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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  Long term review - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Todd Wilkinson - December 16 - 7:13 am

  Ive owned my GTO for 5-1/2 years now and its still the best GM car Ive ever owned. Over 86,000 miles on it and still no squeaks or rattles. It hasnt needed anything but minor maintenance. Its still as fun to drive today as it was the day I brought it home.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By 75bluejs - December 15 - 6:30 am

  For those who are looking for world class speed without paying the exotic price, then look no further. Its just amazing that GM put a 400hp Corvette engine in this vehicle and is selling it for under 35K. Interior, and overall build quality is the best Ive seen in a GM vehicle. It even seats four adults in great comfort!

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  Just awesome - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By mike - November 30 - 1:43 am

  This car can smoke 95% of the cars o the road. Comfort, mileage, performance. Very impressive, very happy with my purchase. For a stock car, this thing is VERY fast.

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  A classic already - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By scott fuller - November 28 - 7:23 pm

  This car is amazing. It is fast, easy to drive, handles great and looks terrific. Lets hope GM keeps the GTO as long as it is worthy of the name. Too often it kills off cars too soon and never allows any brand or model loyalty to develop. This is one car that lives up to its name. It is a true classic right now. Great value for the money. Six speeds, true dual exhausts, classic sound, neck snapping acceleration. I love it !

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  Damn nice car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By nikivee - November 10 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the nicest news cars Ive bought it years. The fit and finish is like nothing GM has sold here in the past. BMW like quality abounds. Plenty of power to boot.

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  The review - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By tom_ - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Why have we not imported australian cars before. They rock. Nothing compares to there cars, especially not the cars produced in America.

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  Love this car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Stefanie - October 31 - 12:50 am

  This car is awesome. Not only does it have massive power, but its sleek style makes for a surprise off the line. Not a lot of people know about the new GTO, and are always amazed by the performance. This car is unique and stands out from all the different kinds of powerless Mustangs on the road. Ultimately a blast to drive and worth every penny.

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  Youll be impressed! - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Trowbridge - October 26 - 6:50 am

  The greatest thing is power. First test drive hooked in less than one on ramp to the interstate. Excellent gas mpg 18/23 and with the power youve got this thing is sick. I changed out the stock suspension with the Pedders Street II and the ride quality is about the same but the way it handles through the curves is crazy fun. I cannot tell you how many times Ive had looks from people - every stoplight it seems, and even from Lamborghini drivers. If you havent bought one, and youre still undecided, you better try to find one that has less then 10K on it because once these babies are gone, theyll be talked about years from now, as the car that got away. Ive had it for 19 months, 0 shop time.

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  worth the wait - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By LYN - October 9 - 10:00 am

  great handling and performance, gets lots of looks and attention. couldt be more pleased so far. however, it does like to frequent gas stations.

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  Dont believe factory stats - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By philman - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for just over a week now. I have bought a K&N filter and a Beltroics Vector Accelerometer from Jegs. The factory stats on the 6sp is 0-60 in 5.3 and the 1/4 mile in 13.8 @ 105. After alot of practice on the starts, my best time WITH a witness in the car is 0-60 in 4.70 flat and the 1/4 mile in 13.35 at 106. I knew from magazine articles that the car was faster than advertised by Pontiac. I had seen sub 5 second 0-60 runs and a 13.53 1/4 by muscle car mag. By the way, if you want to look it up or dont believe me, the Beltronics Vector FX2 has an out of the box accuracy of 1/100 of a millisecond. Super high quality GM that handles good