Greg,
If you have not driven one yet, go and do so. They are a little doggy off
the line. The LS2 probably corrects this, but I have not driven one yet. I
am going to throw a super charger on one of mine and see what I get from it.
The current power curve makes that 350hp at 5200 RPM, not too usable for
city driving.
I always like driving a manual. However, I bought our 2004 GTOs with
automatics. My concern is the other half. She is bad with a stick. Should we
take my car, and something happen to me if we are hiking around on a Olympus
photo shoot, I would want her to be able to drive it. Like all rules there
is an exception, my 69 Yenko Camaro is a manual, but that car never goes
anywhere far from home.
The current GM 4 year lease deal on the '04's makes it cheaper to lease one
and do the buyout at the end, than to get one financed. You should be able
to end up in the $27,000 area for an '04 even though the sticker is around
$34,000.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: <GMcGrath@xxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 9:13 AM
Subject: [OM] OT--new GTO?
>
> Since I know there are plenty of car aficionados on the list, I thought
I'd
> air out a decision process I'm working through. Any comments (other than
flames
> about making an OT post ;-) ) are welcome.
>
> It's about time for me to consider a new car, and I'm intrigued by the new
> GTO. I know all the comments about it not being a "real" musclecar in the
old
> vein, but I think it's got some things going for it. Pontiac dealers are
coming
> off their high price demands for the 2004s since sales have been soft. But
> there are some good things about the 2005 over the 2004: 400 hp LS-2 vs.
350 hp
> LS-1; different (and to me better) exterior styling: hood scoops, rear
fascia
> with the exhaust outlets on the corners instead of both together on the
side
> like the 2004.
>
> My biggest question for list members is for comments about living with a
> stick versus an automatics trans. I've never owned a manual, but there's a
big
> difference in highway mileage on the GTO and I've got this little voice in
the
> back of my head that says "Go hard core." I live on the MS Gulf Coast, so
I
> won't have to deal with snow/ice or really hilly/mountainous terrain.
Additional
> info: the car I'd be replacing is a '99 Grand Prix GTP (supercharged) and
I'm
> also considering another one of those. It offers a head-up display and
some
> other options not available on the GTO. I'll be going with a Pontiac
because 1) I
> have a great dealer near my home and office for service; 2) I like the
> overall Pontiac theme; 3) I want to buy an "American" car. I know the
basic car is
> built in Australia, but it's still a GM.
>
> I'd also be interested in hearing from list members from the southern
> hemisphere who have experience with the Holden that forms the basis for
the GTO.
>
> TIA,
> Greg
>
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