"Shift24" (the-nope)
08/10/2013 at 08:10 • Filed to: pontiac, GTO
2
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"Shift24" (the-nope)
08/10/2013 at 08:10 • Filed to: pontiac, GTO | 2
| 7 |
I know it’s late but just thought to post cause after seeing the GTOs will become classics article. So I want to get people's take on how I think the GTO/Monaro restarted V8 performance.
First off a bit of history for me with these Goats. I remember going to the dealership when this car came out. They made it seem like it was the next best thing since sliced bread. The tiger tail in the trunk and "Don't feed the Goat" signs along with watching the trailer of GTO doing aggressive drifting, explosions, and that amazing LS1 exhaust note. I liked how the car looked but I loved the interior. The seats with the red leather and the red dash with the weird green digital read out. But with that the most vivid memory is seeing brand new discontinued Firebirds and T/As still sitting on the lot as the GTOs came in on the carriers. I was only 14 at the time but it was my first real introduction to Muscle and fell in love. I have always looked up to these cars and would love to own one of these one day.
Now to my argument, I would argue that the GTO/Monaro restarted our love of V8 performance just as it had started the Muscle car Era 40 years before. Yeah there was the mustang and camaro in the 90s and early 00s but that was about it for the V8 performance and with the Camaro/firebird dying in 02 and the C5 was seen as GM being bland in comes the GTO. After the GTO comes out the 05 new mustang, 05 Magnum Hemi V8, 05 C6, 06 Camaro concept, 06 corvette Z06 427, 06 Charger V8, o7 Camaro convert concept, 08 G8 GXP, 09 Challenger, 09 ZR1, 10 Camaro, 12 ZL1 vs GT500, 13 Viper (even though v10 you get my drift), 14 SS. Now I could be COMPLETELY wrong and looking though rose colored glasses but just wanted to start a discussion about the future classic.
Victorious Secret
> Shift24
08/10/2013 at 08:57 |
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Not for me. I already liked V8s, the Americans just built shit cars with them. That was the norm and cars like the GTO were the exception.
If anything, of all V8s, I liked the -V series of the era the most. The GTO was just ugly.
Slave2anMG
> Shift24
08/10/2013 at 09:08 |
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The GTO seems to get a lot of grief for its low key styling. That's what I like about it - lots of V8 go without a lot of flash and in-your-face looks. I'd love to own one...
desertdog5051
> Shift24
08/10/2013 at 11:41 |
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Did it ever die?
pianomanzero
> Slave2anMG
08/10/2013 at 12:28 |
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Yeah, the GTO took a lot of shit for being so "boring" as some put it, but I also really liked it. I'd really love to own one, but I'd have to resist doing a full rebadge/restyle as a Vauxhall just to be different hehe
I feel the same about the G8, I'd probably rebadge as a Vauxhall, but that's just me.
I like the styling just a bit better.
feather-throttle-not-hair
> Shift24
08/10/2013 at 13:29 |
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I dunno...I dont think the V8 was ever dead. The Mustang has always kept the flame alive as well as the Corvette. The Chrysler 300 wasn't released until 05 but it was being developed around the same time. Americans just like V8s. If anything I think it was the 05 mustang that really got things rolling again. The GTO was more of just a foot note. It didn't really have the effect that GM wanted it to have.
Now, that said, the GTO is an awesome car in its own right and probably a future classic. I was very close to buying one at one point and one of my best friends currently drives one. I've therefore had the pleasure of driving one several times in the twisties and even had the opportunity to hoon it in empty parking lots from time to time. My friends car is an 06 with a M/T.
The virtues of the GTO though, were largely lost on the mainstream populace, due mainly to its boring and to my eyes, not particularly good styling. Again look at the reception of the 05 mustang vs the GTO. It takes a dedicated enthusiast to appreciate the Goat. It takes people who are willing to look past the styling and appreciate the sophisticated chassis (independent rear suspension?!? what is this the future?!) the great engine and the availability of a traditional manual transmission.
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Slave2anMG
> pianomanzero
08/10/2013 at 13:50 |
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No, I'm with you...though I prefer the bonnet/hood without the intakes. I know...weird.
jzEllis
> pianomanzero
01/04/2015 at 13:26 |
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That's funny, because in Australia they rebadge the Holdens as Pontiacs.