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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  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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  Great even as a Daily Driver - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By John - July 20 - 4:43 pm

  I drive my GTO daily when Im in town. Unfortunately the car sits at the local airport 3-4 days per week. The car is perfect for me as a daily driver. It has great power, its unique in that the GTO is not so plentiful out there that people see them everywhere so they notice it when they do see one, it handles well for the muscle car it is and its comfortable even for me at 64" tall.

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  Fun to drive...But quality issues - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By CARL V - June 19 - 12:10 pm

  Currently at 20k miles-loved the car for the first 15k, but going downhill. Electrical issues, transmission is giving off spinning noise in neutral, u- joint not sounding healthy, front end vibrations, coolant warning light coming on, automatic lighting (int/ext) has failed. Grateful to have leased instaed of bought.

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  Love it , but needs better fuel economy - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Big Red - May 14 - 6:46 am

  The GTO has more power than Ill ever need, and with a partial sports appearence package this one beautiful auto. Im 99% in love with the GTO with the 1% being poor gas mileage. The EPA rates it at 17 city and 25 highway, but Ive been averaging 11 all-around. I have a 6 speed and have driving very moderately as I am still breaking the engine.

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  Life with a Goat... - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Steve - May 6 - 8:03 pm

  Got my GTO (6-spd) in June 2005 and enjoy it. Its a comfortable hiway car with a decent ride and maybe the best bucket seats Ive found in an American car. Hiway gas mileage is pretty good (25 mpg for me) for a big coupe with a 6.0L V8. In town, its a hog (12-14 mpg for me), and the ride is more brittle on rough pavement or in City driving. Acceleration is phenomenal, and braking is good for such a heavy car. Handling is acceptable given that this is a 3,800 pd coupe, not a tossabout roadster. Mechanically, the "weakest link" is an awful shifter for the 6- spd, gated way too wide and with a rubbery feel. Conclusion: Go fast in comfort, dont worry too much about gas mileage, & have fun!

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  Pontiac GTO - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Matt Jackson - April 29 - 3:36 am

  The gto drives unbelieveably smooth and firm for as much horsepower it has and for being a sportscar. It drives similar to my mothers cadillac sts 06. The response is awesome, and i like how they made it a 2-door not like the dodge charger which is a 4- door and i dont like it.

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  Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Putch - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Great fun to drive! Im taking a killing at the gas pump but hey, I knew that when I bought it. Get it up around 75mph and this Goat really begs for more. 100mph comes up very quick. Pontiacs got a winner! Just go down to your local dealer, bite the bullit, and buy one.

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  2006 GTOs - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOs - December 30 - 9:13 pm

  The outside of the GTO is UGLY! It is to plain. If you see one going down the road no one turns their head and say ooo there is a GTO because the are not that recognizeable. They look to much like a Mazda 6, or and other sport sudan. Unlike the new Dodge Charger or Ford Mustang everyone goes ooo look at that. It is because they are very distinctive. There are no other cars that look like them. On a good note the interior and performance are perfect.

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  NICE RIDE - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By DARKITEC - December 3 - 2:00 am

  My only complaint is the manual trans skip shift feature. Its not the easiest thing to get used to Ive been shifting 1,3,5 for years. Im hoping that someone dosent run into the back of me while Im struggeling to find a usable gear.