Hahaha , must be drive a GTO day . I couldnt resist anymore either . I went and drove one today too . All I really have to say is that was a really huge mistake . I liked the car ALOT , but really didnt feel I'd want one any more after driving one than before I had . Wrong . I was quite a bit more impressed than I thought Id ever be . The quality of everything , from the materials to the way the door even shuts is spot on and in some cases better than new Audi's . It in no way really felt like I was driving a car that weighed 3700 lbs plus 2 people and at that still felt quite healthy . The seats are fuggen awesome , so was the sound system ( both of them ) I one of the local pontiac dealers that has no haggle firm pricing . $28,775 is what was in the window . Not that I would lease , but they had some killer lease deals as well . $359x48 mos for 0 down , $401x36 mos for 0 down or $2000 down and $344x36 mos .

My interest is definately piqued , what to do Hell , I liked the one I drove so much , the 05's being alot better would kinda be a non-issue . Even "mild" cam would more than make up for the power deficit .

 

One minor point....pre-03 Cobras (non-SC'd) were a couple of grand below 30K MSRP (excepting Verts). I agree with the majority of the remainder of your analysis....though it will be interesting to watch which way 05 GTO sales go.

 

Sounds a lot like the experience i had a few weeks ago at the dealer near where I work. Talked to the sales man for about 5 mins or so, say "lets go for a drive", then he dissappears looking for the keys. Some other guy comes out and starts asking people who was going to test drive the GTO? I say that I was and he motions for me to follow him say that I needed to fill out an application. I ask "you need to apply for a GTO test drive?". long story short(er) the only way to drive a GTO was to do a credit check first. There is no way I'm going to get a credit check (it lowers you score for a few months) just to drive a car I may not like (yea right ). He kept trying to justify it by saying that most people just bought them w/o even driving them.

 

I'll probably test drive one soon just to see what the hoopla is about. Still...i think i'd be more willing to spend 32k on a less refind Cobra if i were shopping for a performance coupe. Can't get past the goats understated looks and demeanor for some reason. Maybe if i was in the market for a well-mannered and roomy luxury sports coupe (even then, i'd probably have a used M3 or even used CTS-V in mind a couple of years down the line).

Very nice car nonetheless. I thought the scoops would help the looks on the 05's, but they appear to be after-thoughts. The car looks better without them. 400hp Ls2 .

 

Yeah a 3250lb C6 runs 12.7 but a 3800lb GTO runs 12s too. How exactly does that work again?

 

I saw in the paper today a dealer is advertising them for 25,900. Much better then the 33+ they were going for in the beginning. I'm afraid to drive one...might end up taking it home lol.



Colin

 

26k!! HOLY CRAP!! Id be all over that like flys on sh*t.

 

I was wrong....its advertised at 26.990.....still a lot better then 33k! They have 2 autos (yellow,Red) and 1 red 6spd.



Colin

 

Motorweek just ran a C6 Z51 coupe today. 13.2@112.

 

Car and Driver ran 12.7 in Z51 and I would trust C&D over Motorweek anyday of the week. Motorweek sometimes seems plush and forgiving in their reviews, while C&D criticizes everything, even a perfectly built car wouldnt get by C&D without something being chastized. Has GMHTP ran one yet? They seem to really get the best times out of any car they test.

Speaking of the C6, I got a chance to sit in one of those as well at Corvettes at Carlisle this past weekend. HOLY CRAP WHAT A CAR!!! Everyone who has criticized the C6 needs to wait to see it and really examine it up close and personal. The interior blows the C5's away in looks and ergonomics and the car really is more compact looking than the C5. Plus the exposed headlights actually look great and are pretty distiguishible from say, a Ferrari's or Viper's.

Another thing I noticed, when you set a C5 up next ot a C6, the C5 really starts to look old and dated. I loved the timeless look and shape of the C5 coupe but its got nothing on the look of the C6.

 

if it's cooked right and comes from a clean source (ie, not culled wild roos), it's actually better for you. much leaner than lot-fed beef and nutrient rich...

hasn't taken off here as mass market meat (like venison, it's a bit gamey, so it tastes different; it's best cooked fairly rare at high heat to keep it tender, so few people know how to prepare it or are willing to risk preparing it at home; and it's hard to find reliable quality sources of roo, because much of the wild population is worm infested - that's why a lot of culled roo meat is either sold into asia as pet food or left to rot in paddocks).

tastes much better than koala, though. Emu is pretty good, so's crocodile if you can get it...

 

I test drove a GTO a few months back, and I honestly think that GM should do something to the effect of 'test drive days'. I wanted that car that day, too bad I can't afford it. Hell, I made three people that I knew were looking for cars go test drive them, and two bought them on the spot and the third is waiting for the 05s to come out! If I were looking for a new fun car with a great interior, those things would be the perfect candidate especially now with the rebates that we are seeing around here.

 

That sounds nearly identical to an experience I had at our local Pontiac dealer a few months ago, except I was wanting to drive a '02 Trans Am with 36,000 miles on it.

"We don't let people drive our cars until we've sat down and worked out some numbers."

"Ok, I'll go somewhere else."

 

so i guess you don't want me to tell you guys about the 05 Monaro (with all the GTO 05 gear in it) i drove at holden's proving ground a couple of weeks ago...
if you wanted more mongrel in it, you've got more mongrel in it. if they're not giving you discounts, hang on for the nostriled GTO. Trust me.
better engine, better throttle response, more gristle, better gearboxes (both of them), shorter ratios, just more of everything...

 

The 3800lbs. LS6 CTSv runs a 13.1 so the 3625lbs. GTO with the torquier LS2 should be able to do at least a 13.0-12.9.

Give me a C6 Z51 and I'll get it going faster than 12.7

That is why I went to the Biggest Pontiac dealer in the area and called ahead first.