Drove my first "new" GTO today....

[dragula81]

Drove an '05 (4k miles) M6 today. Yea, the styling leaves a little to be desired but man that thing was a BLAST to drive.

Cruising down the interstate in 6th gear was like a luxury car; quiet, smooth ride, no engine noise thanks to the low rpms.
Driving around town was a blast. Car pulls hard in ANY gear. At one point, I made a low speed turn to the left at a light in 3rd gear and it accelerated like I was in first. The car didn't "bog" at all even though I was technically in too high of a gear.
I got on it a little when I entered the interstate and it'll pin you back in the seat. I couldn't really lay into though because the salesman was in the back seat (my wife was w/me).

Anyway, I can really see why people like these cars. Luxury car "feel" with a sportscar "ride". The front seats are probably the most comfortable that I have ever sat in. I climbed in the back too just to see how the backseat felt. It's a pain in the a** for a 240lb man to climb in and out of but it's VERY comfortable in the back and surprisingly roomy for a two door car.

I didn't buy it because the dealer was an a** but that's another story.

So, I'm still shopping.

[Jeff R]

Glad you finally got to drive one. They're extremely comfy, and the power/torque is intoxicating. I've had mine since Spring of 2005, and I still get a big goofy grin every time I get behind the wheel. Keep holding out for the right deal...I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

[dragula81]

Well, I picked up a new '06 black on black M6 Monday night. I see why everyone likes the cars. They are a BLAST to drive!

This is kind of funny as last night I was reading through the owners manual when I ran across a section that read along the lines of "Racing or competition driving can cause excessive oil consumption". At this point, I thought "oh great, here comes the part about how I shouldn't race my car" but instead the next sentence read like "If you race or drive your car competitively, be sure to check your oil", etc. That's my kind of car.

[HUMBLER]

Yeah, I'm really surprised there isn't a huge disclaimer under that one!

May I ask what kind of deal you got?

[dragula81]

Sorry, I didn't reply earlier Humbler but after I get off work everyday, I've been going "cruising" in the new wheels and haven't spent much time over here. I LOVE driving this car.

I had been "negotiating" with several dealers around the area for over a week. I finally ended up paying $29,600 "Out the door" including tax, title, etc. This was for a '06 Phantom black metallic w/black interior M6 with only 20 miles on the odo. It also had a dealer add-on $695 "protection package".

In hanging out on LS1GTO.com, I've seen some really good deals in Texas, California and the northeast but dealers around here weren't too interested in negotiating much. Some of them would not come off of MSRP at all. I started to buy one in Texas and fly out and get it but I just didn't want to hassle with that right now. This dealer had the color combo I wanted and I really wanted a VERY low mileage one. Most of them on dealers lots around here had over 100 miles on the odo. Too many "test" drives for me.

[87LC2]

I've been looking for a while, test drove my first one today, an A4. These cars are nice! I was able to get second gear with the salesman riding shotgun, and not a chirp but a full spin into second T/C was on and at a 30 mph roll in a new A4! I'm on the hunt for an IBM/black A4.
This car had 77 miles and the avg fuel econ was 6.4 mpg , it seems the ones left on the lots are already broken in , at least when I was done the avg was 7.5
A lot of the cars had 40+ miles.

[dragula81]

Originally Posted by 87LC2

These cars are nice! I was able to get second gear with the salesman riding shotgun, and not a chirp but a full spin into second T/C was on and at a 30 mph roll in a new A4! I'm on the hunt for an IBM/black A4.
This car had 77 miles and the avg fuel econ was 6.4 mpg , it seems the ones left on the lots are already broken in , at least when I was done the avg was 7.5
A lot of the cars had 40+ miles.

Most of the cars that I looked at had OVER 100 miles on them. Per Carfax, my car had just arrived at the dealer about a week before I bought it so there wasn't much time for many test drives. With only 20 miles on it, it had probably only been on one test drive. Of course, a salesman may have driven the **** out of it in that 20 miles.

[75ta4spd]

I agree with what you guys are saying. Whenever I get in mine(even if it's not running)I get a grin on my face that just won't go away. All you have to do is drive one of these cars and you're hooked. So the styling may not look "old",it wasn't supposed to. And to all the naysayers out there,mine sure feels like one hell of a "real" GTO to me!!!

[87LC2]

Originally Posted by dragula81

Most of the cars that I looked at OVER 100 miles on them. Per Carfax, my car had just arrived at the dealer about a week before I bought it so there wasn't much time for many test drives. With only 20 miles on it, it had probably only been on one test drive. Of course, a salesman may have driven the **** out of it in that 20 miles.

20 miles, I could only dream about finding my car combo with that mileage
With shipping from the other side of the world, who knows how many times and how far these cars have been jockeyed. Most common new cars have almost 10 miles on them at time of delivery, GM and Toyota, maybe the Holden factory is not set up for efficient overseas shipping.
Enjoy the new car!

[Jeff R]

Congrats on the new ride Drag! Sounds like you're enjoying it. Post some nice big pics here when you get a chance.

[FireGoat_Ben]

I have been eyeing, no scratch that.....DROOLING over a Torrid Red '04 sitting on the used lot of a nearby Mazda dealership. I have stopped many times after hours and walked a dozen laps around it, swearing to myself that I would someday find the time (and the thick skin) to stop in there and take it for a drive.
Doing the research ahead of time told me it was an automatic car with 21k miles. I saved the website in my favorites and checked back on it a few times a week.
Yesterday, I checked and the price was dropped to 18,900 so I figured now was the time to stop in. I skipped out for lunch early today and took an extended lunch and test drove it. One word......badass. The car handles like a dream, sounds aggressive as hell, and the fit and finish of the car is amazing. I enjoyed my solo test drive of the car and now my mind is racing a million directions trying to find a way to justify the purchase of the daggone thing! It is a completely stock car with the exception of window tinting, and I am hooked. I'd really have to shuffle my priorities, projects and budget around to make it work, but I am severely tempted to do it! I need help.

[FireGoat_Ben]

Forgot to ask....is the price right on the above mentioned car with 21,410 miles on it? $18,995 isn't exactly falling out of my arse right now, but if the price was right or I could get him to go a little lower, I could perhaps justify it. Seeing as how my truck is almost paid off and wifey's Explorer will be after the first of the year, I might have to take on a car payment once again, haha!
Thanks in advance!
ben

[75ta4spd]

If you could get it down to between 18 and 18.5 it would definately be a good deal.

[dragula81]

Addictive cars aren't they???

Yea, that's about the going rate. I don't think that I've seen any '04 for less than $17k regardless of mileage.

HOWEVER, if you like that '04, then you REALLY need to test drive an '05/06. The '04's have the LS1 (350hp) and the 05/06's have the LS2 (400hp) not to mention the hood scoops, dual outlet exhaust and a few other minor refinements.

Oh yea, you also need to drive a six-speed. I LOVE shifting gears in this car. Even in heavy traffic, I like to feel the car squat every time I change gears.

[FireGoat_Ben]

I love the looks of the '05-06 cars, but '04s are fine by me too! Granted the 6.0 is a force to contend with, but if I could score this one cheap for the wife, it would be cool. She really likes these cars, and she's not picky. The scoops and duals can be amended, so I'm not as worried about that.
I love my toys, and letting my wife have one to call her own would make me just as happy as it would her to have one.
I'm going to wait a few days to make sure this euphoria isn't just a passing fad with me (reality check time), and this will also give me time to arrange funds or double check what I can/can't do, but if it works it would be awesome. Then I'll call the dealer, shoot him my bottom dollar figure I come up with, and either own it or still be looking at it when I drive by.
Thanks for getting me pumped up guys! This could be a good thing or a bad thing...hahaha!

[Jeff R]

Hey Ben. If you haven't already done so check out the Cars For Sale and regional forums on LS1GTO.com. You might find a good deal or at least get a better feel for the market.

[FireGoat_Ben]

Boy, when it rains it pours! Another local dealership (literally in our backyard here at work) got in a Black '04 with the same miles as the red one had, and is at $18,500 asking price (about a grand less than the best deal I was able to make on the one I mentioned earlier). I am half tempted to hit him with a low ball and drive it home. I know the dealer manager pretty well, and he is going to let me keep it for a few nights and bring it back in Tuesday (day after Christmas). I'm going to tell him to make the deal sweet enough, and I'll give it to my wife for Christmas and just keep the daggone thing, haha!
I'll report back, but regardless....I get to play with an '04 for a few days. Hmmm! Merry Christmas to me early!

[75ta4spd]

Very cool!! Keep us posted on the purchase progress. You won't regret it.

[Skip Fix]

My 04 needed a new windshield(rock chip-crack) so I left it at my mechanic/race buddies shop. He drove it around and was impressed! FAST, flat torque curve was his words. Mine with a spinning 60 ft on stock tires ran a 13.66- stock 400 GTOs and TAs don't do that easily.

[87LC2]

Finally got mine