http://www.fast-autos.net/pontiac/05pontiacgto.html

Still looks like a sunfire with a cheap makeover. G.M has spent a fortune trying to convince the public that the car is cool. I know it runs well but it looks like an eight year old car.

I agree, it needs some better styling. I do think 600Hp makes it look different.
http://www.motorsporttech.com/print/...rochure01.html

At SEMA, I ran into the marketing manager for the GTO. I told him I thought the car needed more GTO cues, without going overly retro. I could tell he had heard this over and over, and didn't take too kindly to my comments. He pointed to new hood scoops, dual exhausts, and rocker panel. It was clear, though, they GM was going to rely on the GTO logo to get the message across, because GTO was plastered all over the car. It still had that horrible Grand Am grille. It seems like GM was so intent of making sure the car didn't show its Holden Australian heritage, and make sure it looked like a Pontiac, that they forgot it was suppose to look like a GTO.

Then I asked him why the hood scoops only dumped air into the engine compartment (that produces front end lift), rather than into the engine. He didn't know. It is times like this, that I am glad I don't work for GM anymore. My career's not on the line when I speak my mind anymore.

Michael

I like any strong running machine. The GTO is certainly that.
But I've seen a few in the flesh and they do NOTHING for me visually.

Much better but still not there yet in My opinion. Any custom car shop could turn out something modern and yet still evoke the famous cues. I had two 69 Goats back in the day, great great cars.

I don't know a single person who is into muscle cars that would touch the new goat.

My 96 WS6 Ram Air Formula Firebird is also a great car (only 56 other cars like it) but then Pontiac uglied up the styling with awful flapper lights and then dropped the line completely.

Did you know my car destroyed BMW for five years in a row in the IMSA street stock road race challenge? No? Well no one else did either because Pontiac never trumpted this impressive achievement. Odd, odd, odd.

Lucky thing GM still makes great trucks and super Vettes!

I saw one get trashed by a Neon SRT-4 and a Modded G-35 Coupe at the same time. (the G-35 was modded by me) Pretty soon GMs fastest cars will be seeing the taillights of my newest Project Stratus. I wish I could use my powers for good.

A quick note. the GTO we trashed was not an 05 but I don't think it would have mattered.

Roby

Whoever does / approves the styling at Pontiac / Buick should be fired IMO, not only for this car but for most of their lines. They make some of the ugliest cars out there.

I haven't driven the new GTO yet (probably won't either) but I heard the suspension / handling on this car is crap. Put together with parts / leftover designs from the GM Austrialian plant. Basicallly a straight line shooter like their old muscle cars from 30 years ago. If I want that I would rather buy an old GTO / 442 from the 60's or early 70's.

They had such a great opportunity to make an impact on the competition and failed miserably...this is why a lot of enthusiasts have to turn to Europe for their cars.

Pulled up to one the other day...he looked at me, shook his head and waved me on. Got the impression he'd been smoked before !

I was watching a TV show once and it was all about GM new design engineers. They sent out the group of newbies to a car show to see what real old muscle cars looked like. I think that also is the problem. You have people working at GM that never raced a car or even went to a friday night drag race and seenwhat people really want.