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First OFFICIAL pictures of 2004 GTO

Old Jun 21, 2002 | 12:37 PM
  #61  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ude-lose:
have you seen the interior????
interior
</font>
I like the interior, but the outside needs to change. The 4 bucket seats are awesome!
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 01:04 PM
  #62  
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Angry

Well, if this is truly what GM is intending on producing, then I will have to congratulate the automaker for holding up to it's recent tradition.....Of destroying classic nameplates by bringing them back in a non-flattering fashion. Now the legendary GTO can join the prestigeous ranks of the Impala, Nova, and Monte Carlo.

GM did EXACTLY what I thought they would, slap a bland front & rear tratment, and a few badges on the Monaro, and call it a day. All in the name of quick-to-market profits. This rendition is a real tribute to the original: ram-air scoops, unique body lines, revoloutionary innovations...[NOT]

I won't stay on my high horse too long, but again, there is much more to the GTO than the fact that it was a two-door, V8 RWD fast car. There were many factors that made the GTO stand out from the rest, for example: torquey low-revving engines pounding out torque for street dominance, ram-air engine & air intake technology, hood tachs, no-comprimise handling & powertrain options, and revolutionary front-end design [endura bumper 68-72].

All of things add up to set this car apart from all of the rest. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS CAR???

It looks like a grand am! No wonder the guys on the original link's site are excited. They're saying: wow! I'll trade my grand am for the new one! IT'S GREAT!!!

I almost had a shred of hope that GM might take their task seriously and put some time & effort into designing this car, but as usual, my hopes were too high.

I'm really starting to believe Bill Ford's commercials about the passion that Ford has for it's vehicles. It shows in their products: Merc. Maurauder, Thunderbird, Mach I mustang, Cobra R, Ford '49., Galaxie 500, etc...

GM has a lot to learn...



------------------
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'96 Bonneville 231 S.D.
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Old Jun 21, 2002 | 01:49 PM
  #63  
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GOATCRAZY, I think I may have asked you this before but,what specific things would you change on this GTO to make it acceptable?

...I mean it looks like a Pontiac...it carrys current Pontiac styling themes.

Is this more a sense of dissatisfaction with Pontiac itself, rather than this GTO?

What would YOU change on it if you could?
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 01:59 PM
  #64  
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Smile

Seems that you can't please everyone, & that's OK.

There seems to be two trains of thought developing here. One group that likes the original GTO idea of sleeper performance & having a car that like the original was easily confused with Pontiac's run of the mill Tempest & would drop jaws when it took off. The other group here prefers what GTO eventually became, with the added on scoops, spoilers, & tach. A car that said "look at me, I'm fast, & I look like it".

GTO was both. It was a sleeper that evolved into a flamboyant muscle car. I'm not going to debate something that is a matter of taste (or which period GTO you prefer), but this new begining GTO certainly represents the start of the first ones.

Maybe it will evolve into the "Judge" era cars, but much more likely, it will be an optional package leaving the rest of us the oppertunity (like even late 60's GTO buyers had) to have a plain sleeper version that didn't attract unwarranted attention.

This GTO is a good start & mercifully doesn't resort to 99's GTO show car or some other cartoon, and infact does resemble in many ways the LeMans GTOs in it's curves & simplicity. Now, about the price....
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 02:16 PM
  #65  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by guionM:

This GTO is a good start & mercifully doesn't resort to 99's GTO show car or some other cartoon, and infact does resemble in many ways the LeMans GTOs in it's curves & simplicity. Now, about the price....
</font>
Thank you! Pontiac had it's chance to design it's own GTO...and presented to us the'99 concept GTO.....EEEEEKKK!!!!

BTW..the designer of that concept proudly proclaimed...."believe it or not, I never knew what a GTO was before this project". I completely believed him!!

I would take this Holden based GOAT over that more expressive '99 concept any day!

Old Jun 21, 2002 | 03:18 PM
  #66  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GOATCRAZY:
Well, if this is truly what GM is intending on producing, then I will have to congratulate the automaker for holding up to it's recent tradition.....Of destroying classic nameplates by bringing them back in a non-flattering fashion. Now the legendary GTO can join the prestigeous ranks of the Impala, Nova, and Monte Carlo.

GM did EXACTLY what I thought they would, slap a bland front & rear tratment, and a few badges on the Monaro, and call it a day. All in the name of quick-to-market profits. This rendition is a real tribute to the original: ram-air scoops, unique body lines, revoloutionary innovations...[NOT]

I won't stay on my high horse too long, but again, there is much more to the GTO than the fact that it was a two-door, V8 RWD fast car. There were many factors that made the GTO stand out from the rest, for example: torquey low-revving engines pounding out torque for street dominance, ram-air engine & air intake technology, hood tachs, no-comprimise handling & powertrain options, and revolutionary front-end design [endura bumper 68-72].

All of things add up to set this car apart from all of the rest. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS CAR???

It looks like a grand am! No wonder the guys on the original link's site are excited. They're saying: wow! I'll trade my grand am for the new one! IT'S GREAT!!!

I almost had a shred of hope that GM might take their task seriously and put some time & effort into designing this car, but as usual, my hopes were too high.

I'm really starting to believe Bill Ford's commercials about the passion that Ford has for it's vehicles. It shows in their products: Merc. Maurauder, Thunderbird, Mach I mustang, Cobra R, Ford '49., Galaxie 500, etc...

GM has a lot to learn..
</font>
AGREED. Exactly what you just said.



[This message has been edited by IZ28 (edited June 22, 2002).]
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 03:26 PM
  #67  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Z284ever:
Thank you! Pontiac had it's chance to design it's own GTO...and presented to us the'99 concept GTO.....EEEEEKKK!!!!</font>
No kidding. The 99 concept couldn't look more like a cartoon even if Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd were cruising in it with Roger Rabbit hanging onto the hood for dear life.

Old Jun 21, 2002 | 03:49 PM
  #68  
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That '99 concept was nasty. Like something out of a bad B-movie.
Here's the problem as I see it. A lot of people on this board are too young to remember the original GTO. As guionM said, GTOs did not start out as flamboyant Judges, the psychadelic late 60s brought on the Judge.
As for the the early cars, you could barely tell them apart from a Tempest/Lemans. They looked that similar. And even in the late 60s and early 70s, you could option out a major sleeper GTO. There was a rare option where you could delete the Endura nose and get the Lemans' chrome unit. You could even order the GTO on the 2 door SEDAN body style. That means you got metal frames around the side glass and a fixed B-pillar. These are referred to as the "post cars". Quite ugly, actually. But a GTO nonetheless. And the GTOs were simply, cleanly styled. They had room for 4-5 adults and their stuff, a big V-8, high HP, available stick, and RWD. Isn't this exactly what the new one offers? I guess I just don't get all the negativity.
AND, everybody in here fell all over the G8 concept. And now the same people are complaining that it looks too much like a GP. I DON"T GET IT. This car is pretty much the G8. Only better!!
Maybe it is all the young-ins who want all the scoops and spoilers. And maybe they're doing all of the complaining. Maybe their just upset that the new car is not a Firebird.
Ya know, there are probably more people in the intended market that would rather have no goo-gads than to be all festooned up with plastic.
And as always, I agree with guionM 100%.
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 04:26 PM
  #69  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by HuJass:
That '99 concept was nasty. Like something out of a bad B-movie.
Here's the problem as I see it. A lot of people on this board are too young to remember the original GTO. As guionM said, GTOs did not start out as flamboyant Judges, the psychadelic late 60s brought on the Judge.
As for the the early cars, you could barely tell them apart from a Tempest/Lemans. They looked that similar. Maybe it is all the young-ins who want all the scoops and spoilers. And maybe they're doing all of the complaining. .
</font>
Maybe I'm wrong...but I also get the impression that most of the unhappy posters are under twenty. Probably not the target market for the GTO....or for that matter the next Camaro.

....incidentally...if you were really a gearhead in the '60s...and could stand the looks, the "post" cars were desirable for their lighter weight and cheaper price.

Old Jun 21, 2002 | 04:42 PM
  #70  
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Cant we all just get along??? I think some of you need to step back and take a breath.

First off, this is only a sketch of the 2004 GTO, its not set in stone. Do you think maybe they released the photo to see what people think of it? Maybe we should wait to see what the ACTUAL car looks like before we jump down GMs throat.

Second, the origional GTO, outside of the Judge, was a sleeper, a car that would drive buy and you really wouldnt give it a long look until you heard the exhaust note. Some seem to think this GTO needs to be in you face to be a true GTO. While I like the Judge of the 60s and 70s, other Goats didnt have that HOLY CRAP DID YOU SEE THE COLOR OF THAT CAR look. Someone hit it on the head, this is a great point for SLP to make a Judge edition from.

And as far as the scoops, buldges, flairs, spoilers and such; relax. Some of you were saying not long ago that Pontiac needs to get away from the plastic clading and ad-ons ala Aztek. Now you want them again. Yes, I agree that it could use a duel scoop hood and maybe a hood tach and rear spoiler, but again, its just a sketch. As an artist I can tell you I never show my best sketches first. I tease with the ones I like but am not in love with. Then I spring the great ones. Maybe that is the case here.

One last thing; the idea that it looks similar to a Grand Prix is good and what it should be. You take a 1969 LaMans and stick it next to a 1969 GTO and guess what; they look ALOT a like. They were meant to. I for one like this new 21st century GTO. Yes, I would like to see a little more in it, and maybe we will. I think we need to wait for a picture of the actual car to see what happens. And remember, they are only changing the skin on the nose, hood and front fenders to speed up production and keep cost down, so its going to have that Monaro feeling no matter what, at least until it is re-designed and built here in the states. Just my two cents, or four!

------------------
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Old Jun 21, 2002 | 06:02 PM
  #71  
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Not bad.. But it reminds me a spin off of a Supra.

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Old Jun 21, 2002 | 08:06 PM
  #72  
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The Pontiac GTO design is good. It looks nice and clean. Too many loud cars nowadays.

Just remember, it's a lot easier to toss scoops and spoilers on a car than it is to take them off. The Honda Civic sells to normal people with it's normal look, and then to the "i want a loud car types" they can buy their own huge spoilers and body kits to put on it.

Likewise, I'm sure there will be huge spoilers and body kits for the people who want to put them on these cars. Or not, for $35K that's generally a more mature market, less interested in flash for flash's sake.

------------------
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 12:10 AM
  #73  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MunchE:
The Pontiac GTO design is good. It looks nice and clean. Too many loud cars nowadays.

Just remember, it's a lot easier to toss scoops and spoilers on a car than it is to take them off. The Honda Civic sells to normal people with it's normal look, and then to the "i want a loud car types" they can buy their own huge spoilers and body kits to put on it.

Likewise, I'm sure there will be huge spoilers and body kits for the people who want to put them on these cars. Or not, for $35K that's generally a more mature market, less interested in flash for flash's sake.

</font>
Great post - Spoilers/tachs/scoops do not make the car ...

The Holden Monaro's are offered with a rear spoiler, but so far only 2% of all sales have optioned them on ...


Old Jun 22, 2002 | 12:15 AM
  #74  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Decromin:
Great post - Spoilers/tachs/scoops do not make the car ...

The Holden Monaro's are offered with a rear spoiler, but so far only 2% of all sales have optioned them on ...

</font>

Thats because wussy Aussies don't like aggressive things like dual exhaust j/k

Great post MunchE

I love the new GTO..just what I expected
Old Jun 22, 2002 | 12:31 AM
  #75  
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GOATCRAZY, so is the 231 S.D. in your '96 Bonneville and 2.4L H.O. in your Sunfire any more respectful to the Pontiac 421SD, SD455, and 455HO of yesteryear as this modern interpretation of the GTO is to the classic goats? Are you serious about those designations or is that all in jest? Are you one of those traditional Pontiac enthusiasts that don't like Wenzler and E-heads, or IA blocks and Eagle cranks because they are not "real" Pontiac parts and that you can go faster using outdated and expensive swap-meet relics? I visit a lot of the traditional Pontiac websites and soooo many diehards like yourself will never be pleased by Pontiac nowadays unless a real Pontiac V8 sits between the fenders of a new Pontiac. I think it's time to get over this. This car IS worthy of the GTO name. Lutz and Pontiac did good IMO, far better than what Chevy has done to the Impala or Monte Carlo. Yeah, the car could have been designed and built in the U.S., but oh well. They made use of their resources to get a replacement for the F-bods quickly and efficiently, and it is superior to any 4th gen F-bod in terms of suspension and interior design. And it is different from anything in GM's current domestic line-up.

This isn't a flame GOATCRAZY. I guess I can understand your discontent, but Pontiac could have done far worse to the GTO name. Thank the God's that Lutz is slowly making a difference at GM. I too love my old Pontiac, and once I have my 6X-4's and stuff in from P-Dude, I'll have my weekend warrior. In addition, I gonna be helping my old man restore his first new car that he ever bought and still has, a '74 Grand Am 400/4-speed, once he retires in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I'm gonna think about how I can rearrange my finances so I can get my hands on a new GTO when my '97 Z-28 is paid off. And to think, I was contemplating on getting one of those ugly-azz blown Cobra's, yuck. I just can't see myself buying a Ford just yet. I am still pissed that GM cancelled the Firebird and Camaro and the causes surrounding their demise, but with Lutz at the helm and the GTO on the horizon, I think GM is definitely on the verge of a serious comeback.

------------------
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[This message has been edited by ponchoV8 (edited June 22, 2002).]

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