this guy is just trolling... lock the thread.

 

He is right to a degree. The new GTO is not a muscle car. Of course, the Trans Am was never a muscle car either. And today, there really can't be a muscle car. Muscle cars went out in the 70's due to the oil crisis. By the time the performace started coming back, cars had evolved past the muscle car era.

The muscle car was about large motors in huge steel monsters that went in a straight line very fast. Launch a stock 1967 GTO against a stock 1997 Z28. The Z28 is going to lauch better, but the guy in the GTO is the one being thrown back into his seat. That was the muscle car, the large motor, huge steel body, the fact it threw you around when you got on it. Cars handle too well, and the rides are too nice to be muscle cars IMHO. They're better than the sportscars of the muscle car era.

However, the new GTO does fit with the idea of the original. It's a high performance motor in an otherwise plain looking body. Sure they could have put a couple holes in the hood like they did the original, but if you're more worried about looks that performance, then I suggest you go hang with the import crowd. The American crowd has always been performace first, then worry abut looks. And the GTO delivers.

 

Your Z is more of a rental than GTO. Why, it's got the formula - cheap interior with 3rd world country craftsmanship and plastics! Seems like a perfect rental to me.

 

here, you want scoops , might as well put a judge stripe while your at it - '04 gto with scoops

 

Alright, me and one other guy could take that fat dude easily. Then we can fight over who gets the judge and who gets the new GTO.

 

Alright now that's more like it. But maybe they could of added
a gratutis hot chick for flare.

Hey, I did not want to stir up anyone in this thread. I hang out in the LS1 and drivetrain forum and wanted to come and see what folks thought of the new GTO.

 

Once again some pics:

1963 Grand Prix
http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...prix-1963a.jpg

1965 GTO
http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...-gto-1965a.jpg

Can it be? It's a Grand Prix with a "GTO" label stuck on it?!?!?

Seriously though....I understand not liking the styling. It doesn't do much to excite me either, but if you look past the skin it's the real deal. Much better than any real muscle car ever produced. It's about as quick as a 2002 T/A and handles exceptionaly even though it's 200lbs heavier! And a usable back seat!

 

oh good, then you must be familiar with the GTO's powerplant and mods - see

 

I have seen info regarding the GTO's powertrain.
My beef was with styling and a connection to GTO's past.

 

In other words, you wanted a retro GTO, period.

If that's the only issue anyone has over the GTO, then there is no issue. Personally, I think GM should simply ignore all the so-called GTO loyalists. Why?

1. They slammed Bob Lutz.

Bob Lutz is perhaps the highest ranking "Car Guy" in the industry, save Bill Ford! He, and alot of other people moved mountains to get V8 powered RWD cars back into the market. GTO got an express pass. Yet all those people simply whinned & screamed and acted like a bunch of idiots, yet they had the high level attention that any car enthusiast group would kill for. The guy even came to their site & posted & held question & answer sessions.

2. They are absolutle clueless as to what GTO actually was.

GTO was a package or model based first on a run of the mill Tempest then LeMans. These models were the Grand Am of the day. GTO's formula was a big engine in a small car that had only a hint of power in the exterior. loose the scoop & taillights, it looked just like any other GM economy car (let alone any other Pontiac). GTO was also typically the most expensive muscle car, something conviently ignored or forgotten. The view most of them have of GTO is so distorted, is simply baffling.

3. They won't be happy regardless as to what you do.

You read their complaints and it always falls into the same catagory: "It doesn't look like a GTO". GTO had 4 different looks (bodies) during it's life, and about a dozen front ends. You make a retro GTO, they'll complain that it's made here. You make it here, someone will complain it is too expensive. Someone else will complain about it not having carburetors, another will complain about it not having round or hidden headlights.

These people won't buy anything that isn't 35-40 years old, so they are useless.

Best bet is just to find the few reasonable people and those involved with the original GTO (like Jim Wagners & John DeLorean, and the rest of the crew), take in their advice & opinions (which Pontiac has done), and ignore anyone who says GTO isn't a "muscle car", isn't a "GTO", and has demonstrates no real knowledge of GTO history.

It's one thing to recommend changes, or state the look is bland (which even I'll admit it is) and recognize that it's still a good representative of a modern GTO, which pretty much is the minimum view here. People here can state they want more flash in the looks department very reasonably without slamming the effort GM & Pontiac made. The "it's a good car, but..." crowd has my complete respect.

It's another thing to slam the car, call it a discrace, tar & feather Pontiac & GM for even bringing it out, and call yourself a GTO website but you post a new Mustang as your car of the month, simply because you don't like the "temporary" look of the new GTO.

It's not sopping up "any" RWD car GM brings out. It's recognizing a really good car when we see one, keeping things in perspective, and giving credit where credit is due.

 

I don't mind the scoops, but I think that paint scheme just burned off my eyelashes.