I have a question about the Grand Prix and some pics they had of it on there website in the GP gallery HERE . What is up with the black GP in those photos . It has a lip spoiler on the front , which imo makes the qwirky looking front end actually look pretty damn good . Also the wheels on the said car look really sweet as well . I dont see anything in the options list that says either is available . I thought maybe its what the GT looks like now , but ive seen a few 06 GT's already and no lip spoiler and they had the same polished 10 spoke 17's as last years optional GTP wheel .

 

The second to last picture on that page shows it to be a Grand Prix GXP Special Ediiton. Definitely looks better, but at what price?

 

Damn , I missed that . Wonder why a special ed. would have the old front bumper cover and what looks to be 17" wheels . Both downgrades from a GXP .

 

That is the special edition package available only on the GT. I believe it is an $1800 option, which includes the wheels, body kit and a body color grill.

 

Available in November, indeed, that is the new Special Edition kit. That thing is pure evil in black in the '06 brochure Its available on both base and GT models (NOT GXPs), and while I didn't think they had released the price for it yet, $1,800 sounds about right for what they'd charge for it when compared to previous Special Edition GPs.

What sucks is that the price bumps it VERY close to the GXP when its a GT model Something tells me if $1,800 is the price, it should be for the base and not the GT. The package comes with special 17s. So while thats an upgrade compared to the base model, GTs come standard with 17s. Hopefully Pontiac accounts for that!!!!

The package includes a new front chin spoiler, body-color grilles , new side sill extensions, different rear lower fascia with big chrome exhaust outlets (bigger and nicer than GXP), and those cool wheels.

Despite the price, if I was ordering an '06 GT for myself (which I still hope to ), I would be all over that package. Lets hope the price of it on a GT reflects the fact that 17s are standard!!!

 

Just wondering... when are they going to be doing a major redesign on that car, next?

 

That's the million dollar question I can't seem to get answered on here. Apparently, the "G8" nameplate was supposed to be applied to a Zeta variant. Well, as we know, that project is in turmoil. If Pontiac would get serious, gut the interior and give us a competitive, quality interior, the car would sell very well. The '06 changes were nice, but its still a little like polishing a turd IMO.

With that said, I love 'em anyway. The GXP is a 4 door F body, and IMO is more fun to drive than a GTO (yes, I've driven them both). I even love the look...which is something I couldn't always say about the '04+ cars. The features list is excellent as well...Monsoon 6 disc, XM, heated suede seats, Bilstein struts, cross-drilled rotors, 303hp...its all there. And while some of you hate this fact, I prefer that its FWD.

And for many, if the GXP is a little too hardcore (I mean, does the average GP buyer NEED 300+hp, fatter front tires and cross drilled rotors???), the GT is just right this year. That 3800 s/c may be "dated" to some, but that engine still packs 260hp and 280 lb/ft of torque in a flat powerband. Its smooth, runs on 87 octane, is bulletproof and has an aftermarket that allows it to run with LS1s. 0-60 of 6.5 seconds is damn good, IMO. What's faster? Avalon, Charger and Maxima. And for the $$ of those, you're in GXP territory anyway. For $26,700, a base GT gives you solid performance for the $$. Put $3k in mods in it, and you'll run over Hemi Chargers for the same price Don't make the argument to me that the Charger interior is any better, either. Ewwww....

Like RP has said before, just because its still a W body doesn't mean it hasn't been tweaked to hell. An '04+ GP has a great ride/handling tradeoff. I have newfound respect for the GP with the introduction of the GXP and the s/c GT...just wish it came in a coupe, and had a G6-level dash...

 

I would absolutely have to have RWD or AWD in a sports/muscle car, but for my daily driver FWD, AWD, or 4wd is fine and I'm sure I would flat-out prefer it if I lived further up north.

 

Well that's the thing that most people on here can't quite seem to comprehend. I'd riot in the streets if my Camaro came with FWD. But for a daily driver? In New England, FWD all the way. FWD with snow tires is > than many SUVs I see running around here. First with my '02 Grand Am GT and now with the GP, I'm amazed what FWD with quality snow tires can do.

 

All I came in here to say is that cross drilled rotors are an appearance mod, and decrease performance.

And that it seems strange that you can make the base and midlevel car look better than the top level.

 

How do you figure the cross-drilled rotors DECREASE performance? I have never seen ANYONE claim that to be true. Granted, the front brakes on a GXP are larger than the other models, but still...those brakes are phenomenal.

Define how the base and mid-level models can look "better" than the top level. The GXP just has a different look to it. Different nose, front fenders, wheels, spoiler, fender vents, side skirts, etc. I can't say one is BETTER than the other...its a matter of taste.

 

Cross-drilled rotors compared to flat surface rotors of the same size and all else being identical... the cross-drilled rotors will technically have less stopping power due to less surface area. The real advantage of cross-drilled rotors comes with heat dissapation after repeated stops, which, let's be honest, is nothing something that the average GXP buyer is going to be relying on unless they autocross or just drive like a friggin' maniac in stop and go traffic or winding country roads. Let's be honest... the main reason people like 'em is because they look cool. Heat disappation is generally an afterthought in the average consumer's mindset.

With that said it seems that the tires and stability/ABS system are realistically the main limiting factor with braking - so I doubt you'd ever come to a point where you needed that extra bit of surface area on your brake rotors in order to stop quickly enough during cold braking.

 

I comprehend the loss of surface area. However, the gas buildup between the pad and the rotor is the reason why cross drilled rotors were developed in the first place. Indeed, I am sure the Z51 Corvette and Z06 use cross drilled rotors because the design is inferior.

 

Are you saying I'm saying they're inferior?

Again, technically decreased traction from the pad to the rotors means technically decreased stopping power, though rotor surface area is rarely the weakest link in determining stopping power - the tires and traction system usually are. So heat disappation is the main advantage.

So realistically they might have a slight disadvantage or more realistically no real advantage or disadvantage with your average joe driving normally, but if somebody buys the car to autocross or drive the hell out of then yeah, the brake fade over time should be considerably less which is of course a big advantage when racing.

 

You are both a little incorrect. Jason, if you have never seen anyone claim that they do not offer a performance benefit:
Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Exhibit D
Modern pads (since 1980) have not had the outgas problem. The only reason anyone who is serious cross drills rotors is to save rotating mass. They stop worse than blanks (less area), heat faster (less mass), and probably do not cool significantly faster (if at all) than a blank vented rotor.

Sorry for the thread hijack.