In defense of the '04-06 GTO (RANT)

"Nobi" (nobi)
10/11/2014 at 19:00 • Filed to: None

Every time I see someone post anything about one of these, it's always followed by "that's not a real GTO, it's a Monaro." Funny, I don't hear Ferrari purists saying "that's not a GTO, it's a Tempest/Le Mans/ Ventura." Yes, it has anonymous styling, but when the GTO first came out, the Tempest it was based on was considered a grandma's car. (personally, I'd have high-fived my grandma every time I saw her if she drove a Tempest, may she rest in peace) Back in '04, when Pontiac was pumping out Azteks, "ram air" Grand Ams, and transmission eating Grand Prixs, this thing was more than worthy of the GTO name and was s fitting replacement for the recently departed Trans Am. It had the power, it had the performance, also, unlike "real" GTO's, this one handled too. Yes, GM overpriced them, yes, they could have done more with the styling, but that doesn't make it any less of a GTO than the '74 Ventura based one is, and even that seems more readily accepted than these. It's a midsize car with a powerful engine sending power to the rear wheels as God intended, can be modified to the moon on the cheap, and even though it's not made in America, it's heart sure is, and that's what counts. It's made by GM, sold by Pontiac, and branded a GTO. Get over it.

/end rant

DISCUSSION (39)

Racescort666 > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:07

In the time of God awful cars, the GTO was a bit inspiring to me. I was in my earlier years of vehicular obsession and like much of the commentariat around here, I had an idealized idea of what a car should be. Weirdly, this fit the bill even if I didn't care for the styling that much.

Alex from Toronto > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:07

I think they look rather nice.

DoYouEvenShift > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:11

I personally love 04-06 GTOs, even more than the originals. Which are great cars too. Ive made the same point too. Mid size car, more civilized muscle car, blah blah.

My suggestion is to avoid failbook at all cost.

Firewrx234 > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:23

I personally love these cars. I feel that "sleeper" cars are my favorite genre.

mazda616 > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:33

I think they're pretty sweet. They just look kind of like two-door Cavaliers.

dogisbadob > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 19:47

My beefs with the 2-door Catera GTO are no sunroof and no folding back seat.

Also, they should've had a cheaper V6 model for a lower starting price, and with 5-speed manual and automatic options. They could've used the Tempest name or Monaro.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 20:00

Here, let me cheer you up with a video of me and my friend abusing our cars/driving them as they're intended to be driven.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

feather-throttle-not-hair > Racescort666
10/11/2014 at 20:06

Yeah, ive never been a huge fan of the styling, but there's so much there to like OTHER than that.

Spaceball-Two > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/11/2014 at 20:07

I love this video.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Spaceball-Two
10/11/2014 at 20:11

Thank you!

Spaceball-Two > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/11/2014 at 20:12

If you plan another one of these in the future let me know and I'll run down.

Nobi > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/11/2014 at 20:12

Thank you, good sir

Nobi > dogisbadob
10/11/2014 at 20:16

Personally, I think they should have imported the Monaro that they built with the L67 supercharged 3.8 as a new age GNX to give Buick purists something to cry over.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Spaceball-Two
10/11/2014 at 20:20

Oh yeah? it'll probably happen sometime this winter. My friend got an ex cop car crown vic that has the coveted LSD option. We're probably going to have to see how that thing does in the near future.

Spaceball-Two > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/11/2014 at 20:22

Sweet! Please let me know. My A4 will probably be useless but that sure looks like fun.

dogisbadob > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 20:29

Weren't they phasing out the 3800 around that time though? That's when they started to introduce the High Feature engines, I think.

Nobi > DoYouEvenShift
10/11/2014 at 20:29

I got into a half hour argument with a coworker once over why it's a real GTO. His excuse was that it's not a classic. By his logic, the new Mustang can't be a Mustang because it wasn't built in the 60's. He says a GTO is supposed to have over the top styling and stand out. Only the ones from '68-72 did. I only got him to admit he liked my car, but it's no GTO.

DoYouEvenShift > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 20:42

Ive had that same argument with people. Its like saying new Corvettes arent real Corvettes.

Which one is a real GTO?

Kinja'd!!!

All of them right? I rather have the newest one.

Nobi > dogisbadob
10/11/2014 at 20:57

They were working up to it. The Series III 3.8 s/c was out in the GTP at that point.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Spaceball-Two
10/11/2014 at 20:58

If it's got quattro, you could probably get it sideways eventually, just gotta push through the understeer! I wont judge you if you don't want to abuse it like that though.

The Transporter > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 21:07

Badge fanboys gonna badge fanboy, what can I say. If badge fanboys had the ability to appreciate a car as a whole instead of just the sum of its badges, then they wouldn't be badge fanboys.

Spaceball-Two > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/11/2014 at 21:12

Yup. I'll need some snow.

Nobi > The Transporter
10/11/2014 at 21:59

well said

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 22:23

I bought mine in 2004. No regrets.

Kinja'd!!!

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > dogisbadob
10/11/2014 at 22:49

I'm just glad the imported it. They didn't make much money on them as the Aussie Dollar rose compared to the US Dollar from the decision point to the start of the production run of the GTO variant. Thus the business case for it came apart and any big ideas about more options didn't make sense. But an LS motor with a six speed and independent rear suspension is just something to be loved and appreciated.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 22:52

Personally I think they should have brought in the Ute. But if they can't make it work financially I can't say as I blame them.

dogisbadob > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/11/2014 at 22:56

Oh yes it would make a great El Camino!

dogisbadob > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/11/2014 at 23:00

Yeah the exchange rate sucked, but economies of scale would have to work at some point though, and the V6 would likely have provided enough volume for a business case. And of course, the V6's 5-speed doesn't have that stupid 1-4 skip shit!

The LS 6-speed and IRS is nice.

Nobi > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/11/2014 at 23:15

You are my hero

shop-teacher > Nobi
10/11/2014 at 23:59

I absolutely loved my '04 GTO. Unfortunately it was a lemon, and I couldn't keep it long.

Nobi > shop-teacher
10/12/2014 at 08:40

Really? Mine has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. The only non-maintenance work I've had to do to it is a throttle position sensor went bad and an oil pressure switch crapped out so I couldn't reset the maintenance reminder.

shop-teacher > Nobi
10/12/2014 at 10:23

I was very unlucky with mine. I bought it as a CPO car in February on '06, with 5200 miles on it. In the next 3-1/2 months, it spent 31 days in and out of the shop for various problems. The final straw was when it left me stranded (the ECU shit the bed). I was about to start a new job, in an area where I knew nobody, so I couldn't risk keeping it. I still miss it, despite all the trouble it gave me. It was without a doubt the nicest, most fun car I've ever owned.

Aaron James > Nobi
10/14/2014 at 17:55

You just have to ignore the internet man. Anything and everything that exists is hated by someone on the internet. Clean, fresh air, Fucking hate it man.............

Nobi > Aaron James
10/14/2014 at 19:51

I hear that

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > DoYouEvenShift
12/22/2014 at 09:35

The oldest one is the coolest.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nobi
12/22/2014 at 09:43

I might pick one up once they bottom out in price. They're a great car, they're just a bit fugly.

Nobi > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/22/2014 at 10:31

Acquired taste then. If you like the styling of the Pontiacs of the early 00's then this is as inoffensive as they come. Being the former owner of an '01 GTP, I rather like it, myself.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nobi
12/22/2014 at 10:54

Yeah, it's definitely inoffensive. I almost think that that's part of the problem. It's so rounded that it looks like a boring 90s sedan to me even though it was one of the best bang-for-buck sports cars on the market when it came out.

pip bip - choose Corrour > dogisbadob
12/27/2014 at 08:54

can't fold back seat as fuel tank is in the way.

no sunroof , no loss!

naturally atmod v6 was available in middle east

in OZ we got L67 s/c V6 with Auto only too (try finding one of those now)