Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac GTO may have been the first true muscle car, but that distinction has never been enough to assure it an uninterrupted production run. Already, the GTO has used up two lives. Originally produced from 1964-'74, the GTO was resurrected for the 2004 model year after a 30-year hiatus. There was no convertible body style this time, but the car was at least a proper rear-drive two-door coupe, courtesy of Holden, General Motors' Australian division. The new GTO (née Holden Monaro) was a definite sleeper style-wise, but in keeping with its muscle car heritage, it brought some serious under-hood heat. Unloved by consumers during its production run due to interior quirks and anonymous styling, this modern GTO now constitutes something of a performance bargain on the used-car market.

Most Recent Pontiac GTO

The original Pontiac GTO was nicknamed "the Goat" as much for its defiant, stripped-to-the-basics personality as for the letters in its name. The 2004-'06 incarnation was so much more refined and upscale that to call it a Goat would almost have been an insult. Many of the old car's charms had also been lost in translation, including its affordable price tag. The new coupe started in the low $30Ks -- hardly an attainable sum for young, cash-strapped enthusiasts. Bland exterior styling was another weak point.

Power initially came from a 5.7-liter V8, but Pontiac swapped in a larger 6.0-liter V8 the following year. The bigger engine took the GTO up to a cool 400 horsepower, but between the 2+2 coupe's high price and dull styling, Pontiac simply couldn't sell enough of them. As a result, the Pontiac GTO was discontinued after the 2006 model year.

Still, when it came to acceleration, there was no denying the reborn GTO's status as a full-on muscle car. Equipped with the LS1 V8 rated for 350 hp and 365 pound-feet of torque, 2004 models could get to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and blaze through a quarter-mile in 14 seconds flat -- quicker than any of the original GTOs. More impressive were the 2005 and '06 models, which had the 6.0-liter V8. Rated for 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, these models shaved more than half a second off that quarter-mile time.

Although the Pontiac GTO was plenty comfortable for highway cruising, its soft suspension really wasn't tuned to handle this much power. With its sluggish reflexes, excessive body roll and weak brakes, its dynamics were no match for the sharper-handling competitors in this price range. Had the car been priced $5,000 or so less, these faults might have been forgivable. Depreciation has mitigated this criticism, however, as used GTOs can be found for a fraction of the MSRP when new.

Past Pontiac GTO models

Introduced in 1964, the original GTO went through six generations before dying off after the 1974 model year. Always a rear-wheel-drive car, it was sold as both a two-door hardtop and a convertible with an assortment of big V8s. Legend has it that Pontiac stole the GTO name from the equally legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, a car whose name was an acronym for "Gran Turismo Omologato."

Save for the "detuned" 1973 and '74 models, just about any Pontiac GTO from the original era is considered collectible and will bring a high price at auction, provided it's in good condition and has a matching numbers engine (meaning the car still has the original factory engine). Convertibles are rarer than hardtops. The ostentatious GTO Judge model, sold in both body styles, is also less common. Among 1960s GTOs, models with one of the Ram Air packages are most prized, while the 1970 year saw the GTO's performance peak with the availability of a massive 455-cubic-inch V8 good for 500 lb-ft of torque.

User Reviews:

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  05 GTO 18 in wheels 6 speed stock - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By doug - March 30 - 4:20 am

  reviews forget to add the 18 in wheel options with high performance tires. and the larger PBR brakes on the 05s. I have not seen a magazine review that actually tests one with the higher performance tires/wheels which is certain to improve handling!! Get one before they are gone. The design is a sleeper and mercedes like styling to be a later classic.

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  05 gto - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By 05 gto - March 27 - 5:06 pm

  love the car , definitely a wolf in sheeps clothing , the power is strong from idle to 6500 rpm. gm should take note of the superior interior quality of this car. would recommend a better shifter, and a little stiffer suspension, power lock button on console, and homelink. otherwise a 10

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  love my GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By pligman - March 26 - 1:40 pm

  Took it on a 2 week trip out west in September, put 5400 miles on it in 14 days, and never got tired of being in the car. 15 hours the first day and 10 plus on other days, from 1000 feet up to 11,000 feet, car did not skip a beat and averaged 26.4 mpg for the trip, all at or above the speed limit, and in some moments very fast. I will never get rid of it!

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  A quick fix for the Headlights... - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Knowitall - March 16 - 2:00 am

  A fix for the headlights is to aim them up a bit. Its not that they are not bright enough, all cars are the same, its that they shine too close to the front of the car. Adjust them up just six inches against a wall. To do this: 1. Open the hood and locate the headlight adjustment screw (maybe look in manual or ask a mechanic). 2. At night, adjust this screw so the headlight shines approximently 6" higher. DO NOT adjust it up so high that it shines into the backseat of cars in front of you, thats too high and annoying to others (extremely!). I know this will work. I dont know why GM has taken to adjusting them too low (same on my 97 Z28).

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  Hey GT500KR, bring it on! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By fmartin - March 3 - 7:03 pm

  Bought new in 05, 19,000 miles now. Dealership was excellent to work with. Service is by different dealer, also excellent experience. No service issues at all, this car is very dependable. Had cam, headers, torque converter, cold air intake and some other upgrades done. Total investment < $38k. Quicker than cars twice the price. I like the non-retro look, its a Lion in a Lamb suit. I get thumbs up from all other high performance drivers... Vettes, Mustangs, Chargers, BMW M5s, etc. It surprises all of them. The car is a blast to drive on the street or on the track. An awesome package.

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  Love the car!!! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By James Booth - February 23 - 3:20 pm

  The GTO drives like a dream! I test drove all the the others in the same class before I bought and believe me no other compares.

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  A+++ - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Tony - February 16 - 3:53 am

  I have an 04 GTO instead of the 05 and I love it, definitely my favorite car, well worth trading my camaro Z28 for. I wish they would of had the LS2 in the 04.

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  My GTO is Good Enough - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Bill Ray - February 14 - 1:33 am

  All GTO owners that I have talked to grows more pleased as time passes. Initially I was impressed with the muscle and speed. After a year of driving I began to love this cars European look! My car is black w/red upholstry, Calif.Chromed stock wheels, L&N air filter, best set of headers made, you can imagine the compliments that follow this classy and sassy road machine! When I purchased it I thought I might change it after 3 years,but its the best car that I have owned. I plan to keep it. I have bought Pontiacs since the 60s, that includes Trans Ams Gran Prixs. All were good for their time, but none compared to my 04 GTO!

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  05 GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By farmerboy0707 - January 30 - 3:50 am

  Awesome vehicle. I normally lean towards trucks but this is one nice car to drive. has the HP and torque you need whenever. Fuel economy is good also.

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  Nothing else like it - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By bryan63 - January 28 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the only cars I could find in the 40k or under price range that offered rear wheel drive and v8 power and will seat 4. The other cars I drove before buying the Gto were (Acura TL V6, cadillac cts v6,Lincoln ls v8,mustang cobra and crysler 300c) the v6s felt week, The Lincoln was price allot higher, The mustang felt fast but is not as nice inside and does not seat 4 adults in confort, the Chryler felt to big and did not handle as well as the GTO.