pudicus said:
The GTO is an umpteen reincarnation of Opel Omega. We're talking late 1980s style and dynamics. Not sure how much sense it made to mate Corvette V8 to such a foundation. It's a better all-around package than Rustang and does have the best seats in all of GM, but that's not unlike saying - compared to yours, my girlfriend isn't so ugly. If the late Mitsu Diamante is any guide, Aussie cars tend to have the build quality of a milk crate. I've seen the GTO upclose and for the mid $30K asking price it was nothing spectactular. Oh, and don't forget the " wonderful " Pontiac purchase/service experience. BTW, don't BMW stores sell certified M3s ?
I know I'm arguing semantics here :wink: but I don't understand a few of your comments. The Monero (GTO) is based on a shortened Sigma chassis, which is also shared by the Holden Commodore, Opel Omega, Cadillac Catera, Vauxhaul, Cadillac CTS, and a plethora of new and upcoming vehicles. Heck, the brand new full size Cadillac STS & SRX is based on it as well. While the Sigma chassis has been around since the mid-‘90’s, it’s current iteration still a proven and solid platform. GM has a new global architecture strategy that comprises a central floorpan and two or three different front and rear floorpan modules to produce a cross-market variety of products on the same assembly line. This makes the Sigma chassis very versatile, completely modernized, and a basis for futures vehicles to come. I wouldn’t call that late-‘80s style and dynamics.
Also I don’t understand your V8 comment. Holden, and the Commodore model line especially, have used V8s in their cars for decades. Do you know much about Holden's history? They offered the first V8 in their cars in 1969. Why not offer the latest variation (the LS1 is NOT a Corvette-exclusive engine btw) of one in their current platform? Why does that not make any sense to you?
Finally, at GTO is priced in the low $30k’s, not mid, can be had in the high $20k’s at this point :wink: and my GMC/Pontiac purchase and service experience has been great over the years. It really comes down to the dealer you choose. YES, there are TONS of crappy GM dealers but there are those few gems out there. Same can be said about Infiniti dealers, but I'm sure they are more good ones, statistically, than bad ones compared to Pontiac so I will give you that :wink:
