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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Milestone - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By WESB - June 18 - 10:00 amThe car is muscular, and a blast to drive. I have the 6-speed. Shifting is smooth and fun. There is so much torque. It feels like you are bubbling down the highway with lots more push if you want or need it. My 6 year old daughter thinks its cool. The 4 year old always wants to take the GTO whenever we go out. Priceless!
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The everyday practicle performance car - 2005 Pontiac GTO
By Fraser Semple - June 15 - 7:43 pmGreat vehicle, extremely comfortable to drive, 25mpg averaged on 300 mile trip and ran 13.00 seconds quarter mile.
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The GTO that could - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By TrueBlueGTO - June 7 - 10:00 amI feel the new GTO is incredible. Yes, the new GTO marketing doesnt hold a candle to those of the 60s. True, its the first GTO w/o a Hurst shifter and hood scoop. But have the naysayers driven this thing? Apparently not. It goes like no factory GTO before it has and has more features than Bonnevilles (minus OnStar, moonroof, and heated seats). Standard. More would have embraced it had dealers not been greedy w/$5000 premiums. Yes, I long for trunk space. I have had a few oddball glitches occur, but overall I love it. Nothing bites my backside more than people who gripe about things they havent even taken a moment to firsthand experience. Before you base an opinion on it, drive it.
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Good car! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By beef - June 4 - 12:10 amSo far so good; I usually get 20-21 mpg in mixed driving. Handles good; great acceleration; decent braking; plenty of room
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The GTO has finally here !!!! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By GTO - May 11 - 2:00 amGood Car, delivers 100% and more, great engine and manual transmission package, excellent interiors - got confused with the exterior - Plain looking but clean,not impressed with the jelly been design. GM keep the good work and brings us few more effordable cars with Power in the future.
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pontiac man - 2006 Pontiac GTO
By Larry Lee - May 10 - 4:56 amI love driving this car. The pure power of that LS2 is amazing. I have been a pontiac man my whole life. I have owned a 66 GTO, 71 GTO, 74 GTO and a number of Trans Ams including a 2002 Firehawk. My 06 Goat has neck snapping power that is a joy to drive. The interior is the best of any pontiacs Ive owned. I believe the exterior could be improved even though the sleeper look at times is beneficial. I hope they bring the goat back. I did have one problem which I learned about on other reviews. The problem with the struts. When I read there was problems I went out and checked my struts. Sure enough the strut on the right side had blowen. I took back to dealer and they fixed it.
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exterior needs improvement - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By TRANS AM MAN 2 - May 6 - 10:00 aminside of car is hot,although exterior need needs a lot of improvement,,it should shout out ""GTO"" like the TRANSAM RAMAIR WS6 does.
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Love mine. - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By Jason - May 5 - 11:43 pmI have loved mine since I have purchased it. Wish it had the 05-06 Ram Air hood and dual exhaust but other than that I love it. I have replaced the box air filter with a K & N cold air intake. Removed the stock exhaust and replaced it with a Corsa exhaust and replaced the stock headers with a set of Edelbrock and love it. Are there cars out there faster? Sure, but there are not to many and a lot of those have some form of power adder. If you purchase one be prepared to have Mustangs, Chargers, and Challengers want to see what you got. You can show them or do what I do, let em go, because they are not even worth the gas.
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The best sport car ever - 2004 Pontiac GTO
By Mike - April 29 - 12:43 amI love the gto and the car is just sweet. I love the power and exterior and interior design.
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Plain Jane. NOT!!! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
By Vinnie C. - April 24 - 5:20 pmIve owned Pontiacs, real Pontiacs, my 1st was a 69 gp. Had a lot of fun in that car at 18 yrs old. Now at 37 yrs old Im having more fun driving than ever before. The look might be plain Jane but the performance is not. Besides the original gto was an ordinary tempest with a 389 engine, not flashy just powerful. Ive driven lots of "performance" cars & this car performs with the best of them all for a $33k out the door price. I miss those old Pontiacs but I wouldnt trade this new one for one of them. They never got 24 mpg hwy with the a/c on at 75 mph, & not to many of them didnt overheat with the a/c on. Dont forget the 400 hp 6.0 that sends the car down the track at about 13.1sec. Awesome car!
