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For 10K-12K, I would look at a different vehicle. The engine is amazing but as many have said, the shifter paired with it doesn't do the engine justice. The looks/interior are very sub-par as most Pontiacs are.
Why not look at an '05+ Mustang GT for comparable money? The engine may not be as big but the car has a much better look/feel to it than the GTO does.
1) the interior is sub-par? compared to what? certainly not the Mustang you're suggesting. the GTO's interior has to be one of the nicest GM has ever offered.
2) as far as being 'like other Pontiacs', the only thing it shares is the arrowhead logos, the kidney grilles (admittedly not my favorite) and the parent company. Other than that, it's completely different car than anything Pontiac offers.
3) get a 05 Mustang? why, so he can lose to the 'under-powered' 04 GTOs and get royally spanked by the 05-06s? or so he can have the same car that you see dozens of times a day rather than something a little more unique?
4) the shifter can be changed. while i agree the stock one is junk, any car guy should be able to look past that in a hearbeat knowing that the aftermarket has undoubtedly come up with a fix.
i had a 2004. loved it, and i will have another some day. it's a grand touring car. sporty enough to be fun, comfortable enough to ride for hours, and low-key enough to stay under the radar. my biggest gripe was all the trunk space lost to the gas tank being moved to meet US crash standards. other nuisances included a somewhat limited aftermarket (though there is plenty if you're willing to import from Australia), limited wheel selection, and some difficulty getting the rear to hook up on a hard launch (like at a drag strip).
A friend has one, an automatic 6.0 He drove both (2004) and was overall way more impressed by the 2006 he bought. Its a nice car. The only thing i could even say that i dont like about it is that parts for it have to come from AU, he was quoteed $750 or so for a front fender. (PLus $125 for the badge). Dealers dont stock body parts but can get them. Im afraid to drive his, as im pretty sure it will make me want one!
Yeah I dunno, if you want the GTO then get it...but those cars aren't particularly well liked or praised. Basically they're thought of as being a bit of a turd if you will, basically explaining why they only lasted for a handfull of years before Pontiac pulled the plug on the GTO's comeback.
I'd go for a Mustang as well, far better potential for resale, easily accessible parts and repairs, and it's just a much better car overall. It's not that the GTO is terrible, Pontiac just dropped the ball with it due to the usual GM problems of that era dealing with underwhelming performance, questionable styling, cheap plastic parts, etc. Again...I'd get it in an instant if it was what I 100% wanted, but overall there's much better options available.
The GTO(Monaro actually) was only planned for three or so years in total.
The car to me lacked visual appeal but went well,400hp is nothing to sneeze at.It was also a little pudgy....but for some reason that happens to a lot of cars when sold to the American public.
As to the Mustang of similar years being better,well...it was slower.
1) the interior is sub-par? compared to what? certainly not the Mustang you're suggesting. the GTO's interior has to be one of the nicest GM has ever offered.
2) as far as being 'like other Pontiacs', the only thing it shares is the arrowhead logos, the kidney grilles (admittedly not my favorite) and the parent company. Other than that, it's completely different car than anything Pontiac offers.
3) get a 05 Mustang? why, so he can lose to the 'under-powered' 04 GTOs and get royally spanked by the 05-06s? or so he can have the same car that you see dozens of times a day rather than something a little more unique?
4) the shifter can be changed. while i agree the stock one is junk, any car guy should be able to look past that in a hearbeat knowing that the aftermarket has undoubtedly come up with a fix.
The Monaro ended up working out well for GM Australia(Holden). It was one of those concepts never intended for production and then local interest got them going. Developmental costs were on a budget and they only spent $20 million AUS$ developing to production. I've got some photos of one of the 20 pre production models that I took back in Australia. It was never intended initially for production for the USA. But Pontiac was desperate, so there you have it.
For the price it's a pretty competent car and while a lot of people think the styling is bland, I am just fine with it.
Holden raced this car in the now defunct Nations Cup for production cars in Australia from 2002-2004 except it used a 427 engine.
so because it bears a faint resemblence to a car you consider junk, it therefore has all the attrubutes of that vehicle?
Mike
I think for the price, there are much better vehicles out there! I'm sure it's fast but the looks of the vehicle alone would hinder me from buying one. No thank you, I'll stick to my 'Vette!
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