up date kit fot 04 GTO

[Norm reynolds]

I realy like the up date GM is missing the boat I whould think they would sell alot more GTOs that dont look like a
cavelier

[PxTx]

I think the GTO needs more HP as part of the update since the less expensive Japanese cars (read STI and EVO) are outperformaing them in both 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Not sure about the rest of the stats but with AWD I fear they may be on top of everything.

Is GM relying too much on the name to sell the cars? I have a tough time shelling out that kind of money for a less capable car.

Remember the 80's when a less expensive Buick was beating the Corvette in performance? Which do you think held its value better, the 87 Corvette or an 87 Grand National? At least back then it was all kept in the GM family.

[matt murphy]

GM is having Holden build as many GTO's as Holden can. That number is around 16,000 units a year. GM knows that is not enough to supply the demand. GM is probably holding back a bit on its advertisement because they know that the first two years of production are already sold out, to people that have deposits on them.

GM's new way of releasing vehicles is . . . get the first year out there and then bump the HP or add some new body style features or car line over the next few years. The Vette was a good example when the C5 came out as well as the new C6. First year offer the car, next year or two depending on sales, offer the upgraded HP model, etc. The GTO will have cool GM restyling in the next few years with better performance, but putting all their eggs in the first years package will not leave much for future models.

We have the two largest Pontiac Dealers in the Southeast here in Atlanta, and both in the top 10 in the country, that are only getting 10 GTO's the first year and a few more the next year. They have more deposits, than they have cars coming in, over the next 4 years.

GM is holding their cards on this car . . . Just watch . . . [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Chevy454]

The main problem I see from the current GTOs is the weight. From what I understand, they have some skid plates or something of some type on the underneath of the car because the Holden cars have to cope with the rough gravel roads of Australia. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but the car seems strangely portly.

But with that said, motor trend did run a mid 13 at just shy of 105mph, which means the LS-1 is definitely up to snuff.

[PxTx]

I heard automotive press man McElroy elude to the fact that the short supply of the GTO was due to the automotive union worker reps fighting over the numbers of cars GM was having built over seas.

As for waiting for GM to release more HP in years to come...They may do it buy I do not beleive it will be cheap. There is good competition making cars that do 0-60 in 4.6 for around $30,000. Not too long ago they used to make a Camaro but since the Mustang cost less and was able to offer competetive performance it outsold the Camaro. Now where did that leave GM?

Don't get me wrong, I love our GM cars. I just find it harder to defend my loyalty to their product with todays competitive market. Next month Nissan is releasing their full size truck with more standard HP and displacement (I am assuming torque being up too with a 4 cam V8) than their American counterpart. Luckily for the market they have stayed away from the 3/4 tons and bigger tucks.

Off the showroom floor the STI does 12.9 with less than pro drivers.

[55chevy]

[ QUOTE ]

GM is holding their cards on this car . . . Just watch . . . [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Guess we'll all just have to hold out for the "cool one" then huh?

[PxTx]

Just saw the new Hot Rod mag and they compared the STI to a Supercharged Mustang Cobra! The domestic car makers better start paying attention.

The Jap car out accelerated, out handled, faster 1/4 mile, faster road coarse and cost a couple of grand less.

To para-phrase the magazine, if the 390 hp blown Mustand were to find itself next to an STI at a red light it would loose.

I guess I am kinda beating a dead horse, but I want the old days of the pony cars to return. For now, I will just dream of what kind of response GM is capable of.

[olredalert]

------I live 40 miles from Detroit.I feel Im relatively well read in the automotive arena,although I may pass up a Jap car article or two(or twenty),but I have to ask.What is an ST1?.....Never heard of it........Bill S

[PxTx]

STI is made by Subaru. It is based on their compact Impreza car. The Impreza has a performance option WRX which gives the base 2.0 liter engine turbo treatment and suspention as well. Thge STI is the WRX Impreza car with the larger Legacy (Subaru's bigger car) 2.5 liter engine with the turbo treatment etc. the STI engine is more than just a stock 2.5 with a turbo but ou get the idea.

Subaru has an even larger engine, a H6 3.0 liter which may find its way into a later STI so they are far from their performance limit. The STI is also a 4 door car which 4 adults can comfortably get in and out of as well as ride for several hours, unlike the Mustang.

The way I see it, the Impreza is like a first gen Camaro. You have the base model (6 cyl or mild small block), the WRX (like an SS396 Camaro), and you have the STI (like a 427 Camaro). I've seen the STI sell around 30. Hot rod lists it for 29, the guy in my neighborhood bought his for almost 32. It is still safe to say that it could be had for around 30. What else can offer this level of performance? It ain't gonna be a GTO, anyone hear of a savior in the works for GM?

[bbdon]

I was over at the Pontiac web site today, it sounds like they are counting on the exhaust sound to sell the car. That might just work, it sounds very good.