there's more info of the new gto in the december issue of motortrend.

I'm sure it will be in most of the up coming buff books. Pontiac put an embargo on the mags printing GTO tests until November 1. I'm sure it will be on a cover or two.

It's about time! :)

When does it hit the newstands??

Jon over at LS1GTO has an inside scoop on Motor Trend's performance numbers for the GTO. Check it out: http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.ph...?s=&threadid=94 (http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=94)

Hmm, 13.62 with a 6 speed huh...interesting....I would like to see though a before and after comparison run though to see how the numbers fare after you take off those plates underneat the car. Heard its pretty simple, jack it up and have some hand tools, simple.

Are we smart or what? 5.3 on the nose!!

http://www.newagegto.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=583

:laughbounce: :laughbounce: :laughbounce: :laughbounce:

Originally posted by dkGTO19@Oct 24 2003, 02:01 PM
Hmm, 13.62 with a 6 speed huh...interesting....I would like to see though a before and after comparison run though to see how the numbers fare after you take off those plates underneat the car. Heard its pretty simple, jack it up and have some hand tools, simple.
I can almost guarantee you that you will not be able to remove enough weight from these supposed underbody protective panels to make a significant change in the car's performance. It just doesn't make sense to believe that GM has mounted 1 or 2 hundred pounds of armor (that's easily removable) to the underbody of this car. Some 20 or 30 pound plate won't mean squat.

Just my humble opinion

Depending on where the plates are placed I'm wondering if there is a cooling benefit from removing them??!!??

:laughbounce: :laughbounce: :laughbounce: :laughbounce:

I hate to seem negative, but I doubt there are any steel plates under the car, strictly to keep mud off.

The underside photos seem to show a plastic pan under the engine and a similar item under the trunk.

Maybe the guy from Orlando is right, but that car had some special equipment because of the rough service a test mule has to endure.

I hope the automatic car is not a slouch compared to the M6. Even if it were a whole second slower, it wouldnt be a slug, but it would be in danger of being blown away by an Infiniti G35

Pook, if you take F-bodies as an example, I expect the auto to be as fast if not faster "on the street" and just a small fraction of a second slower on perfect runs at the track.

i saw this on another forum PY, could this be the case ?

SHAME ON PONTIAC!

The cars put in the media's hands have been detuned and the traction control button "disabled" so that it cannot be turned off.

The result is that timing is being taken away and the cars can barely turn the tire!

This all done so that the magazines don't distroy the car.

Poor, poor, poor. The cars should have been left alone...or event juiced up a bit. The magazines had to sign waivers that they would not have one of thier techies enhance things with LS1edit, etc.

Pontiac let out a GTO to a magazine knowing full well it was going to be run side by side with a Mach I in a drag test and the car was still left in the detuned state.

Come on Pontiac...I love the car, but how can the world know how capable the car is if we don't let the press have only "the best" of what is to be offered!

John DeLorean would have had a fit!

Dave "Big Injun" Anderson
www.pontiacdragdays.com
www.geetotiger.com

Originally posted by CM_LS1@Oct 24 2003, 07:40 PM
i saw this* on another forum PY, could this be the case ?

No. I have read every issue of Motor Trend since December 1979 and I can assure you Motor Trend would NOT publish a road test or car review under these ridiculous constraints.

oh well we will just have to wait and see some more tests...

I read this cool article about Jim Wangers test drive of a new GTO...
First Drive (http://www.advanceautoparts.com/howtos_tips/automedia_html/pht/PHT200307014G/index.html?page=/howtos_tips/automedia_html/pht/PHT200307014G/PHT200307014G.htm)
:knightrider:

Originally posted by makcrag72@Oct 24 2003, 09:12 PM
I read this cool article about Jim Wangers test drive of a new GTO...
First Drive (http://www.advanceautoparts.com/howtos_tips/automedia_html/pht/PHT200307014G/index.html?page=/howtos_tips/automedia_html/pht/PHT200307014G/PHT200307014G.htm)
:knightrider:
makcrag72 congrats on the first post! :) You should have stopped lurking and jumped in sooner.

That story has been around for quite a while. JW obviously loves the car but he is hardly an impartial reviewer since he is on GM's payroll as a consultant. Nevertheless, I loved that review as well....

Let me be the first, then, to point out that "the Emperor has no clothes!" Does anybody here really feel like 13.62sec is cutting it in a $33k+ 6-speed GTO?? This better be a typo or have some big fat asterick next to it. I can see it now, the car mags go crazy about the exhaust sound but are less-than impressed with the tepid quarter mile and lateral G performance, so they put the new Goat on the cover with the title "The New Tiger: All Growl, No Bite!". Keeeriste, I'm disappointed with that news!

I have hard so much "crap" about the GTO. I have decided to wait until
mine is sitting in the driveway before I make my mind up about the numbers.
No offense, but when the car first came out Pontiac listed the numbers as 0 to 60 in 5.5 and the quarter in 14. I think 5.3 and 13.62 are better Pontiac's numbers.
If you dont like how the car performes, dont buy it! I am sure there will be many who would love to have it or wish they had order one!

[Ok, rant over] :D

Thanks Davbo, I almost had a moment back there. I am pretty pleased with the performance numbers as listed, and I'm sure most of you will agree that with a little tinkering (and money), these cars will rule the streets.

As for me, I need a Mustang GT with a big back seat for the kids, and feel that I am getting some extra stuff thrown in (granted it is at a surcharge.) A lot of posters currently have GTP's and I believe that they are in the same boat as me. Their hearts said Firebird, and their needs said Grand Prix. The supercharger was their only consolation.

Just for the record, my GTO will remain stock as a rock. On the old GTO's we'd flip the air cleaner lid and leave it at that. I do look forward to seeing and hearing about what some of you guys will be doing to your cars, and cheering you on.

Originally posted by pook@Oct 25 2003, 10:54 AM
On the old GTO's we'd flip the air cleaner lid and leave it at that.
This made me laugh out loud! I used to do that as a kid driving my parent's cars. Our 1970something Suburaban with a 454 sounded like a fricking race car! Oh the memories.....

Okay, sorry about the off subject.

The 1/4 mile numbers (13.62 @ 104.78) were a little disappointing at first, but I went back and looked at previous Motor Trend road tests and here are some numbers for comparison:

02 Z28 SS: 13.5@107.3
03 SVT Cobra: 13.0 @ 110.7
02 BMW M3 SMG: 13.4@106.2
03 Mustang Mach1: 13.8@102.5
03 Infiniti G35 coupe: 14.2@99.4
03 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast: 14.0@101.9

All of the above had manual trannies.

So, it's only a tenth off of what they got out of an F-body. Keep in mind that the big magazines don't actually run them on the dragstrip. they use the 5th wheel, or optical equipment, which doesn't provide for any rollout like you get at the dragstrip if you stage shallow. So, there's a couple tenths right there. Don't be too hard on M/T. They normally get the best numbers of the big three mags.

In addition, the other numbers the Z28 SS had stack up well:

0-60: 5.2
60-0 braking: 120 ft
Slalom: 63.0 MPH

The GTO has identical braking distance and a better slalom number.

ta350,

You beat me to the punch! I was researching the same thing. If you read old Car and Drivers the times are even worse for the cars you have mentioned. The GTO IS a class leader in performance and I'm very happy with the numbers. Now regarding the Z28 SS. If the choice was a tenth quicker and the Z's interior vs. a tenth slower and the GTO's interior, I'd take the GTO everytime. :D

Plus, the GTO will actually have a back seat that will comfortably fit adults.

Originally posted by chotton@Oct 24 2003, 04:17 AM
Pontiac put an embargo on the mags printing GTO tests until November 1.
Actually, the embargo date is November 3rd, so you guys have to wait 2 additional days! BOOO! hehe

Edmunds has a video comparison test between the Viper, Z06, and Cobra. They "only" got 13.6 in the 1/4 mile with the Cobra.

http://www.edmunds.com/video/?tid=edmunds.....reviews..17.*# (http://www.edmunds.com/video/?tid=edmunds.h..reviews..17.*#)

WOW! If the numbers we got from the GTO road test are ture.... then we are going to have some REAL fun with the Mustangs! I hope when the numbers come out in the Dec issue they are as posted or better.
Now I really cant wait anymore! :woot:

.80 G's on the skid pad? Doesn't the Grand Prix Comp G pull .83? What gives?

Originally posted by Davbo@Oct 26 2003, 03:08 PM
Plus, the GTO will actually have a back seat that will comfortably fit adults.
Yeah they definately will fit adults, but wait till you try and get in and out of the back seat! Bring KY and a shoehorn!

Originally posted by GTPprix+Oct 28 2003, 11:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (GTPprix @ Oct 28 2003, 11:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Davbo@Oct 26 2003, 03:08 PM
Plus, the GTO will actually have a back seat that will comfortably fit adults.
Yeah they definately will fit adults, but wait till you try and get in and out of the back seat! Bring KY and a shoehorn! [/b][/quote]
The measurements and pictures of the backseat make is look quite spacious. Have you actually had the opportunity to get in one or are you just commenting on 2-door cars in general?

My comments are coming from having owned Mustangs and Camaros so this is a HUGE improvement.

Mustangs are easy to get out the back seat if.......it's a 'vert and the top is down.. :P

Yuppers, we had myself, at about 5'10 and one of my friends in the back of one of the pilots who is 6'1ish we both fit perfectly! However, getting in and out of the backseat was quite a chore, on the upside they were comfortable during semi-hard cornering :) One interesting thing is there is a button on the top of the seat near the seat belt support that is reachable from the back seat that when pressed runs the seat forward for you!

I have to agree that the ingress/egress of the back seat is right in line with getting yourself into a Winston Cup car. The front seats are both electric so you have to sit there and wait for them to buzz forward almost the entire way before you even have a chance of getting in or out. Once you're back there it is very comfortable though and even gives you your own true bucket seat, a window to look out, AND 2 air vents.

Something tells me that my passengers won't kill each other over shotgun like the do in my 95 Z.

Originally posted by LT1Brutus@Oct 29 2003, 05:23 AM
I have to agree that the ingress/egress of the back seat is right in line with getting yourself into a Winston Cup car. The front seats are both electric so you have to sit there and wait for them to buzz forward almost the entire way before you even have a chance of getting in or out. Once you're back there it is very comfortable though and even gives you your own true bucket seat, a window to look out, AND 2 air vents.

Something tells me that my passengers won't kill each other over shotgun like the do in my 95 Z.


I thought the GTO had a type of quick release button toward to the top of the
seat in the area of the seatbelt? I may be wrong about this though.

I can assure you that in the monaro (GTO) it is easy to get into the back seat.

Originally posted by MILLPOND@Oct 29 2003, 07:21 AM
I thought the GTO had a type of quick release button toward to the top of the
seat in the area of the seatbelt? I may be wrong about this though.
Its got a button towards the top of the seat that runs the electric seats foward, but its still a PITA to get in and out of the back seat. We had 4 different people in the back seat while I had the car and it was quite an event getting out of there for each of them. Getting in isnt quite as bad..

Originally posted by GTPprix+Oct 29 2003, 02:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (GTPprix @ Oct 29 2003, 02:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MILLPOND@Oct 29 2003, 07:21 AM
I thought the GTO had a type of quick release button toward to the top of the
seat in the area of the seatbelt? I may be wrong about this though.
Its got a button towards the top of the seat that runs the electric seats foward, but its still a PITA to get in and out of the back seat. We had 4 different people in the back seat while I had the car and it was quite an event getting out of there for each of them. Getting in isnt quite as bad.. [/b][/quote]
is it the gap thats too small to get out ?

or are the back seats so reclined that it is physically an effort to get up and out of ?

i know the earlier monaro seat went forward faster, but they changed that , i dunno why ?

Something doesn't sound right about this. The only way to get the front seat moved/tilted forward is via an electric switch? So what happens if there are people in the back seat and you wreck?

Yeah the gap is REALLY tight, you can push the seat back portion forward AFTER you run the whole seat up with the button. The only way I've found of moving it foward was the button so who knows at this rate!

so this is its worst fault ? how is it once your in there ?

http://www.micro-op.com.au/execls1/backseat.jpg

They are great seats when you finally get back there, yup that was my biggest complaint about the car so all things being equal its not even an issue! :)

13.62 is not shabby at all if you consider how they tested the car. The magazines don't use a drag strip. They use an old runway and do a street launch. Also, remember that the LS1 f-bodies were also tested in the mid-13 second range and we all know how fast they are out of the box. I don't see 12's out of the question at a good track, on a good weather day, with a good driver.

13.62 is pretty **** fast for a bone stock, nearly 4,000lb., good sized muscle car.
My Grand National's best quarter mile bone stock was 13.8.

13.62 is fast enough to outrun pretty much every car offered in the new GTOs price range and class, save for maybe the current SVT Cobra.

That's a pretty shocking improvement in acceleration over the Monaro/Lumina, and I find it hard to believe anyone would be disappointed with that.