I am looking at the RX-8 and GTO, both in automatic.
Besides the huge difference in HP, what do you think are advantages and disadvantages to both.
I love the looks and handling of the RX-8
The GTO has the V8 grunt I love
The GTO is a little boring

Love the looks and handling of the 8.
GTO is boring.

Want the grunt on the 8? Get a GReddy exhaust.

Done.

any particular reason why your choosing automatics? Wifey?

The GReddy exhaust adds 200 hp?

Go drive them both. The GTO apparently handles really well, well enough for most every driver. We don't have them in Canada so I can't confirm this, but this is what I am told.

If you are getting a RX-8 in automatic.... I don't think you'd really like it. Stick with the GTO if its auto. Power is pretty bland and space is cramped.

Buut! Who am I to talk.. I gotta get my own RX-8 first =(

No matter what the badge on the front says, "It ain't no Goat"! It's a Holden Monaro and there is no comparison between it and the RX8. Power or performance bro', your choice. :cool:

My wife cannot drive a stick. I also need a auto for my car to qualify for my company's auto reimbursment program.

The GReddy exhaust adds 200 hp?

Go drive them both. The GTO apparently handles really well, well enough for most every driver. We don't have them in Canada so I can't confirm this, but this is what I am told.

To me, a grunt is a sound.

Plus, my GReddy only added about 155 hp.

If you must get auto, stick with the GTO. The brute power it has is what auto is for. I have the 6speed 8 and its great though :D . I was thinking of switching to a gto after my lease ended, but i think im going to buy out the car a put in a turbo.

I don't understand Power in the GTO or Performance in the 8? are you implying that the GTO has no performance :confused:

Looks go to the 8 easily, IMO. The back seat is also more accessible via the swing out doors also. The down side is you won't have the big v-8 grunt and nothing sounds like an 8 no matter what exhaust you throw at it. nor the Tourqe/power. Just have to decide what matters most to you.

Is this an 05? In that case I might could overlook the appearance of the car just to get that LS-2 :D If it's an 04 eh.... not sure about that one.

Power is great.. handling is pretty good....

BUT

I just cant get over the GTO looks....it looks like the lovechild from a grand am and a grand prix..... Now theres originality for ya!

I don't understand Power in the GTO or Performance in the 8? are you implying that the GTO has no performance :confused:

Go back to your tetrahedral elements, you're making too much sense :D

I don't understand Power in the GTO or Performance in the 8? are you implying that the GTO has no performance

The Pontiac is a muscle car in nice clothes, pure power off the line. The RX8 is a performance sports car. While no slouch in quickness, it can't compare to the Pontiac for power down the track. But watch your back, because when you break through the twisties, I'm going by you holding my line and increasing my speed.
That's what I mean by performance.

I don't know man, from what I have heard the GTO handles pretty damn well for a big car. Well enough that I would bet on it at a track event. AutoX is a different story, but I don't like autoX so maybe there is some personal preference coming into play here. There is no denying that the 8 handles better, but so much better that the power differnce is gobbled up, I don't think so. For most people, the GTO will handle just fine I would think.

Set them side-by-side in a parking lot. Where will the crowd congregate?

Auto GTO...no question.

Hell I'd take an Auto Mazda6 over an Auto RX-8.

Even though the 8 handles better than the GTO, having over 150 hp more (double the hp if you're considering an 05) is certainly nothing to scoff at (straights or twisties).

Plus it's not like the GTO is an 18-wheeler, it handles well despite it's size. Not to mention the ls1/ls2 takes to mods VERY well, if you're into that sort of thing.

Yeah-I have the RX8 auto--if you want a fast auto--then go for the GTO--the auto RX8 handles better and looks better though. If performance is paramount then go for the GTO.

I don't understand Power in the GTO or Performance in the 8? are you implying that the GTO has no performance :confused:

No, i am implying that the gto has power. BUt it does look like a grand am on steroids, and not very good ones at that. :D

Go drive each of them and then decide.......Basically you are comparing apples to oranges.

A better comparison would be to compare the GTO to a Stang.....

The 8 (IMO) is a better handling car (some say its a 'sports' car) with great styling while the GTO is American muscle that looks alot like other Pontiacs.

BTW - Teach your wife how to drive a stick....there is a big difference between the auto-8 and the mt-8!

The GTO also has a pretty nice interior. As nice as the 8's? can't say, I haven't seen it in person, but it looks good.

I test-drove a GTO before deciding against it.

Plusses: Interior. Sound, Torque
Negatives: Heavy. Body Roll. Vague Steering. Numb Brakes. Bland styling. Higher Cost.

Go for the GTO. Obviously the best choice for you. The mentality difference of the people who buy each of these cars is 180 degrees.

My wife cannot drive a stick. I also need a auto for my car to qualify for my company's auto reimbursment program.
What does your wife think? If she loves the looks of the RX-8, go that route. But if she feels safer in a bigger car, that would be the GTO. I'm sure both are fun to drive, but in entirely different ways.

If it has to be auto, go the the GTO.

I test-drove a GTO before deciding against it.

Plusses: Interior. Sound, Torque
Negatives: Heavy. Body Roll. Vague Steering. Numb Brakes. Bland styling. Higher Cost.

couldn't have said it better myself. it does have a great sound, but holy cow is that thing a boat. the seats are pretty comfortable, but damn is it heavy. its got a good 700 lbs on the rx8. and really, for having as much power as it does, it doesn't feel like it. if i had fallen asleep on my test drive, it wouldn't have surprised me (the seats were comfy). i was extremely disappointed by the GTO. before driving it, i was considering it as a car to buy. after driving it, there isn't a chance i would spend the money on it. for the money, there are definately better cars out there.

did i mention its heavy?

An auto RX-8 is like fat-free ice cream. It's almost like the real thing, but not quite. On the other hand the straighline performance difference between an auto GTO and manual GTO is very small.

Are you looking at an '04 or '05 GTO? There is a huge difference between the two model years.

Ahaha, yeah, the auto 8 is like ice milk and the mt is ben and jerrys.
An auto RX-8 is like fat-free ice cream. It's almost like the real thing, but not quite. On the other hand the straighline performance difference between an auto GTO and manual GTO is very small.

Are you looking at an '04 or '05 GTO? There is a huge difference between the two model years.

Mileage is what did it for me. Same if not better mileage in the GTO for almost 2x the HP and about 2.7x the torque. Can't argue with that efficency!

Help me understand, I'm not trying to be insensitive here...

Why do people say: "My wife can't drive stick, so MY car has to be auto" ???????

I thought the car was for you...not your wife? If you wife has a car why would she need to drive your car? Sorry...I just never get that statement????

I rather teach my wife to drive stick (my wife actually knows but just does not have alot of practice) then get an auto because my wife can't drive it? Again, not attacking or anything but I just don't get the above reason for getting an auto.

The GTO is a fine car and since you are getting an AUTO it will give you more performance in a straight line than the 8. OR....OR...you can get an auto 8 and once they make a Turbo/SC for it you can stick in there and you can have the best of both worlds.

Help me understand, I'm not trying to be insensitive here...

Why do people say: "My wife can't drive stick, so MY car has to be auto" ???????

I thought the car was for you...not your wife? If you wife has a car why would she need to drive your car? Sorry...I just never get that statement????

I rather teach my wife to drive stick (my wife actually knows but just does not have alot of practice) then get an auto because my wife can't drive it? Again, not attacking or anything but I just don't get the above reason for getting an auto.

The GTO is a fine car and since you are getting an AUTO it will give you more performance in a straight line than the 8. OR....OR...you can get an auto 8 and once they make a Turbo/SC for it you can stick in there and you can have the best of both worlds.
^ you tell 'em, brotha! :D

I don't have a wife but I feel ya

Help me understand, I'm not trying to be insensitive here...

Why do people say: "My wife can't drive stick, so MY car has to be auto" ???????

I thought the car was for you...not your wife? If you wife has a car why would she need to drive your car? Sorry...I just never get that statement????

I rather teach my wife to drive stick (my wife actually knows but just does not have alot of practice) then get an auto because my wife can't drive it? Again, not attacking or anything but I just don't get the above reason for getting an auto.

The GTO is a fine car and since you are getting an AUTO it will give you more performance in a straight line than the 8. OR....OR...you can get an auto 8 and once they make a Turbo/SC for it you can stick in there and you can have the best of both worlds.

Well the marriage is more important--as you get older its harder to learn--apparently when my mom and dad got married before I was born my dad had a 911--he tried to teach my mom to drive stick but it was a tremendous hassle--so he conceded and got her an XJ6 and him an XJS. What if something happens in an emergency and your wife can't drive stick? If you can get a beater auto for such an occasion--but only so many people are oh so lucky.

lol...my wife understands I'm a car guy and stick is the only way to go for me. Heck I've seen her drive my Probe GT (my ex car) and she did a FINE job...I was surprised since she herself told me she did not have alot of experiance.

Besides, she has her 6 and she loves it!

Yes, the emergency situation is possible...but again that's why my wife knows how to drive stick. Teach her...she is not dumb, she can learn stick. She only needs to be good enough with stick to drive it in emergency situations...that's not a major task. Again...my wife drives her car, I think family does come first but I dont' see it as such a big issue that you are FORCED to drive auto for the "could a, would a, should a" times in life.

How often do we have REAL emergencies?

Again, don't get me wrong, do as you wish...but me personally if it's MY car I pick what it is and what type of tranny. I rather spend the time teaching my wife than spend the MUCH LONGER time complaining that I have an auto because my wife can't drive stick.

I personally love stickshift and unless they have a car with a auto/stick feature, I wont change tranny's. No...not a auto that works "like" a stick, but a stickshift tranny that can be changed into auto mode. I think BMW built one...

as my dad used to say "They ain't gonna learn any younger". :)

At the same time though--not everybody wants to learn to drive stick--some people just view cars as transportation. While I would try and teach my wife (if I was married) to drive stick--sometimes you have to make compromises.

Not sure if you saw this, rx8wannahave:
My wife cannot drive a stick. I also need a auto for my car to qualify for my company's auto reimbursment program.

Yeah...I understand, but that would be one sad compromise for me. I love cars and I don't see them as "just transportation" like most people do, but I understand what you are saying.

BUT, is it worth the risk? What I'm saying is...she can have an auto, you have a stick and when you go some place together you use the auto...for those "just in case" situations.

How is that compromise?

Not sure if you saw this, rx8wannahave:

Ah, I will shut up about it now...lol, THANKS!

Blah blah blah blah blah. MT is better than AT. Blah blah blah.

Get what you want. If you need to qualify for the reimbursement, I say the 8. I drive an AT - by CHOICE. My wrangler is an MT. We play on the weekends sometimes with the jeep and I'm not able to keep my hand free of other things a lot of the time.

Is it as fun - probably not for most. For me - absolutely. If I need the "fix" for a MT, I go to the paddles or drive my jeep.

Buy what YOU want - for the reasons YOU want.

To sum up GotZoom's post, in his own words:
Automatic - I know - should have bought the manual

:)

ZING! lol

I have both cars... an '04 GTO and an '04 RX-8... but both are manual trannies. However, I can give you a first-hand comparison of both cars, and even from the female point of view since your wife will be driving it.

RX-8: Lightweight, high-revving corner-carver with a distinctive eyecatching appearance. The major pluses to this car are:

the price (I'm sure you can pick up an new '05 RX8 for thousands less than a new '05 GTO, although there are some dealers who still have leftover '04s of both makes and will make excellent deals on both in automatic trim);
looks (if you like them);
the freestyle doors for back-seat access;
the handling (razor-sharp)
the braking (awesome!) and
the Renesis rotary engine (if you're a fan of the rotary, which is why many of us bought the car).
Minuses are

lousy gas mileage (No better than the V8! Both take premium gas.)
weak air conditioning (even after the "fix" Mazda came up with)
lack of torque (you'll notice this even more in the automatic)
a feeling of being somewhat underpowered when compared to other sports coupes (especially for the automatic), and
the Renesis rotary engine (if you're not willing to give a rotary the special attention it needs in terms of checking your oil frequently and letting it warm up before shutting it down to prevent flooding).
GTO: Your basic modern musclecar -- a midsize coupe with a massively powerful motor. A Holden Monaro in Pontiac drag, the GTO's exterior styling harks back to the late '90s coupes like the Volvo C70, which makes it perfectly anonymous on the road. NO one notices this car for how it looks. What made me fall in love with this car was, first, the exhaust note. Sweet LS1 music! Then -- the massive gobs of torque and horsepower lurking under your right foot, available with the merest blip of the throttle. We've had more fun luridly powersliding this car around corners than should be legal.

The interior of the GTO is also first-rate -- beautiful high quality leather and seats that are amazingly comfortable. The biggest annoyance about the GTO is rear seat access (or should I say, LACK thereof). The extra doors on the RX8 have really spoiled me, and having to clamber into the back seats of the GTO gets old really quick. For some reason, Holden makes the front seats power-only, and they move forward and back reallllly slowwwwly... so getting in the back seat in a pouring rainstorm would not be a quick process. Once you're back there the rear-seat legroom seems about the same for both cars... which means that if the front-seat passengers are long-legged types with the seats way back, your rear passengers will be cramped.

Another weak spot is the braking, but only in the '04 (Pontiac put a much nicer, bigger brake kit on the '05, along with the nonfunctional hood scoops that were missing in the '04). But hey... it's a muscle car! GO is the operative word here, not STOP. ;)

The LS1/LS2 motor is truly the heart of this car. It's perfectly mannerly for around town driving, but when you get on the thing it's a head rush. I laugh out loud when I drive this car. Thank God for the traction control! Of course, the real fun starts when you turn TC off. ;)

So... I'm guessing that you wife ain't exactly a car fanatic, and just wants a nice comfy car for her shopping trips. I'd vote for the GTO for her. And since you're forced to do the automatic thing, you'll sacrifice a lot more in the RX8 by going auto than you will with the GTO. In fact, the only drawback to the auto in the GTO is you'll have to pay a gas guzzler tax on it (the stick escapes this by having a skip-shift mechanism).

Hope this helps!

Why does his company require his car be an automatic for the riembursement? Just wondering

To sum up GotZoom's post, in his own words:


:)


No, no, no. You misunderstand my signature. The "I know, I know" was a bored reference to the AT bashers...you should have bought an MT, blah blah blah. That was there strictly for the AT bashers. Believe me, when it comes to the benefits of "my free hand", there is no way I would trade my AT for a MT!

I knew what ya meant, GotZoom ;) Just givin' ya a hard time :D

Believe me, when it comes to the benefits of "my free hand", there is no way I would trade my AT for a MT!


That just does not sound right...lol, just messing with you GotZoom...khtm started it...lol, have a great day!!!

Want the grunt on the 8? Get a GReddy exhaust.

So what will the Greddy exhaust do exactly? I would really like my 8 to sound a little tougher, but I don't want it to sound like a ricer.

I suggest Borla...my fav, but check around there is a thread with a bunch of sound clips of different exhaust setups.

I knew what ya meant, GotZoom ;) Just givin' ya a hard time :D

Lol...I know. No worries.

That just does not sound right...lol, just messing with you GotZoom...khtm started it...lol, have a great day!!!

I just re-read that. :eek: Does sound kind of ...um.....

Let me rephrase..."free hand...wife in the car....benefits...."

Yeah...yeah...that's it...Lol

So what will the Greddy exhaust do exactly? I would really like my 8 to sound a little tougher, but I don't want it to sound like a ricer.

No rice here. The GReddy sounds sweet. I had a hard time between the 3 main ones: Borla, RB, and GReddy.

I guess it came down to how it looked. I love how the GReddy looks from the back.
But there are just as many people who will go on and on about the Borla and the RB.
Forget HP gains - it's strictly for sound and looks.

I have both cars... an '04 GTO and an '04 RX-8... but both are manual trannies. However, I can give you a first-hand comparison of both cars, and even from the female point of view since your wife will be driving it.

RX-8: Lightweight, high-revving corner-carver with a distinctive eyecatching appearance. The major pluses to this car are:

the price (I'm sure you can pick up an new '05 RX8 for thousands less than a new '05 GTO, although there are some dealers who still have leftover '04s of both makes and will make excellent deals on both in automatic trim);
looks (if you like them);
the freestyle doors for back-seat access;
the handling (razor-sharp)
the braking (awesome!) and
the Renesis rotary engine (if you're a fan of the rotary, which is why many of us bought the car).
Minuses are

lousy gas mileage (No better than the V8! Both take premium gas.)
weak air conditioning (even after the "fix" Mazda came up with)
lack of torque (you'll notice this even more in the automatic)
a feeling of being somewhat underpowered when compared to other sports coupes (especially for the automatic), and
the Renesis rotary engine (if you're not willing to give a rotary the special attention it needs in terms of checking your oil frequently and letting it warm up before shutting it down to prevent flooding).
GTO: Your basic modern musclecar -- a midsize coupe with a massively powerful motor. A Holden Monaro in Pontiac drag, the GTO's exterior styling harks back to the late '90s coupes like the Volvo C70, which makes it perfectly anonymous on the road. NO one notices this car for how it looks. What made me fall in love with this car was, first, the exhaust note. Sweet LS1 music! Then -- the massive gobs of torque and horsepower lurking under your right foot, available with the merest blip of the throttle. We've had more fun luridly powersliding this car around corners than should be legal.

The interior of the GTO is also first-rate -- beautiful high quality leather and seats that are amazingly comfortable. The biggest annoyance about the GTO is rear seat access (or should I say, LACK thereof). The extra doors on the RX8 have really spoiled me, and having to clamber into the back seats of the GTO gets old really quick. For some reason, Holden makes the front seats power-only, and they move forward and back reallllly slowwwwly... so getting in the back seat in a pouring rainstorm would not be a quick process. Once you're back there the rear-seat legroom seems about the same for both cars... which means that if the front-seat passengers are long-legged types with the seats way back, your rear passengers will be cramped.

Another weak spot is the braking, but only in the '04 (Pontiac put a much nicer, bigger brake kit on the '05, along with the nonfunctional hood scoops that were missing in the '04). But hey... it's a muscle car! GO is the operative word here, not STOP. ;)

The LS1/LS2 motor is truly the heart of this car. It's perfectly mannerly for around town driving, but when you get on the thing it's a head rush. I laugh out loud when I drive this car. Thank God for the traction control! Of course, the real fun starts when you turn TC off. ;)

So... I'm guessing that you wife ain't exactly a car fanatic, and just wants a nice comfy car for her shopping trips. I'd vote for the GTO for her. And since you're forced to do the automatic thing, you'll sacrifice a lot more in the RX8 by going auto than you will with the GTO. In fact, the only drawback to the auto in the GTO is you'll have to pay a gas guzzler tax on it (the stick escapes this by having a skip-shift mechanism).

Hope this helps!


The only thing I don't like about the GTO stick is its long throws(compared to the 8) Is there anything aftermarket available to shorten the throws? Other than that I think the GTO is a fantastic package for the money. It will most likely be my next car.

The only thing I don't like about the GTO stick is its long throws(compared to the 8) Is there anything aftermarket available to shorten the throws? Other than that I think the GTO is a fantastic package for the money. It will most likely be my next car.Yes... there is a short-throw shift kit (edit: here it is: http://ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17144&highlight=short+shifter+kit )
that's out now, and I've tried it in the GTO shown in that link. It's a huge improvement, but we've heard that Hurst is coming out with one for the GTO and so we're waiting for that one.

Go to the LS1GTO.com forum (don't let the name fool you, it's also for the '05 with the LS2) to see what mods are out there for GTO. One of the reasons I love having our '04 is that the LS1 has been around for a long time and there's already lots of cool stuff available for it.

Let me rephrase..."free hand...wife in the car....benefits...."

:eek: :p :D

That's your wife....ENJOY! LOL

Aratinga is having too much fun...GTO & RX8...that aint right, lol

Lucky you getting to own both cars at the same time! :D Thanks for the info. If you get a chance, post some pics of your rides.

I almost went GTO when I was feeling blue about not finding the 8 at the price I wanted (I know the GTO is more expensive but the deals where better at the time) but I'm very happy with my 8!

The GTO is so comfortable and it's the ONLY 2+2 that has more space in the rear than the 8. I just wish it was not such a FAT HOG...3.7K...I mean come on Chevy!!!

Have you all seen the concept GTO that is to take it's place in 2007 or 2008? I'll have to post it up...

Lucky you getting to own both cars at the same time! :D Thanks for the info. If you get a chance, post some pics of your rides.Okay, since you asked... This is "Sylvia", the GTO. She actually belongs to my boyfriend, but since he lives with me and she lives in my garage, I figure the rule of "what's mine is mine and what's his is mine" applies. ;)

For pix of my 8, the Miatae, and my four-legged "rides", check out my homepage.

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=13018

I've driven my best friend's GTO automatic a few times. He got the automatic because of his wife. He really just wanted a V8 and couldn't get a Vette because he needs four seats.

I was fairly impressed with it, and thought it handled quite well for its size. What I absolutely didn't like was the mushy brakes. They are anything but confidence inspiring.