I've been lurking for about a week now while waiting for my GTO to be delivered and thought it was about time I introduced myself.

Up until about 4 months ago I was always a ford guy. My dad has been a Ford mechanic for over 30 years so we always got good discounts on cars and whenever there was a problem, labor was free. :) I'd wanted a mustang ever since I was like 8 years old. I've always been a bit of a car nut and to me it epitomized the affordable sports car.

Well a few months ago I started working for GM and as I'm 10 weeks away from finishing my undergrad education (B.S. in Electrical Engineering), I've been eagerly anticipating retiring my 1990 Taurus and getting something powerful and fun to drive (the Mustang). Well, I didn't think the guys at the proving grounds would like it very much if I showed up in a brand new Mustang GT, so I started to look for GM cars that I wouldn't mind driving. When the 0% financing for 72 months was announced at the end of June, I realized that I could actually get a car now (about 6-9 months earlier than I had originally planned on) and by doing so, I would probably even save a few bucks.

I wanted power and comfort so I narrowed it down to the Impala SS and the GTO. I was not impressed with the styling on either and I just didn't want a family sedan, even one with 303 HP. Plus 303 horses at the front wheels just somehow isn't the same as 303 in back. I checked out the GTO with the A4 and while it was fast, it just wasn't worth spending the money for something that didn't feel as sporty to me. Then I went to another dealer (who had a manual on the lot) and I was blown away. Somewhere between 4 and 6 grand on the tach I remember saying out loud to myself "This is what I've been missing!" After test driving that car, I even had even more admiration for the exterior styling as well.

I found the color combination I wanted (IBM/Blue interior) with the Tremec at the dealership closest to work so I signed the paperwork 2 weeks ago and waited for it with feverish anticipation. Delivery was supposed to be 7/07, but it didn't arrive until yesterday morning. I drove out to the dealership in the afternoon and I've had this stupid grin on my face ever since.:D

I conditioned the leather when I got home and removed the dealership sticker/plate from my beautiful new paint and I just can't wait until it's broken in and I feel more comfortable opening it up. This is my first new car and I don't think I could have made a better choice.

Congrads!!! And welcome aboard.

nice account.

i, too, was looking at the Mustang GTs --very nice, by the way. but had always liked the understated GTO's style even when many other people were keen on trashing it. it was always a sharp looking car to me. very sporty and "race."

i'm into the import/tuner scene, own an R32 GTR, a Galant VR-4, a 240SX, a Maxima (all are 5spd manuals), and have seen Rhys Millen at Irwindale and Fontana, CA in the D1GP kick ass in his GTO. and that pretty much captured my heart. the sound from the GTO, when i first saw it on the race track, was a beautiful symphony of reverberated thunder compared to the other turboed 4-bangers out there, and i was awed by it.

while the Mustang GT is a fine car, and i may very well own one someday, i just had to get the GTO as a new car, my own, to myself, before the car disappeared into collector's garages. after i actually got behind the wheel of one, i was just instantly hooked. they can keep the GT Mustang (for now), as many, many folks will be seen in one of those. not so for the GTO. it's the odd man out, the black sheep. and i love it.

as well, i believe the GTO will hold it's value longer, as have the mid-1990s RWD Impala SS's --with the last year of production for those SS cars being the most sought after. regardless, i am proud to be part of the GTO ownership. mine is metallic orange.

Congrats, and welcome.

thank you. i'm glad to be here.

Welcome to both of you. I think that myself and bonzelite are the only 2 Blazen Orange Goats on the site. Anyone else?