Pontiac GTO Did GM Screw it up?

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.

 

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

 

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'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.

 

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.

 

Now I really dislike it.

 

very boring design for 33k.
But Ferrari 550/575 is more boring for 200+k

 

Well now you're just talking crazy talk!

 

I mean 550/575 is much better than GTO
But for 200+k its a very boring design

 

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

 

Well at least its a 2 door, remember the comeback of the nova 4 door import, ugh

 

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.