New GTO commercial

[warpigg]

just saw it on tv...
interesting how they are using rear wheel drive to market a car.

[Revhead]

not too long ago rear-wheel drive was bad....now it's a novelty

[Hot Rod To Hell]

If you guys haven't had the opportunity to check one of those out in person, DO IT!!! Those little cars are RAD! I would love to buy one, but it's a little out of my price range right now... plus, rumor has it that in '05 they're putting the 405 horse LS-6 in 'em! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif I also heard from an anonymous source that there is a "JUDGE" package in the works, and it WON'T just be graphics and a spoiler!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[warpigg]

i wanted to, the new model auto show is in town. i couldn't find one when i went last night. i did see the new 'stang, the PT 'vert, and (still my fav of new cars) the marauder!

[Anderson]

[ QUOTE ]
not too long ago rear-wheel drive was bad....now it's a novelty

[/ QUOTE ]

My girlfriend was talking about how her moms Jeep was rear wheel drive and how it was bad. I told her my car was RWD and she had no idea. WTF???

Edit: Response to Mai Ki Ki's pics:

I wonder how much people are going to pay to get ADM (Australian Domestic Market) front ends on their cars!? Like the ricer boys and their JDM Integras and Sylvias (?) ?

[Mai Ki-Ki]

OT!

Designed and Built Here in Australia!

Here's our TOP of the line GTS version.

[Mai Ki-Ki]

..

[Deyomatic]

Let me guess...I haven't seen the commercial yet, but I'm guessing it has pics of REAL GTO's with some classic rock music in the background.
I used to be a Chevy guy, but GM has been disappointing me too much lately to get excited about this car- for now anyway.

[warpigg]

no, it is just the new one, on a static stage with "the big voice guy" saying a few words about it. then it burns out with its way out crazy rear wheel drive...

[Kaucher]

The perception of FWD internationally is that FWD = Cheap. So more and more American car companies will be introducing RWD cars in their high end cars.

Cadillac which used to be exclusively FWD, now has the the CTS and the Evoke which are RWD, with rumors of more to come.

Getting rid of FWD can't happen fast enough as far as I'm concern. It's down right unAmerican to burn the front tires. KK

[littledeucecoupe427]

I read somewhere that the big 3 realized what a huge mistake FWD was and that by 2008 90% of all domestics will be swiched back to RWD

[Fastsporty]

While, personaly I prefer RWD, There is a place for FWD. ie: any place it snows, I know I feel better when people like my mom have FWD in the snow. Cause she sure as shit can't drive a RWD in the snow. Its funny, she drives a FWD lexus 300, and she thinks lexus 'cheapened' the new 300's by making them RWD.
FS

[autocol]

anyone interested can visit the australian company that builds the car maiki posted...

HSV (http://www.hsv.com.au)

[Iceberg]

It is cool from a performance standpoint, but pretty bland looking. It's just another jellybean rolling down the road, and it's an import to boot! I do think that it's just the beginning of good things to come from Detroit. Has anyone seen the pictures of the new Hemi powered Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300? Man, I think they look like squished trucks from the front. I think the designer went to the same school as the guy(s) that designed those really ugly Pontiac & Buick small vans.

[zman]

Damn it if they are gonna bring a Holden bring the AWD version, we're still getting shorted here. I dig RWD but AWD kicks ass, you could smoke some Suburooos with that thing.

As for FWD being better in snow, sorry but that's a marketing falicy. They want you to believe that. The biggest problem with FWD in snow is when you do slide out you have no recourse. IF FWD was better in those or any conditions they wouldn't be the slowest cars in the Rally series...

[SamIyam]

That car kicks ass.

And they run a 13.50 ET... which is good enough to blow the doors off of 90% of the quote "Traditional" hot rods... which makes it doubly cool in my book... and rear wheel drive! That puts it over the top!

When they re-badge it into a Chevy Chevelle, I'll buy one.
Sam.

[Django]

[ QUOTE ]
When they re-badge it into a Chevy Chevelle, I'll buy one.
Sam.

[/ QUOTE ]

That can't be far behind if the GTO does well. Then the chevelle and the Malibu will be two seperate cars. God knows the Malibu now is a disgrace to the name, IMO!

[FrameDragger]

I have to say I am not really down with having the GTO Name on something you can very easily confuse for a Grand Am... Couldn't they have done something different with the grill??? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I have a lot of respect for Lutz, but I think he missed the styling mark on this one.

M-

[warpigg]

[ QUOTE ]
I have to say I am not really down with having the GTO Name on something you can very easily confuse for a Grand Am...

[/ QUOTE ]
that's what makes it a "classic" pontiac. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://autohobbypage.com/show/00/ark/ark381.jpg
http://autohobbypage.com/show/00/hal/hal092.jpg

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I have to say I am not really down with having the GTO Name on something you can very easily confuse for a Grand Am... Couldn't they have done something different with the grill??? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I have a lot of respect for Lutz, but I think he missed the styling mark on this one.

M-

[/ QUOTE ]
I was thinking more like a last century's Lumina, but I also would like to see something original looking for the GTO. I'm envisioning a melding of the hard edge styleing of the current Cadillac sports car raked into the coke-bottle profile of the '66-'67 GTO, with the louvered tail lights and wire mesh grill and the single centered hood scoop.
And don't EVER think it'll work with four doors!

[Fraz]

Not to get off topic too badly, but why are car manufacturers touting old designs like RWD and turning headlights as revolutionary new stuff? GTO commercial of course, and then there's the new Lexus SUV thing with the turning headlights to allow you to see around corners. From the sounds of the commercials, you'd think this stuff was invented by them just this morning.

[Kustm52]

And as far as the people they are targeting the ads to know, it was invented this morning....we tend to forget that not everyone shares our collective sense of automotive history...

Brian

[Kaucher]

God knows the Malibu now is a disgrace to the name, IMO!

[/ QUOTE ]

As former Chevelle owner I can't aggree with that statement more. With the exception of the Vette and their trucks Chevy's line up is a disgrace to the bowtie in which it represents. KK

[Jester]

I am truely sorry but I can't get interested in late model rides. Its not that I can't respect the work a engineer puts into his/her work but damn it all looks the same.

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
just saw it on tv...
interesting how they are using rear wheel drive to market a car.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought it was hillarious when VW started marketing FWD after so many years of "engine over the rear wheels where it belongs for traction."
The only traction ads that make sense are the Subaru and Audi all wheel drive ones.

[Munson]

I don't think the US version will be as badass as the ones MaiKi-Ki is used to seeing... http://theofficial.v8supercar.bigpond.com/

I love watching the Ausie's banging those cars together!!

j

[SamIyam]

[ QUOTE ]
I am truely sorry but I can't get interested in late model rides. Its not that I can't respect the work a engineer puts into his/her work but damn it all looks the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's been that way since the 40's and 50's...
ever look at a '55 Pontiac and a '55 Chevy next to each other? Just a grill and tail light change... and then a '55 Ford and a '55 Chevy? To the untrained eye, they look like the same car. It even gets worse when you look at cars from the late 20's and early 30's...
Sam.

[hatch]

I'm gonna buy a new GTO...are they over three thousand dollars?????

[james]

Stick on a couple stickers and a wing and the yellow one looks like any old ricer to me.

[Hot Rod To Hell]

[ QUOTE ]
Stick on a couple stickers and a wing and the yellow one looks like any old ricer to me.


[/ QUOTE ]
Maybe, but it's a healthy V8 powered, RWD ricer!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (if you put it next to anything else in the pontiac line, it doesn't look all that out of place though)

[AnimalAin]

Looks didn't sell the original, and the looks won't make or break this one. If it is a good value for the money, and can suck the headlights out of those damn Hondas, they will have the "rep" and sell. I think it is about time.

[FrameDragger]

The Holden has a much more attractive grill... This is the only picture I could pull off of the Pontiac Site...

[Tinbender]

A GTO without twin hood scoops is like a T bird without fins. You know both got drawn, whoever makes the final decisions on these things has no balls.
Makes no real difference to me, It'll be a cold day in hell when I drop 30, or 40, or 50 grand for the poor quality crap the "big three" are still trying to pass off. I saw this car, and all the rest at the new car show a few weeks ago. I was less than impressed with any of them.

[54_Nailhead]

How can anybody not be excited about a 350 horse, manual trans, rear wheel drive car? Maybe GM didn't get it "right" with the styling for the new GTO, but they did re-work Holden's car in 18 months to make it meet saftey requirements here. Give them a little time to tweak the styling and the platform to make it better. Look what Chevy is doing with the Vette, it's only getting better with age. The days of insane factory horsepower are back.

[Tinbender]

[ QUOTE ]
How can anybody not be excited about a 350 horse, manual trans, rear wheel drive car?

[/ QUOTE ]

Your right about HP comming back. I'm all for that. I just spent too much time working on that crap (body shop) To me that car is just an over priced Grand Am. Calling it a GTO just dosen't sit right with me. Maybe I'm just old and cranky.

[Hot Rod To Hell]

[ QUOTE ]
To me that car is just an over priced Grand Am

[/ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm just young and dumb, but I bet I'd be just as excited about a 350 horse RWD 6 speed Grand Am. I couldn't give 2 shits less what it's called!

[JamesG]

I think the idea is great to bring back the GTO, but I would have made it look like something other than a Chevy Cavalier.

I guess I should have waited a little longer before selling mine...... http://ultimategto.com/pow/pow0321a.jpg

By the way, that GTO is how I was able to buy my delivery.

[Revhead]

Nice Goat 1low. I have a '67 too, but it is in the "needs work" category. As for the new GTO, It's a step in the right direction. RWD, Fast, V8, and available 6spd. It may not be the best muscle car look, or the most HP, or AWD, but if it had to meet those standards it would have never made it past the showcar stage. One step at a time..maybe GM will get back on track

[tommybartlett]

you australians have the right idea, seriously.

[1LOWCHIEF]

all I can say is wow!! Its about damn time these car manufacturers are startin to bringing back the old namesakes with some real horsepower... Chevy was doin OK some years back re-inventing the Impala SS badge... but that was shortlived.

As far as the car looking like "everything" else on the road today... I say GREAT. That is the PERFECT sleeper!! With a few upgrades like headers, computer chip, intake, maybe some mild porting of the heads.. you should be able to hit 400 (more or less) horsepower that is reliable and streetable, and looks like a normal Grand Am or whatever. ha, great. Next time your at a light next to the punk senior in High School driving his rice rocket... give him the middle finger and smoke his ass to the next light!
He will have no clue what just owned him... works for me!

[Brootal]

[ QUOTE ]
Damn it if they are gonna bring a Holden bring the AWD version, we're still getting shorted here. I dig RWD but AWD kicks ass, you could smoke some Suburooos with that thing.


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bet on that happening in this lifetime. The transfer case is on the LHS, which is of course the Aussie passenger side and it's a pretty tight squeeze as is. There sure as shit ain't no way they're going to fit steering gear down there too. Sorry...

The 400 horse (or 300kW as they're known down here) have a Callaway tweaked engine. It will be interesting to see how that works out. i.e. whether the motors will get tweaked in the US, sent half way around the world only to be sent back again. The poor things will get dizzy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Boones]

Mai Ki Ki.... you could probably import those Aussie front sheet metal and make some money, your GTS version is much more pleasing to the eye then the US...

Been talking to FlamedAbone about going for a test drive. Was going to have him pull up next to me in his A at a stop light and with the sales guy with me hit the throttle hard when the light turned green , see just how fast it ran (compared to his poncho powered A. maybe a little stop light action

[roadstar]

I have to go along with the styling being too similar to the Grand Am and Grand Prix line. THey have then sitting on the lot here in town and I find myself looking to see if they are two doors to tell what they are.

I do like the fact that the auto makers are wanting to bring back a true feeling hi performance car. I have heard they are fun to drive and are actually kind of fast.
Hopefully some Judge like styling add on pieces will set them apart.

Now if they would only sell them for about $16 grand I'd go get me one http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[JamesG]

Nice GTO Rev, you got something there. GTO's are worth there weigth in gold right now. I seriously wish that I would have just hungon to mine and built a little shit box of some kind to tool around in. The GTO just was'nt me. I bought it because I got got it for nothing and new I could put it on eGay and double my money, which I did! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif