The underhood area on the STS has more space than in the XLR, so they were able to get more power on the STS due to better packaging.

They talked about this in the press release which you should still be able to find on the gm website.

Try: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...=3&docid=17437

 

I've driven both quite a bit and the SRT8 was easily more impressive. So much that I bought one. If I wanted a GTO, I could have bought one, the SRT8 is the more expensive of the two, and for good reason, its worth it.

 

One from the vaults, huh?

You're going to hear backlash from some folks here because it's 4 door, or it's an automatic, or it's heavy, or it's not a GM car.

I'd probally pick an SRT-8 (if cost were no object) too.

Just like I'd pick a GTO over a Mustang GT, again, if cost were no object.

 

I might pick the SRT-8 too, if it came with a stick. It is one mean looking car. I do feel the need to join the "I wish it only had 2 doors" b*tch club, but I do wish it did only have 2 doors. Or maybe a coupe and a sedan version both coexisting with one another. I do understand that there is almost no chance of this happening though, especially anytime in the near future. At least I can see there be a ray of hope for a 6 speed manual option, especially when one is designed for the Challenger. My hope is to see a Challenger sourced 6 speed for the Charger.


About the whole faster thing, I am going to have to beat a dead horse with this one, but the fastest LS2 GTO times I have heard the owners pulling are pretty damn similiar with the fastest SRT-8 times I have heard owners getting.
I have never driven either car, but just looking at them on paper, I would probably have to go with a m6 GTO, because even though it is a lard ***, it is less of a lard *** then the Charger is, and is probably going to be more fun to toss around with a decent set of tires on it.

 

If I were planning a Mopar purchase I'd certainly wait for the Challenger - it fixes everything I don't like about the Charger (which is just about everything).

Meantime, I'm very happy with my GTO.

 

Isn't there a new purchase on the horizon for you though?

 

I see at least one Zeta in my future.

Meantime I will probably go classic with my next purchase.

 

Its a close drag race for sure with a very slight edge going to the SRT8, but you wouldn't believe it if I told you the SRT8 handles better and stops better than the GTO. Its just a better overall car. Take a look at the Motor Trend review a few months ago. It simply does everything the GTO does but better. And the interior features blow the GTO away. I can understand some people not wanting a 4 door or a auto transmission, but coming from someone who just sold a 2003 Corvette Z06 for the Charger SRT8, I can tell you that I was ready for more room and 4 doors so it suits my needs fine. I've also been driving GM 6 speed vehicles for the last 9 years, I was also ready for an automatic, and this 5 speed auto is quite nice at the drag strip.

The SRT8 vehicles are not for everyone, but considering that they are capable of performing almost identical or slilghtly better than an LS1 F-body in a 4250lb 4 door vehicle, that's simply amazing. Sure, I miss the raw power of my Z06 sometimes, but this is a car you can take on trips and never want to pull over, get out and stretch your legs. Its fun to drive and very comfortable.

 

GTO beat the SRT-8 in the 1/4 in that MT review (12/05):
112_0512_sport_coupes_comparison
GTO: 13.3@105.9 mph
Charger SRT-8: 13.5@106.3
Then again MT drivers suck.

Here's a true head to head run.
05 GTO vs SRT_8 Charger

The GTOs are trapping 0.25-1 mph higher than Charger SRT-8s but are much, much harder to launch. In the 1/4 it's a true driver's race! Where the GTO gets it's *** handed to it is in the 600' slalom, 65.2mph to 62.4mph.

The GTO's suspension is way too soft, too much body roll. Stiffer sway bars are the 1st mod I'm doing to this car followed by a good shifter.

 

Just depends where you read I guess....

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=2905

"They flat smoke down the quarter mile...each in the 13s. The edge goes to the Charger with a fleet 13.3 seconds at 108.2 mph, with gearchanges from its 5-speed automatic so crisp it feels like it's been fitted with a speed-shop shift kit. The GTO leaves equally hard, but the long throws and somewhat imprecise action of its 6-speed manual prevent extracting those last tenths of a second — it clocked a 13.7 at 103.9 mph"


This comparison is probably a bit closer, but the edge still goes to the SRT8 over the GTO. 13.2 @ 108.1 vs 13.3 @ 107.5. And look at the braking from 100-0, 317ft for the 4200lb SRT8, 341ft for the much lighter 3760lb GTO.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html




My Charger SRT8 trapped 109.5, 110.4, and 109.8 tonight on 3 runs at my local drag strip with a K&N Aircharger and Magnaflow exhaust. Not bad with only 3K miles on it. Nothing against the GTO, I came VERY close to buying one before I finally decided on the SRT8. The GTO offers better bang for the buck, but if that's all I cared about I would have kept my 1999 Camaro SS or my 2003 Z06. Both offer great value for the money, but the SRT8 offers great performance, aggressive styling and a very nice interior which I can't really say for the GTO with its colored boy racer gauges. Ultimately it was these factors that made me buy the SRT8. The GTO would have been a great car at $25K, but at $30-34K, its really caught in between true sports cars and better luxury cars.

 

To each his own I guess, I don't do sedans.

 

Maybe you will one day, I once said the same thing.

 

So the long and short of it, is if you want a coupe, with a manuel, buy the GTO, with the savings, buy a suspension fix from BMR to prevent wheel hop and upgrade the drive shafts and V joints. Buy 20" forged rims, add LTs, high flow cats and a CAI. If you want to run fast out the box, suck up the 14K price difference, toss her into drive and corners at will. Both are great performance bargains, and are a matter of apples and oranges. We should be thankful that Detroit has two great cars in today's day and age.