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 = FUN ! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By taosphil - January 4 - 4:46 pm

  Great FUN Car! I Love It, everytime I drive it I get a big smile on my face. Very well built, really close to a BMW in quality and performance at one half the price. Makes a wonderful Modern Muscle Car, that why I want a 2006 - 50 more ponies means that smile will be just that much bigger!

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  64 to 05 - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Bob Negherbon - December 21 - 10:00 pm

  I have a 64 and bought the 05, Wow! What a great car! The power is fantastic and so easy to use. A great automobile and especially for the price. This can only get better and maybe GM will keep it around. There are so many things that can be offered to maintain the legend, cause the new one is truly worthy of the name.

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  Just Bought - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Goatman - December 20 - 7:13 pm

  I have had my 2006 GTO for all of two days now. I took the day off work to just drive it around. I had a blast with it and plan on having many more days just like today. I recently sold a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 with a slightly built Olds 455. I restored the car and it was my baby. When I found myself in the market for a new car I needed one with power. I found out the Challenger if coming out with a 5.7L and was turned off by the thought of the price for the upgrade when it becomes available. I tested the Mustang GT and the GTO and immediately knew the GTO was the better of the two. Considering where the market is going, the exterior styling could be better, but I still love the looks.

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  Love this car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Drew - December 16 - 6:13 pm

  So I just came home with a Yellow 04 GTO and I am loving everything about this car. It has the power of an american muscle car but not the crappy quality of the majority of american cars today since its built in Austrailia. It really does have the build quality like a european car but the raw power of an american bad boy car! Yes some may say the styling is bland but I personally get looks and people trying to talk to me about the car all the time. My girlfriend gets annoyed when we pull up to a light and another guy is trying to yell at us through the window to talk about the car. At first I wasnt totally sure about the yellow color choice but its grown on me and I wouldnt change a thing!

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  Had it a month, its PERFECT - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Wayne - November 30 - 1:16 pm

  Ive had it a month and I LOVE it. Its fun to drive, comfortable to ride in, and unbelievably fast. Its not for everybody (family with frequent use of the back seat, someone who needs a large trunk, etc...). But, if you want a fast, fun car in a 2+2 configuration, this is the car. For me, its a dream car. Ive wanted a fast car for 30 years. For me, this one is perfect. Even the stereo is fantastic... 6 in dash CD, 200W and 10 speakers... I look forward to driving it every day.

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  Mod - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By MJ - November 25 - 12:16 am

  I have mainly great reviews for my GTO. I had strut issues at first with poor dealer support. I recently added the pedders x-treme pro suspension package, new clutch and twin 400 hp turbos. We are working out some bugs with the system but all I have to say at this point is I may need to add wings and a parachute. Its a BEAST.

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  2004 GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By JC - November 24 - 4:13 am

  Just bought an 04 Goat and I loved it...for 2 days. Back to the dealership and now I am waiting for parts to be imported from Australia to overhaul the manual transmisson. Reverse stopped working. Why are these parts not on hand??? For 2 days, this was my dream car. I cant wait to get it back but Im afraid I may have a lemon. Pontiacs are not exactly known for having the best transmissions out there.

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  New Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By 50+ CPA - November 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a true throw back to the muscle car era. It both sounds and performs better then my 426 hemi, 440 Plymouth GTX, and firebird trans Am that owned in prior years. Being in my fifties, I must say that the seat is extremely comfortable and after exiting the car my back feels great. This adds to the overall driving experience.

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  Return of the Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By fronkie - November 10 - 12:56 pm

  This GTO is the best GTO ever built. My dad bought this one and let me tell you it drives like a dream. My dad also has a 1966 GTO and he definitely likes the new one better because its better, faster, more fun, an more reliable. All I can say is that its awesome, and I sure as hell hope that GM builds their Ram Air 6 concept as the next GTO Judge. THE MUSCLE DAYS ARE BACK AND HERE TO STAY.

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  They got it right this time! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Paul - November 9 - 5:00 am

  Great fun to drive. If you dont need all the cushy stuff and just want the muscle, you cant go wrong with the GTO. Be ready to pay lots more for comparable performance from other makes. Plenty of power and handles superbly. I traded an 04 for an 05. Hood scoops and rear-end redesign is a great style improvement over the 04. More powerful engine and much improved brakes make this one better live up to the GTO name. Minor problems with shifter sticking or not catching (in reverse). Idle pulley seized within the first 30 miles. Accelerator sensor malfunction at 300 miles. Electronic throttle takes some getting used to. Parts still not readily available for repairs.