2004 Pontiac GTO Published 12/02/2004

While the 2004 Pontiac GTO is a fine automobile, the name GTO was better left to the fantasy of historical memories.

Even the 1964 Pontiac GTO should never have existed. Top General Motors management tried to nail the coffin shut on Pontiac and youth oriented high performance projects with an infamous memo on January 23, 1963. But a visionary John Delorean rebelled against the establishment by stuffing a big block 389 V8 into the 3,400 lb. economy Tempest. Offering the GTO as an option package established the muscle car era by offering fast fun and affordable cars to a new generation starved for performance.

The GTO is a legendary icon of its generation. Culminating in 1969 as "The Judge" the famed GTO was emasculated over the next few years by restrictive safety and pollution requirements. The "goat" or "Gran Turismo Omologato" named after the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO mercifully ended its ten-year run in 1974.

Thirty years later, Pontiac, short on original ideas, and desperate to tap into the nostalgia market raised the GTO from the grave. Rest assured the 2004 GTO is a fine automobile, but it does disservice to the radical rebellion of the 1960's. No longer an exercise in excess of American iron, the new Pontiac is now a rebadged Austrialian Holden Monaro. It's simply hard to imagine an all American redneck muscle car not being built by union workers in the good ole US of A.

The 2004 GTO has a super fast Corvette LS1 engine capable of rocketing from a dead stop to sixty MPH in less than six seconds. It will run the quarter mile in the 13-second range, stock from the dealership. Throaty exhaust sounds from each shift of the six-speed transmission are a visceral reminder of the 350 hp and 365 lb.-ft. of torque produced by this 5.7L V8 engine. I dare you to find another car with these performance numbers for $33,190 delivered.

In most every aspect the 2004 GTO is a much superior car than the original 1964 Pontiac GTO of 40 years ago. This is a true drivers car. From the race inspired wraparound leather seats to the 17" alloy wheels matched with performance tires and a fully independent suspension, this car radiates refinement and performance. Demanding driving inspires confidence in every situation. Limited slip differential with traction control are standard equipment. The preferred close-ratio six speed transmission is a $695 option but the standard automatic transmission saddles the vehicle with a "gas-guzzler" tax. At 17 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway my manual transmission GTO could be considered a fuel-efficient "economy car".

The most controversial aspect of the new GTO has to be the styling or lack of as some would hold. I'm really not sure what those of us who remember the original GTO expected because early goats certainly did not push the styling envelope. In fact as noted earlier, the 1964 GTO was simply an econobox Tempest with the GTO as an option package. This 2004 GTO while following in the tradition of function over form still has an attractive form. The styling is innocuous, drawing accolades from performance rather than pretense. Expect evolution in upcoming 2005 models.

The interior of the 2004 Pontiac GTO is one of the best with classic gauges color matched to the interior scheme. One notable design flaw is the excruciatingly slow power slide of the front seats required for rear passengers to enter and exit. But the matching blue suede like door panels on my test vehicle were awesome. Ten strategically located speakers delivers high performance surround sound from the 200-Watt Blaupunkt stereo system.

The 2004 Pontiac GTO recreates the principles of a fast fun and affordable car that John Delorean risked his career for forty years ago. But in my opinion they should never have disturbed the legend. This is a great international muscle car but it is not the all American, Detroit iron, union made, car of a previous generation. This GTO has a great future but it is not rooted in the past.

2004 Pontiac GTO

Rear Wheel Drive
5.7 L V8 LT1 Engine
350 hp 365 lb.-ft. torque
Six speed Manual Transmission

$33,190 MSRP as tested.

17/29 MPG

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