... and this might be the cleanest/best body build I have ever seen on a 1st year car.

Absolutely terrific. Great gaps and flushes, clean design, and a VERY GOOD matchup between the rear bumper cover and the rear quarters (a place where Corvettes stumble a little bit - this GTP is the best I've ever seen in production).

Excellent work by the General.

And you thought all I did was b!tch...

 

I sat in one the other day at the Caddilac dealership. You know, it didn't look too out of place there. This minor refreshing made a major improvement. I hated the interior when I saw it in magazines, but in person it looks pretty good. It's amazing how everything looks better in person.

 

I saw one for the first time on the road last week. It was a black GTP. Very sharp. I love the exhaust pipes on them. I caught a light with the guy and gave him a thumbs up. He smiled and gave me a nod. It thought about having a little fun and seeing if he would run it. But then I remembered how there would be no contest. And I imagine he wouldn’t want to race his brand new car. Oh well still looked great.

 

They are surprisingly quick and agile too. I have to admit that I was impressed by one recently in an autoX event. The car sounded bizarre while winding up, but it handled fantastically. The GTP is a very well-rounded car IMO, with good interior layout and construction to boot.

Me Likey -

 

I recently saw a $30,400 2004 GTP. Yikes!

It's no wonder that GM is still selling massive numbers of overpriced trucks and SUVs. When everyday sedans have become this pricey, you might as well cough up the extra for a vehicle with some size and style. As it is, the Grand Prix just advances the same game Pontiac was playing in the 1990s. Here's a car that's too big to be an import slayer, too expensive, but too small inside to be trully spacious.

Of course, a $30k GTP is a far better deal than the similarly priced "Jeff Gordon Edition" Monte Carlo. However, it just seems overprice and out of place in todays market. Why not buy a faster and cheaper Altima V6 with a stick? If Pontiac had a product like that, they might just have a shot at being a BMW competitor.

It makes me hope that the new Grand Am won't drop the ball like its big brother. Sure, the massive price increases on the now-aging Grand Am GT worry me. That aside, the Grand Am has had the style and proportions of a genine import fighter. Engine and soundproofing aside, the '99 vintage Grand Am is still the only Pontiac I would ever consider.

 

Stick? Yes.

Faster? Not really.

I've found 0-60 (if that's how you want to measure)

2003 Altima V6: 6.83sec
2004 GTP: 6.6sec

 

In response to redzed's comments about pricing, the domestic manufacturers are trying to "price in" some of the massive rebates they've been shelling out in an effort to minimize the effect on the bottom line. I think if you look at actual transaction prices on these vehicles, you'll see they've actually gone down in the last few years.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the price of an average new vehicle is pushing $29,000 anyway, so a loaded $30,000 GTP Grand Prix isn't bad.

You do know Bonnevilles & LeSabres generally go for $32,000 & Buick Park Avenues are over $40,000, and those aren't loaded. Even upper end Crown Victorias can reach into the low $30,000 range.

See, I told you all those $25,000 Camaro Z28s spoiled us!

 

The new Grand Prix represents a new direction for Pontiac and GM. Instead of following what the competition or what GM did in the past models the engineering and design teams went on their own way. Its an idea that GM doesn't need to follow Honda and Toyota in quality, Ford in practicallity, Chrysler in innovation, and GM's past for style. They wipped the sheet as clean as possible and began to lay out just what was needed and what had to be included for the cost. I remember meetings where the "old guard" tried to keep the car one way or another, but the styling people and fun loving engineers won out with the blessing of top GM brass. Yea even before Bob Lutz had an office, GM's top engineering and design people were getting to let loose a little. Basicly send the bean counters a bill when the car's layout and design is done! Oversimlified but worht making the point. While this may seem simple and straight forward to most, and it is, but thats not how GM has designed cars in the past.

I'm glad you like it and I stood by my point that you have to see and experience the car in person before passing judgements. Its a sign of things to come from GM and I think you all will like what eventually follows. This car didn't get a lot of press and hasn't made the splash that many at GM hoped it would but the reviews are still good and GM will sell everyone they make.

 

I can't believe that the Grand Prix represents anything more than a cheap rebody on the W-platform. If the new direction is more of the same, but delete the body cladding, that isn't enough. However, if the point of a new Pontiac is just to keep current Pontiac buyers, this philosophy might just work. Now that I've seen the 2004, I don't know what the fuss is over. Interestingly, my local dealer hasn't sold a single one yet. He's building up a small row of the things, and it'll be interesting to see if his Grand inventory stock gets as large as his massive stockpile of LeSabres and Centuries.

We should remember that new sedan introductions are pretty much irrelevant to masses of carbuyers who aren't GM devotees. While I come from a loyal GM household, even I don't much care about the new crop of boring FWD passenger cars. A supercharged Impala SS is no more interesting than the Buick Regal GS was in 1997. Similarly, the 2004 Malibu doesn't really matter to anyone aside from the fleet buyers at Alamo.

The automotive market has moved on.

 

Believe it.... THe new grand prix is over 80% new according to GM, I'm sure most of that 20% is the engines and trans. THe interior is great in these cars. Oh... and a base 2004 GTP is cheaper than the 2003.

 

My friend Pat finally went 13.9 @ 98 with a smaller blower pulley, SLP exhaust, and a cold air intake. Definitely faster than I expected!

 

right on! it may be 80% new but it's hardly as *exciting* as what the imports are making... frankly it still looks dated minus the headlights obviously "inspired" by the *** cars

 

Everything I've heard on the '04 Grand Prix has been positive, except for the price. $30K is pushing dangerously close to the Acura CL/TL, and I frankly just don't see the GTP being as nice of a car. The General might surprise me on this one, though - and if so, great for them.

 

What makes a new Altima (or enter any car in the GTP's class from Japan...) more exciting than a new GTP?