Indeed...
Rampant said:
First, I am a little tired of comparing cars just on one stat. There is more to a car than the 1/4 mi. time (or hp, or tq, etc...). And I am even more tire of always beating up on the GTO. Why? It is not competition (as the sales figures are proving).
Thank you, Rampant, for being one of the few who realize that.
2005 will be the final year of the Omega platform, which underpins the Holden Monaro (and, consequentially, the Pontiac GTO). For model year 2006, GM will be using the Zeta platform, which is a re-engineered version of the Omega. I understand it will be a tad smaller, stiffer, and lighter. The 2006 GTO will be the first GM-USA car to benefit from the new platform. Chevrolet is making something on the Zeta platform for 2007, though nobody seems to be 100% certain it will be a Camaro. I'm hoping for a Chevelle, myself, since it shares its platform with the GTO, just as the original did...
Keep in mind also that the GTO, unlike the Mustang, is not a Ponycar, but a Grand Tourer-- yeah, it's heavier, but it is also noticeably larger, and has been praised for its rear leg room. Whereas the Mustang is more of a Boulevard cruiser, the GTO is definitely a road trip car.
The 2005 GTO will be powered by the 6.0L LS-2 V-8, as used in the 2005 Corvette, albeit with slightly less torque (395 lb/ft instead of 400), due to the fact that the Omega platform doesn't allow quite enough space for the Corvette's intake manifold.
Comparing the GTO and the Mustang is just plain stupid, and I'm getting sick and tired of the ignorance displayed by virtually everyone who does so. It is an Apples and Oranges comparison. GET OVER IT!
