I've driven both cars... both are great in their own way. And both make me hopeful for Pontiac's future

 

I hope both exist in Pontiac's future.

 

Well that's what amazes me most...the GXP really DOES seem better developed. Its 200 lbs lighter, has better brakes despite the PBR calipers on the GTO, debuted with beautiful forged 18s (I NEVER saw an '05 GTO with 18s...did they even come out as planned?), is revolutionary to a certain extent with the way it attacks FWD performance, looks more aggressive...I don't know. It just feels like the total package somehow. I lament the fact its a 4 door, but I could even live with that. After seeing more of the '06 MC SS on Chevy's site, I'd be stupid to buy an SS over a GXP for the roughly $1,000 savings. Impala SS is a different story maybe...the quality of the interior carries that car well. But it doesn't inspire the emotion in me the GXP does. I'm sure it drives very well...but that GXP's chassis...that one road made me a believer.

As for the LS4 burble, It fixes my biggest complaint with all '97+ GPs...the lack of a decent sounding exhaust for what is typically an aggressive looking car. My 3800 stirs all the emotion of a washing machine, and no aftermarket exhaust can change that, unfortunately. Dare I say the LS4 sounds better than the GTO's LS2? Never had the chance to drive an '05 GTO very far, so its hard to say. But those GXPs purr like kittens...

 

I saw my first one with 18"s last month in Brainerd, MN when I went to the NHRA drags. It was a yellow one and at night when we were driving through town, and I said, "Holy cow, a Goat with the 18"s!".

Gotta say, a loaded Bleen GXP is likely my next driver. Quite an awesome machine. If only more people would just try it and put their rear-drive bias aside.

 

Yeah, bleen (Blue Green Crystal, a $295 option, for the un-initiated ) is hot. As I said in another thread, just last week I had a lead on my own car, and planned to grab an '06 Bleen GT we have in stock. I'm glad it fell through, because the re-introduction to the GXP last Saturday made me realize I would have been royally kicking myself for "settling" for a plain ol' s/c 3800

 

Even more suprising is CAr and Drivers review of the GXP. Very positive! Fast too Myself I don't like the looks of it though. Understated but nice looking Impala SS for me

 

I test drove a GP GXP a few weeks ago. It is a nice car, and well integrated (eg, HUD, XM, Nav). If that's your cup of tea... go for it. I happen to think the GTO looks better overall... maybe that's me. The FWD on the GXP does also help in 4-season climates. For me though, it simply cannot hold a candle to the 05 GTO. I test drove two GTO's in the last couple weeks. The GTO will ab-solutely walk all over a GP GXP on the street and at a strip. I've concluded performance is more important (to me) so regardless how "integrated the GXP is as a better package"... it just pales in comparison to the Oh-My-God grin I get from driving the GTO. So - today I bought one

 

Congrats!

Hey, to each their own. I wouldn't dream of knocking a GTO. Its a great car. For me personally, the visual cache of the GXP just seems to do it for me, as does the chassis tuning. I don't need 400hp, but I do drive like an idiot on off ramps So between the FWD for snow and the handling package, the GXP is for me personally...I need a sunroof too

But I agree...from stoplight to stoplight, its hard to get a bigger grin than what a GTO provides What color did you get? AT or M6?

 

Thanks. It's more to me though than going from light to light. I realize the GXP engineers did wonders in balancing the suspension to nullify FWD effects... but wow - my GTO feels like a stretched Corvette. There's nothing like flinging around a tight curve with a powerful IRS RWD V8

BTW it's Impulse Blue, A4, blue leather

I've seen the blue-green crystal in a lot of different lighting conditions, it's a great color. But I still like impulse blue better. Maybe someday my Goat will be worth something

 

IMO, GTOs might just be the next Grand Nationals...time will tell. They certainly are rare enough to qualify And while some would argue the LS2 may not be as "special" as a Turbo 3.8, its still cool as hell...

I agree the depreciation factor with the GXP will make the GTO a better investment, without question. But if/when I get my GXP, I plan to drive the wheels off it anyway There won't be much investment left after 200k with it I said I'd keep my current GP to 200k, but this whole V8 W body thing has me re-thinking that position!!!

 

Congrats on the Goat BDNF! They are awesome driving cars, I have to temper my impulse to trade in the truck for one almost daily I sure hope the new Camaro is everything I am expecting, that will make this self imposed denial well worth it!

I think the GXP is a very sweet ride. I would have been all over it, but I have an '04 GTP Comp G and can't see eating the depreciation for moderate gains in horsepower. I will admit, however, that it has crossed my mind to have an all Pontiac 05 and 06 stable

 

Since I don't have any clue on quoting multiple replies I hope this makes sense.

Jason I agree the GXP is the total package. Stop over analyzing it and just buy it I don't think the GXP is going to lose as much value as say a GTP/GT will. Also you can't compare a GTO to a GXP. They have absolutely nothing in common other than they are both sold side by side and have V8's. The GTO is a hot car but there is nothing special about it. The GXP is a total package kind of like how the Z06, CTS-V (or anything-V), SVT anything, M anything ect are packaged. Everything is pretty much upgraded over the standard: interior/exterior, wheels, brakes, engine ect (how I want my Z28 to be). I would consider a GTO to be like a regular Corvette awsome but not special(not how I want my Z28 to be).

 

Congrats on the new GTO!!!

Might I also say you have excellent taste in color selection, inside and out!

 

I'm still shopping for a new car and stopped by local POntiac dealer yesterday. He didn't have a GTP in stock, but said I could order it and decline if I didn't like it when it came.

This is something I am not willing to do, although technically i can decline it. I need to drive the car before passing judgment.

I took a look at cloth seats of the G6 - and they are much better than cloth seats of Accord/Mazda6 or Camry. The base GM stereo sounds more powerful (and distortion-free) than TSX's 360-watt system.

Although GTP appears to be a rather nice package, I was hoping for different suspension. Currently, it shares it with the GT model (save for the 18" wheels).

But the biggest drawback is the fuel economy. It is worse than many V8 engines, and it just absolutely killed by Nissan's VQ series engines... I can't imagine driving a car that gets 13.1 L per 100 km with gas prices going up.

 

Gimme a GTO 6-speed with 17" wheels, no scoops (scoopy things, as the wife calls them), and no rear spoiler. Talk about a sleeper! I would be seriously tempted if it weighed closer to 3600 than 3800. Hell, I'm tempted anyway! But I think I'll hold out for a Solstice coupe (GM, you listenin'?). Then after a few years I'll drop an LS2 in it. Now THAT would make an AWESOME replacement for my aging 240Z supercar-slayer