HOLY COW, DOES THIS CAR ROCK! I know, I know...It's not a "true" Pontiac and it looks nothing like a vintage GTO. But I knew all that going in, and I wasn't looking for those things in a car. I was looking for the most performance and modern muscle I could afford. And this is hands down the tightest, most powerful, most fun-to-drive car I've ever personally experienced. My salesman kept warning me to be careful with such horsepower even though he had never driven one (had never even sat in one for that matter). When he asked if I felt comfortable driving it off the showroom floor myself I assured him I knew all about horsepower and torque having a '70 TA...and I darn sure didn't trust him to do it for me. I can't rave enough about this car. Accelleration nails you into the seat, and if you really put your foot into you get a big, tight-skinned perma-grin like only the best amusement park rides can induce. The seats? The motors are a bit slow, but oh man are they ever comfortable...I think I'll sleep in the car tonight. Shifting is smooth and easy like a Honda. Handling, braking and fit & finish are like a BMW. Everywhere I went today, on the road or parked, the car got just as much attention as my old TA. This car is just outstanding all around. I'm glad GM brought this car to the US, and I'm glad I bought one of the 12,000(or fewer) 2005's.

HOLY COW, DOES THIS CAR ROCK! I know, I know...It's not a "true" Pontiac and it looks nothing like a vintage GTO. But I knew all that going in, and I wasn't looking for those things in a car. I was looking for the most performance and modern muscle I could afford. And this is hands down the tightest, most powerful, most fun-to-drive car I've ever personally experienced. My salesman kept warning me to be careful with such horsepower even though he had never driven one (had never even sat in one for that matter). When he asked if I felt comfortable driving it off the showroom floor myself I assured him I knew all about horsepower and torque having a '70 TA...and I darn sure didn't trust him to do it for me. I can't rave enough about this car. Accelleration nails you into the seat, and if you really put your foot into you get a big, tight-skinned perma-grin like only the best amusement park rides can induce. The seats? The motors are a bit slow, but oh man are they ever comfortable...I think I'll sleep in the car tonight. Shifting is smooth and easy like a Honda. Handling, braking and fit & finish are like a BMW. Everywhere I went today, on the road or parked, the car got just as much attention as my old TA. This car is just outstanding all around. I'm glad GM brought this car to the US, and I'm glad I bought one of the 12,000(or fewer) 2005's.

awesome, enjoy the car as much as you can http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...on_biggrin.gif Back to drinking beer for me http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_cool.gif

Welcome to the club Jeff R.!!! Many people don't have any idea what they are missing. However, we owners know we have one of the best cars going anywhere at the price. And yes, thank you GM for bringing this car to us. I only hope that, when they start building the GTO in the U.S., they don't screw it up.

P.S. You have probably already done so but I thought I would remind you to check the tire pressure to make sure it has been backed down to 44 p.s.i. and make sure they got the helper springs out. Those have been the two major issues reported on the new Goats.

Congrats on the purchase!

It's official, I've been converted. I stopped at one of our local dealers yesterday, they had 2 05s in stock. I think I may have to have the black M6 car with the sport appearance package. The only problem I can see with the car is the charcoal interior. Id rather have the red interior. But, I want one, I want one , I want one! http://pysales.com/images/evil.gif

My biggest question right now is: Why didnt they do the sport appearance package in the first place??? That's how GTOs are supposed to look!

Congratulations!!! These are some awesome cars.
It is by far the best performing (all around) than anything else near its price. Bought mine in September and have been grinning ever since.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff R.:
My salesman kept warning me to be careful with such horsepower even though he had never driven one (had never even sat in one for that matter)...QUOTE]

Salesmen http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_rolleyes.gif...Most of them wouldn't know a musclecar if it jumped up and bit them in the ass. I'm not a fan of the 04/05 as a GTO but what I've heard from people that actually own one it's a darn fine musclecar. Congrats on you purchase!

The dealer here has 4 05s. Two have been there for atleast a month and the other two just came in. I'm suprised they aren't gone yet. Maybe when the weather warms up more.If I was looking for a new car I would consider it. I'm going to try and test drive it anyways. I thought it was funny they have one 04 and they sent it out and put a 05 hood and aftermarket rear spoiler and they're asking $1200 more for it than the 05. I guess it's a permanent fixture up there.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 70455RA:
I thought it was funny they have one 04 and they sent it out and put a 05 hood and aftermarket rear spoiler and they're asking $1200 more for it than the 05. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's because Lutz and the dealers are banking on the assumption that the Gen X crowd will blindly buy into the GTO name and make a purchase on a purely emotional level. It's no wonder Sponge Bob kept distancing himself from the older GTO faithful. They are going to notice if an 04 has been "modified" to look like an 05. I think GM grossly under-estimated the intellect of both their target market and the one they chose to alienate. Jeff R has given the most honest and best argument I've read yet for buying this car.

Cars & Trucks Zeta Not the End of RWD Performance

By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman

Some news broke today about a reshuffling of our product plan, and I just want to clear one thing up before people get carried away.

Yes, we have canceled our plans to build rear-wheel-drive vehicles off the Zeta architecture. But that does not mean we've canceled plans to build rear-drive vehicles altogether.

We did not cancel the Zeta plans to save money, or to divert funds elsewhere that would've been used for product development.

We are simply reallocating resources (human and financial) to pull some other programs ahead and get other vehicles to market sooner. The press speculates this means we're doing it to get our next-generation large SUVs and pickups out sooner. You could see how one might reasonably come to such a conclusion.

Rest assured, we remain committed to developing RWD, premium,
high-performance, affordable vehicles, perhaps even a few with a trace of nostalgia baked in.

With that info, I say keep the GTO coming from Holden. They've done a fantastic job as far as I'm concerned.

I just got my '05 Monaro brochure to put with my '05 GTO packet. If you haven't seen the brochure, go online and check it out. They have some awesome optional 18x8 six spoke machined rims (with 235/40 R18 rubber) that I just might have try to get for my Goat.

Check it out:

What is cosmetically different about your '05 besides the spoiler and the hood scoops? http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_confused.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Goathead:
What is cosmetically different about your '05 besides the spoiler and the hood scoops? http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_confused.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What I call the spoiler (and some call the rear wing) is the same on both the '04 and '05. As to exterior appearance differences: hood scoops, split exhaust, badges and rear bumper. Interior appearance difference: mirror control is reversed. Engine compartment appearance difference: electronically controlled throttle-body (does not have a cable going over the top of the engine) and the throttle body housing is larger (houses a control motor).

Why do you ask?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Goathead:
What is cosmetically different about your '05 besides the spoiler and the hood scoops? http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_confused.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

spoiler http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_rolleyes.gifis the same. some are opting for the higher spoiler http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_rolleyes.gif http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_rolleyes.gif on the autocross or deleting it all together. l/r exhaust, machined exhaust tips, large "GTO" in rear facia.

Got mine a week age, and taking it to the tint shop in an hour. I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as many of you out there, but I'm here to tell you that this is one hell of a car. Haven't had so much fun driving in decades. So far everything is perfect. Rides like a refined sports car, and does it go, it can play anywhere it wants. Much more comfortable than I expected. I'm glad I'm in it.

What colour? http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_wink.gif

Welcome aboard gmanpma, and congrats on your new ride! It is too much fun, isn't it? It's like your very own, personal amusement park. I find myself looking for any reason to hop in the car and take a spin. Yesterday I took several co-workers and friends for joy rides, and they all came away with great big SEGs plastered to their faces. If you haven't already done so, you should definitely check out LS1GTO.com...Lots of '04-'05 owners with tons of information and knowledge on tap. The PY forums are great for vintage Pontiac stuff, but if you've read through any past threads you'll see this particular forum can get ugly at times.

Congrats, Jeff R, on joining "the family". I've had my '04 since December 10th and have loved every 6878 miles to date. As is quite obvious once you've driven one, you've just got to have one. Here's hoping you enjoy each and every mile as much as I have.

Question:
What is the earlier comment about tire pressures and "helper" springs about?
I'm in the dark here.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by gold79TA:
Question:
What is the earlier comment about tire pressures and "helper" springs about?
I'm in the dark here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


They were installed to help the cars make it across the pond in a safe manner. The problem was that the dopes at the dealer didn't know about the springs or the tire presures.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mr_GTO:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by gold79TA:
Question:
What is the earlier comment about tire pressures and "helper" springs about?
I'm in the dark here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


They were installed to help the cars make it across the pond in a safe manner. The problem was that the dopes at the dealer didn't know about the springs or the tire presures. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just to elaborate, they put spacers in the coil springs and pump the tires up to 55-60psi to keep the cars from bouncing too much during shipping. Failure to remove the helpers and deflate the tires to normal pressure would result in excessive tire wear and unsafe car. Some dealerships weren't properly prepping the cars, but I think/hope they have learned by now what to look for. My car had no issues.

Thanks for the clarification.
I'll check my car right away.
Since I bought the car at closing they prepped the car after hours so who knows if it got done?