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

SVT666 · January 19, 2009, 05:19:48 PM

Quote from: NomisR on January 19, 2009, 05:11:18 PM
I'm just stating facts!

And I agreed. WTF was he complaining about?

Gotta-Qik-C7 · January 19, 2009, 05:23:15 PM

Quote from: HEMI666 on January 19, 2009, 05:19:48 PM
And I agreed. WTF was he complaining about?

It was a joke! Calm down! Whats with everybody today?

NomisR · January 19, 2009, 05:25:19 PM

Quote from: gotta-qik-z28 on January 19, 2009, 05:23:15 PM
It was a joke! Calm down! Whats with everybody today?

Too much estrogen

Gotta-Qik-C7 · January 19, 2009, 05:26:24 PM

Maybe a few of us should've worked today!

Tave · January 19, 2009, 05:26:54 PM

We should do a CarSPIN streetfight GTG and post the clips on Youtube.

Tave · January 19, 2009, 05:27:22 PM

Quote from: gotta-qik-z28 on January 19, 2009, 05:26:24 PM
Maybe a few of us should've worked today!

I worked.

Sort of.

SVT666 · January 19, 2009, 05:28:45 PM

Quote from: gotta-qik-z28 on January 19, 2009, 05:23:15 PM
It was a joke! Calm down! Whats with everybody today?

So was my post.

Gotta-Qik-C7 · January 19, 2009, 05:35:10 PM

Quote from: HEMI666 on January 19, 2009, 05:28:45 PM
So was my post.

Raza · January 19, 2009, 07:33:42 PM

I would buy the Monaro convertible in a fucking heartbeat.

omicron · January 21, 2009, 05:55:08 AM

These might have helped:

Tave · January 21, 2009, 09:43:32 AM

They should have just replaced the entire Bonneville line with G8s to begin with and offered a coupe GTO option.

Raza · January 21, 2009, 10:26:22 AM

Wait, there was a Monaro with a sunroof? That's good to know in case I move to Australia.

Sigma Projects · January 22, 2009, 03:57:41 AM

Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't the GTO sales figure keep rising each year. I mean yea had crappy start off, but it kept going up each year and I thought the GTO was more of a test run to gauge the market. And then they cut the GTO because of new platform development and then we got the G8.

So to me in a sense, no nothing could have saved the GTO because they tested the market and they decided the best route would be to come out with something with a newish name and make it a sedan. I mean the GTO was a nice car, much more than just a brute. Same with the new G8, just a good car IMO.

omicron · January 22, 2009, 06:27:10 AM

Quote from: Raza on January 21, 2009, 10:26:22 AM
Wait, there was a Monaro with a sunroof? That's good to know in case I move to Australia.

There was indeed.

Only on the HSV variants and the '05 Holden Z Series models, mind, but there are plenty of those about.

Raza · January 22, 2009, 02:00:54 PM

Do they stow in the roof or slide up and over?

Either way, it's something I'd go for; a sunroof on the GTO would make me forget about a convertible for now.

So, here's hoping that Aussie firm sends me an email...

Nethead · January 22, 2009, 02:25:09 PM

Quote from: Sigma Projects on January 22, 2009, 03:57:41 AM
Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't the GTO sales figure keep rising each year. I mean yea had crappy start off, but it kept going up each year and I thought the GTO was more of a test run to gauge the market. And then they cut the GTO because of new platform development and then we got the G8. So to me in a sense, no nothing could have saved the GTO because they tested the market and they decided the best route would be to come out with something with a newish name and make it a sedan. I mean the GTO was a nice car, much more than just a brute. Same with the new G8, just a good car IMO.

Sigma Projects: SigDude, total sales of all three years of the GTO were about 40,000--IIRC, 40,400 or so. Only 12,000 were sold in the final year, 2006, but there were many '06 GTOs unsold well into 2007 and the discounts on them were huge. At the time, Pontiac was expecting a kick-off year of 18,000 units which they expected to increase in each consecutive year. In the Spring of '06, dealerships had an over-200-days supply of GTOs on their lots, which was considered pretty grim back in '06, but may now be considered the norm since the collapse of the auto credit market...Still, those lowly figures beat the Hell out of the Aztek, which still had unsold new ones on Pontiac lots two years after all Aztek production had ceased.

Tave · January 22, 2009, 02:59:54 PM

Pontiac dealers sure didn't make it easy for a person to get their hands on one. I remember a lot of stories about people being turned down for testdrives.

Raza · January 22, 2009, 03:03:06 PM

Quote from: Tave on January 22, 2009, 02:59:54 PM
Pontiac dealers sure didn't make it easy for a person to get their hands on one. I remember a lot of stories about people being turned down for testdrives.

I was never turned down, but I remember those stories as well. I also remember huge markups and bad marketing.

omicron · January 25, 2009, 05:05:04 AM

Quote from: Raza on January 22, 2009, 02:00:54 PM
Do they stow in the roof or slide up and over?

Either way, it's something I'd go for; a sunroof on the GTO would make me forget about a convertible for now.

So, here's hoping that Aussie firm sends me an email...

I think they slide into the roof, from memory.

SJ_GTI · January 25, 2009, 11:56:56 AM

Quote from: Tave on January 22, 2009, 02:59:54 PM
Pontiac dealers sure didn't make it easy for a person to get their hands on one. I remember a lot of stories about people being turned down for testdrives.

I was turned down for a test drive when it came out. I eventually got to test drive one a couple years later when they were languishing on dealer lots.

Same thing happened with the Solstice.

IMHO Pontiac dealers really shot themselves in their collective foot with those two cars.

SVT666 · January 25, 2009, 12:10:37 PM

Quote from: SJ_GTI on January 25, 2009, 11:56:56 AM
I was turned down for a test drive when it came out. I eventually got to test drive one a couple years later when they were languishing on dealer lots.

Same thing happened with the Solstice.

IMHO Pontiac dealers really shot themselves in their collective foot with those two cars.

Ford won't let you test drive any SVT cars or special edition Mustangs. I think it's stupid. If I am trying to decide between a GT500 and a Challenger SRT-8, but I want to know how they drive, I should be able to test drive it. I would probably end up buying the car that I was allowed to test drive, and since Dodge will let you test drive anything short of the Viper, it would probably be the Challenger.

the Teuton · January 25, 2009, 12:12:45 PM

The car is really cool, but it's not Jesus on wheels. If people want to take them out and it isn't uber limited, let them do it.

I can understand someone doing that with an AMG car or something really limited like the SSR, but is it any wonder to see how things have gotten as bad as they have?

And even then, a simple credit check should open up a lot of doors.

rohan · January 25, 2009, 12:34:34 PM

Quote from: HEMI666 on January 25, 2009, 12:10:37 PM
Ford won't let you test drive any SVT cars or special edition Mustangs. I think it's stupid. If I am trying to decide between a GT500 and a Challenger SRT-8, but I want to know how they drive, I should be able to test drive it. I would probably end up buying the car that I was allowed to test drive, and since Dodge will let you test drive anything short of the Viper, it would probably be the Challenger.

That's not true- we drove a Saleen this last summer and then we got right into a GT500 conertible and drove it. Truth be told I didn't like either of them. But the whine from the supercharger was insanely cool.

SVT666 · January 25, 2009, 03:18:20 PM

Quote from: rohan on January 25, 2009, 12:34:34 PM
That's not true- we drove a Saleen this last summer and then we got right into a GT500 conertible and drove it. Truth be told I didn't like either of them. But the whine from the supercharger was insanely cool.

You lucked out. They won't do that here.

GoCougs · January 25, 2009, 03:40:32 PM

Makes sense to me: If I'm a dealer I'm not letting anyone that looks remotely close to 30 or under test drive a GT500. Besides, people who buy such cars have reached the decision before ever stepping foot onto a dealer lot.

Raza · January 25, 2009, 04:25:20 PM

Quote from: omicron on January 25, 2009, 05:05:04 AM
I think they slide into the roof, from memory.

Perfect.

SVT666 · January 25, 2009, 06:06:55 PM

Quote from: GoCougs on January 25, 2009, 03:40:32 PM
Makes sense to me: If I'm a dealer I'm not letting anyone that looks remotely close to 30 or under test drive a GT500. Besides, people who buy such cars have reached the decision before ever stepping foot onto a dealer lot.

They don't let anyone the last time I checked. I have a friend who sells Fords and even she can't get me a test drive in a GT500, and she's the dealership's top salesperson.

Raza · January 25, 2009, 06:10:41 PM

Quote from: HEMI666 on January 25, 2009, 06:06:55 PM
They don't let anyone the last time I checked. I have a friend who sells Fords and even she can't get me a test drive in a GT500, and she's the dealership's top salesperson.

There's one Ford dealer near me that pretty much won't let you drive any Mustang but a V6 automatic. I had to use all my Faceman con techniques to get into the GT I got into way back when.

omicron · January 26, 2009, 05:25:53 AM

Quote from: Raza on January 25, 2009, 04:25:20 PM
Perfect.

A quick check through the Monaro brochure reveals the following:

sportyaccordy · January 27, 2009, 06:45:49 AM

If the GTO didn't look like it was designed in the early 90s I think it would have had a fighting chance.

A shorter wheelbase 2 door version of the G8 would be great, even with just the V6 as long as it had a 6spd MT. Really I think styling and the huge ass V8 killed it... if they had updated it and made a version to fit in w/$4.00 gas it would still be around. But paying 2009 money for a car designed in 2001 that looks like it was new in 1991 doesn't seem like a winning move.

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

GoCougs

sportyaccordy