No Love for GTO?
08-12-2004, 11:25 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by Sol
A little quick fact here. Back in the 60s, the GTO was based off of a plain jane sedan called the Tempest. While the tempest looks like what we think is a muscle car, back then it was a normal sedan-like car.
This is basically just the new generation GTO. It is truly keeping its roots by doing the same thing that was done in the 60'*.
This is basically just the new generation GTO. It is truly keeping its roots by doing the same thing that was done in the 60'*.
08-12-2004, 11:40 AM
#13
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but oh, the Pontiac GTO/Holden Monaro does share roots with a sedan. The Holden Commodore.
... and yes, the LS1 is available in it...
Personally, the GTO is one of my favouritest (yes
) cars in the GM fleet. Hot, clean, yet conservative styling, even if it'* not that much different from the Monaro/Commodore. I don't think I'd like it nearly as much if GM decides to put Grand Am GT-like ram air scoops on it 
One thing the GTO needs is a diet. 3700ish pounds? :o
... and yes, the LS1 is available in it...
Personally, the GTO is one of my favouritest (yes
) cars in the GM fleet. Hot, clean, yet conservative styling, even if it'* not that much different from the Monaro/Commodore. I don't think I'd like it nearly as much if GM decides to put Grand Am GT-like ram air scoops on it One thing the GTO needs is a diet. 3700ish pounds? :o
08-12-2004, 12:17 PM
#15
Originally Posted by TrueWildMan
Originally Posted by vital49
Personally, I think the GTO is a well styled car.
However, I am instantly turned off to cars that have a vintage look (i.e. Thunderbird, new Mustangs, GTO, 300C, etc.). I look at it as a cop-out from the OEMs and engineers to redesign a legend. IMO, it is an excuse because they can't come up with a new design that'* innovative to compete in today'* automotive marketplace, thus they settle for a redesigned legend. Very weak IMO. And I am yet to see a redesigned legend be a hot seller.
Much like how I feel about oldies that have been "remixed." Sheez...get a life....write you're own music. If I want to listen to karaoke, I'll go to a bar.
End of rant.... :?
However, I am instantly turned off to cars that have a vintage look (i.e. Thunderbird, new Mustangs, GTO, 300C, etc.). I look at it as a cop-out from the OEMs and engineers to redesign a legend. IMO, it is an excuse because they can't come up with a new design that'* innovative to compete in today'* automotive marketplace, thus they settle for a redesigned legend. Very weak IMO. And I am yet to see a redesigned legend be a hot seller.
Much like how I feel about oldies that have been "remixed." Sheez...get a life....write you're own music. If I want to listen to karaoke, I'll go to a bar.
End of rant.... :?
To be quite honest, if it looks like it was easy to design, then they succeeded to a grand degree.
Come on OEMs....come up with something new and innovative and not use a car that was popular 30-40 years ago as a baseline.
Given historically poor sales of redisgned legends, it seems like a substantial waste of time and effort.
08-12-2004, 12:20 PM
#16
Also....kinda goes along the same lines of retiring numbers in major league sports. The legends have their own place in history. I have the same opinion about cars! Leave the oldies, but goodies in history where they belong!! 
08-12-2004, 12:20 PM
#17
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Originally Posted by vital49
Originally Posted by TrueWildMan
Originally Posted by vital49
Personally, I think the GTO is a well styled car.
However, I am instantly turned off to cars that have a vintage look (i.e. Thunderbird, new Mustangs, GTO, 300C, etc.). I look at it as a cop-out from the OEMs and engineers to redesign a legend. IMO, it is an excuse because they can't come up with a new design that'* innovative to compete in today'* automotive marketplace, thus they settle for a redesigned legend. Very weak IMO. And I am yet to see a redesigned legend be a hot seller.
Much like how I feel about oldies that have been "remixed." Sheez...get a life....write you're own music. If I want to listen to karaoke, I'll go to a bar.
End of rant.... :?
However, I am instantly turned off to cars that have a vintage look (i.e. Thunderbird, new Mustangs, GTO, 300C, etc.). I look at it as a cop-out from the OEMs and engineers to redesign a legend. IMO, it is an excuse because they can't come up with a new design that'* innovative to compete in today'* automotive marketplace, thus they settle for a redesigned legend. Very weak IMO. And I am yet to see a redesigned legend be a hot seller.
Much like how I feel about oldies that have been "remixed." Sheez...get a life....write you're own music. If I want to listen to karaoke, I'll go to a bar.
End of rant.... :?
To be quite honest, if it looks like it was easy to design, then they succeeded to a grand degree.
I think if the same (dare I say) innovation was used on the GTO, it would sell like hotcakes as well.
08-12-2004, 12:46 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by vital49
There may be more work involved. I still pose the same question....why redesign a legend??? Seems pointless. And I still haven't seen a retro'ed car be a hot seller. History is the story teller on that.
Come on OEMs....come up with something new and innovative and not use a car that was popular 30-40 years ago as a baseline.
Given historically poor sales of redisgned legends, it seems like a substantial waste of time and effort.
Come on OEMs....come up with something new and innovative and not use a car that was popular 30-40 years ago as a baseline.
Given historically poor sales of redisgned legends, it seems like a substantial waste of time and effort.
altought sales have trailed off in recent years since '98...
08-12-2004, 12:47 PM
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Malibu = Reused the name. No styling or performance were carried over. Then again, there has been MANY variations of the Malibu throught it'* carreer.
Duster / Nova = Remeber what happened to these car in the 80'*?
Prowler = New design based on a classic type. Cost was/is too much to support it though.
SSR = Tried to hard to make a custom truck. Styling is ok, but not much to do to it know that will make it look any better. Performance ratings are less than expected.
T-Bird = Good concept, but choose the wrong year to model it after. That oval window drives me insane!!!!
Fouty-Nine = (the what?) Ford made a prototype car a few years back based on classic styling. Car actually looked pretty slick. Still needed refinement though. Here is a link to a pic.
GTO = Powertrain lives up to the name sake. It has the performance one would expect from a GTO. Where it lacks is the exterior styling. To copy an existing car and rebadge it does nothing for a name sake. They should have waited a year or two and took the time to create an image worthy of the name GTO. This doesn't nessiccarily mean to make a retro car, but rather one that fits the deffinition of GTO better. The GTO wasn't always the "fastest, most bada$$ looking" muscle car around. It had fairly tame roots. But either way, the design today does not reflect any part of the GTO history, and that is a shame.
Any thoughts on the fact that some of these model lines have never really ceased? The Mustang went from the GT500 -> 4 banger Escort look alike -> SVT. T-bird never really went away. How about the new Ford GT? Looks alot lke the old GT40... and for a good reason too.
Duster / Nova = Remeber what happened to these car in the 80'*?
Prowler = New design based on a classic type. Cost was/is too much to support it though.
SSR = Tried to hard to make a custom truck. Styling is ok, but not much to do to it know that will make it look any better. Performance ratings are less than expected.
T-Bird = Good concept, but choose the wrong year to model it after. That oval window drives me insane!!!!
Fouty-Nine = (the what?) Ford made a prototype car a few years back based on classic styling. Car actually looked pretty slick. Still needed refinement though. Here is a link to a pic.
GTO = Powertrain lives up to the name sake. It has the performance one would expect from a GTO. Where it lacks is the exterior styling. To copy an existing car and rebadge it does nothing for a name sake. They should have waited a year or two and took the time to create an image worthy of the name GTO. This doesn't nessiccarily mean to make a retro car, but rather one that fits the deffinition of GTO better. The GTO wasn't always the "fastest, most bada$$ looking" muscle car around. It had fairly tame roots. But either way, the design today does not reflect any part of the GTO history, and that is a shame.
Any thoughts on the fact that some of these model lines have never really ceased? The Mustang went from the GT500 -> 4 banger Escort look alike -> SVT. T-bird never really went away. How about the new Ford GT? Looks alot lke the old GT40... and for a good reason too.
