Ok here is the GTO side by side with the Holden it is based on. Any body else think they didn't get the idea on styling and made it look like a rental Grand Am? Image Unavailable, Please Login
well scince holden is not sold in amerca and it's part of GM they had it put with a poniac badge on it.
Not only the styling - but you also can't get a sunroof, stability system, or navigation on it. That's unacceptable for a car priced in the mid $30k's. I think GM really dropped the ball on this one. They brought back a historic name and then put subpar performance in a boring package. This is the same sin Ford did with the T-bird and with the Marauder. I give it 6 months before it has several thousand in rebates slapped on it.
the problem is the Holden is a solid car Good looking and very well planted. For $33k there is a lot out there that dose not look like that Grand Am rental.
Definately a Grand Am look alike. I heard that next year they will give it a more aggressive hood but GM always starts with a good design waters it down then adds more & more but by the time they get it right no one is interested anymore. like the Fiero V6 GT which was a great car but far too late or the Caddy Allante which got almost enough power too late
Right on the money on those I keep looking at this thing and thinking of the mistakes they made with the Caddie / Opel Catarra Damn shame they can't seem to learn from their mistakes. I know it is important to keep a "Look" for brand recognition but if that look is ugly aren't they just shooting themselves in the foot?
Well said regarding the look alike comments and not enough performance/options/uniqueness. The concepts that were being drawn up with the stacked headlights looked better than the rental car look alike they came out with. Its de-tuned from the Holden too isn't it? As much of a sin it would be to some enthusiasts, they could have re-released the GTO with the same body and interior design and would be able to sell all of them. There's SO much brand recognition with the Pontiac GTO, my friend can't take his out and be left alone without hearing how much it is for sale, getting harassed by police, gawkers who drive a little too closely, and it all primer gray with new mechanicals and some new interior bits. Ferrari is to Italy as the Pontiac GTO is to the USA. Its that simple. GM really f'ed up on this one. Sunny
Well, I saw a yellow GTO at the Detroit show, and it was actually kinda reminisce of a 360 on steroids. It really didn't look that bad. If you put a Stradale stripe on it with some glass packs, who knows? Dale
it does look like a rental. the ponticrap (which I refer to them these days) front end, but no side mouldings make me think it is a neon. GM really goof'ed up on this one. If it sells... it will be through more annoying commercials, i.e. - "got change for a dollar?"
I love how people say its crap when they have not even driven one, ugh. Its a good looking car in person minus all the clutter. And its certainly not detuned from holden, it was beefed up from holden. The only thing changed is the nose and some badges. A GTO started out as a tempest back then, same principal now.
I am asking for input on the styling. It looks like all the other pontiac stuff out there to my eye and the other pontiac stuff IS crap so making the leap is not hard. Yes I have driven the rest of the stuff and have one of these coming in January to see but the exterior styling is somewhat underwhelming now isn't it
I'm not sure why people think the monaro is a great looking car.I find it bland as hell myself.I think the car is a performance value for someone who wants four seats.The interior is quite nice for GM standards.I never noticed that it looked that much like a grand am and it does now that i think about it.But if you want eye catching looks that's what the vette's for.I'm not a fan of the original gto's styling though either.
Pontiac and GM in general is getting much better quality wise. This GTO is by far quality wise unlike any other Pontiac. As i can see though with your opinion, this stigma is going to be hard to shake and take awhile.
You are right they are getting much better in almost everything but the fact that they have been so far out of step and off the mark for so long is the thing I have had the CTS XLR and the new truck much better but Malibu is awful TRucks Suv' are getting there but the car devision of the Biggest Car company in the world is only now coming up to the 1999-2000 range of its competition. Had to get better or just stop trying
Sticking to the original question, i.e. "styling", I would say that GM dropped the ball (yet again). Interesting how you guys see a Grand Am -when I first looked at the picture, I thought it was a Cavalier Z24...but GM being GM, everyone is rummaging around in the same parts bin anyway. When I think "GTO", I think about a clearly hot-rodded Pontiac, both in styling and performance. I feel that the "Judge" version was a bit over the top (it's all relative of course), but the point remains, that "GTO" = impossible to ignore. To me, this seems to just be another case of GM bringing out emasculated versions of cars with a lot of name recognition (e.g. Impala, Malibu). Dodge did the same thing with those awful Dusters and Chargers in the mid-80s, so GM can't be singled out. Here a profile pic I found. Very nondescript design. The car may be fine, but it shouldn't be called a GTO unless it has crazy power and crazy looks.
Thats true... the GTO was an option after all. However, there is where the resemblance ends. Do you revive a 4 decade old automotive icon by making it look like something else? Chris Bangle at least designs cars that you can tell are BMWs. People will see the GTO badge and go, huh? Did the S-Type, XK8, Ford GT, T-Bird, and slew of other revival cars look very similar or share nothing more in common than 4 wheels and tires to their historical predecessors? I don't care if it has a thousand horsepower under the hood, AWD, and weighs exactly 2000 lbs with fluids. Do you want people to remember the GTO, Tempest, or Le Mans or the Grand Am coupe look alike with an options package and body kit? Sunny
Joe, you better get one now because they will be way backordered by the time you make to the showroom with fresh drool on your chin. I just turned in my deposit for one and will have mine in a few months. What are you waiting for, do it man! NOT!! Sunny
Wasn't the "Nova" just a Corolla? Or is my memory playing tricks on me? Compare that to the Nova SS! Sunny - save your money these "GTO"s will be available for all the weekend warriors via Hertz, Enterpise, Avis etc. The dealerships won't be able to give these things away.