Driving Impressions

The new GTO is supposed to beg to be driven, above all else. And here, it delivers, relegating virtually all its shortcomings to minor irritations. Americans love V8s, and the GTO answers the call. From its throaty, rumbling exhaust note, to the subtle joy of a barely perceptible rocking movement at idle, to pink slip-collecting acceleration, this one is the real thing. Clutch take up on the manual is smooth, although strong enough to handle a heavy right foot. And that right foot treads on a responsive gas pedal, with a quick tip in giving ready access to the engine's ample power. Shift throws are short, but could be more precise, especially when the lever is directed toward reverse. Annoying is the first-to-fourth gear bypass at speeds below 20 miles per hour, necessary to avoid a gas guzzler tax on the six-speed manual, but only those sufficiently socially responsible to ever even think about leaving first gear at such a snail's pace will ever notice. The automatic transmission works quite well, quickly sensing the driver's intentions and responding with the correct gear and shift speed. A big readout on the dash displays the selected gear when shifting manually. However, we were surprised and disappointed that the automatic did not have a better manual-shift feature. While a manual-shift feature seems unnecessary on a lot of luxury cars that it comes on, it seems to be missing in action on this sporty coupe. Suspension is firm, if bordering on stiff, which translates into fun on smooth, windy roads and short trips, but wearing otherwise. The car plows initially when carrying a bit too much speed into a turn, but this is easily countered with the gas pedal. Turning off the traction control let's a driver hang the rear end out at will. (Pressing the T/C button briefly displays a neat digital graphic that tells the driver whether traction control is on.) Braking is linear, with good pedal feel. Quick transitions from left to right aren't managed with the same finesse as, say, a BMW 3 Series, but this is no shame on the new GTO. It's not only still far and above its legendary namesake, which did one thing well and never mind stopping or turning, but also better mannered than its domestic competition, the Mustang. Not to mention, it has a real rear seat.

Final Word

Long-time GTO fans likely will hesitate to plunk down 30-plus big ones to park a 2004 GTO in their garage. They want The Look, the hood scoop, the distinctive body lines, the trim accents, all those things they remember their old GTO as being, what it meant to them. But maybe it's time to grow up. This is what the 2004 Pontiac GTO represents: the car the GTO would be today if it had been kept around and allowed to mature, to learn new moves, to adapt to and adopt new technology, but always remembering how to have fun.