PDC

My very first car was a 1971 Pontiac LeMans with the full "sport" appearance package a-la the GTO. It was a blast. Now, my tastes have changed, hence my CLK55. However, I am wondering what the other board members thought of the '05 GTO with the 400 hp LS2 motor and the 6-speed manual. I have always kind of liked the understated (bland?) appearance of the car. It sort of reminds me of the CLK, meaning that it isnt like buying a C6 or an NSX or a 911 or anything else definitively "racy." I just think its hard to beat a 400 hp V8 twisting a 6-speed manual in a 3600 lb car for UNDER 30 grand. I have seen some dealers advertising them for 28-29. West Coast Corvettes offers many truly affordable upgrades for the LS2 like cold air, ECU upgrades, hotter wires and plugs, exhaust, etc that will result in about 425 hp and tq. I would never part with the CLK (well, maybe for an SL55) but I am thinking about swapping out my 92 850 based on the pure bang-for-the-buck performance that the GTO offers. Thoughts??? Opinions???
Thanks all!

Chappy

I quite like them. At the track Sunday, there was one that was laying down 13.0 in the quarter (LS2-equipped).

For that kind of money, they are hard to beat.

YeeHaw

GM Austrailia engineering at its finest...its good bang for the buck...handling should be much stiffer than the CLK

rhampar

You might want to wait and take a look at the 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500. While about 7k more than the GTO at $39,000 you would have a 450+hp and 450lbs of torque in stock trim. The 5.4L engine is also easily modified with available aftermarket parts that can easily take you well over 500+hp.

Heck in stock trim you might be able to give an E55 or SL55 a good run . Check the review on Stangnet.com http://www.stangnet.com/2005-Mustang...00-by-SVT.html

SVT Ford Dealers I hear will be taking orders in Jan 06

Co 55 AMG

My first car was a 67’ Le Mans 3 speed. As for the 05’ I like it a lot, as you say “bang-for-the-buck”. I went to check one out however I never drove one as they only come with 6 speed. I like the Auto Trans and the CLK is working fine. I did do recent fliud change at 52k, It did seem to help.

PDC

Pontiac states that the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times between the auto and the manual equipped LS2 GTOs are with a tenth or two. I checked the web site and it looks like the two tranny's have almost identical overal gear reduction in 1st gear coming out of the hole. Gears 1-3 in the auto provide a similar spread to gears 1-4 in the manual, just with a bigger step between each cog. The main advantage of the 6-speed is keeping the motor deeper in its power band between shifts (which might not be as big a deal with a 400tq motor that makes good power down low ... different result with a M3 that only really starts to make power at 4500) and the 6-speed overdrive really lets the motor sleep on the freeway. I would probably opt for the manual, but my biggest gripe with GM is that in '05 they are still using an old-school 4-speed auto with no manumatic shifting capabilities. If GM would release a 5-speed auto like the trannys in our benzes - similar gearing and the manumatic option - I think they would really have something. Imagine the benz 5-speed auto in the GTO or the C6!

Co 55 AMG

Imagine the benz 5-speed auto in the GTO or the C6

That would be nice!

hellcat

Imagine the 6-speed manual in the CLK55

That would be nice!

Chi500

I'd definately get the gto. I like that the looks aren't too flashy. Sort of an alternative to the CLK, you'll have a car for show and a car for go. Like rhampar said, i would wait for the shelby at least to compare the two cars.

smandkjc

The Holden Monaro (AKA GTO in the USA) is ending production in Australia and New Zealand.
Ref the website as follows http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000297052050/

Co 55 AMG

That car is Bad A$$

gregc

Look at the tag and see I have had several Us cars. If you can keep the CLK for the 'dinner in the town' , while getting a GTO to go kick some butt, GO for it.

2 guys at work have these and I must say they drive nice and feel good on the inside too.

bruce55

Isnt there someone out there that makes a 6 speed conversion for our cars? I though renntech or someone made that. If it isnt a million dollars, which it probly is, I would consider doing it. It may not make it much faster but it would be a blast.

leloz

They are nice cars for the money, and will probably have the new 6 speed automatic for 2007. They do lack several luxury features like moonroof and Navigation that would make it a much more attractive package.

RJC

Buy an 06+ and keep it stock, don't put too many miles on it and if gas keeps going the way it has, your 06 GTO will be worth some $ in 20 years.

Chappy

RENNtech may do it. Contact them for pricing, but I'd expect over $20K for the conversion.

rsatmans

the gto is not as fast as i would have expected have raced one in the clk500 and i had a perfect run we were neck and neck till about 115 or so and it pulled away about 2 car lengths the driver may have been bad with the stick in it who knows

barw211e320

I have had several demo LS2 GTOs that I have put several hundred miles a piece on, and have had two co-workers with LS2 GTOs out at Big Willow.

IMHO the GTO is a way to get a 400hp engine and a starting platform for a fine performance vehicle. It is VERY heavy. It needs suspension and brakes to be truly reguarded as sensational.

It has LOTS of body roll, but stiffer shocks for quality damping characteristics and a very good ride. It does handle better than most vehicles so it is entertaining. Although it is very much overpowered for the limited grip levels and the amount of body roll that results from high speed cornering.

The brakes are not up to the task of high speed stops. They offer good feel, and work ok for spirited driving, but if you push this car it will fade fast.

The auto box has limited gear ratios with a very tall 4th gear overdrive, and is not at all effective for anything but straight line motoring. It is however a great 4L65E trans that will handle gobs of power and torque if you want to drag race it and modify it.

The Tremec T-56 6speed manual is very strong. It is a little ropy in feel, but it does just fine. It is a close ratio 4 speed with two overdrives. Top speed is attained in 5th. 6th is ridiculous and is almost not ever used. If you could, it would probably go over 300mph in 6th if you had the power the way it is geared. It is more than adequate for high performance driving, and it is my favorite way to drive the GTO. Cluth takeup is light, and it is easy to crawl through traffic, barring "skip-shift".

The interior is exceptional in finish. It has FULL leather interior using THICK leather, and REAL suede door inserts not synthetic. It also has REAL satin nickle finish trim, and THICK nicely grained plastics. The 200W 10 speaker Blaupunkt stereo is very dissappointing. It is not loud, not clear, and has lots of buzzing speakers.

Overall for a daily driver or something you will not race, it is a great value. If you do wish to modify it this is an even better value since you already have a great motor and trans. I know the owner of a Pontiac dealer so if you do want one I can hook it up.

I hope this helps. This is just my take on the GTO, and had the money to spend on a great all around very fast car with a REAL backseat and an 18.5 gallon fuel tank with 25MPG avg EPA on the highway I would totally buy one.

PDC

Excellent info! Thanks a bunch. I have heard several of the points you make about this car. You would definitely want the 18" wheel package and would probably want stickier tires out back. I have heard that the factory shifter/linkage is sloppy and contributes to what might be deemed disappointing 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times based on hp, weight and gearing. I know B&M makes a "ripper" shifter for the GTO for about $200 bucks that is supposed to provide much more precise and shorter throws between gears. Add a cold air box, headers, 8mm wires and an ECU flash, and for a grand total of about $2K in mods you would have a car with about 440 flywheel hp. (I don't think BRABUS or RennTech would even sell a license plate frame for that amount!) Of course, the GTO won't ever have the same feel or "pop" that my CLK 55 has ... it's certainly no "replacement." But, it could be relatively affordable fun. I will let you all know if I take the plunge!

barw211e320

On the 18", Pontiac narrows the tires on the 18" due to "poor fitment" on the 17" width. 18" is 235/40/18 vs 245/45/17. They both feel similar I guess.

AMG_55

i raced 1
straight it was dead even, on the twisty stuff i was much faster, i couldnt pass though b/c we were on a 2 lane canyon road.
i think it was all down to my driving though, the car hang nice, needs some wider rubber and shorter sidewalls.
nice car overall, very good bang for the buck and loads of cheap aftermarket parts

slk55lvr

Once upon a time I bought my very first car, a 1966 Pontiac GTO. It had a 4:10 posi rear, overbored engine and three 2 barrel carbs. From 0-100 it could pass anything ( except a gas station!). Naturally, when I heard that GM was re-introducing this car a few years ago it was first on my list.
That said, while I love the fact that they put a corvette engine and gertrag transmission in this new one, I'm sorry the body styling just isn't a GTO. It looks more like a tricked out sunbird than a re-make of the old classic, and I hated it. They would have been better off calling this the new MONARO, because it's certainly a fine car.
Why couldn't they do what Dodge did with the new Charger and made a true GTO? Heck, they could have used the cts-v platform and gotten pretty close to the original.

Norm C32

I thought the styling was a little boring myself, but after owning an '05 GTO for 7 months it has grown on me. It is sold as a 4-door in other parts of the world so the rear in coupe configuration does look a bit bulbous. I removed the wing and added 15.9 lbs. SSR-GT2 wheel.

I instruct for MBCA and Audi Club of NA and did about 15 track events with the GTO. It definitely has the power. But like barw211e320 mentions it needs some tuning in the suspension and brake areas. For '05 it gets Corvette C5/C6 front brakes and vented rotors in the rear. With venting to the front brakes they are adequate with street/track pads. For the suspension some of the OE rubber bushings need changed to poly and shock/springs recalibrated.

The problem with bringing over a car not designed for the US is that the suspension has the travel length of an off road truck. This was to accomodate the Aussie's not-so flat roads. So the spring perch is right on top of the tire. Hence going with widder rubber, the wheel size needs to be decreased. Coilovers are the only solution.

I ran 13.2 @ 107 MPH with about 5000 miles on the clock. The engine is the same as the Corvette C6 and so is the torque management, especially in lower gears. With a few bolt-ons and some tuning 400 wheel hp is possible. For $29K with 400 hp and having a back seat too there is not much out there in the price range. Look for Dodge's 425hp SRT-8 with 4-doors to cost $10K more and only have the option of an automatic.



Norm