[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Formulas

I test drove a new stick 2006 GTO with the obvious LS. based engine I did not take it to redline and speed shift it but I was soooo not impressed with the power and driving experience

Set me in a stock 4bbl stick 1966 GTO and try to knock that grin off my face. A whole different experience

I did not buy that 2006 GTO and easily could have

Well, in 2006 I bought my first new car ever, a 2005 leftover GTO, the car on a test drive, was not anywhere impressive as most older GTOs (OWNED a dozen over the years, from stock, to totally hot rodded). Because of the vehicle management system the LS GTOs are very linear and apply power like an electric motor does.

Now if you turn off the traction control and bring the engine up against the convertor and hammer the gas, you better be a pretty good wheelman to keep it straight. The 400 HP is there, it's just tamed down by the management systems. A tune will gain 20-50 more HP. Not to mention the tires on a 2004-2006 GTO are light years ahead of bias ply tires we had on the old GTOs. So if it seems slower, it's because of the management systems, watch the speedometer, because it's really deceiving on how fast you're really going. 0 to 100 is pretty damn fast in my GTO, because of the quiet, and better suspension, it's deceiving. The LS2 GTOs were 0-60 in 5 seconds flat in stock form, with either transmission.

To match the power I had one 76 T/A with a 455 ported cast heads, headers, and a really mild street cam (268 advertised duration) that would have been probably just about even. With about 90 more cubes, and yes a bunch more low end torque.

It's apples to oranges, but that T/A would be a real close match to my 05 GTO. GTO averages 20 MPG, T/A would get 16 when I checked it. Reworked Q Jet on a 76 cast iron manifold.

The LS engines DON'T have all the raw low end torque that a Stratostreak engine has, but there are other ways to get to the same end result. Too bad you passed on the 06 GTO, they are pretty great cars, mine is just under 140,000 miles with a water pump replacement since new.....