1st Impression - GTO
 

My co-worker bought her 16 yr old son a Pontiac GTO for his birthday ( she told him she would if he got straight A's ) and she brought it to work yesterday and let me take it for a spin.

Nice car, more of a luxury coupe than a pure sports car ( with a big old engine - 400 hp ). Very quick off the line, nice interior, and Blaupunkt stereo.

Gotta say, though, once I got back in the Box for the ride home, I still like my car a hell of a lot better :D

Nick

Nick, your friend should have her head examined. Giving a 16 year old kid a car with 400 horsepower is like giving a toddler a loaded shotgun with a hair trigger.

Please return to this thread each and ever time she tells you about how he's been ticketed, wrecked it, or worse. It will just validate my sentiment that driver's licenses should not be granted to anyone under the age of 21. It would save thousands of lives each year and our insurance rates on our cars would plummet with these reckless drivers off the streets.

I know... I used to be one of them! :eek:

I concur Randall, but I'm not sure which is worse, a 16 yr old with a 400 hp car or all these idiot soccer moms in their huge SUV's talking on their cell phones :eek:

Nick

thats a nice car Nick, i had a chance to drive one before, and its pretty freaggin quick.
and as for the tickets and whatnot, its the car, not really the driver.
i drive my box the same way i did my camaro, and yet in camaro i would get pulled over AT LEAST once a week, which just got boring/old really fast and i sold the thing, on top of getting 9mpg if i took it easy lol.

funny, sold it to a kid who was 16, just got his license, and works at Jewel, i think he crashed it :eek:

RN, I was reciting your post in my head as I was reading Nick's! I used to cringe every time one of my teenage kids left in the car. My sons had an '84 Volvo Sedan and my daughter now has an '06 VW Beetle. The thought of them driving a 400hp beast with next to no driving experience would be unbearable.

I don't want to stereotype Nick's co-worker's kid, because he may be very level headed and responsible, but with a brand new GTO, it only takes a split second lapse.

get this kid to the nearest PCA or SCCA Autocross ASAP.
Once you teach a teen ager how to drive he's less likely to do something stupid.
Reckless driving usually occurs because because kids have no respect for power.

Frankly, your coworker is STUPID.

That car will probably be wrecked within 6 months. 400hp is simply TOO MUCH CAR for a 16 year old.

I hope she has a ton of money, because that car will likely end up a total loss.

This may be the first time I've ever hear anyone say that a Pontiac has a "nice interior." :barf:

Bravo, Perfectlap ! I was just telling her about the autocross I went to Sunday and told her that her son and husband should join me next time. Not only would it be fun, but I explained to her it would be a great experience for her son to learn the limits of the car in a safe, controlled environment.

I guess great minds think alike ;)

Nick

Unless he hits a wall off in the corner :eek:

I just have to add my agreement with the sentiment here!

I have two kids now 22 and 18 I did not even think about buying them high powered cars here is what I did:

My son’s first car was a Dodge Dakota Truck (he wanted a truck!). It came with a 4 banger and the only significant add on was air conditioning & ABS brakes. He drove it around for 2 years without any major mishaps (a few scraps here and there) and in doing so he learned how to control a car and anticipate what his car and what others do.

My daughter (now 18) was given a Chevy Malibu Classic, in the last two years she got into one fender bender (a 2 kid car accident - they were both doing something wrong!) at low speed and one parking lot scrape. She now says quite openly that she was a terrible driver when she first got her license, she is much improved now.

Both cars were about 2 years old when purchased, they were/are safe and reliable and do not have the power to get them to 100mph very quickly (if at all!).

Both of my kids attended the street survival driving course (a must!) and drive pretty well now (my son AutoXs his VW GTI!).

So my guidance for kids cars is that they be Safe, Boring and reliable! – Keep your kids safe!

I can't say I disagree with you guys but it's her son and her money and he seems like a good kid ( a lot more level headed than I was at 16 which is not saying much )

I had a Honda CRX when I was 16 and I crashed that 4 banger numerous times as did all my friends that had expensive fast cars ( not that a CRX is expensive or fast but you wouldn't believe some of the cars my classmates had - gotta love southern CA )

pteam - luckily the parking lot they run the SCCA events at is huge ! He would really have to go far off course to hit a wall ( crashing into a bunch of cars at the starting grid is a possibility, though )

Nick

Ditto!

Here's what I've learned about 16 year olds today and their parents.

1. Kids are smart these days. Far smarter than my generation at that age. Just my opinion, but I think others would agree.

2. Kids are far more saavy to the ways of the world today than when I was growing up. In other words, a straight A student can also be selling bootleg speed pills over the internet, and he's smart enough to keep his mouth shut — and no one, not even his best friend knows he's doing it. He's squirreled the money away and is scheming to buy a Porsche the day he goes off to college, which his parents are paying for because they don't know he's got $40k growing in his Fidelity brokerage account.

3. My friends with teenaged kids actually think they know what their kids are doing or not doing most of the time. What a load of crap. Their kids are all smiles and straight A's around them and act like gangsters when the parents are out of sight. Many teenage kids today have a strong dual persona.

Geez. I re-read this before I posted it and I am officially an old geezer at 45! One would expect me to come out with "cut your hair and get a job and start paying taxes like the rest of us, you snot-nosed little brat!"

The first car we got my oldest son was a '77 Firebird Formula with a 455ci engine. The second was a Datsun 240Z with 3 Webers and the third was a Geo Metro convertible. The only one he wrecked was the Metro.
Now, almost twenty yrs later, I hear stories about 125mph on a two-lane blacktop north of town in the Firebird. Fortunately he survived it all, probably no thanks to me.
I look back on it and say to myself, what was I thinking?

To each their own I guess. The mother will have to live with the consequences of her actions but in my opinion people who do not earn things do not appreciate them. We may be doing things that we think are in our children's best interest at the time but life lessons and parenting sometimes mean holding back what our hearts would like us to do. I have a 16 year old son who is crazy about cars and I could buy him the coolest car in town but what would that teach him? I believe that it would rob him of the satisfaction of working, earning, and than smiling a sense of accomplishment because he did it himself. Working towards a dream instead of it handed to him like an ice cream cone. The world is full of these stories about kids gifted with too much car for their maturity. I know personally of three horrible accidents and two deaths because of this type of situation. This particular kid may be great and wise beyond his years but it is a bad recipe. At any rate, about the car. They are pretty nice in a straight line but I have seen it autocrossed and it wasn't pretty. Its like so many of the new domestic cars that are one dimensional. Not the total package but would be fun at the weekend drags.

Thats because its not a Pontiac, Its a Holden! From the land down under.


and THAT IS STUPID TO GET THAT CAR FOR A 16 YEAR OLD. I am only 20 myself and I recently looked into getting a GTO, but decided on the Boxster instead. I love GTOs they are really good cars, good to look at, solid, good build quality, and reliable, but it is a HELL of alot of car. I think maybe even too much for me. The car is soo big, you loose your sense of speed when driving it. It would be easy to fly into a turn and loose it, if you did not know what you are doing. My 21 year old friend just bought one, but he is a experienced track driver. If i was given that on my 16th birthday, I might not be here today. Thats why I got a '99 Jeep Cherokee. I went Off-Roading instead, LOL :D
The GTO is a car for experienced 35 year olds!
Good Luck to the Kid, and God Speed

I was driving to my Parents house over the weekend on 75 here in Big D and in my rear view mirror I saw a bright yellow GTO, brand new come flying up behind me. He then proceeded to slow down and challenge me to a race. I was already doing 65 and just looked at him and laughed. It was a young kid behind the wheel. He took off and not more than half a mile later I see a SUV COP flying up behind me after him. The kid tried to exit the Hwy and I saw the COP follow him off the exit and turn his lights on. Then I realy started laughing. :p

I disagree, its like giving a toddler a 8+1 mossberg 590 with 6 "less than deadly" rounds with 3 xxx buck shot rounds loaded in a mixed order. Oh and a hair trigger

LMFAO ROFL :D :D :D

I was given sports cars when I was 16 and the only wreck I've ever had was running over a parking block too far in my 3 inch ground clearance Z3. Im 19 now, been on this forum for 2 birthdays (no one wrote me happy birthday either...) I personally was going to get an 06 GTO, but they were raping me on my trade in so I didnt do it. Its about the individuals, not the car honestly. Give a 16 y/o an 84 civic and they think they are the balls and will drive it 100 MPH down a 25. believe it or not, but there are some smart, good driving 16 y/o's.

Sooo true. I once had my car stolen. Made a few phone calls (I was working in law enforcement at the time) and got the car back. Later found out the guy pivotal in all of this was a guy who used to be in my AP Physics class! He was going to Med School and funding it all with all sorts of illegal activities.
This line between what is just and what's a way to quick cash has completely been lost on young people. Same goes for young women and sex, having a sex tape and being a nice A student doesn't clash with these kids today.

anyhooters.... back to young people and fast cars. I used to drive very very fast on public roads. When I had an unmarked police car at my disposal it was like the worst thing that could have happened. People would just get out of your way. But once I started receiving professional high peformance driving instruction everything changed. I realized how little I knew and how clueless others on the road were. The result was I drove slower on streets and avoided highways whenver possible, particularly at night when the drunks are out.

I don't drive fast not because of fear of speed and losing control but more of other drivers not paying attention when they are driving. Sound like an old man at 31 but defensive driving is priority for me on the road.

obviously i am not going to debate the merits of shoehorning a big v8 into an otherwise mundane car, but damn, that is about the ugliest POS out on the road. this truly is a case of the "putting lipstick on a gorilla". since it is so fast, you'd think they'd at least make the back of it nice.

Proof you can't polish a turd.

ouch...tough crowd.

For an American car its not so bad. I saw a red one in traffic yesterday and it caught my eye. I dind't realize it was a Pontiac until I looked closer.
I think last year they had a TV movie where the new GTO was like a central theme with a ton of Pontiac commercials. At one point the main character had to disguise the GTO to avoid the police so they modified it with new paint and new wheels.
Can't believe I sat through the whole thing...

You're kidding, right? It looks exactly like a Sunbird. It may be quick, but that thing is a disgrace to one of the most revered names in Musclecardom.

Totally agree with Grizzly about it being disgrace to American Muscle cars. I love the way vintage muscle cars look but whatever they are producing these days are just ugly. I wanted to stay away from commenting on look of GTO since it is more personal taste question but I can't get over how it looks as ugly as Cavaliers. Most of us in this forum has some idea on what looks good since we drive one of better looking cars out there. Maybe I'm not seeing it but GTO is one ugly car with gas guzzling engine in it. I heard this from someone and it's somewhat true these days about American auto industry. "Americans don't make cars, they make people transporting devices with 4 wheels"

WOW Guys, It's hard to watch you trash one of my favorite cars.

First off, I know its got a Pontiac badge, and that instantly takes away any possible coolness. For those who don't know this is what this car really is:

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5...5071600kg2.jpg

A Holden Monaro, for the Aussi's, or a Vauxhall Monaro for the European Union.
This is a great car, especially for the money. For those of you who are Top Gear fans, you understand that this is good simple Australian muscle and that this car handles! This car fools alot of people, but it can keep up with many of the mighty cars of today. I also like the looks. I admit they are love it or hate it, but the simple clean look is timeless and classic. Although I've been known to have poor taste :D. The downfall of this car was poor advertising. It's that simple. I think GM did the best they could to have this car live up to the GTO name, It just did not work out. I like it better as a Monaro anyway. At least they did not ruin the name like Dodge did to the Charger.
Don't let that Pontiac Dress blind you from a truly great car.

zackwatt, you can't have poor taste since you seem to own 2 of my favorite cars, FX and Boxster. i'll see if i can forgive you for liking the looks of GTO. haha.

not the right thread but Top Gear Rocks!!

I have to disagree with everyone on this one, maybe its because im younger (23) but when i was 16 i had a red 400hp+ corvette and i didnt crash it, kill anyone or anything like that lol I never even got a speeding ticket in that thing. so i think it depends on what the kid is like, hes a straight A student so he sounds like hes responsible. Id had about 4-5 incidents with some soccer moms on their phones almost ran me off the street in their huge vans cuz they werent paying attention yet ive had no bad expiriances with young kids driving...

although I agree an autocross event is a great idea and its something he'll probably really enjoy.

Ive driven my friends GTO its a great car and yes it has a great interior IMO, i gotta say i perfer my friends seats over my 06 box stock seats. They're wayyy more comfortable

it's not ugly because it's a pontiac. it's just ugly. call it what you want, holden monaro, vauxhall, whatever. the brand doesn't change the looks. it's fine to have a fast and ugly car. i had a wrx for 3 years. another great (ugly) car for the money. great value, sure. great looking, no. it's just bad. any positive attributes you see in the car are from its performance, not from its looks.

That must prove it then, I have liked the 3 previous generations of the WRX. I hate the new one. Also like the way the GTO looks. Like I've said, I've been known to have poor taste. LOL :D

I am surprised that there is 400hp under the hood. Never would have thunk it.

I think it's a crime for this to wear a GTO badge. Truly a great muscle car that deserves its legacy or a revival worthy of its past. Just cheap attempt by Pontiac to get sales of the name.

And this coming from a former fan, I had a 72 GTO 455 and 73 455 Trans Am.

Oh well.

Looks pretty funky with 400hp if you ask me. I'd trade for a day.

My point exactly...You don't take some already in production car, regardless of how good it may be, slap a new grille in it and call it a GTO. For those who don't know, the original GTO was the first true musclecar. It started what I consider to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, periods in the history of the automobile. I'm not a GM fan necessarily, but it is impossible to discount the original GTO's contribution to automotive history. Without the Goat, many of the most desirable nameplates on the planet may never have come to be. While a few manufacturers have been able to successfully evoke the passion of their golden past, Pontiac certainly missed the mark with the new GTO.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...esfront000.jpg

If you want to see how to do it right, just check out the 2005 Ford GT, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2008 Chevrolet Camaro or 2008 Shelby GT500KR.

Umm, isn't that exactly what the original GTO was? they took some already in production car (the tempest) and slapped a new grille and engine in it and called it a gto. the name gto isn't even original. the name was "inspired by" ferrari. and when they say "inspired by" they mean ripped off. that coke head john delorean probably didn't even know what gto stood for.

The difference is that when Gee, Delorean, Estes, Knudsen, Wangers and the others got together and built the first muscle-car, they were doing something totally new. They took a cheap, midsized car, stuffed it full of motor and went hunting a previously unfulfilled market.

The fact that they named the car GTO was no accident. They pilfered the name on purpose, as a tongue in cheek shot at Ferrari. The purists went nuts, which was exactly what marketing genius Jim Wangers was hoping. It caused a stir within the automotive community and attracted a lot of attention that the car may not have otherwise garnered. One of the car magazines at the time actually pitted the Ferrari GTO against the Pontiac GTO. Much to Ferrari's chagrin, the Pontiac handily outran the Ferrari in straight-line acceleration (the only thing Pontiac really cared about), further solidifying the Goat's street cred.

Those guys built an entire automotive movement by doing something that hadn't been seen before, and targeting a specific and under-served market segment. As a result, the Pontiac GTO name became automotive legend. Pontiac made a bad choice when they chose to revive the nameplate and stick it on a completely uninspiring vehicle, which doesn't give even the slightest nod to GTO's history.

Had Pontiac taken the performance of their current car and wrapped it in an attractive body, which was reminiscent of the GTO's storied past, the car could have been great, and Pontiac's sales numbers might have reflected their success. Instead, they dropped the ball, and the final chapter in GTO's history is one of dismal sales numbers for a fast Sunbird look-alike.

Grizzly are you speaking of the 288GTO?

Grizzly, good history lesson. Thanks!