I test drove a GTO before...
buying a pampered '03 Cobra Coupe. (Cobra owners love
on their cars)
Why? It worked for what I wanted (A sports car/daily driver with lots of go). Your opinions and expectaionls may be very different from mine. I used a professional decision support system (computer program) called Expert Choice to help me make the purchase decision.
Before buying I researched dozens of candiadate cars. Driving top of the line examples of each of the vehicles listed below then making notes on my impressions, considered purchase price, insurance, etc... don't forget the I want to keep this factor.
These rating are not in order of finish.
'03/04 Cobra including soft tops= Drive it and you are convinced. The S/C acceleration at any rpm/speed/gear is strongest factor, Ride is controlled and much like a racing sports car. Interior is top of the line Mustang, either love it of hate it. You can upgrade it easily...seats are a good combination of everyday comfort and racer feel. Exterior has the look of a passionate driver with out to much bling bling (this can be changed easily). All things considered (IMHO) this is one of the greatest American Muscle Cars of all time. Keep it factor is off the chart because '05s will not have a Cobra version. There may never be another one like it.
Rating - 1st place for any '03-'04 supercharged version, if you can find a used one for less do it in the next 3-6 months because some owners will trade them in for the mystique of a '05 GT. (Not me
)
Pontiac GTO= Nice car if you have young kids, interior is higher quality than any production Mustang to date. Ride is composed but not much better than Cobra. The engine is pretty good, but needs at least 100 HP more to compete with any Cobra. Trans is decent. Exterior looks like a Cavalier, if GM doesn't address its boring looks quickly the slow sales will kill the car. It would take $8-10k in upgrades to get my respect. Very little keep it option.
Rating - Last Place.
Maxda RX8= nice car if you have 2 children under 16, lots of revs, looks are love it or leave it, fun to drive at 80%, needs much more HP!, you'd have to add a serious turbo to make it to the Cobra level. Like it better than the GTO for less $. Would be traded in on a Mazdaspeed RX8 when they make over 350hp.
Rating 3rd place.
Nissan 350-Z= Just rough enough around the edges to make many of us like it (just like the Cobra), but with lots of potential. Exterior makes a statment. Nicest V6 going, better gear box than the Cobra's stock version. Lots of appeal to young crowd. Needs a serious engine upgrade (Turbo) to reach the level of /03/'04 Cobra. Rougher ride with track version than even the Cobra or Corvette(F61
suspension). Great keep it factor, but not as good as Cobra.
Strong 2nd place.
'04 Corvette (Standard Coupe) = Nice ride, but not as exclusive or indivitual as a Cobra. A Z06 is more capable and was almost as much fun to drive as the Cobra. C5s run pretty fast, Z06 faster still. They would have to make the Z06's rear window look better than that. Huge fan and racing following. The only Chevy I would ever consider owning. Corvettes are also the most expenseve of the bunch by more than I was willing to pay. Keep it factor falls down due to newer C6 versions.
4th place.
Honda S2000 = Lovely like a pretty ladie, best gearbox in a production vehicle, lots of activity under the hood with a fraction of a Cobras output. Engine needs over 150hp. Rice burner to the max, reliable, focused for driving on curvy roads. Less space inside than any of the others by far. Keep it factor is highly subjective to your lifestyle. Insurance price was higher than expected. Average in the group for keep it factor.
5th Place
Audi TT = Very similar to the Honda S200, but with higher pedigree. makes the GT look like plain ugly. Excellent daily driver, lask HP as much as the RX8, or a Acura TSX. Engine lacks excitment...other than external good looks and very good handling it is an average daily driver. Insurance is worse than any except Z06 Vette(?). Strong Keep it factor.
6th Place.