Car and Driver tests the GTO

[Mike3800]

Welp... I'll get to some of the meat.

350HP @ 5200RPM

365Ft.Lbs@4000RPM

Curb Weight 3821lbs

Their drivers got it to do this:

0-30 2.0
0-40 2.8
0-50 4.2
0-60 5.3
0-70 7.1
0-80 8.8
0-90 10.8
0-100 13.4
0-110 16.0
0-120 19.1
0-130 23.4
0-140 28.9

1/4 14.0sec@102MPH

Top speed 158 (governer liimited)

Braking 70-0 185ft.

skidpad .88g


My own opinon from the article alone not having driven the car:

I am glad they make this car. It is a vast improvement on the Camaro and Trans Am in the handling department, nice that the rear solid axle is gone. This looks to be a refined muscle car, like the Corvette but with a rear seating area.

On the other hand, not to sound negative, but I still miss the Camaro and Trans Am. Both the Camaro Z28 and Trans Am performed like this or better at least in a straight line and cost about $7,000 US dollars less. Who knows perhaps they will bring them back and better but still compeditavely priced.

Motor Trend tested also.

13.62@ 104 mph
Lateral G's : .80

[Knappy1]

The more magazine testing we get the better...the truth will be somewhere in the middle.

[Mike3800]

Originally posted by Knappy1
The more magazine testing we get the better...the truth will be somewhere in the middle.

Really there is no "truth".. a car cannot drive itself, so all cars only have "potential" for speed. It's all up to the drivers.

Also every car has slight variances. Motor trend might have had a stronger car than car and Driver did etc... or perhaps the reverse and Car and Drivers drivers really suck badly.

[Knappy1]

That's what I meant by the truth...we will have a better idea of what to expect. I mean, look at this board for instance...stock GA's vary nearly a full second in the 1/4...but after looking at the general trend, you get an idea of what to expect.

[mfuller]

Originally posted by Mike3800
Also every car has slight variances. Motor trend might have had a stronger car than car and Driver did etc... or perhaps the reverse and Car and Drivers drivers really suck badly.

While that's true, I generally find that MT does better at 1/4 mile times because they're more into straight-line stuff, while C&D's staff is stocked with road racers, so they generally eke out better handling. It's all about the nut behind the wheel.....

[Mike3800]

I'd like to be behind the wheel of the new GTO.

[Vintalage]

The GTO is the only car in the Pontiac lineup that gives me the impression of performance and quality. It doesn't strike me as cheap. It just has a higer end look to it. The Bonneville GXP still can't compare to this car.

I've got some info about the Bonneville GXP that i'll post up shortly.

[Vinaashak]

Gimme the keys and itll run 12's

[Jagey]

At least this car has the drivability and higher quality than the F-Body. Fabulous replacement for that old junk.

[Sternie]

This car appears to be a complete homerun. MT praised it in pretty much every way. They say the fit and finish is amazing, the way they tuned the LS1 to have the refined sound and smooth feel of a german car, and the list goes on. Needless to say, I want one

[thehemi]

It has an LS1 and a backseat.
That is great news in my book!

$35K is not an outrageous $$.
Look at SUVs/trucks these days.

[kse73]

I want one really bad. Hearing it on pontiac.com only made it worse. These numbers are also impressing me. AAAHHHHHH

[John95GA]

Unfortunately, the only things that impress me about that car are the numbers. When I read the C&D article, I was shocked to find out how devoid of options/luxuries it was (not even a sunroof option!? Even Grand Ams can have those!); of course we all know about the love it/don't care for it bland styling too, but the base price is still about the same as my G. Despite being maybe .5 seconds slower to 60 (doesn't even bother me 'cuz the capability of low 14s is quick enough for me anyway), I still feel like I got a lot more car for my money than if I were to get this "GTO." At the auto show, I stared at it for several minutes (more than once) to try to convince myself that I like what I saw, but just couldn't feel anything but indifference; it's as if you're only getting half the car you should be (performance, but no style or nice options).

[Vintalage]

Originally posted by John95GA
Unfortunately, the only things that impress me about that car are the numbers. When I read the C&D article, I was shocked to find out how devoid of options/luxuries it was (not even a sunroof option!? Even Grand Ams can have those!); of course we all know about the love it/don't care for it bland styling too, but the base price is still about the same as my G. Despite being maybe .5 seconds slower to 60 (doesn't even bother me 'cuz the capability of low 14s is quick enough for me anyway), I still feel like I got a lot more car for my money than if I were to get this "GTO." At the auto show, I stared at it for several minutes (more than once) to try to convince myself that I like what I saw, but just couldn't feel anything but indifference; it's as if you're only getting half the car you should be (performance, but no style or nice options).

That's some of the things I noticed about the car as well. Where the hell is the sunroof? Auto climate control? I know this is a sports car but for $35k, I expect more.

[Mike3800]

Originally posted by Jagey
At least this car has the drivability and higher quality than the F-Body. Fabulous replacement for that old junk.

It's just a shame GM has nothing to compete with Mustang GT anymore. Nothing.

Corvette? $50,000
GTO? $35,000
Mustang GT? $25,000


NOTHING they have is compedative in price. Performance is there/back, but you'll pay for it.

Like I said, GTO is beyond awesome, but they need to make something priced compedatively with stellar performance just like the F-bodies were.

[Knappy1]

you said stellar

[Mike3800]

Originally posted by Knappy1
you said stellar

What's funny about that?

Other than a motorcycle what performs like a Z28 or Trans Am for less than $26,000 US dollars new? Nothing? OK then.

Alot of supercars (ex. Ferrari, Porsche) made previous to 2000 can't match the performance of the Camaro and Trans Am, Plain and simple.

[Jagey]

Originally posted by John95GA
Unfortunately, the only things that impress me about that car are the numbers. When I read the C&D article, I was shocked to find out how devoid of options/luxuries it was (not even a sunroof option!? Even Grand Ams can have those!); of course we all know about the love it/don't care for it bland styling too, but the base price is still about the same as my G. Despite being maybe .5 seconds slower to 60 (doesn't even bother me 'cuz the capability of low 14s is quick enough for me anyway), I still feel like I got a lot more car for my money than if I were to get this "GTO." At the auto show, I stared at it for several minutes (more than once) to try to convince myself that I like what I saw, but just couldn't feel anything but indifference; it's as if you're only getting half the car you should be (performance, but no style or nice options).

Of course your car will be better appointed. It comes from an import company, which is kinda luxurious. Pontiac is domestic and is known to be brash as hell. Also, Pontiac expects to sucker a LOT of people merely by the GTO name alone. People will pay anything for those 3 letters, even if it lacks luxury options, at whatever price they set it to. Guaranteed if it was priced at 45 grand people would still be buying it like hell.

[Panacea]

What? Corvettes don't have sunroofs, neither does ferarri's, camaro's, trans am's, mustangs, etc. Why should the GTO be different?

I also don't see any luxurious options in camaro's/trans am's either...