Pros: Best powertrain in the industry. Excellent performance/economy combination. Attractive LIST price.
Cons: Entry and exit a bit tight. Fair/poor trunk space.
The Bottom Line: List price is excellent despite a few minor gripes. This car has the best performance/economy powertrain in the industry with the optional 6-speed manual. A good start.
I looked at this car with an eye to buying it this year. Typically, I do a lot of research before deciding on a vehicle and then expect to live with it for a good long time. So longevity is a consideration, along with performance, handling and lastly, creature comforts and ride quality. Styling is low on my list (form follows function), and I don't care much for the glitzy toys that seem to entice many new car buyers. I also was employed in the past as a new car dealership service manager for Chevrolet, Buick, BMW and Subaru, so I look at cars a bit differently than many people and have a rather wide range of experience in comparison of typical Japanese, German and U.S. built vehicles.
I currently drive a 1996 Pontiac TransAm with 135,000 miles on it, purchased new, and a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP with 95,000 miles, also a new buy. I'm not married to Pontiac except that I have received totally trouble-free service from these two cars, so the 2004 GTO was a natural consideration, and the dealership called me when the first one came in.
Understated styling is an understatement. I almost walked past the car on the showfloor, mistaking it for a GrandAm from the front. There is a lot of carping about the lack of the old GTO mystique (whatever THAT is), but people seem to forget the original GTO was a Tempest with a V-8 in it. I have always liked having fast cars that don't LOOK fast, even to the point of removing engine shields from the side of my cars back in the '70's. I don't like to park and walk away from a car that says "steal me", and I buy cars for myself, not the neighbors, so styling is a non-issue to me.
Comparison with my nearly flawless TransAm was inevitable, and I refused a test drive because the first one had an automatic transmission, which was a major disappointment. It was a month later that the 6-speed arrived and I did drive that one. I am six feet four inches tall and 60 years old. What's an old geezer like me doing in a GTO? Well, nothing too strenuous because it is a bit cramped in there, at least getting in and out. I figured my TransAm entry/exit technique would work, but no. I banged my head on the door sill. The proximity of the roofliner to my head when seated was a bit too close, but I was able to obtain a comfortable driving position after playing with the seat controls a bit. The deep buckets are excellent on my backside, although I am not a fan of leather for longevity wear reasons and they get sweaty after a long day in the saddle, hot in summer, cold in winter, well you get the idea. One reviewer complained that there is no "dead" pedal rest for the left foot. I didn't notice on my short test run, but probably would on a long trip. I spent too much time with my left foot on the clutch, I guess.
I would never want a sun roof in a car, and there is no such option for the GTO. My dealership experience with BMW's and GM cars reinforced the fact that a sunroof is a leak waiting for a time to happen. A sunroof also steals 1-1/2 to 2 inches of precious headroom which I can't spare in any car of this type.
I didn't play with the radio because it didn't seem very intuitive to me. There is a 6CD changer option above the base Blaupunkt, but that's all. The interior has 10 speakers and sound was just fine, what little I heard of it. You can't hear a really expensive sound system while driving anyway due to road noise. No OnStar. No XM satellite! No joy. I can live without the OnStar in my car but I'll be darned if I'll glue a velcro strip on my dash for the tuner and stick a magnetic antenna on the outside of the car's new paint job to be able to have satellite FM. This is a big negative for me.
Rear seats are comfortable for normal sized people once you get there. Getting there is half the fun, however. It isn't graceful. 'Nuf said, but then this is a "me" car and a 2-seater at best. My other car is a 4-door. Trunk space is poor and would hold about 2 golf bags. Unfortunately, with nice rear leather bucket seats, the seat backs also don't fold forward to increase storage space. No big deal for a city street racer, but it could compromise some highway travel plans.
Interior styling has a nice European flavor, but is a bit awkward in places, such as the door locks and radio controls (something you'd get used to, but shouldn't have to). Color choices are interesting with gauge backgrounds keyed to seat colors. The speedo says 200 and my test drive confirmed that this is in MPH, not kilos (and, no, I didn't wrap it that far).
How does it drive? Nicely. The real attraction of this car is the absolutely outstanding powertrain, which is nearly identical to my TransAm. 3.46:1 rear axle gives you some serious stump pulling. This is a mismatch with the 4-speed automatic in my opinion, because it costs a huge penalty in fuel mileage to stay close to the Tremec 6-speed for which this powertrain is really designed. The automatic is a tenth or two slower 0-60 and shows 21 mpg highway compared to 29 with the Tremec. My TransAm with the LT1 6-speed confirms 29 as realistic for highway driving and will go over 30 if you get really serious and drive in the 60 mph range. The automatic is a compromise which really shouldn't be a serious consideration for most buyers. Where else can you get 350 HP and almost 30 mpg?
I found the shifter somewhat less precise than my TransAm. The skip shift is still there and annoying as ever when turning a corner and then heading up a hill at normal driving speeds, but can be defeated with a bit more throttle (2,500 RPM) and/or a double clutch. It only activates if you come to a complete stop, so rolling stops will also override it. Shifting is precise, throws seem normal to me after living with one for 8 years now, but the stick seems a bit more "rubbery", like an older BMW with the detent springs beginning to weaken a bit. That isn't meant to be negative, just descriptive. The 6-speed is really a close ratio 4-speed with a "double" overdrive. 4th gear is 1:1, 5th is 0.75:1 and 6th is 0.5:1. This gives you a nice 1,500 RPM at 60MPH which the automatic can't match and which gives you the great mileage.
The engine power curve is table flat. It pulls below 1,000 RPM, and it pulls very strongly up to 5,000. I didn't push it beyond that because the car had less than 100 miles on the clock and I wouldn't want someone driving MY new car that hard during initial miles. Judging from my LT1, it will pull past redline if you think you need that, but I doubt it with all that low end torque. The exhaust note is a bit high but not intrusive. Pipes are genuine dual to the chrome tips.
Traction control is a Bosch unit that controls throttle, spark and fuel, and if you really hate the Goodrich P245/45-R17 tires, you can destroy them in short order by turning it off. Clutch pressure was about what I expected, firm but not opressive. Body balance is 55/45. The LS1 stage III is all aluminum alloy block and heads, and access to plugs is remarkably good. Rear suspension is independent semi-trailing link and gave good tracking over the freeway exit ramp turn I negotiated where my TransAm would skitter a bit with some throttle. Steering is good, but a bit lighter than the variable ratio on my T/A. GM has the best variable ratio steering around but this car didn't get it, apparently. On-center lacks the nice "heavy" feel of my T/A and it requires a bit more attention to hold it rock steady between the lines. It does seem to be a bit "quicker" but I don't care for the extra assist at highway speeds.
Price was also a major factor in my decision to wait. The sticker was around $32,500 list as I recall. My dealer apparently felt that limited supplies would command a premium and placed a $7,000 add-on to the list price!! The car I drove sold for $4,000 over list a week later. I would never consider paying sticker, much less above for any car regardless of what I thought it was worth. I am a repeat customer so might have been able to deal, but didn't try. The 2005's are said to be getting some styling changes (I hope we don't get another screaming chicken on the hood like the TA's of yore and one of those whale tail spoilers), and maybe, just maybe they'll upgrade the radio for XM satellite FM and put in a left foot pedal footrest.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 33,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: Tremec 6-speed
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