Motor Trend: GTO vs CLK55AMG

[Reynoma]

Sounds like a mis-match, right?The last line of the article from Motor Trend's May 2004 issue:"The Pontiac GTO provides perhaps 85 to 90 percent of the goodness - for less than 50 percent of the cost.....It just shows the pariseworthiness of the GTO."

[ragingfish]

Makes me feel all good inside to hear this car is impressing the masses...

[mwebb]

I was pretty confident that it would preform well- but the styling

[SGT]

I have to agree on the styling. At least the front. I had a black one come up behind me the other day while driving and I thought it was a couple year old Grand Prix with the old SE nose until it passed me.

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by SGT »I have to agree on the styling. At least the front. I had a black one come up behind me the other day while driving and I thought it was a couple year old Grand Prix with the old SE nose until it passed me. That's what I like to call a sleeper, not bad styling. By the way, I'm just disgruntled because we can't buy a GTO in Canada.

[Merzbow]

(removed)!!! My friend dove me to work today in his fully custom and highly built '73 Nova...performance Holly manifold, 4 barrel holly carb, performance cams, ceramic headers, holly heads, straight pipes and side pipes for open headers, 350 by the way. Basically how a muscle car should be...we pulle dup next to some guy at a light in a blue GTO...he had his windows down and my friend's car was shaking HIS rear view. We looked over and revved the Nova up and Jay smailed and made the hand gesture for small things referring to the GTOs power and took off at the light. I think the styling of the GTO is pathedic and doesn't uphold the uniqueness and style of the classic Judges and earlier models...Basically it's a sad, depressing fact that Jay spent about 8 grand on his nova that puts out over 450 hp and has a beautiful interrior, plus a sound you could only hear in your wildest automotive dreams, and that guy spent what...$32000 on his GTO and all it's got is a basic V8 with leather seats? Can you even modify the GTO's engine? Or is it already modified to the max?I like the new GTOs, don't get me wrong but I think it's become more of a money making status symbol rather than a high powered beast like it once was...

[mwebb]

Well it all depends on what ya want- the guy with the GTO also has a factory warranty and a brand new car

[Merzbow]

Nova's are extremely simple cars, and when you've got 3 professional mechanics in your family than I don't think a warentee means much but yeah, you are exactly right, it depends on what you want...this is just my own opinion I gues Also, you can't drive the Nova in the winter or in teh rain like you can the GTO now that I think about it.

[Pablo1669]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Basically it's a sad, depressing fact that Jay spent about 8 grand on his nova that puts out over 450 hp and has a beautiful interrior, plus a sound you could only hear in your wildest automotive dreams, and that guy spent what...$32000 on his GTO and all it's got is a basic V8 with leather seats? Can you even modify the GTO's engine? Or is it already modified to the max?Can you even modify the GTO's engine? DO you know ANYTHING about the LS1 V-8? dude, you need to start reading up on things. One could spend a few grand more and have that GTO screaming easily at like 500 hp. There are so many things you can do with that LS1.Also, the reason your buddy spent 8,000 on his Nova is because it's 25 years old. 25 year old technology, parts, interior, and rust.the Nova might be all beefed up now, but do you think it was a cheep car back in 79 when it first came out? Think of inflation, cost of living, etc back then. Do you really think the prices would have been too far off of each other? I don't think so. And for the styling, don't you know that when the GTO first came out, it was basically a family car with a bigger engine option, and then after sales went through the roof, they started making them more unique then just a bigger engine. I for one would much rather have the GTO now as a sleeper, it's got smooth lines, sleek body, and a hot powertrain.

[Pablo1669]

oh, and by the way, my dad just called me this morning to tell me he got a GTO for the next 8 days. Apparently someone needed to borrow his truck. I guess the GTO can't haul woodchips and rocks... I'll post some pictures later if I remember to bring a camera when I go drive it today after work.

[mwebb]

Yeha the GTO was based off the pontiac tempest- (ibelieve)But I still think that the styling is bad- I would have liked to see something retro like the 05 mustang that is coming out. Just my 2 Cents

[Fformula88]

The GTO's styling isn't all that exciting, but I certainly wouldn't call it bad. It is a sleek looking coupe with clean lines. Its no Trans Am, but lets face it, its no Aztec either. For the price of the car, I would want more differentiating style, but that will be here in about 3 years when the GTO moves to the new Zeta platform.Is the GTO's engine modified to the max? (removed)? Have you heard of the Trans Am? Camaro? Corvette?? Are their versions of the LS1 modified to the max? Didn't think so. The GTO is a little rich for what it is IMO, but not outragrously so. It is a little more than an Enthusiast Z350, but gives you two more cylinders and much nicer interior. Its about the same as a Crossfire coupe, which is a car that is underpowered. The GTO as it is right now was done in a hurry because Bob Lutz did not want to leave the whole left by cancelling the Fierbird/Camaro. Those cars, due to new safety regulations, could not be produced past the 2002 model year, and the Zeta rear drive platform won't be ready until the 07-08 model year for a true two door performance coupe. So he brought the GTO over from Australia simply to be a stop-gap until the Zeta based GTO arrives.

[ragingfish]

I've read in several places in one or two model years, the GTO will inherit more of a resemblence to it's heritage...

[Merzbow]

Thank god because this styling is upsetting.No I apparently know nothing of LS1 engines which is why I asked if you could modify the engine I wouldn't have asked if I knew the answer! Thanks for clearing it up though.PABLO- Considering inflation into the equation the Nova didn't cost anywhere near the price of a GTO now when it was new. My dad bought one brand new as his second car at about 21 and he was definately not born into a money making family and he himself didn't make alot of money. If it did that would be like me, being 16, buying a GTO brand new right here and now...impossibleAs for the sound...there's no way in hell you could get any new car, set aside the trans ams and camaros...to sound like this Nova...the GTO barely produces any sound worth bragging about stock so I have a hard time imagining the GTO producing a sound able to be compared to his Nova. As I said before I like the GTOs so don't hate me for that, it's just that I am a bit disappointed with the design and cost and stuff.Does any one have a link to that Zeta frame or whatever so I can see some pictures?

[Pablo1669]

inflation was just one factor... add in all the new technology, better parts, and such, and you'll have a more "on mark" comparison.I too wish automobile manufacturers would sell these cars really cheap so everyone could afford them, but I don't think they want to lose their (removed). I guess it's all part of the fact they are here to make money, not to lose it just to make your average 16-23 year olds happy

[Fformula88]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Does any one have a link to that Zeta frame or whatever so I can see some pictures? I have not seen anything yet on the particulars of the Zeta architecture or any upcoming pictures of potential vehicles on it. I wouldn't expect to see much for a couple years since it is still a little ways off. Keep your eyes on Detroit Auto Show coverage the next couple Januaries, that is likely where GM will start to show off Zeta concept cars.I did read just this week that Lutz said that chevy would get a V8 powered RWD version of a Zeta based car, and it would NOT be a Camaro. So I guess anyone hoping to see that nameplate come out of mothballs is SOL, at least for now.

[MJN2]

Here's one concept car built on the Zeta platform that I was able to find after a quick Google search. The Buick Velite:

[Pablo1669]

yeah, thats the one! I hear someone got some spy photos from the design center here in warren. They are after this guy because the production model is, as always, slightly different then the concept car.

[Merzbow]

So what's the deal with this platform? What signifigance does it have over anyother platform, and by platform what do you ean? chassis, or what?

[Mr. Poopypants]

I got to take a good look at a GTO yesterday when I picked up my car at the dealership after service. That WILL be my next car.

[Fformula88]

A platform is essentially the basic floorpan and suspension points of a vehicle. Most vehicles are built of shared platforms, thereby reducing the R&D cost of each car. For example, the Vibe and Matrix and Corrolla are built off the same platform and share major suspension and engine parts. Many platforms are designed so individual vehicles can be shorter or longer in either overall length and/or wheelbase too. What is special about the Zeta platform is that it is a midsize car RWD platform which can be used for performance cars with V8 engines! That is apposed to say the platform which the Grand Prix is built off of, which does not offer the option of a RWD.

[Merzbow]

Ohhhh i get it...So it would be similar to that Ford Focus RS or whatever it is that has a rear wheel drive v8

[redlava]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »I got to take a good look at a GTO yesterday when I picked up my car at the dealership after service. That WILL be my next car.There is one in the dealership here. I was in there for the hell of it and one of the salesmen came up to me and wanted to sell it to me. I asked him how much he could shave off of the price tag. He told me not much, so I asked him if he would give me $30 grand for my Vibe as a trade in. And he actually had the nerve to walk away from me. But those seats in the GTO are mighty cozy. Wonder if I could buy them from GM and install them in my Vibe.

[MJN2]

I got a close up look at one yesterday when I picked my Vibe up from the dealer. Had a red GTO in getting an oil change. They even started it up so I could hear it.All I have to say is....*drool* and "wish I had the money for one"

[ngilbert]

I happen to think the GTO styling is about right on, a little understated, but nice and clean. Plenty of power, new car warranty, new technology, etc etc. A little pricey for me, but hey, that's what's GMAC is for! Now, if only I can get an LS1 installed in the Vibe....