Yeah. My wife loves the car too, and if I said "Let'* do it", it would be in my garage today. No problem. But there'* the issue of gas mileage and grand kids - Bonnevilles have 4 doors and get better fuel mileage. Old guys have to be concerned with that kind of stuff. *stupid practicality*

BTW, that car has been listed for a couple months now. He'* asking $23k, but since made a couple payments so could probably be talked down a bit.

CMNTMXR57, thanks for the write-up! I've lurked over at your boards a couple times and learned a thing or two, and have been considering a future GTO purchase. I'm still torn for a number of my own reasons, but...

BTW, how bad has your insurance been on the GTO. I did a comparison online one day and there seemed to be a big difference in insurance between a Bonneville/GXP and the GTO. Not surprising to me, actually. I am, however interested in your direct experience.

BTW gojo, sorry if I got slightly off track in your thread. If you haven't looked already, I've found that craigslist. com often has decent local listings too.

I just got back from the LS!/LS2GTO forums. I really suggest that you go on there and read up awhile in the "For Sale" section. It'* eye-opening and informative, IMO. Plus, there are a number of cars for sale there.

Not a problem Lash. There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about the car due to its’ lack of commonality with other GM offerings, the fact that is was limited production (18,000 cars per year for 3 model years), and that it’* built by Holden, in Australia that also leads to a lot of misinformation. There are many things that people have found here that don’t work so well on the car, like the defroster, weather stripping (which was changed as one of the things for a stateside car), or that cluster freak out I mentioned previously. Why? Because the Monaro was never intended for the harsher climate(*) found here in the U.*. Australia is a fairly temperate climate.

Another thing, and some may not realize this, but the gas tank on the GTO is in the trunk. So if you value your trunk space, this IS NOT the car for you. In order to meet U.*. NHSTA safety requirements (and to allow the true dual exhaust setup), Pontiac/Holden/GM had to do this. To be honest with you, I really think it’* safer where it is in the GTO than in the Monaro (or any other car on the road). Not only is it better isolated from any impact (vs. being under the car UNDER the rear seat), it’* in a cocoon of the unibody and in addition, has it’* own safety brace/cage. With that said, many Monaro owners down under have tried to convert to the U.*. setup, primarily for the exhaust setup. I will say though, that despite the tank taking up half the space, I’ve never had any problems, and aside from big, bulky items, it has swallowed up as much as my Camaro did. For car shows, not only do I bring my cooler, but my supplies, two car covers, a legion of towels, blankets, and of course a couple folding chairs and I get it all into the trunk!

Another thing to factor with this car, if you’re used to the usual assortment of Bonneville gadgets and gizmos, or are into the latest Bluetooth built in setups, MP3 stereo’*, navigation systems, etc, THIS CAR IS NOT FOR YOU! It is a very well assembled, with high quality materials, automobile, but it is VERY Spartan! It does not even have heated seats (remember, it’* an Australian car, they don’t need heated seats ), autodimming mirrors, compass, etc. Not that these couldn’t be added aftermarket and many owners on the board do add them. The one thing I wish they would’ve brought stateside was the digital HVAC setup the Monaro has. It perfectly compliments the stereo in it’* layout.

I saw gas mileage concerns with the car. A lot depends on how you drive it. However, believe it or not, even with heads and cam, headers, and all bolt on’*, my last tank of gas in the GTO was actually better than my last tank of gas in the Bonne GXP! Last night, I filled the GXP and was getting 17.75 mpg in mixed driving here in Chicago. This is not to far off the 19mpg average I was getting with my GTP prior to the Bonneville! Conversely, my last tank in the GTO, despite my “very spirited” weekend driving, was 18.3 mpg. Now admittedly, my MPG on the tank I used when I was last at the drag strip was 12 or 13 mpg. So if you’re moderate with it, it can be fairly respectable. On the highway, I manage about 26mpg with it, which is MORE than respectable considering the cars’ performance capabilities! FYI, I have the 6 speed manual in case you’re wondering.

As to insurance, my last premium payment was $440 semi-annually through State Farm, here in Chicago. I am married and going on 35 with a house. I have the GTO listed as a “pleasure/secondary/recreational vehicle driven less than 10,000 miles per year” which cuts my rate some. But it too is still within the $430 semi-annually I pay on my Bonneville. Insurance is a hard one to tell because we each have our different situations, locations, and driving record(*).

well here is a little update for you all he called after driving an 04 and said he loved it and I told him about the ones in colorado and I could hear his interest peak so I have a feeling if we have a great harvest this year I will be seeing either a blue or silver or black gto in the back Garage. Also I know this a bonneville site but he might be looking to get a GS Regal as my moms DD when the aurora goes good bye my life would be complete I have my bird and my regal and I could use the GTO for special occasions. That would be great

Nothing wrong with a Regal GS! I miss my GTP. That car by far has been one of the most fun cars I've owned.

he called back while I was home and I got the details 2000 mile 04 silver and black interior for get this 20,900 seems like a heck of a price to me I might have a whorage coming up

A lot depends on where he'* at. I think you said Colorado, right? They aren't that common there so, $20k sounds about right for an '04. Around here though, that'd be a little high. You could pick up a new '06 off the showroom floor for $25k because of all the competitive Pontiac dealers in the area trying to push remaining inventory. But Chicago, Florida, Houston, the east coast, and California, are the populous areas with these cars and where the majority of our membership is on the board. Chicago and Houston alone have a huge population of active members which is why they get singled out as cities.

well actually it is in NE in a little town of about 50K so if it is too much what would I push for 17?

Yea, high teens would be what I would place the average at. If you can do better, by all means. But if it'* a used car at a dealership, they aren't going to be as fluid on price due to the fact that they have to recondition it at some level of cost (whether the car needs it or not), so they do have some vested time/labor in it.