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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  A Great Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Pat - July 26 - 11:46 am

  I bought my 04 goat 6 months ago and it has been a great car. Performance is excellent, Not a mustang around wants any part of it !!! We traveled about 150 miles with a Mercedes running with us from speeds 90 to 110 mph and average 23.4 mpg. yea 23.4 at those speeds I couldnt ask for a car more fun to drive for $35000.00..... Thanks Pontiac

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  2004 GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Steve - July 26 - 3:16 am

  Fun car to drive. Hugs the road well. Excellent exceleration. I had a couple of cosmetic problems but they were taken care of at the dealership. Even though everyone is complaining about the exterior design every one seems to notice the car. The only complaint that I have is that I only got 15K on the original tires even with the traction control enabled all the time.

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  2006 the original is still the greatest - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By 2006gtobob - July 9 - 5:26 am

  After taking a test drive I was hooked to say the least. and after finding the brazen orange color under the spotlight at a local dealer I had to have one. Less than a week later I am the proud owner of a brazen orange 6- speed that gets great fuel mileage and second looks from those not knowing what had just passed them. Getting on the local interstate is just some of the fun when those 400 plus horses are put to the test, the feel of the engines torque really sets you in your seat just proving the power is there, Pontiac sums it up best We Build Excitement (oh just to mention 23 mpg highway/18 around town occasional flogging is my est mpg) having fun

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  All Performance - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By All Performance - July 4 - 11:03 pm

  If you pull up to this car at a red light dont be fooled, its gonna blow your doors off. Best performance car you can get for under 35,000. New 6.0 has that extra feel good punch. Fixed the exterior a little in 2005 with ram air hood and true dual exhuast. Great handling. Smooth ride for a coupe with a sport suspension.

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  my 2004 gto - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Earlsgto - June 30 - 2:00 am

  this is the best car I have ever owned. the interior is great and the motor is awesome, this baby has power to spare.it makes you feel like a teenager again when you get behind the wheel.

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  Sharp! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By GaryL - June 27 - 8:20 pm

  Just picked up this 05 after test driving an 04. Impressive power and comfort all in one package. Exterior looks make it a deceptive speed predator at the traffic lights. Seat slowness does stink but not a big deal when all else adds up to an awesome vehicle build. Blue on Blue is a very sharp look for this vehicle. Looking forward to aftermarket tools for this great mid-life crisis requirement.

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  Road Ripping Fun - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Larry - June 25 - 3:43 pm

  After a year and 12,000 miles in all weather conditions (Vermont), my red GTO still brings me smiles with every drive, a true pleasure. I use it mostly for a 44 mile commute over a mixture of twisty secondary roads, city streets, and low traffic interstate. A hoot to drive, the vehicle is well balanced with the tight crisp steering, firm handling and strong brakes expected on a 400 hp sports car. Abundant power can smoke the tires with ease when the traction nanny is off. At its selling price/performance point it is a bargain. The 6 speed manual transmission allows excellent fuel economy. I average 22 mpg commuting and 26+ on trips.

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  my review - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Eddie - June 19 - 10:00 am

  its a great car i love the handling and all around of the car and it flies 140 comes up quick on the highway mine did 13.1 in a quarder

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  Wow - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By jkcook - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Was fully impressed from the first moment with this car and two thousand miles later I still havent gotten the smile off of my face. Before buying, I probably was able to put 20 miles on the car with the salesman in the right seat, so was unable to realy get a full feal for the car until after all the paperwork was signed and drove home. That first drive feeling was unbelievable. It is fun to drive at speed or slowing moving down the road and is still fun to catch the glimpses of other drivers who either catch the GTO badge on the side or the 5.7 on the rear. The inside is perfect and the fit andthe finish is flawless.

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  My 3rd GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Robert & Connie Lee - June 14 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 15 new pontiacs, including 2 other GTOs. Although the exterior styling is somewhat bland this by far is the hightest quality Pontiac I have owned. It is also the fastest in Stock Form even faster than the 1970 GTO Judge Convertale that I owned. the Handling is Precise, The Interior will rate up there with any General Motors product that has been built to date.