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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  Power House - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By B yron Eichme - April 28 - 6:45 am

  Not a winter off road car.

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  Recent Purchase - very satisfied - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Kevin - April 24 - 6:46 am

  Just purchased a 2006 GTO 6L 6 speed manuel. Very Safisfied !!! Runs like a mid-60s muscle car, handles like an Indy racer, and gets the mileage of a late 90s family car. Im going through my "third" childhood and absolutely enjoying it !!

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  The Goat Returns! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By DABT - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 GTO is an awesome car! I actually like the understated exterior look. The interior is very well done, with excellent head room, and comfortable front and rear seating. The Blaupunkt stereo is also a nice touch. However, for me, the new GTO is all about performance. I have the six- speed manual, and have found the power and ride of my car to be simply fantastic. Bottom line, you are getting Corvette-like performance for $20,000 less. For me, this car delivers the goods at a fair price.

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  pontiac GTO is great - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By glenn cummings - April 21 - 12:26 am

  this car is the best car i have ever owned to this point. i am 67 years old but i still have my passion for cars and performance. in high school when everybody was driving fords and chevys i drove a 1950 olds "88". i have always driven performance cars be they two doors, four doors or pickups. in my opinion the GTO is the best i have owned or driven ever.

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  this car rocks! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By jeremy west - April 16 - 3:06 pm

  The car is simply awesome! As an everyday driver, it more than gets me from point a to b, but also actracts thumbs up from many. At the drag strip, I reigns supreme... stock times were 13.3sec.s @ 104.9 mph. which is much better than the advertised time of 14 sec.s. Ride quality is great in all 4 seats, during long or short trips... it is a ride to look foward to.

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  Love my goat - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By James - April 16 - 12:43 pm

  Bought my 06 Cyclone gray GTO in march of 07. It now has 20,000 miles on it. And theyve been trouble free thus far. This car has a better build quality, inside and out than the domestics seem to have. The performance is first rate. Mine has the 6 speed tranny. This engine has so much midrange power...It flat out hauls.

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  I Got 1 - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By igot1gto - April 14 - 5:13 pm

  At 400 H.P. and 400 ft/lb torque and around town mileage with my 6 speed at just over 20 mpg, what else could you want? It is great fun to drive ... it is fast with crisp handling and very effective braking. The 200 watt Blaupunkt stereo/CD with surround sound is almost as enjoyable as just driving around with the windows open just listening to the motor hum ... the fit and finish of the interior rivals any of my buddies BMWs and the 6 way power adjustable leather seats are very comfortable ... which is excellent ... especially when you consider the GTO is a reborn MUSCLE CAR built for speed and a feel for the road!

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  Refined, yet beastly! - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Jonathan F - April 12 - 10:00 pm

  I had test drove many different sporty cars before approaching the GTO. I tried out a STI, WRX, BMW 330i, Evo, a G35, 350z Then, after the advice of my father, I choose to test drive a GTO. That was all that was needed to seal the deal. While the G35 was probably the nicest out of the bunch, it still lacked any ummmppphhhhh. I got into the GTO and whoa, talk about making your neck sore. I wish more people would just test drive it. Realize it is NOT an American car and that it was built out of Holden in Australia who has a following of quality that is like the BMW and Hondas, just in a different country.

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  Great car all around - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By kshue - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Okay, I know people give this car low ratings on its styling but I really think this car has nice clean lines and it is devoid of any typical excess Pontiac cladding and ground effects. I like the fact that it doesnt scream out, "here I am." The sleeper factor is awesome. The GTO is a very well built car. The interior is first class and I dont ever expect a shake or rattle. Performance is beautiful. The last car I can recall with as much factory power on tap is the 1986 Buick Grand National. The LS1 with 6 speed provides plenty of good old American tire shredding horsepower and torque - you have to love that. The only, and I mean only negatives I have on this car is the trunk space.

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  GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Brian Hill - March 29 - 10:46 pm

  I love this car. The power is amazing, I can do 110 mph in 3rd gear. The only problems I have are the super slow moving seats to gain acess to the back and the fact there are no door lock buttons on the inside. Other than that this car is a dream on gas. I get 29 mpg on the highway(I have the 6 speed). Oh and by the way the handling is not as bad as they make it out to be.