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This topic came up in a different thread. Please, present your arguments here...a Poll has been included if you'd like to avoid the theatrics, but I believe theatrics add a little "life" to the party.
I tried to edit the title, to remove the "bold" that I was hoping to get...no dice. hope that doesn't distract from what could be a very entertaining thread.
I voted not a muscle car. The GTO was a good car with a great drivetrain saddled with unambitious styling. It still catches a look from those in the know but for the majority of the population it looks like any other Pontiac. Could be a good candidate for a sleeper.
Most people dont recall when the muscle cars of the 60s were new.. I do. It is impossible to build an automotive time machine and go back to something that has come and gone yet that is what the car makers have tried to do by putting the GTO badge on a modern car. Too bad the name "muscle car" is not protected by a copy write .Sure any car can have muscle but you can not compare cars of the 60s with cars made today unless you are making a "correct" replica. Let the cars for what they are speak for themselves and then compare the results...apples and oranges.If a person has a new GTO or SS camaro or shelby mustang thats ok but they need to be sure and tell people they are trying to impress that they have the "modern" version ...Most dont ... I wonder why....
Heck yeah it is! Good V8, RWD, great handling, what more do you need?
Not everything has to be "retro" in appearance. The muscle cars of the muscle car era were rather pedestrian-looking. I prefer the look of the 04-06 GTO to any of the gaudy new Chargers, etc.
Most people dont recall when the muscle cars of the 60s were new.. I do. It is impossible to build an automotive time machine and go back to something that has come and gone yet that is what the car makers have tried to do by putting the GTO badge on a modern car. Too bad the name "muscle car" is not protected by a copy write .Sure any car can have muscle but you can not compare cars of the 60s with cars made today unless you are making a "correct" replica. Let the cars for what they are speak for themselves and then compare the results...apples and oranges.If a person has a new GTO or SS camaro or shelby mustang thats ok but they need to be sure and tell people they are trying to impress that they have the "modern" version ...Most dont ... I wonder why....
You still haven't given a reason for your opinion. Or are you saying there will never be another musclecar? Why do you think we are trying to impress others with our cars? That's telling of your attitude.
"Musclecar" needs to be defined before any useful discussion can be had.
But, as a former GTO owner, what I WILL say is that it is/was a damn fine GT car, basically a poor man's BMW 6-series. Lots of power, lots of comfort, understated looks, decent handling, and surprisingly practical as an everyday vehicle. Damn I miss that car.....
5.7 and 6.0 are actually quite close in terms of stock performance. GTO in general is rather difficult to launch due to abundant torque multiplication through the IRS and narrow tires.
My LS1 GTO would both win and lose against LS2 GTOs at the strip. It depends on the launch and who was willing to shift for their life if owning a manual transmission version.
As for the plain looks... In my opinion the most interesting muscle cars are the sleepers. Original ones had very little badging. In fact, I was watching Mecum last Saturday and they had a 1972 GT-37 with a 455 H.O. Very nice and understated car. The new GTO,especially the 2004, is in the similar mold.
Of course, the original Monaro front end makes the vehicle appear rather brawny compared to Pontiac's laughable attempt at branding with the ugly, uglier and ugliest front end fascia.
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