February 13, 2025
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO – Is It Worthy of the GTO Title?

Pontiac is responsible of revisionist background in the 2005 GTO revenue brochure. In the brochure, a timeline of important milestones in the 41 year historical past of the GTO is offered. The 1964 model the natural way leads off the timeline. Following all, this auto flagrantly violated GM’s anti-racing edict of 1957 and single handedly outlined an completely new group of cars. The 1966 GTO also earns point out as the to start with of the Ram-Air designs, followed by the 400 cubic inch 1967 and then the fabled GTO Judge in 1969. However, from 1970 until eventually the 2004 rebirth – the timeline is blank. It truly is as if Pontiac has excised all memory of the potent-but-porcine 1971-72 GTO or the underachieving Nova derived 1973 types. And, of study course there is zero point out of the puerile Grand-Am primarily based GTO principle that GM paraded all around the show circuit in the early nineties.

With the missteps that sullied the track record of the most well known icon in muscle automobile record, we can respect Pontiac’s selective corporate memory. They do on the other hand increase legitimate queries about the 2005 GTO. Is this automobile worthy of the GTO identify? Will the new GTO be remembered 20 many years that’s why as a single of the “fantastic types” or will its memory be the victim of a Stalinist purge from the history?

In our view, the 2005 GTO is the authentic short article – and in many ways a perfect modern-day interpretation of the famous 1964 GTO. We urge you to drive a single, since to push this car is to really like this vehicle.

We had the honor of driving an Impulse Blue 2005 GTO six velocity at Josephs Pontiac in Norwell, Massachusetts. Josephs has been marketing and servicing Pontiacs because 1928 and to this working day it is really an honored and beloved south shore landmark with some of the friendliest people you are probable to fulfill. This spouse and children understands Pontiac, and talk about basic and upcoming Pontiacs with evident passion. It is really a spot exactly where neighbors fall by to chat more than coffee and you might be just as most likely to see Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler halt in for a tank of gasoline. As opposed to the soulless automobile mega malls, Josephs Pontiac is a immediate hyperlink back again to a greater time – and no finer area exists to examination drive a famous Pontiac marque.

Let us begin with styling – arguably the most contentious problem surrounding the 2005 GTO. The vehicle journals have roundly criticized Pontiac for extremely conservative styling that belies the overall performance capabilities of the car or truck. We say the critics are idiots – or at the least fully ignorant of the first GTO design and style philosophy. The 1964-67 GTO was Under no circumstances about visible flash. John DeLorean and Jim Wangers begun with the spare and unadorned Tempest system. They added a tasteful scooped hood, attractive wheelcovers and refined innovative badges on the grille, fender and decklid. You had to search intently to decide up the visible clues, and we’d wager a good many persons walked right by these early GTO’s with nary a second look. The GTO wasn’t marketed to drive-by way of posers. It was a significant general performance device that kept a low visible profile and did it’s talking at the stoplight and dragstrip.

Economic and political factors also performed a element in the GTOs first styling restraint. The market for the GTO was unsure, so to limit funds investments Pontiac desired to make due with the sleekest mid-sized coupe in the existing solution portfolio. Pontiac division chief John DeLorean also experienced to tread frivolously for concern of attracting unfavorable awareness from the horsepower-phobic GM Government crew. Whatsoever the reasons, the 1964-67 GTO stands as 1 of the most tasteful and timelessly styled muscle mass cars of the period.

The 2005 GTO is a ideal stylistic and economic interpretation of the primary. To preserve expenses lower and time to market quick, Pontiac raided it is really around the world pieces bin to come up with the most handsome rear push coupe in the steady, the Australian Holden Monaro. Its traces are tight, thoroughly clean and tasteful. The GTO badging is subtle as are the twin non-purposeful hood bulges. As in 1964, you have look for the subtle visual clues as to the accurate nature of this car or truck. Again in the working day, gearheads uncovered to promptly differentiate the heavyweights from the palookas. It rarely was about shiny paint, garish graphics and chrome wheels. The most significant cars have been generally the most visually unremarkable – and you realized to glimpse for the tiny “426 Hemi” fender emblems, or the metal wheels with DOT lawful Mickey Thompsons. You uncovered to pay attention for or the choppy idle of a 305 degree sound cam. And so it is with the 2005 GTO. You have bought to know what to appear for.

Automotive posers will not likely get it and they probable will not acknowledge it. And that is great with us. The 2005 GTO is for folks assured in their have skin – men and women who choose to kick ass and acquire names underneath the radar monitor. People today like you and me.

In 2005, Pontiac responded to styling criticisms by introducing the aforementioned hood scoops and an optional Activity Overall look Package. Our exam car or truck was luckily absent this possibility. We urge you to boycott the Sport Appearance package deal as it represents an ominous return of Pontiac’s worst styling excesses in the 1980s. The front fascia is blocky and ham-handed, as are the vestigial “gills” more than the quad outlet exhaust guidelines. Our concern is that if plenty of persons order this silly possibility, GM will interpret this as marketplace acceptance of flash about material and we will be back again to the days of the “Screaming Hen” and the Mustang Cobra II. Just say NO!

So what is the 2005 GTO like to generate? Mana infant, pure mana! The entire frame doorways open up and near with a strong thunk – and the higher window frame claims wind, rattle and leak evidence glass. The interior is rather simply GM’s finest. Ever. The entire instrument cluster is legible – rimmed in brushed nickel and shade keyed to the exterior paint. On our Impulse Blue tester this was an unpredicted and classy contact. The interior panels are concluded in matte gloss delicate touch padding – a spectacular advancement from GM’s classic glossy really hard plastic interior trimming. Inside room is superior, seat convenience exceptional and visible sightlines superior. About the only criticism we could levy at the inside is the steering wheel. When it feels very good in your hand, the middle pad seems like a huge goofy Shriners hat. This motor vehicle desires a steering wheel that superior emulates the magnificent GM rosewood wheels from the 1960s.

Twist the essential and the starter engages with a enjoyable and considerable whirr – like it’s spinning more than a high compression large block. The 6. LS2 V8 roars to lifetime and the exhaust notice is intoxicating. Deep, mellow and throaty with not a hint of tinniness. Blip the throttle and the the pipes pop and spit as the revs slide. Think significant block electricity boat and you would be near to the result. Close your eyes and it really is 1969 all around all over again!

Clutch takeup is clean and useless specific. With 400 Lb/ft of torque (SAE net!!) the GTO methods off cleanly and crisply with small driveline lash. The 6 pace Tremec trans shifts quickly, with just the right volume of mechanical notchiness to remind you what is happening on the other close of the lever. An particularly wonderful touch is the slight shifter vibration you really feel whilst accelerating challenging in 3rd equipment. Anyone who’s ever rowed a Muncie M22, Ford Toploader or MoPar A833 by means of a Hurst shifter understands that feeling. There’s a era of motorists lifted on cable shifted, rubber insulated transaxles that have no clue what this feels like!

The experience is firm and specific with no effect harshness about sharp bumps. The steering is satisfyingly sharp with fantastic transform in and great road really feel. The GTO tracks straight and accurate with little dartiness on rough pavement. There are no squeaks and rattles and the GTO exudes a hefty solidity and stiffness reminiscent of the Porsche 928. This is a car or truck you could effortlessly reside with on a day-to-day foundation – similarly adept at ferrying Grandma to Bingo as ripping up the back streets.

The GTO LS2 helps make a true 400 horsepower. In pre-1972 SAE gross scores the range is probably close to 470 BHP at the flywheel. Compression is a stratospheric 10.9 and the light-weight valvetrain, economical cylinder head port design and 90mm throttle body make this motor a sleek, torquey and rev pleased screamer. Assume about that for a instant. 400 horsepower for $33,000 – or about $82.50 per pony. And, you can provider it at any of thousands of GM outlets nationwide for pocket change. And it gets 25 MPG per the EPA highway cycle. Specified the monumental strides in GM merchandise top quality in the past decade, it is really a sensible expectation that the GTO will demand only program routine maintenance in the training course of prudent, conscientious possession.

The 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo manufactured 400 horsepower and stickered for about $120,000 ($300 for each). The 2000 BMW M5 made 400 horses and stickered at about $80,000 ($200 per). And the sticker price of these Teutonic supercars was just the minimum amount ante. Think $200 oil variations, $1,000 schedule servicing expenses and you get strategy. These usually are not cars and trucks for you and me. These are vehicles for the have confidence in fund children you realized and hated in faculty. The GTO is a vehicle for normal people, just like in 1964.

This car or truck flat cranks – and the LS2 pulls cleanly in each and every gear from idle to the 6,500 redline. The LS2 actually arrives alive at above 3,000 RPM, and when you stand on the pedal in initially or second you ought to have the wheel pointing straight ahead – since the tires are likely to split unfastened. Underneath additional gentle throttle inputs the GTO accelerates with no histrionics – just a liquid, seemingly limitless hurry to the upper restrictions of the speedometer. Modern-day motor administration makes sure that there are no flat spots in the gas and spark shipping and delivery. Feel well tuned LS-6 Chevelle and you are going to be in the low-stop ballpark of just how effortlessly the GTO accelerates. The shifter is immediate with very well-defined gates and shift effort correct for a supercar. The exhaust notice is heavenly, but no so loud as to cause your wife to shrink in her seat from embarrassment.

This is a very significant performance car or truck, and we might be surprised if the GTO wasn’t fantastic for a sub-5 second sprint to 60. The quarter mile instances should to be all-around 13.30 at 108 MPH. These are large figures, and vastly outstanding to ANY inventory GTO from the earlier – together with the fabled 1969-70 Ram-Air IV. It can be just a matter of time right before firms like Lingenfelter start off advertising supercharger kits and stroker LS2 motors – so if stock isn’t really quickly adequate the times of 500 HP GTOs are not able to be significantly off.

So, what is the conclusion? We consider that the 2005 GTO is for genuine and in most strategies a accurate religious successor to the initial. The styling is handsome, interior outstanding and the driving knowledge is at the same time at ease and thrilling. This is NOT a car for the “bling bling” crowd who are living to be viewed and endlessly chase the acceptance of their peer group. It’s a motor vehicle for self self-assured general performance enthusiasts who benefit compound in excess of model. It is a motor vehicle for GTO people today.

We want this automobile to realize success simply because it will presage the long-lasting return of this kind of vehicles not only by GM but Ford and Daimler-Chrysler. We urge you to generate it – because you can expect to probable obtain it!