accidentally" created a live link to their news page announcing just that. The '05 GTO gets the LS2, and dual split exhaust with a new rear fascia, it also has an option for a hoodscoop, as well as other improvements that I forgot about...

This has been circulated over the internet already... what an enormous mistake. I don't know how they intend on selling any '04s now...

[76blackbird]

I test drove

one of these at a GM Road show that came through Raleigh a couple months back. Handling was sluggish, power was weak.
The only thing I liked was the interior was excellent. Very comfortable.
I heard too that the 05 is suppose to have more, but come on people, this is a Cavalier-clone with a V-8. That was my first thought when I saw it.
GM is killing another classic car. IF GM wants to take back some of the market Ford(mustang) has grabbed up since the demise of the f-body, then re-design the GTO with a more classic look and relaunch in 06 to compete against the 05 Mustang. Ford should be taking orders for them this month.

[Supernova]

New guy here--thought I'd chime in...

Before you all ask, I own a 2003 Cobra. Never thought I would, either, as I was once a die-hard GM guy like the rest of you. My previous car was a 95 Camaro. But like many others, GM pissed me off by killing the F-body so I opened my eyes and went shopping around. Needless to say, my travels took me to the Ford dealer and I haven't been happier!

Dealers are dealers and they'll all tack on mark-ups if they think they can get away with it. The Cobras were marked up $2500 at some of the dealers when I got mine, though I was able to get mine at X-plan price (less than sticker). The problem is that you and I know that we'll be able to get one for less if we just wait it out, but the average Joe that waltzes in to the Pontiac dealer to check out the GTO could be totally put off and never come back.

I believe the biggest problem of the GTO is the styling--it's just too boring. More power would be nice as always, but many "car guys" are going to mod them anyway, so you can always do that yourself. But you can't really overcome boring styling. The interior is very nice though. Although the radio power button on the right is dumb (yes I know why it's there, it still doesn't excuse it).

It's kind of bad that they don't sell well, but they have no one to blame but themselves. They kill the F-body and then try to make up for it with a 2 ton tank that's more boring to look at than the 6-cylinder Accord. Many people from the F-body market are now buying Mustangs (Mach1s and Cobras), and the pseudo-sport/luxury crowd sure as hell aren't going to be seen in a Pontiac.

[markd79ta]

GM is running with its tail between its legs right now. They are building a bunch of ho-hum vehicles, and they had very little R&D into performance coupes and sedans over the last 10 years...everything was about those ____ ____ SUVs. The b-body went away with nothing to replace it, and the f-body went away with nothing to replace it. The only way they were going to come out with a car in this market was to re-badge the Australian car. GM's lack of planning the last 10 years drove the GTO's sales down; their lack of planing brought a car to market that few thought was acceptable. They let cars die with nothing to replace them so their faithful are losing interest. I kinda liked the GTO at first until I discovered the McPherson struts up front which is completely mid-evil especially for a GTO. I refuse to drive a muscle car with that wretched design up front. I really wanted the GTO to be a big body coupe not necessarily a replacement for an f-body or a competitor for a Mustang. Anyhow, I think GM has some stuff planned for 2007/8, but I don't really care anymore. The Impala...FWD c***; the Monte...FWD c***; the GTO...re-badged c***; etc.; etc.; all of their big name vehicles for the enthusiast are junk except the Vette which not really affordable. The Magnum/300C, and the new Charger coming out next year are the kind of cars that I want... ***** GM; I don't care about what they are doing anymore...I have all but moved to Dodge. The new 2006 Charger R/T is rumored to be a RWD Coupe double wishbone front/5-link IRS rear similar to the Magnum/300C but with a 400hp 6.0 Hemi...that is the ticket...not this mickey-mouse GM junk they are putting on the road. GM has the Vette...other then that...who cares? I plan to buy the Charger. I haven't driven a non-GM car in 14 years...they have really screwed up big time! Daimler-Chrysler should release a new Hemi Cuda and seal GM's fate...

[markd79ta]

With regard to the Mustang, there is no way as long as I am breathing air and walking that I will consider one of these cars for me or any of my family members. The GT and Mach I are the same old horrible fox design that is 25yrs old. The McPherson struts are mid-evil. The 4-link rear is good for nothing except a straight line. The ride height is similar to a Taurus. The Cobra has the IRS which is good, but not enough. And, they are great if you want a back-end barbecue...get rear-ended just right, and you have a nice little barbecue of you and your occupants from the ruptured fuel tank. ...not for me!

However, if I had the $150,000 laying around, I would get the new GT(40)...that is one amazing machine...the "one" thing Ford did absolutely right!!! GT40s classic and new are incredible machines!

[Supernova]

Originally posted by markd79ta
Daimler-Chrysler should release a new Hemi Cuda and seal GM's fate...

Agreed!

[Joe 1320]

Originally posted by markd79ta


However, if I had the $150,000 laying around, I would get the new GT(40)...that is one amazing machine...the "one" thing Ford did absolutely right!!! GT40s classic and new are incredible machines!

Eh..... To do it right, there would have to be a mucho lower sticker price.