After Much thought I finally traded my 8 in on a new 2004 GTO. The major reason is my wife has complained miserably since I bought it because she can't drive a stick. I was unable to bring myself to buy a auto RX-8 so I bought something I thought I could tolerate and it seemed to be the GTO. I really wished I could have sprung for the 05 6.0 400hp but for 150 bucks more a month I can live with 350hp. Well Its been fun being an 8 owner and will still polly hang out here some but I've already signed up to the GTO forum :-(.

Later
Glenn

congrats on the purchase

Trade your skirt in for some pants and teach her to drive stick. :eek: J/k.

Congrats on the GTO. At least you got to trade the 8 on something nice.

congrats on the new car, and may it serve as well as the 8...

Gratz on the Car... Good luck

traitor... :)

that is so very sad. I'd rather pay for her training to drive manual than to trade an Rx-8 for a goat. <sigh>

Its sad how much control women have over men. :confused:

it was easier to sell the car, then for her to learn how to drive a stick :confused:

Wasn't it the idea in the first place to get a manual so she could not drive it? :)

I love the GTO as well especially 05's.

Good luck.

why would u not teach her how to drive manual? it would have saved a tons of money ...

I would have traded the bride..... :)

Your job now is to complain miserably about the automatic GTO and how much you miss your 8 until you fell you've gotten your pound of flesh, or until she admits she was wrong, whichever comes first.

Trading the 8 for a new GTO wouldn't have been a bad idea if you would have gotten an '05! Ugh!

how bout a pic of that GTO?

Some pictures of the GTO.

Pictures were taken in the morning. Dew on glass (Not the Best Photos).

First one is a Joke!!! Guys. Little Fun :)

EDIT: PS: I am averaging 17mph around town and 22 MPG on the highway.

Gratz. I really like the power that the GTO has, but I was disappointed with the body style.

I actually like the design of the GTO and its power--I think it is just a little to conservatively style for its purpose--the '05 bodykit looks pretty nice though. Congrats on your purchase. How is insurance on those compared to your RX8?

Trading the 8 for a new GTO wouldn't have been a bad idea if you would have gotten an '05! Ugh!
I don't know if this guy plans on doing any mods, but, the LS1 in the '04 has a ton of aftermarket support, more than the LS2 in the '05 anyway. He have it pushing more power than a stock '05 in less than the cost differnce between the two models. Seems like a smart move to me.

Congrats on the car man.

so, which one do you like better???

Hey Glenn...

Welcome to the GTO club! :-) We've got an '04 6MT in Phantom Black/Anthracite. We did the same as you re: '04 vs. '05... would have loved the extra 50 ponies but the price differential made the '04 the best choice. Besides, a few mods will get you up to 400HP pretty quick! ;)

Speaking of mods -- I don't know which GTO forum you signed up on (there are several), but the most active one (i.e., the one most like RX8Club.com!) is www.ls1gto.com (http://www.ls1gto.com/) . Sorry you had to give up your six-speed for a slushbox, but the GTO is freakin' fast with either one.

So why don't you tell that dingaling woman of yours to learn to drive a stick!?!? If I can do it, anyone can. I'll never go back. :D

Oh, and if you really want your '04 to look like an '05, you can buy the SAP kit (hood with scoops, taller spoiler, and indented grilles) for about $600. We did; just waiting to get it painted now.

So far I am a member of the GTOForum.com I will try the one you are talking about. I just started thinking about mods. Where did you get your SAP kit? The dealer told me I could get the 05 hood and rearend for about $1400 painted and installed. Also it seems the best bang for the buck is changing to Long tube exaust and 214:220 racing cam. They say that will put you well over 400 horses. Guy at the dealership said A guy did the same mods I said and he can eat a 05 alive now!

Some pictures of the GTO.

Pictures were taken in the morning. Dew on glass (Not the Best Photos).

First one is a Joke!!! Guys. Little Fun :)

EDIT: PS: I am averaging 17mph around town and 22 MPG on the highway.

lol like the plate :D . Car looks great!! Got to love those big v8 and how easy it is to get power from them.

How about trading in the goat for a spine?

I would have traded the bride..... :)

ditto she would have been a goner...you are ****watcha**** whipped!

How about trading in the goat for a spine?

Zing! :p

I love the Holden Monaro.

But automatics blow. Yeah, why not just teach her? American cars are for the birds, but good luck anyway.

They are quite fast!!

i just don;t like how every pontiac looks exactly the same save the aztec.

So far I am a member of the GTOForum.com I will try the one you are talking about. I just started thinking about mods. Where did you get your SAP kit? The dealer told me I could get the 05 hood and rearend for about $1400 painted and installed. Also it seems the best bang for the buck is changing to Long tube exaust and 214:220 racing cam. They say that will put you well over 400 horses. Guy at the dealership said A guy did the same mods I said and he can eat a 05 alive now!Here's the thread: http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21567&highlight=SAP+kit

It arrives unpainted.

i just don;t like how every pontiac looks exactly the same save the aztec.

Aztec, heh. I wonder which exec was sleeping thru that presentation and approved that one.

GTO is an interesting car, to bad I"ve never seen one up here in Canada. Actually took me months to figure out what everyone was talking about last year, but i just checked carpoint.com not carpoint.ca :) ya we also don't have the EVO8 or whatever it's called


MrJynx

Some pictures of the GTO.

Pictures were taken in the morning. Dew on glass (Not the Best Photos).

First one is a Joke!!! Guys. Little Fun :)

EDIT: PS: I am averaging 17mph around town and 22 MPG on the highway.
Nice Grand Am, Catinaround69... ;)

Just kidding, I'm sure it's a blast to drive in a straight line, even with the automatic. Let us know if you end up missing your 8 at all...

It's a corvette with a back seat and better interior quality.

Went and built my own '05 (to see what the changes over the '04 were), and noticed this at the bottom of the webpage:

*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. Tax, title, license, dealer fees, $1,300 gas guzzler tax and optional equipment are extra. Gas guzzler tax is required only with automatic transmission.

:D

Like that makes alot of %#$%ing sense. I'm going to use more gas in an auto than a 6 speed?????????

Like that makes alot of %#$%ing sense. I'm going to use more gas in an auto than a 6 speed?????????
My reaction exactly!!
:D

Like that makes alot of %#$%ing sense. I'm going to use more gas in an auto than a 6 speed?????????
The six-speed has a "skip shift" feature that, at certain slower speeds and RPMs, will force the gearshift to go from first directly into fourth gear. It's an occasional pain in the butt, but it does allow (for some reason) the six-speed to avoid the gas-guzzler tax. There are guys on the GTO boards who have already figured out how to disable it, of course. ;)

Sucks you had to get rid of the car. Hope you're happy with the new purchase.

My wife can't drive stick either, but thats why she has her boat...I mean SUV and I have mine.....

I bought My wife a SUV and she still drives the GTO. Ocasionally I drive the SUV cuz it has a trailer hitch and I have a trailer to pick up yard materials etc.., and it used to leave her stranded with the 8.