This is my first manual car. I can't believe I have ever driven auto before. It is just so much fun! My left leg got a little sore, but now it is normal again and so worth it!

Black exterior with Red interior always gets so many "ohhs and awws". I love that combo so much. I loved the rotary, but everytime I fire up the LS2 it gives me shivers.

So much just raw power its amazing. No matter what gear I throw this thing into at any RPM you can just feel the car tilt back and surge forward. With the traction control on, the tires go nuts before the computer manages to calm everything down. To be honest, the power scares me and I have to really get used to the car before turning that bad boy loose.

I am still yet to floor it, but I can only image what I am in for. I have done about 75% throttle up to 5k RPM and it was amazing! I will post pics as soon as I can.

 

Please stop. I don't need to start over on my car payments.

 

Tell that to my GTO that has no rattles, creaks, moans, or shakes (except the engine vibrations which are awesome!), no blown apex seals, the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in, and better mpg.

 

Good vibrations! You definately feel the power of this car, even at idle...
And going from the 8 to the GTO, it takes a little while to retune the butt dyno.

 

Dude your signature is probably the funniest thing I have ever seen on this forum. Everytime I see it I bust out laughing.

The GTO start up blast is the best thing these ears have heard and I get to hear it everyday too!

 

Dude, you need to post some pics of that beast ASAP! I still haven't pulled the trigger on an 8 yet, been waiting on the Mazdaspeed version (I know, I know).. I've been looking at the GTO a bit too, but after owning a Grand Am I promised myself that I would never own another Pontiac ever again. This thread makes be want to break my promise though...

 

I have pictures of it on my digital camera, but I left my memory stick reader at my parents house. I'm in the dorms right now and I need to find a way to put those on my computer. I will make my own thread as soon as I can.

 

Yes, he's much happier now that he has HP/Torque.


God I love that sound..

 

^ yeah baby! Ain't no replacement for displacement!

Just thinking about driving a car with all that low-end grunt again puts a ****-eating grin on my face.

 

Yeah I've had that same grin since last Friday.

I know it's gonna sound cheesy but, this car makes me feel like I'm 17 again.

Life is good.

 

good in a straight line.........

Now all ya have to do is make it handel.

 

It's already a decent handler and the Fbody guys made those cars handle very well with some mods so the same can be said for the Holden.

You're probably going to spend 80-90% of your time on relatively straight roads anyway as far as everyday driving is concerned.

The twisties are overrated, and I own an RX8.

 

And despite the live axel rear end, the new mustang can be made to handle quite well. Considering that this platform Mustang is doing well in professional racing... Even the old SN95 platform Mustang can be setup to do well.

I agree with snizzle... I like handling, but it does tend to get overrated. Especially if you live in a big flat state (meaning no twisties)... power becomes a bigger factor.

 

Finally! A few other 8 owners have found the GTO. After putting 20K miles on my black/red 2004 RX8 6-speed GT, I traded it for a red/red 2005 GTO M6. It's been just over a year since I made that decision. I couldn't be happier with the GTO.

tiggerlee, nzarnow - congrats on the joining the GTO community! Wait til you start modding!

tiggerlee -You'll find out that the auto is actually faster from a dig and much better for drag racing (all the sub 10.99 second GTO's are autos). Launching the 6 speed results in a lot of spin, which isn't as fast, but it sure is fun!

 

Incorrect. GM always intended to drop GTO production after the 2006 year, since the Holden Monaro on which it was based was at the end of its product cycle. To meet 2007 and later standards, the car would have had to be seriously redesigned to accommodate further US sales. So, the GTO was a three-year project from the get-go, and good or bad response in the marketplace was not a factor.

 

hahaha I think swoope was right..maybe we should start a GTO sub-forum here somewhere.

Thanks Yax! Yeah I've been hanging around a couple of the GTO forums lately..mostly reading. I've been checking out various suspension and exhaust mods. Not sure which will come first.

I knew some of the advantages and disadvantages were to buying an auto but I'm confident I made the right choice.

I still have that grin on my face..just can't seem to shake it....not sure I wanna.

Other than a couple minor things(non-performance related) this car is a blast to drive.

 

a great site is www.ls1tech.com. it has its own gto section, plus just about everything you'll ever need to know about that engine

 

Thanks Dills! hadn't been there yet. Signed up at http://www.gtoforum.com/ and http://www.ls1gto.com/forums already. Still got a butt load of reading to do.

 

Stock '05 GTO vs. a stock E46 M3 at Mid Ohio. Arrive at your own conclusion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veB5YZvBAqo

 

If you live on the side of a Mountain as I do though...

I'm trying to talk my friend into considering the GTO as a new car. Truth be told, he's 17 and hasn't owned his own car. His grandpa offered to buy him a car and as much as we all hate spoiled brats, you can't say no. Anyways, we drive in the 8 and I may be responsible a bit for his fast-car-fever.

So, what are some true Up-Sides and Downsides of the goat. Thanks in advance...

 

That is really pathetic (for the RX8) that the GTO with that monster engine gets better gas mileage. I admit that the RX8 handled well, but no amount of great handling is worth the gas mileage equivalent to a V12. The car I drive now is not quite as fun to drive, but...

it gets better gas mileage,
has a stereo that is MP3 and satellite ready and is not integrated into the a/c,
an a/c that actually blows cold air very powerfully,
I can reach the oil dipstick without burning my arm,
doesn't foul plugs every 10K miles or so,
has a strong battery and starter from the factory,
doesn't have to be warmed up for short trips because of flooding,
doesn't have paint that chips when you look at it,
it will probably accept and benefit from engine mods if I choose to make them,
and it was half the price.

 

If it helps your decision, the GTO is a Holden and not a Pontiac. Just one look at the quality of the interior makes it obvious it is unlike any US produced GM product.

 

Oh yah! Let the modding begin! American made exhaust systems are an easy find, but for good suspensions, you have to look to the Australian companies. Something that the GTO guys figured out early on is that the Aussies got a head start, and have been modding the hell out of the V8 Monaro since 2000. I'll PM a couple of ones I know about... one of our GTO club members has everything - springs & dampers/bushings/subframe connectors/swaybars/end links/camber kit/radius rods/etc. I'm going to beg him to drive it at our next GTG.

 

You rock, TheDosDog. Little story - my wife owns a Tribute ES, and before my RX8, I had an anniversary Miata, so we've been a Mazda family for a while.
You should have heard the conversation. "You want to trade your RX8 in on a PONTIAC?!?!?!" "No, no, no honey, its a Holden... Australia... uh. I know it says Pontiac, but, but"

 

Actually the GTO has its' fair share of some pretty serious paint peeling problems and very thin paint.

Let me know where you can get a GTO for half the price of an RX-8 (all else being equal, of course, no 100K mile GTOs). I'll be the first in line.

Everything else you said though are good points.