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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  Modern Muscle Car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By JTAF - March 24 - 10:00 am

  This modern muscle car did not have to have the GTO name. It is its own muscle car made with todays features and technology. This is the first car of my era that I can think of that could possibly be an icon in the future. The 2000s has not seen too many strong American cars that have the right to be considered Muscle(without being $50k or higher). I am as excited about this as my Ftaher-in-law was when he was my age buying his GTO brand new. Who would have known then that his car would have been such an icon. This is history in the making. Thank you Pontiac for giving my generation the chance to be part of something great!

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  Lots of power, lack of quality - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By germie - February 24 - 4:16 pm

  I really like my GTO. It has lots of power and it sounds great in my ears even with the stock exhaust. I didnt make any modifications to mine, everything is stock. The only technical issues I had so far were a water pump replacement at 40k, engine temp gauge problem (electronic part had to be replaced) at 16k. Looks like I got lucky compared to most of GTO owners. A downside is the poor quality of the car. The shifter is wobbly and not precise, the seam on the rear driver side seat is opening up and about to burst open (nobody ever sits on that seat), the paint on the driverside doorhandle is chipping off (pass. side handle had to be repainted already).

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  Great Car for the money - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Tony - February 19 - 12:03 pm

  I just traded My CTS for this car and let me tell you this car is great, the power is incredible for $32K, the interior is very comfortable front and rear and the rear AC Vents are great, I also Have an 05 G35 and I gave that one to my wife in order to get this one for me.

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  100% - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By muscle guy - February 18 - 1:23 am

  The body looks similar to other pontiacs, but still remains unique. Not only is it the strongest stock street car, excluding lambos and what not, but it turns heads too. To make it look a little more hot, i bought front to tail custom work. New front kit, hood, rims,tires, roof,side kit, doors,tint, spoiler, rear kit, exhaust, cold air intake, a chip, QTEC, dyno, tranny, clutch, suspension.... yeah it was plenty of cash and voided the warranty, but who gives when you got a car this hot.

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  2006 GTO first hand - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By David - February 14 - 4:06 pm

  The car starts right up every morning. The drive is kind of bumpy due to the sporty suspension. I love the small block v-8. Runs better when driven hard, like most corvette engines. Dislike the locking mechanism for the door locks. Wont let you lock the doors with out pushing the button. The passenger seat is horribly slow to move forward and back. So getting people or children in the back is not fun. The shifter feels long, and the exhaust note is great at higher rpms. The headlights should have been xenon. The blaupunkt cd player distorts easily with bass. The steering is heavy on fast corners. straight acceleration is phenomenal. Ill never buy another one, but ill keep mine.

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  I love it - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Care2bjs2 - January 27 - 6:43 pm

  Was at the dealership with a friend and was talked into test driving an 06 GTO I really wasnt planning on purchasing one but wow!!!!2 hours later I was home with a brand spanking new Brazen Orange GTO This car is awesome, much faster than the 05 Mustang I just sold, its hard to believe its only 100 hp more because it seriously feels like twice the power and the interior is way better So far the car has been perfect in every way

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  GTO Review - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By gtolvr - January 21 - 10:16 pm

  Interior is wrapped in enough leather to confuse you into thinking youre in a luxury vehicle not a muscle car. Performance and handling are superb. This is one of the best vehicles pontiac has every put out.

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  My GTO Experience - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Ray Willis - January 16 - 8:16 pm

  I bought a new 1964 GTO and a new 1967 gto convertible which were both very good cars in handling and performance. However, my new 2006 GTO is so much better in every way that the old GTOs do not compare. The only exception is the body style of the new GTO is not quite as good as it should be for true muscle car style.

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  GTO exceeds the mark - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By bfargin - January 6 - 4:33 pm

  Well, after owning this fine automobile for several months I thought I would share my feelings. Wow, what a car. The build quality is excellent, it feels more like a european luxury car than a typical GM econobox. I realize it costs close to 30K but I still think you are getting tons of quality for the money. I like the interior better than I like the new MB E350 or CLK350. Handling is great for the size and weight involved. After all it is a performance luxury coupe and not a bareboned racecar and yet still puts up great skidpad numbers. For the money you wont find better performance in a new car. For right at 30K dollars you get a 400 hp engine that will pin you to the seat back.

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  GTO 04 - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By GTO 04 - December 17 - 9:33 am

  I recently purchased the GTO. I cant believe the performance that this car puts out. I was originaly looking at Corvettes and BMWs, but when I test drove this car...WOW! Just with the exterior design had a little more punch to it. All and all, awsome car.