I don't care for the styling of the Woodward car; I would say it falls under the "cartoon" category. I prefer the "bland", I guess. I'll take the engine, though!

 

The GTO is not ugly. I'm not a fan buy my arguement isn't that it's ugly.


It's simply far too bland to be a halo, don't tell me the unintiated are gonna know the difference between 04' and maybe 05' GTOs and GPs because I have to look at least twice myself.

 

Perhaps GTO is a little on the bland side, but I think it looks fine. Plus after installing an amp in an 04 Goat last week and just sitting in it let alone tearing it apart, I just love it. The GTO is one badass car. Everyone has to cry about it though.

 

I am a fan of the new GTO, and I really don't understand all the hate. Would there be as much hate for the car if it had a different name?

For years lots of people complained about Pontiacs having all of this plastic cladding, rib sided styling. Now that it is gone Pontiac is to plain. I like the clean lines of the GTO, but it could be a bit more aggresive. The GTO was thrown together in a hurry because Lutz wanted it over here as a Pontiac. I think things will improve as it goes on. Hopefully we will see something close to the Woodard GTO pretty soon, but probably not until the next generation.

 

Finally had an opportunity to drive the gto tonight, um..... wtf is up with the clunk in the door. The trunk is smaller than the useable space in an FBODY! interior is pretty good. but went over a bump, my back almost went out. Space in the rear is great, but getting into the rear seat was harder than fbod.

 

Well that clunk u are talking about is an improperly installed rear end mount that Pontiac is fixing. And the reason y it is harder to get into the back is for the lack of the biggest complaint of the F-body = The titanic sized doors. The GTO does not have obese doors.

Styling is opinionated can't go by that. What u can go by is the dealer gouging and the no rebates. I own a silver 04 and everyone loves it and thinks the car is great styling wise and interior wise. Most people don't even know what it is. But I tried to purchase one when they came out and the gouging was redic and the no rebates and that is y i didn't buy it then.

 

It's amazing how the Aussie designers made a rear-wheel-drive performance car look like a downmarket, mainstream front-wheel-drive product.

 

It does look like a GP, but Sunfire?????????? you might as well said is that a GTO.... oopps it's an H2. I personally see a lot of BMW in the '04 GTO

I'd love to see that too the Woodward car was awesome. I doubt the '06 will look like that, but hopfully the all new 2007 get some of that styling. It is agressive while at the same time clean and not over the top.

 

Look at the C-pillar on both the GTO and Sunfire, then look at the rear end. Both cars are curvy in a mid-90s GM sort of way. The GTO and Sunfire share more design "inspiration" with a '95 Lumina than any current BMW.

 

A gentleman from Australia who posted on another board explained the styling to everyone.

Many of the "performance" sedans built in Australia are based on cars that are also used as Taxi's. Thus, what you get is gussied up taxi's. It is kinda similar to the Impala SS/ Caprice and the Marauder/ Crown Vic.

Basically, what it makes for is kinda bland, or boring, performance cars.

 

Keep in mind that there are fewer than 20 million people in Australia, or about half as many as in California. So they are limited to the number of distinct models they can offer.

Still, in what way did the original GTO differ from a Tempest? Some hood scoops and stripes? I have a picture of a '73 GTO in my office. It looks a lot like a '73 Le Mans.

 

What do you think a GTO is?
It's a two door version of the Australian mass market family sedan.
Just like a Monte Carlo is related to the Impala.

The only difference is that the mass market family sedan in Australia is RWD and can be ordered with a V8.

And if you look at it from the side, it's pretty clear that it has RWD proportions, not front wheel drive. Check out the base of front window to front axle distance. Clearly a RWD proportion.

 

Actualy, I belive the Monaro got a lot of praise when it first came out because of its sleek design.
It just doesnt have the wings, scoops, and all the other doo-dads to satisfy everyones inner-ricer, so its "boring and mundane".

 

You mean it doesn't have the muscular looks it should, making it a boring car to look at. I've seen some of them that were aggressive looking, we just got the most boring version.

 

No, it's not the lack of scoops or wings. It's the fact that the shape of the entire car is akin to a wretchedly, painfully boring daily driver. I've seen plenty of GTO's driving down the road, and after initially dismissing them as an everyday family Sedan that my old grade school principal might drive, I realized that they were actually GTOs.

Throwing hood scopes or wings on a GTO to make it more aggressive-looking would be like throwing a lantern into a black hole to make it brighter.