Nice ride, I seriously considered one of these when purchasing the RX-8.

 

congrats, it looks like it has been taken care of immaculately!

 

Nice cavalier!

 

You know, I hit the GTO forum every day (and usually this one as well cuz you guys are spiffy), and I just noticed something... There are a couple of folks that own both cars, but I've never seen a thread about a GTO owner trading for an RX8, and yet there are gobs of people here moving from RX8's to GTO's. Why is that? Am I wrong, and just not hearing about the GTO converts?

 

I almost bought one instead of the 8. We'd agreed on $23,500 for a winning blue 2006 M6 with 1600 miles. I slept on it and test drove the RX8 the next day. For me, the GTO wasn't what I was looking for. I had a Z06 at home if I wanted to go fast and still be able to handle a corner.
The areas lacking on the GTO...
The car drives you. Sure it's faster than the RX8 but so are many things. We didn't buy the RX8 for speed. It's fun to drive and most of us don't even have an opportunity to use 400 hp.
Resale... resale is horrible on the GTOs.
The LS2 is finished. Most aftermarket companies have specialized in LS1 for so long that not many parts were designed for the LS2. Now with the LS3 coming out, don't expect aftermarket companies to pursue the LS2.
The GTO isn't unique in any way, shape, or form.
It's bulky. Sitting behind the wheel, it seems like the rear end is 20 feet away.
Don't get me wrong, I can still appreciate Pontiac's attempt to revitalize the GTO but it definitely could've been done better.

 

I agree with most of what you said but resale...come on now...how much worse can it be than the RX-8? I'm not sure on the statement on aftermarket support for the LS2 either. Magazines like Summit dedicate half their catalog to the various small block Chevrolet motors. You probably already know that as a Corvette owner. The market might not have as robust an offering as the old LS1 in the Camaro & Firebird enjoyed, but I don't foresee many roadblocks for an LS2 GTO owner chasing stupid big WHP numbers.

 

Very good, youre dead on... the LS2 aftermarket is extremely strong, and we're lucky there's a lot designed for the GTO specifically. If you want 500, 600, 700 or 800 crank hp on a stock bottom end LS2, it's possible, and all the kits/parts are readily available. The tuning is fully supported by several manufacturers... fuel system components are interchangeable.... heads and cams can be shared.... I could throw a built Viper T56 tranny in mine, and it would work no problem... a lot of GTO guys are using the C6 ZO6 LS7 500hp clutch... I can name 6 seperate FI manufacturers off the top of my head... just examples. If the RX8 had been the same way, I am 100% sure I would still be driving it.