My December issue came today and on the cover is the yellow jacket GTO. The cover says:

2004 Pontiac GTO
0 to '60s in 5.3

The reviewer loved the GTO from its power, to fit and finish, quality of interior, European ride, etc... Excellent review. He says fit and finish is the finest he has seen on a GM vehicle in decades. As reported on here already, 0-60 in 5.3 sec with a 13.62 sec 1/4 mile. Looks like a good start for Car of the Year.

Slow mail..I didn't get mine today. Scan the article if you can...

I got my Car and Driver issue with the silver GTO on the cover and it stated 0-60 in 5.3 and 14.0 in the 1/4 mile with a 6spd. I find car and driver's 1/4 mile times to be slower then usual with the cars they review.
Now to wait on my Motortrend :zap:

Bummer, I haven't gotten mine yet but I'll be checking the mail tomorrow!!! Gotta give credit to DevilYellow at LS1GTO for getting the scoop on the times before publication.

scan pls! We don't get it on this side of the pond for another few weeks!

As soon as I get it, I'll scan it for you. Hopefully tomorrow.

The Motor Trend review surpassed my expectations. The only complaints in this article are with respect to the size of the trunk and the fact that it's kind of difficult getting into the back seat (as has been discussed elsewhere here). They said the leather was "beautifully stitched" and the seats are "simply spectacular, deeply bolstered for excellent support...".

It also correctly identifies the tires as 245/45-17 g-Force KDWS and lists the price as an estimated $33k plus $695 for the six-speed. I can't wait for my other December mags now (Car and Driver, Road and Track, Auto Week).

I usually get my MT about a week after you guys. I can't wait. Did they show the interior or was it the usual "First Drive" stuff with only one pic?

Here Guys, Check this out.

http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_disp...651955&record=1 (http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_display.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&content_code=09661586&Search_Type=STD&Search_ID=1651955&record=1)

Originally posted by cvp33@Oct 29 2003, 09:56 PM
I usually get my MT about a week after you guys. I can't wait. Did they show the interior or was it the usual "First Drive" stuff with only one pic?
No, it was 6 pages! It has four nice pictures of the interior, several exterior pictures, and a picture of the engine and wheel. The article starts out with a two page picture of the entire car motorin' down the street, very sharp. The yellow looks really nice. Plus a nice big picture on the cover!

Was MT's test car a stick or auto?

Also, the article in Auto Week quotes 225 tires and 14 sec quarter mile times. Did they really "test" the car or simply drive a pre-production model around a track under severe limitations by GM engineers. I do like the comments comparing the stick to that of the BMW. They are second to none.

Looks like we all made a wise choice. :D

Originally posted by cvp33@Oct 29 2003, 10:23 PM
Was MT's test car a stick or auto?

Also, the article in Auto Week quotes 225 tires and 14 sec quarter mile times. Did they really "test" the car or simply drive a pre-production model around a track under severe limitations by GM engineers. I do like the comments comparing the stick to that of the BMW. They are second to none.

Looks like we all made a wise choice. :D
The MT car was a stick. I loved this comment, "... the six-speed shifter moves as if cradled in a vat of precision goo. For sheer drivetrain refinement, the GTO easily matches Europe's best sporting coupes."

Originally posted by cvp33@Oct 29 2003, 11:23 PM
Was MT's test car a stick or auto?

Also, the article in Auto Week quotes 225 tires and 14 sec quarter mile times. Did they really "test" the car or simply drive a pre-production model around a track under severe limitations by GM engineers. I do like the comments comparing the stick to that of the BMW. They are second to none.

Looks like we all made a wise choice. :D
They're confused. BF Goodrich does not make a 225/50R17 size tire and they clearly didn't do instrumented testing. They are just quoting GM's numbers.

Originally posted by JuniorSS@Oct 30 2003, 12:52 AM
I got my Car and Driver issue with the silver GTO on the cover and it stated 0-60 in 5.3 and 14.0 in the 1/4 mile with a 6spd. I find car and driver's 1/4 mile times to be slower then usual with the cars they review.
Now to wait on my Motortrend :zap:
What did C and D get for lateral acceleration? MT got .80g which is pretty lame. What gives?

autoweek is a parrot, and are just reiterating comments from the traditionalists, its too plain exterior... http://www.vwvortex.com/zeroforum_graphics/screwy.gif

i like this angle, the front end looks mean !!!

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/1.jpg

Also, were these cars production models or test mules? Did they have the old Monaro tuning we've been hearing about or the GTO tune?

Didn't GM say the GTO would do the quarter in under 14 sec? I wonder if they were including the A4 cars 'cause its gonna be REAL close!

13.62? I hope not. I already have my 04 GTP to 13.66.

AND I just got done with a cam swap in the same car. We cannot have the GTO getting beat up on the track by a 4 door "family" car.

I will post some times on my new and improved GTP in a week or so.

Originally posted by Cperki1@Oct 29 2003, 11:49 PM
13.62? I hope not. I already have my 04 GTP to 13.66.

AND I just got done with a cam swap in the same car. We cannot have the GTO getting beat up on the track by a 4 door "family" car.

I will post some times on my new and improved GTP in a week or so.
and your gp is stock right? Give me a break.

At the end of the 1/4 mile, it does not matter who is stock does it?

Originally posted by Cperki1@Oct 30 2003, 04:24 AM
At the end of the 1/4 mile, it does not matter who is stock does it?


well no it doesn't :P

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

I need this issue.

Again, what did C and D get for a lateral acceleration? MT got .80, and that is way too low for a car with independent suspension and decent tires.

Also, GM promised the '04 GTO would be the quickest, fastest GTO ever to leave the factory. So, what are the fastest times for a factory GTO prior to the '04 model? I'm thinking 14sec in the quarter mile aint cuttin' it for the '04 GTO.

Anybody else just a little bit disappointed in these numbers? I've already got plans underway to put mine into the 10s so its really a moot point as far as my own vehicle. I'm just a little disappointed that the GTO really can't claim any bragging rights in the sports coupe/sedan/car market segments. I was really hoping for an M3 fighter. 14 sec with a 6spd is NOT adequate. I don't want to even hear about the A4. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade here, but for $33k and change, this car ought to equal or even put a spankin' on the dearly departed fbod. That's just my 2 cents.

Originally posted by Goat Soldier@Oct 30 2003, 05:40 PM
Anybody else just a little bit disappointed in these numbers?
Newsflash - the original GTOs were not any quicker stock than the 2004, neither were the turbocharged Buick Regals of the 80s.

From the reviews out so far, the 2004 handily bests the originals in pretty much every catagory including stock for stock performance.

Originally posted by Goat Soldier@Oct 30 2003, 11:40 PM
Again, what did C and D get for a lateral acceleration? MT got .80, and that is way too low for a car with independent suspension and decent tires.



What's up with the 0.80g lateral acceleration? 3700 pounds, that's what. This thing is a pig. And only having 245 tires doesn't help matters either. If you want 0.9, get yourself some Eibachs to lower the c.g., some wider tires and put this thing on a diet. 13.6 isn't bad and is very close to an M3 so settle down. Take the $20k difference in price and add the suspension pieces and a turbo or supercharger and kick it's @ss.

Originally posted by TriShield@Oct 31 2003, 12:41 AM
[QUOTE=Goat Soldier,Oct 30 2003, 05:40 PM] neither were the turbocharged Buick Regals of the 80s.


for some reason I thought the magazines got 13.4's out of the GNX's and the TTA's

Jon
04 Yellow Jacket GTO on order
99 Regal GS
87 Regal WE4

Originally posted by jon_we4@Oct 31 2003, 03:18 PM
[QUOTE=Goat Soldier,Oct 30 2003, 05:40 PM] neither were the turbocharged Buick Regals of the 80s.


for some reason I thought the magazines got 13.4's out of the GNX's and the TTA's

Jon
04 Yellow Jacket GTO on order
99 Regal GS
87 Regal WE4
Yup. And I think the TTAs were even a few tenths quicker than the GNXs, but I think he was refering to the more common WE2 and WE4 cars.

my GN went 13.5 with a k/n filter @102 but it was verry cold november 1989 also a set of pro stars with radials/./

Bolts ons (even K&Ns) go a long way on GNs. I've got a best of 13.4@102.5 with the bolt-on mods below in mid 70's weather. Crappy 2.2 60ft. times too.

If you're really concerned with 1/4 mile times, get a crotch rocket for crying out loud. At 1/3 the price of a nice (fast) car, you can get a GSXR 1000 that will spank any stock car in the world. Even if the car isn't stock, it has to be incredibly modified to beat a rocket. I've only counted 5 cars in the world that can beat one.

What's that you say? You want 4 wheels? That's fine. Just consider what you're getting for your buck. The best bang-for-the-buck car as of RIGHT NOW, is probably the Cobra SVT (please correct me if I'm wrong) or possibly the POS Neon SRT. Sure, the GTO comes close but 390HP for 35K beats the GTO in the buck-for-HP category.

If you want a really fast, nice all-round (read everday-er), 4 seater car - the GTO is an easy choice. Plus the 04 model will be very rare even if Pontiac does follow the Ford route of making the Mustang for X number of years and they all look alike. As long as I have an 04 model, I'll be happy.

................... is it getting hot in here?

So anyone that has a scanner have the magazine yet??!!??

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

bump for a scan :(

I'm still waiting for my copy. Hopefully I'll get it tomorrow and I will scan it. I'm going to scan it at good quality and send it to Jon at ls1gto and he will put it up on his site for everyone.

I've looked in several different stores and can't find Dec issues for most of the major mags. When do they hit the stands?? :huh:

The Motor Trend review is now available at www.ls1gto.com

Check it out http://www.ls1gto.com/media/

It's a great site if you haven't visited. :D