2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0 LS2 from North America

Summary:

Absolutely the best

General Comments:

The 2006 GTO is an awesome car for the money. You simply cannot get a car that performs or rides like this in the vicinity of 30K..Sure there could be improvements, and you could spend A lot more money, and not get a a lot more car. 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and a serious top speed, unless you plan on going NASCAR, this would fit your needs.

Unfortunately, some stupid person hit me in the right front quad panel and I have been without my ride for a month.. the downside, parts are not readily available.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th May, 2007

2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0 V8 from North America

Summary:

A fast, sleeper car that seats four comfortably if needed!

Faults:

This was the second GTO purchased.

The original GTO was delivered on June 20, 2006, and the engine threw a rod at 25 miles, two minutes after leaving the dealer's lot.

The second was located 200 miles away, and delivered June 25, 2006. This vehicle had one of the driving lights not functioning upon delivery.

General Comments:

I LOVE the car. I owned a Ford Lighting (2004) and this car is on the same level, engine power wise.

The seat comfort is a 10, and handling in corners is 10X better than any car I have driven of this size and weight.

The car always wants to go faster. You will hit 100 without realizing if you are not watchful. I love the close ratio 6 speed - ideal for "Get up and go"!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th July, 2006

2006 Pontiac GTO LS2 6.0 from North America

Summary:

This car is an absolute blast; a fusion of euro-quality luxury and raw American muscle

Faults:

Nothing major. There is some tapping in the instrument cluster area or steering column, sounds like some plastic tapping against metal.. Haven't located it yet, but that's the extent of the faults so far.

General Comments:

This is a very classy and comfortable car -- the interior rivals european luxury and performance leaves the competition standing still.

It is exceedingly powerful in the straight line, and can hang in turns quite well.

The exterior is much more commanding in person than in photos. I know a lot of people reduce it to a Grand-Prix or some other typical pontiac car, but I've owned the car 3 days now and it does turn heads. I frequently get honked at in traffic in recognition, and folks in parking lots point and whisper.

I actually like the car for it's subtle exterior, so I was hoping NOT to be recognized (I'm into the sleeper thing) and this car gets way more attention than I thought it would.

For whatever reason, the car's reputation is not that great. The GTO name has so much to live up to, it'll always be under the most scrutiny. In my honest belief of what American muscle originally meant, I think GM hit the nail on the head with the GTO, and even raised the bar by making the car fairly practical for everyday use with such a high quality interior and overall build quality.

The original GTO was mom's car with an over-sized engine and some visual enhancements. The GTO lives up to that quite well.

As far as practicality, the trunk won't win any awards. It will, however, hold enough cargo for the 2 passengers (it has 4 seats, but it's still a coupe).

The back seats are difficult to get in and out of if you're older, wider, or taller than most, but once you're inside, wow... you'd honestly think you were in the back of a 4 door. I've sat in 4 door cars with smaller back seats than the GTO. Not quite as comfortable as the front seats, but that's hardly noticeable.

But... a car like this wasn't built around the trunk or back seats, it was built around the engine and the performance, and that is where it truly shines. These features, though lacking, just add to the real world practicality of the GTO.

You get a corvette engine in a 2 + 2 coupe. The GTO won't out perform a Lotus Elise in turns, nor most of Japan's or Germany's higher end sports coupes, but with the exception of a very few, it will absolutely destroy them in a straight sprint.

For what you pay and what you get, this car is a bargain.

Fuel economy is a concern, but the car CAN do well. My daily commute is very mixed with a lot of hills and I'm getting just a bit under the suggested fuel economy for city driving. But take it on a road trip over long stretches of freeway, and you'll begin to see fuel economy similar to 4 cylinder cars (30 mpg is very possible in the 6 speed).

Run the car hard, and you'll think it was dad's old big block chevy with how much gas it eats.

Simply put, this is my first new vehicle, and I believe it was a good choice. It's a bit more expensive to buy and maintain, but in the end it's about what I want out of a car. It is the best car I've ever owned, quality wise and fun wise.

Give it a shot, and try not to be too hard on her. She has a lot to live up to, and if you have an open mind about it, you might just find she'll surprise you. :)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st July, 2006

23rd Dec 2006, 22:24

Quote "In my honest belief of what American muscle originally meant, I think GM hit the nail on the head with the GTO, and even raised the bar by making the car fairly practical for everyday use with such a high quality interior and overall build quality."

Yes this GTO came from Australia. Yes sir, built down under! Back in Australia we call it the Monaro. The Aussie public brought back this model after nearly 30 years discontinued. The American GM was so impressed with the Monaro, they bought and are still buying from Australia and rebadging it to GTO.

Go Aussie!