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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  STILL TO NEW - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By ITS RED - December 3 - 2:00 am

  SPEEDING TICKET (21 MILES OVER) 81 IN A 60 NOT EVEN 24 HOURS OLD. I DIDNT REALIZE I WAS GOING THAT FAST. I WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN I FIRST SAW IT, WAS EXPECTING TO SEE MORE OF A GTO LOOK, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE THE HOOD SCOOPS ON IT LIKE THE NEW GRAND AM. FOR SOME REASON THE WINDOWS FOG UP VERY QUICK WHEN ITS RAINING OUT,AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT ARENT VERY BRIGHT. 1ST GTO IN OKLAHOMA.

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  Lemon - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By cyclops24 - June 26 - 1:50 am

  I love my GTO. Unfortunately I got a lemon. Leaking head gasket, fuel injector wiring harness failure, numerous exhaust leaks and my biggest issue, paint flaws through and etching. I have been without my car for a total of 52 days in less than one years time. Currently in the process of lemon law.

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  Garbage - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By sixatbat1 - June 13 - 9:01 pm

  Bought used with 65,000 miles. 6 speed manual. It was a great performer and very fun to drive, but had a plethora of problems. After I got rid of my Ford Ranger 4x4 (daily driver) this became my daily. Whenever I would accelerate and bring the car to about 4300 rpm, all electronics would cut off and the headlights would get brighter, sometimes causing the bulbs to blow. Had an airbag light go on for no reason and it seemed to fix itself. Rode like crap, handling was mediocre, and build quality was less than spectacular. But it sure sounded good. I blew mustangs away all the time. It can also lay down rubber like nobodys business too. And fuel milage was surprisingly good. Almost 30 MPG hwy.

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  Could be better - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOBoy - July 8 - 6:03 pm

  Definitely could be better. The GTO name did not bring out the best in this car, it is more of a tag glued on. Performance is not the best, the exterior has that "Grand Am" feel. On the plus side, the fuel economy is pretty good, though it could be better for the lack of performance.

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  Leaking Struts - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By jcoyle - November 22 - 2:40 am

  I purchased this car new on 6-30, noticed it leaking on 7-1. Both front struts blown. Cannot drive car and still waiting on parts as of 8-8. Fluid leaked onto front brake pads and rotors making dangerous to drive. GM knew this was a problem with all 06s and continues to sell them without fixing this first. Pontiac has been a nightmare to deal with. Refuses to extend warranty to cover time Ive been without car. Do a search for 06 gto leaking struts and read others stories. Terrible customer service.