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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  GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By macgee - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I like the overall balance of acceleration, braking, and handling with the excellenct seats and stereo. Buy a leftover 2004 now and enjoy a boffo car at an unbelievable price.

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  Red on red. - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Doctor Dutch - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Much superior daily handling than the Trans Am it replaced. Its faster, has a drop dead gourgous interior and is tight as a drum. Driving it after owning two T/As in a row takes a bit of getting used to but its well worth the wait. It was like going from a shifter cart to a Formula racer. It has done things in the handling department the F-cars could never approach. The IRS makes a big difference in keeping the rubber on the road. This car seems German in its execution. Fit and finish is excellent, both interior and exterior. Materials and workmanship are the best ever for a GM car. Though the price seemed high initially, after living with the car, it ture out to be a bargain. Awesome!!

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  Wowo what a car!! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By GTO Steve - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for about 6 months now and its performance is unbelivable.. I have to say that besides the high cost it was well worth the money that was paid. I aslo got a 6sp not the auto.

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  Best Car I have Ever had - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By wild willy - July 27 - 8:23 pm

  With out a doubt the most solidly built car I have ever owned. I leased this car due to the fact that GM gave them away at the end of 2004 for peanuts. I am very sorry I did not buy it from the start. The car is an absolute dream to drive and I take every opportunity to get behind the wheel. If you have not driven one....Just go do it.!!

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  Great even as a Daily Driver - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By John - July 20 - 4:43 pm

  I drive my GTO daily when Im in town. Unfortunately the car sits at the local airport 3-4 days per week. The car is perfect for me as a daily driver. It has great power, its unique in that the GTO is not so plentiful out there that people see them everywhere so they notice it when they do see one, it handles well for the muscle car it is and its comfortable even for me at 64" tall.

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  Contented Old Man - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Heywood Wakefield - June 27 - 4:10 pm

  Ive had this 6-speed GTO for only about 600 miles. So far, it is just great. It handles well and accelerates well. The stick shift, while not totally sporty, is fine. Car feels solid. I bought this car because it is beautiful looking to me (it has a quietly strong appearance) and because I did want to get the most power for the money. It being 60% Australian and 90s-looking were not an issue for me. Yes, the trunk is small, the power seats are slow-moving, rear entry is difficult, and this is no mileage king. What the GTO is: a pleasure to drive, a great car for my 60th birthday, and something very special. This car puts a smile on my face. I love to drive again!

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  Blue GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By torridgto - June 27 - 11:49 am

  This car is a screamer, I put a k/n CAI, and a borla exhaust in my car. Now it sounds great, it sounded good when i first got it, and could lay down some rubber but now i could burn the tires right off if i wanted too (not like i couldnt when it was stock). last year i went on a trip to Colorado and the ride just never gets old its such a comfortable ride i Just love this car. Everybody should have one!!

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  Grrrreat Goat! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Blueberry - June 19 - 6:06 pm

  Bland styling? No way! I get compliments all the time on how this car looks. Even I thought it looked somewhat bland before purchasing. It looks better and better as the weeks go by. But the performance is what I wanted and I got that in spades. What else you can you buy that comfortably seats four, has a fabulous interior, runs like a scalded cat & costs only $27,000? Nothing. The six speed is smooth and with the amazing torque I usually just go 1st/3rd/5th around town. The exhaust note is very cool, exactly right. On the highway its quiet and tracks very well. Im not a boy racer anymore at 53 but I love a hot car thats comfortable. GTO is a grand touring car with lots of bite.

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  Fun to drive...But quality issues - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By CARL V - June 19 - 12:10 pm

  Currently at 20k miles-loved the car for the first 15k, but going downhill. Electrical issues, transmission is giving off spinning noise in neutral, u- joint not sounding healthy, front end vibrations, coolant warning light coming on, automatic lighting (int/ext) has failed. Grateful to have leased instaed of bought.

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  gto - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By john deleone - June 11 - 3:26 am

  I have had this car for one year. no problems at all,, hiway mileage is around 25 MPG and city about 17,it is fun to drive and draws attention everywhere I go