Pontiac is selling more Aztecs than GTOs!!!!

[epj3]

Bahnstormer - WTF dude? He's just making a statement. I've been brought up with pontiacs and I've seen their true quality. My dad who has test driven a non-demo GTO said his 99 grand prix has a better feel of quality to it. He said the GTO felt like it had a lot of areas for potential problems, like shoddy assembly of the interior (despite the looks which others have discussed).

And seriously, hasnt anyone else noticed how body panels on GM's don't ever line up perfectly? My 17 year old car which has a very stressed body (due to normal use...) isn't even that bad!

 

[frolf]

its too late to read this whole thread, but ahhh.... a guy i know got a 6month old (yet still new) aztek for like 12k loaded

i think they are selling more cause they are going for so cheap

 

[monaroCountry]

I can tell you though, that probably nobody on this board actually wants to get a Pontiac GTO. We can respect the car; it's a great machine at a great price (nice exterior, beautiful interior, fast) but it doesn't look like it offers much in the handling and breaking department

Handling for the pontiac is up there with BMW M's, although with a bit of U/steer which can easily be corrected with a dab of the throttle. Certainly the owners have raved on about the GTO's handling. I admit that its not as nimble as little cars and 4wds (but which car is, even the M5 isnt as nimble). As for people continually putting down the car because of its weight, you have to remember that its around the same weight as a cobra and lighter than the M5 (?). Unlike the cobra however the GTO can comfortably seat 4 people and have better quality. This GTO however does lack in braking (i think pontiac got cheap on this department, expecting its main buyers to only drag the car). However this should be fixed with the 05. When the GTS (think of it as the 05 gto) was tested against the M5 it nearly beat the M5 (far closer than the merc) the GTS even beat the M5 and mercs around the Ring in germany.

Trust me guys, this car is a great handling car, going around in circles isnt a good measurement for handling. In the real world roads have uneven surfaces and bumps.

 

[monaroCountry]

QUOTE1

Pontiacs are shitty cars. Face it - no matter what, you're getting the cheap plastic interiors, the foam filled not even rubber-made quality bumpers, and simply an expensive-for-what-it-is car.

QUOTE2

big engine, fast, and many other things....but it is still a PONTIAC!

QUOTE3

I've been brought up with pontiacs and I've seen their true quality. My dad who has test driven a non-demo GTO said his 99 grand prix has a better feel of quality to it. He said the GTO felt like it had a lot of areas for potential problems, like shoddy assembly of the interior (despite the looks which others have discussed).

People seem to forget that THIS CAR IS NOT A PONTIAC, and was never made, designed in America........its an AUSTRALIAN CAR.
The plastics used are not cheap.......furthermore the bumpers are definately not foam filled. Having foam filled bumper in the outback is a crazy thing to do with plenty of loose rocks and kangaroos.

Epj3 show me a review where the GTO's interior have been bagged (apart from car and driver). Most reviews both in america, uk and uae have been quite complementary to Holden interior. Just because other pontiacs have $hitty build quality doesnt mean that the GTO would also have them (since its not made in america).

 

[panzershreck]

the Monaro is actually decent looking... GTO looks like butt

 

[Ghost]

The intent of the GTO was in its name: "Gran Turismo Omologato." This roughly translates to "Grand Touring Homologation," meaning that the car was sold as a road car solely to qualify it for GT competition. edmunds

…Its original name era 250 GT Berlinetta but when calling it officially Ferrari 250 Great Tourism Omologata, the press began to him to name GTO and thus it remained for always. Its completion in the races was in March of 1962 in the twelve hours of Sebring. It was in commendable a second position, behind a prototype indeed of the Ferrari mark (although it did not score)… The following year returns to be a recital for Ferrari, occupies the three first positions in Sebring, wins in Daytona, Nürburgring the GTO is second… portalmundos.com

Entire linkhttp //216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.portalmundos.com/mundomotormania/ensueno/ferrarigto.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dferrari%2BGTO%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26as_qdr%3Dall

IMO a car should slide at a certain point and body roll like this in a modern car doesn’t show respect for the original meaning of GTO.

 

[monaroCountry]

the Monaro is actually decent looking... GTO looks like butt

I do agree with you to a degree. Still the GTO is a great car for the price, comfort, build and performance. I get angry when people spew off uninformed comments like "its just a GP" or "its just a pontiac"........

 

[monaroCountry]

The intent of the GTO was in its name: "Gran Turismo Omologato." This roughly translates to "Grand Touring Homologation," meaning that the car was sold as a road car solely to qualify it for GT competition. edmunds

Again this new GTO is closer to the original meaning of the ferrari GTO.......but have won an enduro, also both in a GT comp.

IMO a car should slide at a certain point and body roll like this in a modern car doesn’t show respect for the original meaning of GTO.

Having a car ride on its wheels isnt really good in everyday conditions........having little suspension travel is great for a smooth track but normal road isnt glass smooth. I would rather have a controllable car than one that slides around......we all know how well the old pontiac handled (no thanks).

 

[monaroCountry]

Too bad pontiac just sold nearly 3000 gtos this month. . I would guess that theres only around 3-3.5K gtos left until the 05 arrive. Contrary to what people have said about there being 18K gtos. The 18K was what holden-pontiac first estimated. Although allowed under the union (in us), the fact is holden is already stretched to its limits producing 10K gtos (running at 24hr mon-sat and 8 hours during sunday).

If you do want a gto (04) then i suggest you get it now. [driving2] [driving2]

 

[MrElussive]

No thanks. Great interior, but the exterior isn't sophisticated enough to justify the $33K price tag and the exterior isn't muscular enough to justify the $33K price tag. I was behind a brand-spankin-new one in traffic once and it took me 5 minutes to realize it was a GTO and not your average Pontiac. The rear is too tame and the front is is not much more aggressive than the average Pontiac.

This car could have been way better, but GM just screwed up as usual.

 

[monaroCountry]

A common comment with ALL gto and monaro drivers have been even when priced at 33K its still the best deal. Give the car a chance, drive it for a while. Trust me there no other car out there that best combines speed, power, handling, comfort, space (minus the boot), 2 usable rear seats etc (in its price range). The only car that can compete would be the m5, but thats in a totally different league.

 

[tih2k]

33k? They've been selling more since they have been giving them away for 24-25k since now they are allowing GMS and more employee discounts. At 25k it's a huge bargain.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

A common comment with ALL gto and monaro drivers have been even when priced at 33K its still the best deal. Give the car a chance, drive it for a while. Trust me there no other car out there that best combines speed, power, handling, comfort, space (minus the boot), 2 usable rear seats etc (in its price range). The only car that can compete would be the m5, but thats in a totally different league.

Youve got to be kidding, the 330i with peformance package is competition, the m5 is GOD compared next to the pontiac. You cannot compare a GTO to an m5, the gto flaws in comparison. Id take the bmw over any pontiac.

 

[MrElussive]

A common comment with ALL gto and monaro drivers have been even when priced at 33K its still the best deal. Give the car a chance, drive it for a while. Trust me there no other car out there that best combines speed, power, handling, comfort, space (minus the boot), 2 usable rear seats etc (in its price range). The only car that can compete would be the m5, but thats in a totally different league.

I'm convinved on the power and the space and comfort. But what about brakes and handling? It's not rocket science to make a car go fast.

 

[j2azz]

Looks like a grand am to me. Maybe a fancy sunfire with bigger rims.. hehe

 

[Average Jae]

i was all hyped when i first heard about it, then reality set in. numbers look good, until you get to weight. it could be a sleeper, since it looks so bland, and is too pontiac-icy. for 30k+ it's a hard pill to swallow.. but if yer into small block V-8s, and good ole american muscle.. there you have it.

it'll just have to beat out aztek in sales first..

 

[monaroCountry]

Youve got to be kidding, the 330i with peformance package is competition, the m5 is GOD compared next to the pontiac. You cannot compare a GTO to an m5, the gto flaws in comparison. Id take the bmw over any pontiac.

Take your time reading my posts. What i said was "the only car that can compete would be the m5, but thats in a totally different league". True the m5 would beat the gto in 0-60, 1/4, handling, and even fit and finish etc, but the difference would be alot closer than when its compared to normal 3 series. Im not the best person when it comes to BMW, I dont own the most recent one etc. but im not unaware of their qualities and potentials either.

There have been several reviews comparing the gto/monaro to both the m3 and m5. Although it got beaten, it certainly wasnt enbarrassed. Look through Jeremy clarkson's comments when testing the vauxhall monaro, the car and driver review (dundee??) and many others. These reviews all compared and all gave favourable comments towards the monaro/gto.

As ive said before, give the car a chance and try it. So far it has surpriesed alot of owners. This car isnt a typical pontiac and wasnt even made in america. It was made in australia so dont expect it to be like other NA pontiacs.

Also it looks best without spoilers

 

[monaroCountry]

Posts: 20 33k? They've been selling more since they have been giving them away for 24-25k since now they are allowing GMS and more employee discounts. At 25k it's a huge bargain.

24K-25K GTO are unheard of, unless it was a demo with a couple K travel. The majority of gtos are still selling in the low 30K and 27-28K (depending on location). Many of the gtos were sent north, while the majority of buyers were in the south. This has slowly been adressed by pontiac. As a result however those in the north usually had a lower price than those in the south. I do agree with you.....it is a huge bargain.

 

[monaroCountry]

I'm convinved on the power and the space and comfort. But what about brakes and handling? It's not rocket science to make a car go fast.

The brakes arnt too bad but they could be alot better, the handling is actually pretty good (for a car of its weight). The brakes are adressed with the 05 gto, with the 05 getting a far larger and better braking package than the 04. This car actually handles fairly well (with a little bit of roll and a slight understeer). The pontiac GTO is nowhere near the top in the handling department (compared with other holden products). All it really needs are 1) firmer suspension, and 2) wider tires (pref. performance not all season tires).

 

[monaroCountry]

Looks like a grand am to me. Maybe a fancy sunfire with bigger rims.. hehe

I would suggest that you go to a car yard and look at the car in person, and not just rely on internet pictures. This comment is a bit !diotic and childish. try to expand on your points alittle more .