up date kit fot 04 GTO

[ssbrewskyaz]

I think we may be missing the point or points a little. Last GTO (last car called a GTO, I stand corrected) was a 1974 model. Looked like a Nova / Ventura kinda thing. Wasn't stellar in the performance department either. Given the opportunity to release or not release on the anniversary of the GTO departure, we opted to release. Things are gonna get better. While I agree that some nostalgic remnants of the past could have been nicely incorporated into the new Goat, the bottom line is, as a manufacturer, how much can you afford to put into a car that production numbers are less than say 40 - 50K per year. For example, the hiatus of the F body (Camaro / Firebird) isnít because we didnít want to build them any more, its economics. As a manufacturer you simply canít sustain the investment in a plant that builds 30K units a year. Trust me when I say this, there was a time not too long ago that the Corvette was begging for its life for the same reason.

Having said all that, and please, take it for what its worth, the point I wanted to make and have taken the usual long way around, is that weíre getting a rear wheel drive platform to work off of. In my opinion, this single feat merits a celebratory riot in down town Detroit similar to the ones they have when the Red Wings win the Stanley cup. If I had a dollar for every time Iíve sat in a meeting and asked ìwhen did we decide we werenít going to or couldnít build rear wheel drive cars anymoreî Iíd have enough money to Give Charley a run. The reality is, we now have a platform to at least work with. We have more than enough technology to make it go fast, but as the old saying goes; The only restriction to how fast you can go is regulated by how deep your pockets are. You want a GTO that is a fast or faster and handles as good as or better than a Corvette? Are you willing to pay the same price? In my opinion, the General doesnít think so either.

If you talk to the truck guys, they want a short box big block pickup. Itís not like we donít have the parts to build such a monster, however consider this. For every big block we build we need to build approximately two and a half four cylinder or equivalent vehicles to meet our CAF… requirements and stay in good graces with the Feds. And how many big block short box pickups are you gonna sell. Hey, Iím on your side but the answer is, you guessed it, not enough to keep a plant running. In the 80ís horsepower was what, 160 in a small block and 185 in a big block. Today weíve got 400+ in a small block car, 345 in a small block truck, 340 in a big block and 310 in a diesel> this isnít all bad.

Just a couple of other notes then Iíll shut up and get back to work;

GM owns a big piece of Subaru so it doesnít bother me if they do well. However, Iíd rather you bought a Chevrolet, Pontiac or similar traditional brand.

Corvette, Cadillac XLR (RWD on Corvette chassis) GTO, SSR (Hot Rod Pickup) It ainít over till the fat lady sings, and so far as I know, she isnít even warming up yet. Ö [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[PxTx]

Thanks Scott for freshening up the post. I am very familiar with the FTP/CAFE obstacle for producing lots of big blocks. I am simply concerned that the new GTO lacks the performance to allow it to stay, just as the one produced in 1974. Althought the plant producing them was still there in 75, the GTO was not.

Yes, GM owns enough of Fuji (Subaru's parent company) to pirate the Subaru technology and put it in other GM cars, i.e the Saab 9-5X. Why will they not use it in the Chevy line?

I'm not sure RWD is something to celebrate over!

The new pony cars are the mid sized AWD cars that pack a punch. Nissan is releasing the G35 with AWD. Will it be the beginning of Skyline heritage reaching our shores? Maybe.

Just as carburators have evolved into EFI (soon DFI) as the only civilized low emissions engine contols...drive lines have evolved to AWD as the best in handeling and contol.

Rather than sing the praised of AWD and how I feel it is a good idea to offer it, I would like to know what some of the positives of RWD or FWD people like?

The Malibu is supposed to have an AWD option. Could this be a hidden savior? Bring back the Malibu SS in a different config than the GTO. I bet the plant building this car in both FWD and AWD config could sustain the investment.

As for a car that is as fast as the Corvette, these aformentioned cars are certainly close for nearly half the price!

Again, I am a Chevy lover. I want to buy a 4 seater (prefer a 4 door) car that can run with these Imports AND is GM made. When will the General deliver the goods while being price competitive?

Paul T