ProudPony--nah I didn't think you came off as harsh at all. Nice to see some healthy, respectful discussion. I like it when people reply to my posts, thats why I put them out there.

One thing I wonder is how much resentment towards the new GTO there actaully is. This spring/summer when I go to the car shows I will make it a point to ask owners of old GTOs how they feel about the new one. Idaelly I'd like some hard scientific polling numbers but that ain't gonna happen. Sales and (Motor Trend, C&D) one year reviews will tell us what owners thought, likes and dislikes.

One more idea--say the Camaro is back for 06 (or 07) and some people do not like the styling...but it is RWD, handles great and has tons of power.
Would you or I still buy one? For me it would depend on how I percieved it to look. I think I could accept conservative but handsome. I guess the styling is a big risk on a car, the love it or hate it is not the way GM went with the new GTO.
I don't think anyone could call it ugly. But a hood scooop of some sort would be a good move.

 

Unhappy people are always heard alot more than happy ones.

I ran a poll on GMI a while back and with 1500 votes 75-80% of the people said they liked the new GTO.

 

Thanks for the reply!
As far as the Camaro coming back - you can bank on the fact that someone won't like the design. It's a given. But if the majority are happy - we're on the right track. And if that majority is willing to open their wallets, then we REALLY are doing it right.

What separates me from many though, is the fact that I would rather see the Camaro continue to be a Camaro, that is - let it come back right or let it RIP. I'd rather it come back true to it's roots than to be a changed animal that appeals to lots of people. I mean, an M3 is NOT a Camaro, a turbo Beetle is NOT a Camaro, and a 300hp Cavi is NOT a Camaro. It must look, act, and feel like a Camaro to pass my test.

As far as styling goes - I am fairly open to anything - but there must be a limit there too. Here's my best description of theoretical styling acceptance...
I'm standing on the roof of my local chain grocery store looking out into a parking lot of about 100-150 cars. When the new F5 Camaro pulls into that lot, I damned-well better be able to tell it's a Camaro. And when it parks, I still better be able to spot it.
If I can do those things - I'm on the bandwagon of acceptance.

Thanks again for the post!

Proud

 

you know that part hit me because even now i do that, when i'm out i always look for them and i can tell from the sound if it's a f-body or a stang.the funny thing is if i hear either one i'll tell the g/f and she just laughs.these are not cookie-cutter cars.

 

Oh I see.

So where do you stand on the Aztec? What about just up and leaving the (for lack of a better word) "pony car" market to Ford? How do you feel about the lack of a legitimate sport truck contender? Or legitimate compact hot rod? What is your opinion of the company's decision to all but abandon RWD? I could go on but this is just off the top of my head.

GM is working towards fixing these problems, but my point is that plenty of people can laugh at GM too. This isn't bashing GM, its just a fact that no company is perfect. I've never owned anything but GM. However that does not make me blind to reality.

Please watch your step as you climb back down from your high horse.

 

I think all "car guys" do.

Whether a Mustang or F-bod, I first look at profiles, then look for badges, exhaust tips, suspension, and wheels for insight into the car's level of performance/refinement.

I can hear a Ford 5.0 start up 100 yards away, and tell it instantly... it's got a very distinct sounding starter and fire-up sound.

Likewise with the LT1's and LS1's, but they are a little harder for me to distinguish because they are quieter when stock, IMO.

That's what makes the ponycars - PONYCARS IMO!!!

 

This quote is getting a little on my nerves. Everyone keeps saying something along these lines, or the new GTO looks like the grang prix. But did anyone consider that the 96-99 sunfire looks like the trans am? The trans am is only bigger and wider. GM is all about producing the most model of cars with as much of the same parts as possible to save money. Personaly, yeah I think the GTO is plain, but with another hood and some skirts I'm sure it will look fine (although I won't be buying one bc the don't plan to sell it in canada).


J

 

I stand corrected!

Thanks for correcting my little mistake there Guion! See what happens when one gets worked up over a topic and starts spitting stuff out

 

OK... well, I don't see much that Sunfire shared with Firebird as far as looks... I mean, where are the similarities even? I suppose you could say the dual grille if you think of the 95-99 Sunfire and the Base Firebird front clip from 93-97... but it just about ends there.

And what does that really have to do with the fact that a lot of people think the GTO front clip looks like a Grand Prix, and the profile looks like a larger Cavalier, anyway?

 

Get out you F*rd guy!! J/k.

I know GM has had stuff to laugh at too I never said they didn't. (usuallly not as much as F*rd ) I laugh at them myself sometimes. But GM usually does not say stuff like F*rd does about GM, and really most of the time they should be the 1's to not say anything. Its like GM has taken the "let them say whatever" approach. They probably don't care since their company is doing better.

 

Park a 93-97 ta foward an do the same with a sunfire. You'll notice the same cues right away.


J

 

Sunfire:

http://www.1stclassautos.com/Cars/2304-1.JPG

Trans Am:

http://www.firebirdgallery.com/4th%2...s/97ta26.1.jpg


Shrug... I just don't see it...

 

sorry, forgot to mention bck end

J

 

OK, so John Colleti is irked about the rare event of GM having a low volume car which is guaranteed to sell all of the projected units, so he's gotta come out and whine? B.F.D.

I'm with Bob Lutz. A lot of people tend to group *ALL* of the 64-74 GTO's together as if it was ONE big group that's somehow more worthy than the upcoming 2004 version.. but just like someone else posted, there were major protests from custoemrs when the 68 came out, or the 73, or the 74, etc. Pretty much any new GTO model that came out back then brought with it massive dissatisfaction from a small and highly vocal minority.. the same people who later on went on to silence themselves and secretly buy those same cars, be it new or used

My point is.. this is a true GTO, a modern interpretation of it. And it'll be successful, with or without a handful of vocal protestors right now, because most of you will change your minds when you see 'em on the streets. Some things were meant to be, meant to prosper, and this GTO is one of them, if you ask me. Is it flawless? Hell no. But it's light years closer than the fleet-snoozer cars GM has at the moment.

 

All I have to say is considering they way GM styling has been moving, I'm very happy the GTO is styled the way it is. To me the Grand Prix, Grand Am and now the GTO have been some of GM's best styling in the past few years. I'm just waiting to see it in black.

GM hasn't exactly had the best luck in their new car styling recently.