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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It was perfect - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By Dave Peterson - July 24 - 2:00 amThe riding was flauless. Ive always grown up in a AMerican made family and the Pontiac GTO has had nothing but improvements from its older models. It can still live up to its standards.
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Can You Say .....Sleeper - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By Bruce k - July 18 - 2:00 amDont let the tame exterior of this car fool you. I am very excited with the performance and handling of my new GTO. This car drives like a true dynomo Everything from the the nice deep rumble sound to the wheels burning rubber. I also think that this car can be an everyday driver as well. Perfect combination for me!
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Fantastic Car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By rick hughes - July 15 - 12:50 amGot a great deal on the car and could not be happier. Worth way more than what I paid. About 9000 miles on the car and no problems. By far the best car Ive ever owned. Great handling, greater power. I am costantly being stoped and asked about the NEW GTO. A friend has a 2004 Corvette and the GTO is pretty darn close in fun factor.
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what a car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By ilovemuscle - July 7 - 10:00 amNot only is this car fast and powerful, but it is one of the funnest cars I have ever driven. There is no other car u can get for 30 Gs that gives you the speed, comfort, and nice interior of the Pontiac GTO.
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GTO and the driver of today - 2005 Pontiac GTO
By Hennesey GTO - June 4 - 7:30 amComing back from a visit from Afghanistan I wanted a new vehicle. I was debating between three cars. A 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra, 2005 Corvette C-6 or a 2005/06 GTO. The Vette and the GTO offered 400Hp of true aspirated engine. The Cobra offered 390 with the factory Super Charger. The GTO had four seats. Also honestly, how many GTOs do you see compared to the mustang and Vette? My choice was obvious. I needed to put the test on it. I drove it from North Carolina to California and back. No problems the entire trip. When I got back there were some electronic issues. Nothing a few hundred cant fix. I later invested about $10,000 into the engine to make it a real 535 RWHP beast. I love my GTO.
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Best.... Car.... Ever. - 2006 Pontiac GTO
By Bryan - June 2 - 8:50 amWow, what a fun car to drive. Everything from the comfortable and roomy all leather interior to the LS2 engine and exhaust sound is fantastic. In terms of interior roominess, this puts the Mustang to shame (same with the engine and power). 400 HP for $30,000, just try to find more power for a better price, you wont be able to.
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I love my GTO! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By Michael Nichols - May 26 - 10:00 amI love my GTO and its Performance. The interior is well done and I like the red suede and red leather mixed in with black leather. The red stiching mixed with black leather on the stering wheel and shift nob are great details. It also does not matter what gear you are in using the six speed manual, all you have to do is give it some gas and you have fairly instant get up and go. The handling takes a bit to get use to but settles in and corners very well. My prior car is a 2000 Honda Civic Si.
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"10" - 2005 Pontiac GTO
By dmnspd - May 26 - 7:40 amawesome drive the car is incredible good low end tourqe better middle band high-end could be alittle better but its real nice shifts are a little teethy shorter throw shifter would have been nice but all and all its just AWESOME to drive a trill a second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yellow Jacket 6spd - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By RJ - May 9 - 1:03 pmThis car has 1960s Muscle car performance with all the modern comforts. My last GTO was a 1970 and the 04 GTO puts it to shame in just about every way except for looks. The new GTO is reliable, fast, gets good milage (for a performance car) and is very comfortable. I drive this car all through the Michigan winter (traction control and all season tires make this possible with RWD). My zero down 24k 2yr lease is $300/month. A lot of car for the money.
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Domestic or Foreign? - 2006 Pontiac GTO
By RedLine - May 6 - 9:13 amThe GTO is an excellent example of a classic muscle car (classic being mid- sixties rather than early 70s)...conservative ("sleeper" rather than "boy racer") exterior styling, jaw dropping power, and almost European handling characteristics. The ride is comfortable and compliant with relatively little body lean while having fun.
