goodbye GTO

[al]

Other than the Solstice, the GTO was the only Pontiac worth a damn for the longest time. Pontiac is an even bigger failure than I previously thought. When they axe GOOD cars, it's a big deal.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/21/gm-officially-dumps-the-pontiac-gto/

Due to slower-than-expected sales and the expense of recertifying the vehicle for 2007 emissions and safety standards, GM has told dealers that this year will be the last for the Pontiac GTO, with the last vehicles hitting US shores in September. Having sold 13,500 units in '04 and 11,600 last year, the GTO never quite lived up to expectations.

In this case, I feel a bit sorry for GM. It did exactly what its fans wanted it to - bring over one of the magnificent rear-wheel-drive Holden products from Australia. Pontiac never quite figured out the marketing, though; it was too expensive and sophisticated for the muscle-car crowd, too GM-ish to attract buyers away from other $35K coupes, and of course its bland styling was glaringly apparent to anyone who ever laid eyes on an '05 Mustang. Let's not forget the nasty price-gouging that occurred early on, either.

The power was there (400 HP - I mean, come on - that's serious), the interior was terrific, the chassis was excellent - had this product launched in the late 90s when the buzz about Holden began, I think it could have made a major impact. Launching a full lineup including a sedan and maybe a droptop would have certainly helped as well, and maybe this was more of a Chevrolet all along. Feel free to do a bit of Monday-morning quarterbacking in the comments.

[omgodzilla]

GTFO GTO for real.

[MoToHeAd125]

yet another reason why american car companies choke fat sloppy donkey dick.

[chevyman85]

bullshit about the emissions standards, it's about the sales! Besides this paves the way for the new camaro. I think it wont be a top seller either, but it will be way better than GTO sales.:roflmao:

[YellowJacketTT6]

SURPRISE!

[omgodzilla]

SURPRISE!

:eek3: no wai

[whiteintegra281]

to be honest. Im sure some others thought the same way i did.

THE DAMN GTO LOOKS LIKE A GRAND AM!!!!!

i mean when i saw it for the first time i was look ehhhh. its the grand am restyled with a stronger motor.

i mean to each its own. but thats one of my main reason i hated the newer version of the gto. cause it looks like a GA.

im sorry but im venting a lil, and i just could'nt hold it in.

[timeforsleeep]

GTO w/ holden monaro front bumper conversion > *

I absolutely love this car, the only thing I hate about it is the stupid pontiac kidney grille.

No big deal on getting discontinued; it just means I can step up to a big hulking 400hp australian 2+2 coupe from my big fat 260hp Japanese 2+2 tuna boat for a good price.

[YellowJacketTT6]

:eek3: no wai
http://smiliesftw.com/!/yarly2.gif

[Maxima96]

well i guess out with the old and in with the new:hsugh:

[Rosky]

:hsugh: i actually like them kinda wanted one myself meh Goat ftl i guess

[Dorian]

to be honest. Im sure some others thought the same way i did.

THE DAMN GTO LOOKS LIKE A GRAND AM!!!!!

i mean when i saw it for the first time i was look ehhhh. its the grand am restyled with a stronger motor.

i mean to each its own. but thats one of my main reason i hated the newer version of the gto. cause it looks like a GA.

im sorry but im venting a lil, and i just could'nt hold it in.
You're opinion fucking sucks. If you knew anything about the car you wouln't be saying stupid shit like this.

And as for GM discontinuing the GTO... :bawling: Seriously.

[accordvtec]

that sucks

[OneArmedScissor]

GM FAILING MISERABLY? OH MY GOD! WHAT A HUGE SURPRISE!

on a side note, the GTO was an awesome car. Our weak dollar is a major contributing factor to its demise, as well as anemic sales. It simply wasn't priced into a good market and pontiac has a crappy brand image especially in that price range.

The people they aimed the GTO at and marketed it towards had no interest in it and would prefer a corvette.

Poor marketing accounted for the sales.

[ormand]

GTO w/ holden monaro front bumper conversion > *

I absolutely love this car, the only thing I hate about it is the stupid pontiac kidney grille.

No big deal on getting discontinued; it just means I can step up to a big hulking 400hp australian 2+2 coupe from my big fat 260hp Japanese 2+2 tuna boat for a good price.

Please do not refer to the Acura CL as a "260hp Japanese 2+2 tuna boat" :o

[ormand]

bullshit about the emissions standards, it's about the sales! Besides this paves the way for the new camaro. I think it wont be a top seller either, but it will be way better than GTO sales.:roflmao:

:wrd:

[Crazyfool999]

:( GTO with gravana kit in my avitar.... they could have done better, honestly i like the car, its a fun car to drive and for its size and weight can handle pretty well, ohh well GM just never really puished the car, i can honestly say that i never saw an ad for the vehicle on TV EVER!!!! so i dont know they jsut arent trying hard enough...

[yourmom25]

gto was a great car. normally i don't like domestics but this was a keeper. too bad GM is banking on its SUV and ordinary "point A to point B" demographic.

[al]

You're opinion fucking sucks. If you knew anything about the car you wouln't be saying stupid shit like this.

And as for GM discontinuing the GTO... :bawling: Seriously.

Seriously, commence holdage.

[super cirrus]

You're opinion fucking sucks. If you knew anything about the car you wouln't be saying stupid shit like this.

And as for GM discontinuing the GTO... :bawling: Seriously.

Agreed.:(

[solrac dmc]

oh well, didn't like the GTO anyway

[01eclipse]

and yet another classic slaughtered by pontiac......oh well im still waiting on the trans am to come back out.....hopefully

[SecretAgent]

i wonder what rhys will be driving now, since I'm sure GM won't be sponsoring a car they're not selling anymore....

[-=E36=-]

I didnt like the GTo at all.

[al]

i wonder what rhys will be driving now, since I'm sure GM won't be sponsoring a car they're not selling anymore....

Pontiac Solstice? Or Rhys can import a real Holden

[SecretAgent]

Pontiac Solstice? Or Rhys can import a real Holden


Solstice??? fkn no way. and why would he import the holden when i could just keep the GTO?? but either way, he wouldn't have factory sponsorship to pay for it all. so both would be pointless.

[VP Stylee]

to be honest. Im sure some others thought the same way i did.

THE DAMN GTO LOOKS LIKE A GRAND AM!!!!!

i mean when i saw it for the first time i was look ehhhh. its the grand am restyled with a stronger motor.

i mean to each its own. but thats one of my main reason i hated the newer version of the gto. cause it looks like a GA.

im sorry but im venting a lil, and i just could'nt hold it in.
werd, grand am SS

[DA_LsVtAk]

its all bush's fault

[SecretAgent]

werd, grand am SS

except for the fact that it's rwd and the grand am is fwd, and they share absolutely zero parts with eachother.

[John]

Solstice??? fkn no way. and why would he import the holden when i could just keep the GTO?? but either way, he wouldn't have factory sponsorship to pay for it all. so both would be pointless.

It is a Solstice except Rhys said he won't be building it this time, GM will be. Then again this was back when I talked to him in December @ D1GP. Things could certainly change.

[LeXusRaCiN]

The GTO was a great car. :(

[CheeseFrog]

The GTO died over 30 years ago...

[Sry0fcr]

The chassis and powertrain were all this car had going for it. GM marketed it poorly (badge engineering what?) and priced it wrong. And yes the styling was weak like 80% of what they produce domestically. But then again no one really brags about Australian inspired stlying cues... This car was never designed to carry on the GTO moniker which is why it failed to do so.

[YellowJacketTT6]

and yet another classic slaughtered by pontiac......oh well im still waiting on the trans am to come back out.....hopefully
what the hell was "classic" about it, besides the name? The current Impala isn't a "classic" just because it has a deer on the side.


The "GTO" has been around for years in Australia and Europe as the Holden Monaro and Vauxhal.. something.. cant remember the Vauxhal nameplate for it





The GTO died over 30 years ago...


Amen

[al]

Pontiac Solstice? Or Rhys can import a real Holden
Solstice??? fkn no way. and why would he import the holden when i could just keep the GTO?? but either way, he wouldn't have factory sponsorship to pay for it all. so both would be pointless.

Yep, the Solstice is what I heard. About the Holden, at least it will be a current model rather than a defunct one.

[conecrazy]

GM should start making CD-Rs and TV's to keep themselves afloat. look at what mitsubishi does. admist all their broken cars, the other industry keeps them afloat. hahah

seriously, i don't see much life in the solstice either. i wouldn't be surprised if it gets scrapped in the next year. GM is run by morons. instead of offering something that is "the best bang for the buck," they stick to making half-assed cars at a premium.

[that H3 kid]

The GTO was a great car. :(

[Mycah Leonhart]

WTF?! - Wasn't GM gonna have a new Series of GTO that was more agressive in 2007/2008?!, damn this kinda sucks but then again I won't miss it - I can't belive the killed off the Firebird for this thing........then again since the Camaro is coming back, how much you wanna bet the Firebird will be back as well?

[OneArmedScissor]

GM should start making CD-Rs and TV's to keep themselves afloat. look at what mitsubishi does. admist all their broken cars, the other industry keeps them afloat. hahah

seriously, i don't see much life in the solstice either. i wouldn't be surprised if it gets scrapped in the next year. GM is run by morons. instead of offering something that is "the best bang for the buck," they stick to making half-assed cars at a premium.

gm will die.

Ford may step up to the plate, however,

the domestic manufacturer I've seen really stepping their lineup is Dodge.
I know they've had some electrical nightmares (my friend's Ram is a complete disaster as are a few other friends' unmentionable dodges) but at least their designs are work ing.

[jhonda04]

the gto sucked anyway

[jatcesar]

i liked it:hsugh:

[turboteg]

gm will die.

Ford may step up to the plate, however,

the domestic manufacturer I've seen really stepping their lineup is Dodge.
I know they've had some electrical nightmares (my friend's Ram is a complete disaster as are a few other friends' unmentionable dodges) but at least their designs are work ing.

yeah, Daimler is rolling out some slick designs, but I just worry about their build quality.

[transistor281]

http://smiliesftw.com/!/yarly2.gif
yo man i have a question, where the hell is that owl guy from??? why is he so popular?

[Mook]

good riddance...
piece of GM POO!
all GM is Poo and should follow their GTO to their DOOM!!!

[YellowJacketTT6]

yo man i have a question, where the hell is that owl guy from??? why is he so popular?
www.orlyowl.com

[dailong06]

another decent car gone....nice job GM....o well

[_relapsd.]

the gto was fuckin ugly

[TITO]

http://smiliesftw.com/!/yarly2.gif
:roflmao:

[defvayne]

not a surprise.

hWo
honda world order

[DyNo_MyTe]

:wrd: .

[1989 DX R]

As a die-hard Honduh fanboi, the GTO was the only GM product besides the Cadillac CTS-V, the Corvette, and the Solstice/Sky that I could see myself paying for.

I loved the boring styling. Means less tickets because all the officer sees is a boring old GM. Better go find some ricers to harrass.

[transistor281]

i still dont get who he is...or what he does...

[transistor281]

http://i1.tinypic.com/of7rqa.jpg

[al]

I loved the boring styling. Means less tickets because all the officer sees is a boring old GM. Better go find some ricers to harrass.

Seriously, I liked the GTO because it looked low key. What are people expecting, a shark-like car like the fucking Saturns? Gay.

[whiteintegra281]

dont get me wrong. the gto is a nice machine. but i was stating that the appearance of the car from my opinon(not yours) that it looks like a Grand am in a way. when i heard about the new gto. i was lookin for a new retro look of the older lookin gto.


i know the gto is a quick car in stock form.and yes the grand am and gto are different. but the appearance of it looks like grand am big brother.


so dont get me wrong about what the gto can do. i ran one in my forumla v8 bird and yes the gto was quick.

and just because the car is fast doesnt mean imma give it a 10 right outta the box. i mean look at the new eclipse. there fast for what they are. but to ME there exterior and whole body shape is ugly. more of the reason i wouldnt buy nor be intrested in one.


and thats prolly why alot of ppl didnt buy the gto.



also did anyone see that one video of the GTO vs. STI...i believe it was motor trend. it showed everything from drag racing...to autocross. they both were stock if that helps.


please link it. i wanna show a certain part to one of my friends. thanks in advance.

[AlmostFamous]

GM will drop GTO this year
February 21, 2006
By JOE GUY COLLIER

General Motors Corp. confirmed Tuesday it will quit making the Pontiac GTO high-performance vehicle this summer.

The last GTO, made at an Australian plant, is expected to roll off the lines in June and reach U.S. customers in July, said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson.

GM decided to stop production of the GTO because of new U.S. safety requirements, Hopson said. The GTO uses the same platform as the Australian Monaro, which has been discontinued.
As this platform is being phased out worldwide, it simply doesnt make financial sense to make those kind of investments, Hopson said.

The original GTO was an icon of the muscle-car era from 1964 to 1974.

The current GTO, revived in late 2003, boasted a 400-horspeower engine that hit home with car enthusiasts. GM sold 11,590 GTO's last year, according to Autodata Corp.

As the current GTO is phased out, Pontiac is exploring options for adding another high-performance, rear-wheel-drive vehicle to its portfolio but no decisions have been made about a replacement, Hopson said.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gone for Now
Pontiac to drop GTO after '06 model year
By JAMIE LAREAU | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
12:59 pm, February 21, 2006

DETROIT -- General Motors has told Pontiac dealers that it will discontinue the GTO coupe at the end of this model year. GM will make the last deliveries of the vehicle to dealers by the end of September, sources close to Pontiac say.

GM will produce 10,000 to 12,000 more GTOs before dropping the nameplate, one source close to the situation says. Last year, Pontiac sold 11,590 GTOs compared to 2004 when it sold 13,569. That's a 14.6 percent drop.

When Pontiac launched the GTO in 2003, it projected 18,000 annual sales. The vehicle was criticized for bland styling, and some fans of the original GTO complained that it lacked nostalgic styling cues.

A Pontiac spokesman confirms the GTO will be discontinued after the 2006 model year.

“There are some changes in the federal regulatory standards. One is an airbag deployment standard that would require some very expensive re-engineering of the car,” says Jim Hopson, Pontiac spokesman. “Since the architecture of this car is being phased out around the world it’s not economically feasible to continue this car.”

Pontiac will continue to build the GTO through the end of May, Hopson says. The last “boatload will hit the ground in June”, he adds.

The GTO first came to dealerships in December 2003 as a 2004 model, Hopson says.

The GTO is built on a rear-wheel drive architecture from GM's Holden division in Australia. The present model is going out of production as GM constructs the new Zeta RWD architecture, says the source.

There is no replacement coupe planned at this time and because of the strong Australian and weak U.S. dollar, the GTO had to be priced thousands over where GM originally wanted it -- in the mid-twenties, the source says. "It never did as much volume as we had hoped," the source says.

Pontiac is considering a replacement in the lineup for a RWD performance vehicle, but does not have anything to announce yet, Hopson says.

The GTO suggested retail price starts at $31,990, including shipping. One GM source says, "the 2005 and 2006 were pretty well sold out, and sales were especially strong in areas of GM weakness, like Southern California. It's a shame it has to go -- for now."


You guys have it all wrong. This shouldn't even be a surprised. GM has said from the get go this GTO would only be sold for 3 years as the platform would eventually be phased out. A new GTO will be back in '08-'09. If not a GTO, then a T/A or some other RWD LSx powered V8.

[MBGTO]

Makes the resale price of my car go up since it was only produced for 3 years. I read somewhere on the LS boards that they will NOT be bringing back the firebird-T/A. Imagine in 20 years when they bring back more retro styling of the 70's camaros and Firebirds.(not looking too good). I personally love my '05 M6, lots of fun lots of power. Its nice to buy an intake and gain 15-20 hp rather than just 5-7 that I was getting in my Spec V. No regrets in buying it.

[PissYellowGTi]

Makes the resale price of my car go up since it was only produced for 3 years. I read somewhere on the LS boards that they will NOT be bringing back the firebird-T/A. Imagine in 20 years when they bring back more retro styling of the 70's camaros and Firebirds.(not looking too good). I personally love my '05 M6, lots of fun lots of power. Its nice to buy an intake and gain 15-20 hp rather than just 5-7 that I was getting in my Spec V. No regrets in buying it.

Its hard to believe resale value would go up. Weren't they cutting deals on these recently just to get them off the lot? I hope it all works out in your favor though.

[MBGTO]

Its hard to believe resale value would go up. Weren't they cutting deals on these recently just to get them off the lot? I hope it all works out in your favor though.

Well yeah they are discounting them but they are no longer producing them. Look at De Loreans (not that my car is anything compared to it )

[PornItos]

such a nice car gone :(

[01eclipse]

the camaro will be back in 08-09 now the ta is still to be determined.....i o so hope they bring the ta back that would be so pimp

[emotiongear]

Let's have a GM meet

[PissYellowGTi]

Well yeah they are discounting them but they are no longer producing them. Look at De Loreans (not that my car is anything compared to it )

they just need to make a movie about your car time-traveling hah but yeah thats one reason I got my anniversary edition golf, they only made about 4000 and probly about a thousand of those are totaled by now. I remember the yellow anniv. T/A's that came out. I thought they were alright, I liked the reguler blue ones better though.

[al]

Let's have a GM meet

Can't, my Chevy broke down. Let's have a Toyota meet everyday.

[ofay]

I liked the simplistic styling of the gto

[SecretAgent]

Well yeah they are discounting them but they are no longer producing them. Look at De Loreans (not that my car is anything compared to it )
just because a car was produced for a limited time doesn't mean it's resale value will go up. hell, you can get a barely-used GTO for high teens. same price you can get a 02 RSX-S for. Not only does the car have to be limited production, but it also has to make an impact on the market, which the GTO didn't do.

[eN_2_Oh]

as much as i dislike domestics

i actually like the GTO for what it was, it had nice subtle styling and a monsterous powerplant, sounded nice, interior was awsome and comfy.

it was an A-OK car in my book.

[MBGTO]

they just need to make a movie about your car time-traveling hah but yeah thats one reason I got my anniversary edition golf, they only made about 4000 and probly about a thousand of those are totaled by now. I remember the yellow anniv. T/A's that came out. I thought they were alright, I liked the reguler blue ones better though.

I really don't plan on getting rid of this car so I don't expect my short term residual value to jump, it's a long term investment!

And yes I love the 30th ( I think) edition blue w/ annodized rims TA. Still gets me wet!