as do i

 

So here's an honest question - not loaded, but simply WHY are they not functional? The RAM air system on the WS6 equipped TAs does provide a performance benefit once you get moving at decent speeds (i.e. speeds you'd see at the dragstrip or on the straightways on a road course).

Engineering cost (i.e. to mate the RAM air to a revised air box)? Lack of space underhood? Perceived or real lack of benefit on a car that already makes 400 HP?

 

Heh heh, except that I meant srt8, not rt

 

From everything I've read, what they really need is some way to vent hot air; that is, not necessarily air "injection," but air "extraction." And just for the record, I don't dislike the scoops, but I prefer the smooth hood.

 

Agree 100%. Maybe a small lip spoiler, but that's it. Make mine a Silver M6 with the red seats.

 

You typical enthusiasts!!!

2004: 2005:

 

Add me to the "don't like" list.

 

So very, very true....

 

I don't care either way. I really like the new rear bumper a lot better.

If I had a GTO I'd definatly get the recessed grills and some 18" rims.

 

I just wish they'd sell them up here so I could have an opinion. My leaning is towards a clean (no scoops) look.

 

WS6 ram air was initially was an aftermarket creation that became part of Firebird's lineup. GM never created this stuff themselves because it's not cost effective for them (guess they go by a different standard than Ford did with the Mach 1).

If SLP (or another company) did a ram air package for the GTO that GM decided didn't void the warranty and held up as far as GM's durability standards, there's nothing stopping them offering it as a package.


BTW: left up to me, I'd order w/o the scoops, but I wouldn't not buy one if there was a good deal on one with scoops.

 

Ditto. I'd get the hood and sport app package, but see if I could get the stock bumper instead of the sport app bumper.

 

I never wanted the hood scoops.

 

I hate the fact that it looks tacked on and cheap. For that reason, i prefer the cleaner 04 hood. Good thing the scoops are optional.

From the looks of it, it was an afterthought. Had they done a better job of integrating it onto the hood, it would look much nicer and i'd probably prefer it.

 

In real life, SS camaros are no faster than an equivalently optioned Z28. To make a GTO hood functional would require an equally useless underhood duct routing of air from the scoops. Not to mention that low over the top of the hood is not a high pressure zone due to the boundary layer anyway.

So i'd say it falls into real lack of benefit. I think the 4th gen cars proved there will never be a lack of perceived benefit to anything with hood scoops given that years after they haven't been made some people still think SS's and WS6's are faster than base cars.