GTO on hiatus

[ifcar]

Gone for Now
Pontiac to drop GTO after '06 model year


DETROIT -- General Motors has told Pontiac dealers that it will discontinue the GTO coupe at the end of this model year. GM will make the last deliveries of the vehicle to dealers by the end of September, sources close to Pontiac say.

GM will produce 10,000 to 12,000 more GTOs before dropping the nameplate, one source close to the situation says. Last year, Pontiac sold 11,590 GTOs compared to 2004 when it sold 13,569. That's a 14.6 percent drop.

When Pontiac launched the GTO in 2003, it projected 18,000 annual sales. The vehicle was criticized for bland styling, and some fans of the original GTO complained that it lacked nostalgic styling cues.

A Pontiac spokesman confirms the GTO will be discontinued after the 2006 model year.

?There are some changes in the federal regulatory standards. One is an airbag deployment standard that would require some very expensive re-engineering of the car,? says Jim Hopson, Pontiac spokesman. ?Since the architecture of this car is being phased out around the world it?s not economically feasible to continue this car.?

Pontiac will continue to build the GTO through the end of May, Hopson says. The last ?boatload will hit the ground in June?, he adds.

The GTO first came to dealerships in December 2003 as a 2004 model, Hopson says.

The GTO is built on a rear-wheel drive architecture from GM's Holden division in Australia. The present model is going out of production as GM constructs the new Zeta RWD architecture, says the source.

There is no replacement coupe planned at this time and because of the strong Australian and weak U.S. dollar, the GTO had to be priced thousands over where GM originally wanted it -- in the mid-twenties, the source says. "It never did as much volume as we had hoped," the source says.

Pontiac is considering a replacement in the lineup for a RWD performance vehicle, but does not have anything to announce yet, Hopson says.

The GTO suggested retail price starts at $31,990, including shipping. One GM source says, "the 2005 and 2006 were pretty well sold out, and sales were especially strong in areas of GM weakness, like Southern California. It's a shame it has to go -- for now."

[JYODER240]

Not really surprised, especialy with a new Camaro coming out.

[Raza]

So the next GTO will be retro crap.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Raza, you better hop on it if you are still plan on getting a GTO.  

[Raza]

I should be buying well within the 2006 model year.

[Tom]

F*ck!

[SVT666]

I wonder if it will be another 35+ years until the next one.

[CaseyNPham]

How could it be outdated in just a few years? Were the airbags not good enough to start with? And I don't understand why safety standars constantly go up. People are just becoming more dependent on things that could save them in a crash, as to driving safely and only needing the airbags if something out of your control happens.

[Speed_Racer]

I should be buying well within the 2006 model year.

Lucky you. Keep us updated.

My plan is to wait a few years, save a bunch of money to make a meaty down payment, then pick up a used '05 GTO. Hmm...that'll be nice.  :D  

[Raza]

I should be buying well within the 2006 model year.

Lucky you. Keep us updated.

My plan is to wait a few years, save a bunch of money to make a meaty down payment, then pick up a used '05 GTO. Hmm...that'll be nice.  :D

When I get it, you'll know.

[JYODER240]

I dont know what my problem is, GTO's are such good cars but they do nothing for me. Maybe that will change when I test drive one.  

[Raza]

I dont know what my problem is, GTO's are such good cars but they do nothing for me. Maybe that will change when I test drive one.

Your life will change.

[TBR]

I would hope not <_< . Not even I am that pitiful. :D

[Raza]

I would hope not <_< . Not even I am that pitiful. :D

When you drive a car like that, if it doesn't change your life, you don't like cars.

[280Z Turbo]

So the next GTO will be retro crap.

Say good bye to 17" wheels, rich leather, elegant styling, Blaupunkt sound system, and tight panel gaps.

Hello to chrome 21" wheels, cheap leatherette, Delco sound system, fake scoopery, and chintsy plastic.

The Monaro was just too good of a car for Pontiac. Shame on them trying to pass off Holden's car as their own.

[MrH]

I would hope not <_< . Not even I am that pitiful. :D

When you drive a car like that, if it doesn't change your life, you don't like cars.

You have got to be kidding me.

No test drive should "change your life".  If simple material things like cars are enough to change your life, you live one pitiful life.

[Tom]

I would hope not <_< . Not even I am that pitiful. :D

When you drive a car like that, if it doesn't change your life, you don't like cars.

You have got to be kidding me.

No test drive should "change your life".  If simple material things like cars are enough to change your life, you live one pitiful life.

It can introduce the novice car driver to an envigorating hobby that he will enjoy as recreation for the rest of his life.  

[Raza]

So the next GTO will be retro crap.

Say good bye to 17" wheels, rich leather, elegant styling, Blaupunkt sound system, and tight panel gaps.

Hello to chrome 21" wheels, cheap leatherette, Delco sound system, fake scoopery, and chintsy plastic.

The Monaro was just too good of a car for Pontiac. Shame on them trying to pass off Holden's car as their own.

The 2006 had 18" rims, and I didn't notice any difference in ride, though they did look nice.  

But overall, we're on the same page.

[Raza]

I would hope not <_< . Not even I am that pitiful. :D

When you drive a car like that, if it doesn't change your life, you don't like cars.

You have got to be kidding me.

No test drive should "change your life".  If simple material things like cars are enough to change your life, you live one pitiful life.

Technically all things change your life.

But unleashing the LS2 GTO (much like the Lotus Elise) is an experience will not likely ever forget.

A lot of people who don't like cars here.   :blink:  

[280Z Turbo]

So the next GTO will be retro crap.

Say good bye to 17" wheels, rich leather, elegant styling, Blaupunkt sound system, and tight panel gaps.

Hello to chrome 21" wheels, cheap leatherette, Delco sound system, fake scoopery, and chintsy plastic.

The Monaro was just too good of a car for Pontiac. Shame on them trying to pass off Holden's car as their own.

The 2006 had 18" rims, and I didn't notice any difference in ride, though they did look nice.  

But overall, we're on the same page.

Well actually, I think that the wheels on the GTO look a bit small for such a large car, but I'm just afraid that it will get that gimmicky high beltline, huge wheel look which doesn't make sense from an engineering perspective nor from a stylistic perspective.

[Raza]

Yeah, I'm with you.