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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  the goat - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By busyduck - October 4 - 3:10 am

  i just bought one of these cars coming out of a toyota supra turbo to this is a different change but i think i like this one a lot more more refined and still has the import build on the vehicle with american muscle with both combined it doesnt get any better than this

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  Good car - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By bob22 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  very fast and is very fun to drive and form 0 to 60 is fast but can be faster

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  04 GTO experiences - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOfan - September 18 - 12:50 am

  While some dislike the body style as "bland", I found it to be exactly what I wanted - no fake fender vents, no exaggerated body lines. Since the car was only built in high-performance versions, there are no "Barbie-Doll" GTOs out there like the Mustang. If you see a GTO, you know its hot. You dont have to check for a medallion or emblem on the fender. And the "plain" appearance makes it less likely that anyone will be able to identify the car as they watch your taillights disappear over the horizon. :)

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  Jims Siver 6 speed GTO - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Jim - September 10 - 9:23 am

  I love my GTO. Ive owned it since 1/06 w/o any problems, never been back to the dealer. I like the styling. This is 2006 not 1966. The 2006 GTO can compete with the German and Japanese imports with interior & exterior styling,quality and price. What the imports dont have is an LS2 400/400 engine. No comparison. I looked at Mustangs but interior was too plasticy and a little tight. Im 64 200 and sit very compfortably in my GTO. I like having a unique car. Fords sells over 200,000 Mustangs/yr. Less than 15,000 GTOs /yr. Some people have complained about the GTOs styling but its 2006, not 1966. Mustangs retro look is good. But dont take anything away from the GTOs modern look.

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  Great Car to Drive with real muscle - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Old Motor Head - September 6 - 11:36 pm

  I bought this car in March and have enjoyed every minute of driving it since then. Rebates have dropped the price but I have no regrets. Everyone that sees the car compliments me on it. People have driven up to me to tell me how much they like the car and called out to me, beautiful car, while I was getting gas. The power is great. This takes me back to the feeling of the old muscle cars. Interior is well done. Once you get into the back seats they are as comfortable as the front. GM really did a great job on this car. What a kick it is to drive. I cant wait to go somewhere just so I can drive this car.

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  Sea ya ......in montna - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Cherlyn - September 6 - 11:26 pm

  I purchased my 2004 gto in 2009 I can say to date I have had know real problems with my gto other than getting pulled over by the cops just because Im in a car that can beet them standing still and I have gone threw a few sets of pro rated tires untell I learned to keep my foot out of it,witch is real hard to do I might add.I park my car in the winter usually,one year I had no choice I had to drive it and leave it to me it just so happened to have one of the worst winers in a decade in Montana and had to drive my gto in three feet of snow and ice I was stunned how well the gto did my gto has 89000 and I plan on having it forever I have owned many vehicle in my life and a few sports cars but the gto takes the cake.best car I have ever owned.

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  2005 gto - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By damyankee007 - August 20 - 12:30 am

  its hard to beleive this power horse is a family car . it has great comfort (my wife is 5ft. 7 and she sat in the back she said she had lots of leg room and was quite comfortable as for my son well he feel asleep in the back, me i feel like im sitting in my living room ) , styling great for long trips and very fast.i own one with the 6 speed and i love driving it . as for price you cannot beat it . i did a comparison with the ford mustang and the dodge charger and the gto came out on top. even gas milage it was out did them both evn with 400hp under the hood . until you drive one youlsee and feel the differance.you just can not beat it.

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  Orange GTO - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Kevin - August 14 - 3:30 pm

  Very nice ride which offers comfort and performance. Fun to drive and lots of second looks from car enthusiasts. Suspension is well tuned. Huge brakes are an advantage when you are thrusting 400 HP around. Style is good but could have been a little better when compared to some of the alternative vehicles but once you sit in this car and feel the thunder underneath and accessibility of controls you will be hooked. This car blows away my Z-28s and Formula Firebirds not to mention the Ford Mustangs encountered. Hope to see the GTO return. Early rumors indicate that it will be reproduced on the Australian Z body platform as will Camaro. GTO, fuel for the soul.

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  Better than you remember - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Cliff - August 8 - 8:00 am

  My last American car was a 1969 Corvette with a 435 h.p. 427 c.i.d. engine which I bought new. Lots of fun, but everything broke. Since then it has been mostly BMWs, VWs, Porsches etc.. GM made an offer though their GM credit card that I couldnt refuse, so I bought a 2004 GTO, 6-speed. This truely is a modern muscle car, but with no rattles and NO PROBLEMS! The car is quiet, but with just the right rumble of exhaust. It gets up and goes when you want, and excels on the open road with 22-24 mpg at 80 mph. Dont let the looks fool you, this car is better in every way than the 1964 tri-power GTO that I drove back in the good old days.

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  2005 GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By PR - August 8 - 6:46 am

  When looking at new car options I didnt know much about the GTO. I had guessed it was something akin to a Grand Am with a big engine dropped in. Upon test driving it was immediately clear that my preconceptions were completely wrong. More like a BMW 330 with a huge engine... No squeaks or rattles to speak of, tight fitting door and gaps, and of course neck-snapping performance (yes its fast!). The first car Ive ever loved - and you wont know it unless you drive one.