The GTO is officially dead
Thread Starter
Team Mustang Source
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I truly believe the NAME of this car cost half of its sales, but this also shows why trying to use an Aussie vehicle in the US(read Falcon) just doesn't work here.
Pontiac will drop the GTO this year
Pontiac will drop the GTO this year
GTR Member
Joined: May 27, 2004
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From: Manchester, England
Let's face it, this was on the cards the moment Holden and Vauxhall announced in August last year that they were stopping production on the Monaro. Also, let's also face facts, this proves GM's problems. Yet again, they are left without an affordable V8 RWD fun car.....
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Joined: February 19, 2005
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Torrence @ February 21, 2006, 1:41 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
That's no way for a muscle car to die, GM really got it wrong with this new GTO.
[/b][/quote]
...Too me,that was a nasty design gto,...it was a cancellation waiting to happen.Gm really needs to get their act together on designs (excluding Z06).
That's no way for a muscle car to die, GM really got it wrong with this new GTO.
[/b][/quote]
...Too me,that was a nasty design gto,...it was a cancellation waiting to happen.Gm really needs to get their act together on designs (excluding Z06).
AKA 1 BULLITT------------ Legacy TMS Member
Joined: January 29, 2004
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From: U S A
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rofl2.gif[/img]
A blast from the past from Mr. GTO himself
BTW, wakerider017 got canned too.
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrinjester.gif[/img]
A blast from the past from Mr. GTO himself
BTW, wakerider017 got canned too.
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrinjester.gif[/img]
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
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From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kevinb120 @ February 21, 2006, 10:49 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I truly believe the NAME of this car cost half of its sales, but this also shows why trying to use an Aussie vehicle in the US(read Falcon) just doesn't work here.
Pontiac will drop the GTO this year
[/b][/quote]
The Aussie part had nothing to do with it. The thing was fugly and in no way captured the original spirit of the Pontiac GTO.
There's no surprises here. The Monaro was getting axed anyway and GM hardly needs two RWD performance coupes in addition to the Corvette. This will simply pave the way for the Camaro.
On the other hand, after GM's Wellburn made it clear that they would be keeping all their brands and all the inherent redundancy within their lines, and after Wagoner's recent "jokes" about GM's demise (joke's on you, pal), I suspect this mastodon is dead already.
I wonder if the captain of the Titanic was uttering flippant remarks as the great ship sank around him.
From Autoblog:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Could there be some dissension among the General’s troops?
Apparently GM’s best selling and strongest brand, Chevrolet, has been having issues with its plastic clad sibling, Saturn, for years. Chevrolet dealers complain on the resources “wasted†on Saturn, which has been unprofitable for much of its sixteen year life. They state that many of the the marque's new vehicles such as the Outlook (SUV) and Aura (sedan) could easily wear Chevy badges. All of which continues to point to the fact that the General has yet to resolve its chronic problems with brand identities.
But analysts point out that Saturn’s advantages — high customer satisfaction and import conquests — are probably why GM is currently pouring millions of dollars into the brand. Also, as GM learned from Oldsmobile, discontinuing a brand does not necessarily free up resources. However, given that as Wagoner and friends have essentially moved Saturn into the brandspace occupied by the defunct marque, it continues to beg the question: how will Saturn succeed where Olds failed?[/b][/quote]
So in closing, if they can't figure this one out, it's time for them to go away.
I truly believe the NAME of this car cost half of its sales, but this also shows why trying to use an Aussie vehicle in the US(read Falcon) just doesn't work here.
Pontiac will drop the GTO this year
[/b][/quote]
The Aussie part had nothing to do with it. The thing was fugly and in no way captured the original spirit of the Pontiac GTO.
There's no surprises here. The Monaro was getting axed anyway and GM hardly needs two RWD performance coupes in addition to the Corvette. This will simply pave the way for the Camaro.
On the other hand, after GM's Wellburn made it clear that they would be keeping all their brands and all the inherent redundancy within their lines, and after Wagoner's recent "jokes" about GM's demise (joke's on you, pal), I suspect this mastodon is dead already.
I wonder if the captain of the Titanic was uttering flippant remarks as the great ship sank around him.
From Autoblog:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Could there be some dissension among the General’s troops?
Apparently GM’s best selling and strongest brand, Chevrolet, has been having issues with its plastic clad sibling, Saturn, for years. Chevrolet dealers complain on the resources “wasted†on Saturn, which has been unprofitable for much of its sixteen year life. They state that many of the the marque's new vehicles such as the Outlook (SUV) and Aura (sedan) could easily wear Chevy badges. All of which continues to point to the fact that the General has yet to resolve its chronic problems with brand identities.
But analysts point out that Saturn’s advantages — high customer satisfaction and import conquests — are probably why GM is currently pouring millions of dollars into the brand. Also, as GM learned from Oldsmobile, discontinuing a brand does not necessarily free up resources. However, given that as Wagoner and friends have essentially moved Saturn into the brandspace occupied by the defunct marque, it continues to beg the question: how will Saturn succeed where Olds failed?[/b][/quote]
So in closing, if they can't figure this one out, it's time for them to go away.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: September 7, 2004
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That's too bad!!! For what it was, in terms of performance and quality, it was a nice car, but to rebadge it as an icon of the muscle car era and not have the style to captivate the American public like the Mustang did, just proves to GM that you can't just drop in a hot vette motor into a car and hope that it'll do well. Therefore, I think the writing was on the wall a long time ago, so its not really that big of a surprise...at least to me.
Thread Starter
Team Mustang Source
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BC_Shelby @ February 21, 2006, 6:26 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
The Aussie part had nothing to do with it. The thing was fugly and in no way captured the original spirit of the Pontiac GTO.
[/b][/quote]
The Austrailian part has a lot to do with it-With the higher costs of buiding it and bringing it here, it has about $7000 extra's worth.
As for the car, if it was called a Pontiac GTP-R or simply the Pontiac Monaro, they would of sold many more and nobody would of complained about it. The simple misnaming of it doomed it from the start.
It was actually a very decent GT car even for the price point it was sold at, they just tapped the wrong expectations. The Charger suffers from this albeit a little less-if it were called the Magnum it would be selling even better. If you do not have a linear prodution line through changes(like the T-bird), and it is not the exact same 'essence' of the original when its re-released, then DON'T attempt herritage only by name. The guy who named it should be immediately fired.
The Aussie part had nothing to do with it. The thing was fugly and in no way captured the original spirit of the Pontiac GTO.
[/b][/quote]
The Austrailian part has a lot to do with it-With the higher costs of buiding it and bringing it here, it has about $7000 extra's worth.
As for the car, if it was called a Pontiac GTP-R or simply the Pontiac Monaro, they would of sold many more and nobody would of complained about it. The simple misnaming of it doomed it from the start.
It was actually a very decent GT car even for the price point it was sold at, they just tapped the wrong expectations. The Charger suffers from this albeit a little less-if it were called the Magnum it would be selling even better. If you do not have a linear prodution line through changes(like the T-bird), and it is not the exact same 'essence' of the original when its re-released, then DON'T attempt herritage only by name. The guy who named it should be immediately fired.
Bullitt Member
Joined: January 30, 2004
Posts: 202
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From: Houston Texas
As a Pontiac owner I say good ridence. Car was heavy, boring, no flavor of a real GTO. Sure they brought back hood scoops and dual exhaust... too late. Won't believe it till I see it though, there's also talk of an all new model by 2009. But if they get rid of it there's room for a new firebird in pontiac's line up... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]
Bow Chica Bow Wow
TMS Staff
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From: Proudly in NJ...bite it FL
Actually the GTO/Monaro is a great car. yes it has boring styling..which would have been fixed if Pontiac had left the body alone but as a whole the car is a great vehicle. The car was a good performer and a real fun vehicle to drive and the interior was probably the best on any pontiac.
If GM had just left it called the monaro and left the body as is it was from Australia then the car would have flown off the shelves IMO.
If someon handed me the keys to a firechicken, mulletmobile and a Monaro..i'd say I'd be all over the monaro and hand back the keys to the other two.
If GM had just left it called the monaro and left the body as is it was from Australia then the car would have flown off the shelves IMO.
If someon handed me the keys to a firechicken, mulletmobile and a Monaro..i'd say I'd be all over the monaro and hand back the keys to the other two.
I Have Admin Envy
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I agree with others that the achillies heel of the GTO was the name and the price.
The styling was way too "jelly bean" to be called a GTO. While the look was clean, not unlike the early GTO's, it lacks any real character at all. Had the car had a little more of a boxy, "chiselled" appearance, it would deserve the name.
Hopefully Pontiac can do it right on the second time around, be it called a GTO or a Firebird. They have to differentiate it from the future Camaro. Keep the pontiac version upscale with higher-end options and features that won't be available on the blue-collar Camaro. HID's, NAV, etc.
The styling was way too "jelly bean" to be called a GTO. While the look was clean, not unlike the early GTO's, it lacks any real character at all. Had the car had a little more of a boxy, "chiselled" appearance, it would deserve the name.
Hopefully Pontiac can do it right on the second time around, be it called a GTO or a Firebird. They have to differentiate it from the future Camaro. Keep the pontiac version upscale with higher-end options and features that won't be available on the blue-collar Camaro. HID's, NAV, etc.
A real shame as I thought the GTO was, overall, an excellent though underappreciated car. Perhaps it would have been better marketed as a Le Mans or something to avoid being conflated with the preening peacock late ''60s GTOs, which, for better or worse, is what most people conceptualize as "the" GTO.
Sure, the styling was a bit dated (early/mid '90's) and subdued, but then, the original GTO's styling was quite subdued too. But otherwise, it was a very refined and powerfull GT (in the general sense) car, again, much as the original GTO was conceived. The interior was probably the best of any GM product, the drive train was very impressive and had an excellent suspension.
My hope is that, perhaps, GM will bring back the GTO on perhaps a slightly stretched Camaro platform as a slightly larger, more refined and upscale alternative to the Camaro, sort of a gentleman's performance coupe. That would better differentiate it than would a Camaro-clone Firebird. And the success of coupes and coupe like performace cars with the burgeoning post children baby boomers represents a real market.
Thus I hope GM is clever to differentiate the GTO's demise as one of specific execution rather than the invalidity of the market concept itself and brings it back.
Sure, the styling was a bit dated (early/mid '90's) and subdued, but then, the original GTO's styling was quite subdued too. But otherwise, it was a very refined and powerfull GT (in the general sense) car, again, much as the original GTO was conceived. The interior was probably the best of any GM product, the drive train was very impressive and had an excellent suspension.
My hope is that, perhaps, GM will bring back the GTO on perhaps a slightly stretched Camaro platform as a slightly larger, more refined and upscale alternative to the Camaro, sort of a gentleman's performance coupe. That would better differentiate it than would a Camaro-clone Firebird. And the success of coupes and coupe like performace cars with the burgeoning post children baby boomers represents a real market.
Thus I hope GM is clever to differentiate the GTO's demise as one of specific execution rather than the invalidity of the market concept itself and brings it back.
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Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
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From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kevinb120 @ February 21, 2006, 4:23 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
The Austrailian part has a lot to do with it-With the higher costs of buiding it and bringing it here, it has about $7000 extra's worth.
As for the car, if it was called a Pontiac GTP-R or simply the Pontiac Monaro, they would of sold many more and nobody would of complained about it. The simple misnaming of it doomed it from the start.
It was actually a very decent GT car even for the price point it was sold at, they just tapped the wrong expectations. The Charger suffers from this albeit a little less-if it were called the Magnum it would be selling even better. If you do not have a linear prodution line through changes(like the T-bird), and it is not the exact same 'essence' of the original when its re-released, then DON'T attempt herritage only by name. The guy who named it should be immediately fired.
[/b][/quote]
I don't think that car would have sold well, no matter what badge they hung on it. Calling it a GTO just exacerbated the problem.
The car just wasn't appealing to look at. It didn't even sell well in its Vauxhall guise in Europe, even though it was praised for overall performance.
The Austrailian part has a lot to do with it-With the higher costs of buiding it and bringing it here, it has about $7000 extra's worth.
As for the car, if it was called a Pontiac GTP-R or simply the Pontiac Monaro, they would of sold many more and nobody would of complained about it. The simple misnaming of it doomed it from the start.
It was actually a very decent GT car even for the price point it was sold at, they just tapped the wrong expectations. The Charger suffers from this albeit a little less-if it were called the Magnum it would be selling even better. If you do not have a linear prodution line through changes(like the T-bird), and it is not the exact same 'essence' of the original when its re-released, then DON'T attempt herritage only by name. The guy who named it should be immediately fired.
[/b][/quote]
I don't think that car would have sold well, no matter what badge they hung on it. Calling it a GTO just exacerbated the problem.
The car just wasn't appealing to look at. It didn't even sell well in its Vauxhall guise in Europe, even though it was praised for overall performance.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vyto2 @ February 22, 2006, 10:20 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
As a Pontiac owner I say good ridence. Car was heavy, boring, no flavor of a real GTO. Sure they brought back hood scoops and dual exhaust... too late. Won't believe it till I see it though, there's also talk of an all new model by 2009. But if they get rid of it there's room for a new firebird in pontiac's line up... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]
[/b][/quote]
i love f-bodies! i almost bought an 02 trans am ws6 instead of the stang. i love the look of them in black, it is one of the meanest looking cars, with the headlights up or down.
As a Pontiac owner I say good ridence. Car was heavy, boring, no flavor of a real GTO. Sure they brought back hood scoops and dual exhaust... too late. Won't believe it till I see it though, there's also talk of an all new model by 2009. But if they get rid of it there's room for a new firebird in pontiac's line up... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]
[/b][/quote]
i love f-bodies! i almost bought an 02 trans am ws6 instead of the stang. i love the look of them in black, it is one of the meanest looking cars, with the headlights up or down.
TMS Post # 1,000,000
Serbian Steamer
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From: Wisconsin / Serbia
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(official_style @ February 22, 2006, 2:56 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
i love f-bodies! i almost bought an 02 trans am ws6 instead of the stang. i love the look of them in black, it is one of the meanest looking cars, with the headlights up or down.
[/b][/quote]
D@mn right
i love f-bodies! i almost bought an 02 trans am ws6 instead of the stang. i love the look of them in black, it is one of the meanest looking cars, with the headlights up or down.
[/b][/quote]
D@mn right
