I love this car!
 

Stop at a gas station or go to the store, whenever I come back to the car there's someone ogling it or asking all sorts of questions. I get constant thumbs up from complete strangers http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/thumbsup.gif, callouts all the time like "Hey, nice car!" and "Woohoo, GTO!" People practically break their necks trying to get look as they drive the other direction. I was sitting in a left turn lane today waiting for the green arrow, and a guy coming through the intersection from the right & turning left onto my road almost got rear-ended. He made it halfway around the turn, slammed on his brakes right next to me, cranked his window down and said, "Dude, that is a sweet ride." It never gets old.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ies/3gears.gif

I know what you mean, Jeff. I tell you, for a car that's so bland and nobody wants, it gets more than its fair share of attention. I am by nature a low profile type of guy and I don't particularly like people staring in my direction, but this car has made it impossible. Initially, I thought they were looking at it in disgust and saying all the negative things we keep reading about. But then one day, I was at a 4-way stop next to this beautiful '05 GT convertible. A car directly across the intersection containing two young men and two young women were honking their horn. I didn't pay it any attention as I thought they were attempting to gain the attention of the GT occupants. As we went through the intersection they were still honking and as I glanced over, all their eyes were on MY car and their thumbs were all in the air.

For a car that blends in so well with the crowd, it sure stands out. I know many of the kind folk here won't believe it. But then again, if you're not driving one, how can you know? I have loved my "04 since day one, but it is indeed nice to see others finally giving it some respect.

Also, I have noticed that many of the mags are softening their initial harsh statements about our cars. Could they have possibly been wrong?

Hey Jeff, why do you have GTO 2005 backwards in your sig?

Hehehe, My TA is my first love so it's on top going to the right. Both cars going the same direction in my avatar didn't look quite right, so I flipped the GTO around then made the text go the same direction as each car. Just trying to be unique.

I'm with you guys, can't much go anywhere without some sort of compliment. I just wish I had mod money after seeing some of the fine work out there! We have 15 GTO's so far going around the track at MidOhio in 2 weeks, should be a pretty awesome event!

Well, I have finally decided it is a pretty decent looking car, even from the rear. I have yet to get the attention you guys experience though. In this part of So Cal it might as well be invisable, which is just the way I like it.

So yesterday, had an older guy at the gas station in the morning walk by and say "nice!" Then had a bunch of kids on bikes yell "nice GTO" from their lawn in the afternoon. Then on my way to the gym, and this is the best, had an older guy yell across his teenage sun driving a Honda SI ask me what year it was and then a "Nice!" All in one day... Cracks me up as the poor thing is as dirty as it has ever been!

I went to the auto parts store today to pick up some front brake pads for the TA. The place was pretty busy, but I just happened to get a spot right in front of the door. I finally got my pads and was talking old cars with the guy behind the counter for a few minutes. Once I walked out, just as I was sliding in behind the wheel, I heard him exclaim "WHOA! GOAT!". All the guys behind the counter ran to the front window and practically had their faces mashed to glass, and one guy had his camera phone up to the window snapping pictures. Then heading up the freeway on my way home (doing the speed limit BTW), a State Trooper came up on me from behind. He stayed behind me for about a mile then pulled up along side, pacing me. I finally looked over at him, and he gave me a huge grin and thumbs up then blasted off ahead of me. :D

Well, I don't think they are getting that kind of reaction here, but then again I've only seen 4 in the whole state. There is a Torrid Red '04 that rumbles by office every now and then around 3:30 pm. The owner has tinted the windows almost black, removed the spoiler, and no auto-rice add ons. The car is always exceptionally clean. I gotta admit, it looks good. Maybe not as a GTO in my opinion but certainly as a respectable modern day musclecar. If they made it in a convertible with an intergrated roll bar and windscreen........................................ .........................

I pick up and drop off my son at school now, Soccor Moms, Teachers and even the Principal have made great comments! Carter's whole class now knows when "Carter's Dad" arrives! Great stuff...

Well, if impressing soccer moms and school principles is your thing.... Seriously, Lance...you didn't think I'd let that one slide, did you? Anyway, glad y'all like your cars, I just think the original concept car was more "on the mark", contrary to what GM's designers say about retro. Watch out for Dodge's new Challenger, with the 425 hp Hemi. Anyway, sounds like you don't need that red '70 any longer. How much? That's what I thought. See ya soon.

Dang, what are you doing in here in the 04 forum? Welcome.

I'm not out to impress anyone but if you saw the soccer mom's and teachers I was referring to, you'd understand.

And, if it's not a Pontiac, I'm not interested. Any 04 / 05 is capable of 425 horse with little effort, just $$.

There are some pretty hot soccer moms and teachers at my son's school. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ies/drool5.gif And all the kids think my son is totally cool when his dad comes rumbling down the street to pick him up. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/thumbsup.gif

EeeeXACTLY... I was sitting next to Shania Twain today at the playground after school. Yeah apparently Soccor Moms enjoy GTO's. Who woulda thunk it!

I dunno!
 

First thing I'd do if someone was "wooing" my cute soccer mom wife is beat up his pretty new car....first shot across the bow. Next time it would get personal. Just kidding, of course. But seriously, I've decided to take a harder look at these cars, especially in light of our esteemed club president selling his beautiful '71 and opting for an '05. We need to line up your "red rocket" against Jim's new "blue bomber" and see the difference. What do you think, Lance? Didn't pay for those ponies just to keep 'em penned up, did you? Anyway, see yo soon. Ron

Ron, give me a break with that 1st comment... Jim bought an 05!? Holy crap, that is great!

not to horn in on your topic or burst any bubbles . You ain't seen nutten till you drive a REAL GTO the legend the name sake he he . You want to see thumbs up get hooted at whistled at and if you don't plan on spending an extra hour to run down and pick up that loaf of bread while your wife is waiting dinner . I think the best one yet was a guy driving a 1 ton dually dodge spun around waved yelled nice ride and made a left hand turn in front of a windstar . The windstar took the duals out from under the dodge . No one was hurt . When I saw it happen I pulled over and waited for the police . when they got there . One of the first things they said is that your car there . Yes sir I can see what happened . two days later a guy turned around I saw him wave , the light had turned red the cars in front of him stopped I heard the unearthly howling of tires I didn't stop . And the beat goes on but as hard as I try to I can't even pick out a new GTO going down the road all I see are the GP s or what ever they are . we actually have 2 left over new 04s still sitting on a local lot and only one dealer in our area ordered in an 05 .when these Three cars Pictured below are together it's hard to get a pic of them because there is always a crowd around them . and when we cruse them together . Now that's fun

3d64:I've probably been as much of an atagonist as anybody on this forum about what is a real GTO or not, particularly to the self-proclaimed "experts"...and yes, I think a Monaro rebadged as a GTO falls short in terms of a suitable modern day GTO. However, most of the people in this forum, let alone this thread, have a respectable vintage Poncho or two sitting in their garage, so I'm sure they know all about the thrill associated with driving a real GTO. As far as bursting any bubbles: I've personally enjoyed reading this thread due to the purity of the content: The joy of driving a high performance automobile as a daily mode of transportation. There's been No trying to "intellectualize" the Monaro / GTO connection, No references to their suposed "inside" connections, No false claims of 1/4 mile performance, No 1964 / 2004 comparisons in an attempt that the two had anything in common with current automotive consumer climate, and No "I bought the car because it was a natural progression of what the GTO would have looked like and I'm so enlightened for just knowing that, blah, blah, blah." I would imagine your declaration of "aint seen nutten" is a bit like preaching to the choir.

Hmmmmmmm.......I think every post made by mr.gto was summarized in that last post. :)

he did come to mind....

I'm so confused right now that I'm not sure if a '72 counts as "vintage" or not. But yes, whenever I drive it anywhere, which is almost daily, I get looks, comments, and conversation as mentioned above. My '04 doesn't attract nearly the attention of my '72, but it is gaining quickly.