11/12
Wed
Detroit Section Meeting - General Motors GTO
The Section meeting will feature General Motors GTO. Robert J. Reuter, Vehicle Chief Engineer, International and Joint Venture Programs, David D. Himmelberg, Program Engineering Manager and David M. Poniatowski, Pontiac Product Manager will discuss the GTO design and development story.
Location: San Marino Club 1685 East Big Beaver Troy, MI 48083
5:30 pm Social Hour, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Presentation.

I am going to be going to the above meeting. Anybody else from the site gonna be there? - it'd be cool to put a face to the screenname. Either way, I planning on sharing any cool tidbits I pick up and can remember.

Wish I could go to something like that. I live way too far away. :)

Well, went to the meeting this evening. No real news about the car - but I finally saw and sat in a real car :D :laughbounce: :D

Both newagegto and ls1gto were mentioned by David Poniatowski - in fact his presentation used spy photo's from the site.

As far as the car goes, all I can say is wow - I made a good choice. It definitely looks better in person. I'm wondering why the front fender crease never shows up in the photos? I do think after seeing the car that the idea of 18"s in the back is good.

Thanks for the update! :D Any other impressions after sitting in the GTO?

Originally posted by rschumacherfan1@Nov 13 2003, 02:23 AM
I do think after seeing the car that the idea of 18"s in the back is good.
Thanks for the news. That is another opinion for 18's in the back.

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

18's on the back = more rotating mass and less power to the rear wheels??? I don't get it...help me out here.... C GTO

I understand your point but then 6 inch tires would have less mass and more power? There has to be some optimum size that is best. My thought was that the look or the lines of the car would flow better with 18 in. in the rear. I am sure someone will figure out the best size for power.

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

18s look cool but if you want really decent rims have a look at my GTS on the readers ride page, mine are 19s with 245s i think they look hot and im pretty sure you could bolt them straight on to your gto without too much hassle

Originally posted by COOL GTO@Nov 13 2003, 03:30 AM
18's on the back = more rotating mass and less power to the rear wheels??? I don't get it...help me out here.... C GTO
Well, since I am not going to be racing my car in any serious capacity, I'm all about the looks. I think done right, you could accent the body lines better and give it a meaner stance w/ a little bit bigger wheels and tires in the rear.

As far as the controls, I've sat in a lot of show / pilot cars - and they all have buttons coming off and loose fittings in the interior - none of that here. Feels nice and comfortable. As mentioned in the mag's - the power assist to get into the rear seats is kinda slow - but plenty of room to get in once it's done, also it's pretty full back there. Both cars had the inside rear taillight as well as the one on the wing (for all you guys that don't like the stock wing). I'm really glad the antenna is window mounted. The trunk is really small. The f-body guy there were real impressed with the amount of room under the hood to get in and work on the engine. The car is coming with manifolds, and not headers.

One thing that seems to be an issue - for all the suspension in the car, the center of gravity is pretty high - 20.5 inches. I'm sure it's due to the placement of the fuel tank. Makes me wonder about removing weight and racing at a road course how stable you'd be...