Could either of these (or both) have saved the GTO?

[rohan]

Would any of you have bought either of these cars?  Would they have helped save the GTO?

[SVT666]

No.  More aggressive styling and a V6 option would have.  I'm considering a 2005 GTO for my next car, but I wouldn't have bought an El Camino or a vert.

[The Pirate]

Had it been in my price range (doubtful), I would have seriously looked at the ute.  Decent handling, V8 thrust, and a place for my bikes, it'd be perfect.

[Vinsanity]

No.  More aggressive styling and a V6 option would have.  I'm considering a 2005 GTO for my next car, but I wouldn't have bought an El Camino or a vert.

Although objectively not a bad idea, a V6 option on the GTO wouldn't have sat well with the outspoken group that already complained that it looks too boring to be called a GTO. A good compromise would have to sell it with a V6 anyways but call it a Tempest or Lemans instead.

That said, depending on the price, I'd have been very interested in a convertible. With a V8, of course.

[Onslaught]

Perhaps not calling it a GTO would have helped? Apparently GTO fans don't like good looking cars like the last one and want something that's no so good looking.

[SVT666]

Although objectively not a bad idea, a V6 option on the GTO wouldn't have sat well with the outspoken group that already complained that it looks too boring to be called a GTO. A good compromise would have to sell it with a V6 anyways but call it a Tempest or Lemans instead.

That said, depending on the price, I'd have been very interested in a convertible. With a V8, of course.

That's true, but the V6 would have been the volume model that kept it alive, like the V6 Mustang does for the GT.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I would've gotten the Ute. It would have been perfect for haulin my bike or for the rare times I need a truck to do "truck" things.

[S204STi]

I actually really like the GTO, esp after they restyled it a bit in 05.  The Ute is just too odd.

The G8 now... that's a nice looking car, whereas the GTO was just a bit dull.

[cozmik]

One of my best friends has a '05 GTO. Having some additional options would have helped. It was priced at a premium but it didn't have basic options you'd expect to see like heated seats, a sunroof, nav, or auto climate control. All things that were available in Aus. A V6 option with a lower price would have helped too. Again, something that was already developed and on the market in Australia.

Also, the stereo in them sucks, some people care about that. The "leather" on the seats is crap too. It feels like the stuff they put on school buses, but harder.

[TBR]

The styling is what killed the GTO. More options, more engines, and more bodystyles would have been nice, but in the end potential buyers just thought it was too bland.

[NomisR]

Nope, it's really too plain for what it is.  People who wants a fast 2 door car usually don't want a sleeper.  General public rather have a car that's all show and no go rather than all go and no show.  Vanilla doesn't cut it anymore in the coupe sector.

[cozmik]

The body lines did and do look pretty dated as well. It wasn't a particularly exciting design, but neither is the G8. It just was/is an old looking one. That couldn't have helped either.

[SVT666]

When the GTO first came out, you will all remember that I railed against it for it's bland styling.  It was the only thing I didn't like about it, and was what I said would kill it.  A lot of people disagreed with me, but I ended up being right after all.  Now, however, I'm considering one for my summer car (retiring the SVT to winter duty in a few years) for a few reasons.  The first being the 400 hp 6.0L engine that can be easily modified to much bigger numbers when the time comes to retire that car to weekends only, the second is the larger back seat then a Mustang has, the third being the "sleeper" styling, and the fourth is that nobody in Canada has one because it was never sold here.  The government has recently changed their bumper regulations and we can now import them.  

[SVT666]

The body lines did and do look pretty dated as well. It wasn't a particularly exciting design, but neither is the G8. It just was/is an old looking one. That couldn't have helped either.

I have seen exactly 2 G8's in the metal, and only one of those was on the road.  I really really liked what I saw, and despite it being auto only in the GT, I'm considering a used one to just outright replace the SVT in a few years.

[cozmik]

I have seen exactly 2 G8's in the metal, and only one of those was on the road.  I really really liked what I saw, and despite it being auto only in the GT, I'm considering a used one to just outright replace the SVT in a few years.

The G8 is handsome, but it's not "exciting" either. It's up to date though in its looks.

[TBR]

I personally really liked the styling, but considering the Mustang came out pretty much simultaneously it just couldn't compete from that perspective.

[2o6]

When the GTO first came out, you will all remember that I railed against it for it's bland styling.  It was the only thing I didn't like about it, and was what I said would kill it.  A lot of people disagreed with me, but I ended up being right after all.  Now, however, I'm considering one for my summer car (retiring the SVT to winter duty in a few years) for a few reasons.  The first being the 400 hp 6.0L engine that can be easily modified to much bigger numbers when the time comes to retire that car to weekends only, the second is the larger back seat then a Mustang has, the third being the "sleeper" styling, and the fourth is that nobody in Canada has one because it was never sold here.  The government has recently changed their bumper regulations and we can now import them.  

FYI, there's a guy who made a GTO work as his family car with two small children in tow at another forum. He recently bought a G8.

[SVT666]

FYI, there's a guy who made a GTO work as his family car with two small children in tow at another forum. He recently bought a G8.

Probably because the GTO wasn't good enough as a family vehicle.  I don't carry the kids around in my car enough to exclude two doors with big back seats.  Even when we go out as a family we always use my wife's car because my trunk isn't big enough for the stroller.  My son is also in a rear facing car seat right now, and neither my wife or I can get in the car with his car seat in the back seat.  When he turns 1, we can legally turn the seat around to be forward facing and the only problem will still be the stroller.

[Cookie Monster]

The convertible looks like it came straight out of the '90's.

[2o6]

The convertible looks like it came straight out of the '90's.

The convertible was never produced.

[Tave]

The Ute couldn't even save itself, let alone the GTO.

[the Teuton]

The Omega that the GTO was based on came out in for the 1994 model year in 1993.  The design had been around for 10 years in some form or another before it became our GTO.

[NomisR]

Probably because the GTO wasn't good enough as a family vehicle.  I don't carry the kids around in my car enough to exclude two doors with big back seats.  Even when we go out as a family we always use my wife's car because my trunk isn't big enough for the stroller.  My son is also in a rear facing car seat right now, and neither my wife or I can get in the car with his car seat in the back seat.  When he turns 1, we can legally turn the seat around to be forward facing and the only problem will still be the stroller.

I don't think I ever want kids..

[Onslaught]

I think it's one of the best looking domestic cars in a long time. And it looked even better before they put the dumb hood scoops on them.

[SVT666]

I think it's one of the best looking domestic cars in a long time. And it looked even better before they put the dumb hood scoops on them.

It looked like a damn chick car before the manly hood scoops came along.

[NomisR]

It looked like a damn chick car before the manly hood scoops came along.

A Mustang is a chick car!

[SVT666]

A Mustang is a chick car!

More women buy Mustangs then men so........I guess you're right.  DAMNIT!!!

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

It looked like a damn chick car before the manly hood scoops came along.

A Mustang is a chick car!

Don't turn this into that damn PT thread!   

[NomisR]

Don't turn this into that damn PT thread!  

I'm just stating facts!

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I'm just stating facts!