Dull Styling, Sale Hobble With GTO




DETROIT - The Pontiac GTO, a pet project of General Motors product czar Robert Lutz, is off to a slow start.

Dealers say the GTO - touted as a halo car for Pontiac - suffers from bland styling, a high sticker price and no incentives.

"The car is more conservative looking than today's customer expects," says dealer Hugh Fiore, owner of Harbor Motors in Old Saybrook, Conn.

So far this year, Pontiac has sold just 2,451 units. Discounting seasonal differences, that amounts to an annualized rate of 7,300 units - well below Pontiac's 16,000-unit target. GM has a 168-day supply of GTOs, well above the 60-day supply that is considered ideal. A December launch slowed sales of the Australian-built car, says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. "Winter probably isn't the best time to launch a rear-wheel-drive vehicle," he says. "However, we're already beginning to see sales pick up with the nice weather."

Pontiac sold 719 GTOs in March and 650 in April.

GM launched an advertising campaign for the GTO in November. Pontiac hopes the USA Network cable TV movie The Last Ride will help spread the word. The movie features the GTO.

Lutz, vice chairman for product development, pushed the Australian car to the United States with only minor changes.

GM engineers reworked the Holden Monaro, giving it left-hand drive and a Pontiac front end. The V-8 received 48 more horsepower, for a total of 350 hp. The exterior received a new front fascia and a spoiler.

Lutz praised the car's "brawny, muscular stance." But many enthusiasts say the reborn GTO lacks the in-your-face styling of the original muscle car, fondly nicknamed the Goat.

Not enough pizazz

"When you come back with a name like GTO, you need something more," says one Detroit area sales manager who declined to be named.

Last week at a press event in Detroit, Kip Wasenko, director of design for GM's performance division, said, "You heard me talking about heritage. That's probably one of the things the GTO could probably use a little more of. But other people find it quiet and reserved because not everyone wants in-your-face, look-at-me kind of style."




Full Article (http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=8806)

Hopfully the '05 will be a lot better with out a price increase.

Like I said over at GMI, I think this car will die an early death. What GM should've done was build the car off the Sigma platform and built along side the Cadillac CTS, but I heard that would've been to costly. Look at DCX with the 300C and the up and coming Charger, and from what I've read the new 300 is a hit so far. As for Ford's new 2005 (1968) Mustang, huh no comment there!!!

Yes, sales seem to be off on the "new" Goat. The one my wife ordered (and refused acceptance 'cause the dealer's kid took it for a joy-ride and put over 100 miles on it before they let us know it was in) is still on the lot. And, nobody has shown any interest in it. It's a yellow automatic. I think somebody could get it at dealer invoice.

I'd like to see them re-do the '67 body style with the current chassis - and add a sissy bar and lots of wood inside - like the ole 67.

Maybe they'll sell if GM gives DEEP discounts and contracts somebody to develop some styling add-ons to make it look like the "tiger" it was supposed to resurrect.

Actually, it's a shame it's not selling to the crowd who's looking at BMW's. All the road tests say the new Goat is a BMW like car. I was impressed with one that I test drove (an automatic), but would opt for a six speed.

I'll probably get one eventually, just for old times sake - but Pontiac is going to have to price it much more reasonably before that happens.

Originally posted by Old Goat@May 24 2004, 01:08 PM
Actually, it's a shame it's not selling to the crowd who's looking at BMW's. All the road tests say the new Goat is a BMW like car. I was impressed with one that I test drove (an automatic), but would opt for a six speed.


I am that crowd, and I am going to buy one.

If the car didn't exist I would be choosing between a new Infiniti G35C, BMW 330Ci, or Mazda RX-8, with the RX-8 probably winning. The GTO is priced in that company, and the price is very reasonable. Don't count on the MSRP dropping with the exchange rate being what it is, the Monaro is a $41k car, and GM did their best to whittle it down for the US.

Dealers say the GTO - touted as a halo car for Pontiac - suffers from bland styling, a high sticker price and no incentives.


And it's these same dealers that are STILL trying to get 5K above sticker due to dealer greed. The bunch of idiots. People are coming to expect rebates and low financing when they buy a new vehicle. The GTO will continue to languish as long as the stupid dealers keep trying to charge over sticker and Pontiac refuses to budge on rebates and low financing.

This wasn't going to be a high volume seller anyway and they can't figure it out yet. As for the "bland" styling that will be addressed for all the "retro" crowd. I just hope they keep the base styling for some of us that like the more subdued look. I'm sure in 2 years the GTO will be looking like a new Firebird, overscooped and over body cladded. Great news for the retro and boy racer crowd. Oh well I'm not going to get into it, that topic has been talked to death.

Hey Pontiac! Offer some rebates and watch your sales go up! :D

I drove a 97 ws6 ta 6 speed and when i was thinking about something new the gto of course interested me. i waited for a year and i came to the conclusion based on all sorts of comparisons that the infiniti g35 coupe was more interesting than a rebadged holden rushed here from australia. probably 2005 gtos will get a 400 horse motor, symetrical exhaust and a bunch of other improvements gm seems to do in the second year of a car. look at the ssr! well anyway, this guy was not going to be a sucker again. my g35 is the best new car i have ever driven. this comes from a guys who owns a 61,63,65 pontiac full size, a 67 gto, and has only owned pontiacs my whole life. i am really interested in the solstice though. i am waiting to see if the HO version comes at launch or are suckered into waiting until a 2nd year again!

My 2004 GTO has proved over, and over again that it is worth every penny it cost. Holden knows how to design and build magic on wheels. My car has done 110+ at BeaveRun road course west of Pittsburgh. 120+ at Nelson Ledges raceway in Ohio several times now. And eaten ws6’s and Mach 1's in autocross.
I like the fact that it’s not a gaudy POS, if I wanted that, I’d a bought a COBRA in metallic red+, of coarse that would have meant that I would have to join the 3,000,000 other mustangs on the road. Retro is best spelled retard-o if I wanted 30 year old styling I’d go out and buy an original restored GTO. The pontiac-ed Monaro has 21st century style as it should, and a pure work of art. I’m happy that Pontiac didn’t harm the clean lines of the Monaro.

I agree with high octane on the retro thing. If i wanted the look of an old GTO then i would Get The Orginal( no pun intended). I think most people just want some little things hood scoops, nicer exhaust, moonroof, maybe the judge( with that fushion orange and orange leather), and of course more power. If the new GTO had these things i would have no problem forking over 36-38 for the car( if it had some more little things like heated seats and that pussie stuff). I think the price of 33,000 is very reasonable. You are pretty much buying a vette with a back seat and the greatest name in american muscle cars. The real problem is they dont have a program on the car. I would like to lease or do a smart buy and they are rip offs. They offer no discounts and the lease deal was 300 a month for 39 months( with 10,000 down). I can get 40,000 cars for cheaper. Once they have programs and they are doing smart buy specials and good buying options this car will sell.