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Thread: buying a GTO

  1. #1
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    buying a GTO

    Im looking into a GTO and am wondering a few things.

    First i know the 04 has the ls1 compared to the ls2 in the 05-06 but is there any drawbacks?


    I need to know the basics about what i should look for and what year and also the weak points.

    thanks for any help

  2. #2
    Grand Imperial Wizard Sarge's Avatar
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    Firstly do not get caught up in any superiority of the LS2 over the LS1. So insignificant and easily removed with some basic mods it is not worth any consideration frankly.

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    Member JAX04's Avatar
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    PBM 366ci TC78 E85
    2004 Pontiac GTO PBM A4

    just go buy one and work out any issues later. LOL> you wont be dissapointed in any year that you purchase. and like sarge said, whats 50 hp. a nice cai and good exhaust could get that back, not a significant enough difference to be the deciding factor in the year you purchase, but 04' is the best. LMAO

  4. #4
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
    2004 GTO M6

    Hehehe...modded 04.


  5. #5
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    well im not too worried about having the ls2 just the basic rule of the first year of production is the worst.

    When it comes to making power i will build the engine with more power no matter what i get, but i want to get the best car for reliability when it comes to breakage of just normal shit(not engine)

    what about rear ends are they different? are they the same weak 10 bolts the camaros have?

    I just need the basic run through

  6. #6
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    Cosmos Purple
    2004 Pontiac GTO

    GTO's have actually been in production long before being here in 04. They are made off of the holden monaro from austrialia and they have been made for awhile. They dont have a solid axle like the camaro so no, it doesnt have the weak 10 bolt. The GTO has Independent Rear Suspension so it's basically cv axles back there, and its designed to have better handling. As far as having issues out of it? probably if your gonna be at the track alot. I do know my intrument cluster has been replaced 3 times before i bought my car, and i hear they go out ALOT! So that may be another issue. Even so, they are very well made cars IMO.

  7. #7
    Veteran 0rion's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarge View Post
    Firstly do not get caught up in any superiority of the LS2 over the LS1. So insignificant and easily removed with some basic mods it is not worth any consideration frankly.
    you always say this old man and this is the one thing I disagree with you about. 99% of the guys out there won't stroke their GTO's and those extra cubic inches make a difference to those guys. The bigger cubes pull better on the top end and allow you to run a much bigger cam and keep the car street friendly. The 05+ got 243 heads also which is nice to have. The 05+ cars brakes also are much much better than the 04's. They also got a door lock button which is minor but nice to have. I know we're entitled to our own opinions.......I just think if you're in the market for a GTO I would give favor to the 05-06 GTO unless you think you'll stroke the car at some point then it doesn't matter too much because the other main plus is brakes and those are fairly easy to upgrade even over the 05-06 levels.
    One drawback to the LS2 is that E-38 pcm. It's a pain in the ass to tune from my experience.....much different than the LS1 pcm's and not many are real familiar with it.

  8. #8
    Grand Imperial Wizard Sarge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by joewarner View Post
    well im not too worried about having the ls2 just the basic rule of the first year of production is the worst.

    When it comes to making power i will build the engine with more power no matter what i get, but i want to get the best car for reliability when it comes to breakage of just normal shit(not engine)

    what about rear ends are they different? are they the same weak 10 bolts the camaros have?

    I just need the basic run through
    No 10 bolts here....

  9. #9
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarge View Post
    No 10 bolts here....
    Click for full size
    Sarge...those Bilsteins yer running?

  10. #10
    Member GTO1_OHIO's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
    2004 GTO

    Some other things.

    The 04 TB is a cable type and the 05/06 is the sucks ass drive by wire. The 04 radiator is lower ... better for a OTRCAI if you go that route. The 05/06 tranny is a 4L65E vs the 04 that has a 4L60E... so the 65 is a bit stronger. All model years have suspension bushings and other parts that are known to fail early ... so that's a wash. The 04 has a LS6 intake vs the lesser L2 intake on the 05/06. ...and you can use a Ingals Stiffy right out of the box with the 04.

  11. #11
    Grand Imperial Wizard Sarge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cammed goat View Post
    Sarge...those Bilsteins yer running?
    Koni's adjustables. Porsche Axles. Billet stubs.Pedders Drag Springs. Poly bushings. Pedders rear frame bushings.

  12. #12
    Member JAX04's Avatar
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    PBM 366ci TC78 E85
    2004 Pontiac GTO PBM A4

    just go get the one with lower miles and cheaper price. you cant go wrong either way!!!! GTO=FTW!!!!

  13. #13
    Junior Member BYOFICR's Avatar
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    QSM
    04 gto

    yea i agree with the rest no bad year. I think the best bang for buck right now is 04

  14. #14
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
    2004 GTO M6

    No matter what year...a GTO is a blessing.

  15. #15
    Adios and vaya con dios ZAPFOOL!!'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cammed goat View Post
    No matter what year...a GTO is a blessing.
    in sheeps clothing (see the pun)....too many times...people are like..what was that..love the modern GTO ...sleeper to the bone

  16. #16
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZAPFOOL!! View Post
    in sheeps clothing (see the pun)....too many times...people are like..what was that..love the modern GTO ...sleeper to the bone
    Amen.

  17. #17
    Senior Member 440 rwhp trans am's Avatar
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    red ta orange gto
    97 trans am 06 gto

    i perfer the ls2. the brakes are soooooooo much beter! plus the trans, hood, locks, colors {which i only care about}, and i like the drive by wire. but you can pick up a 04 for super cheap! either way it makes the fbody seem like a cheap plastic toy.
    Click for full size

  18. #18
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
    2004 GTO M6

    ^^^HEY...FBodies RULE TOO ya know!!

  19. #19
    Adios and vaya con dios ZAPFOOL!!'s Avatar
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    is it bad i look at the guy beside me and think...what gear u want?

  20. #20
    11 years of bangin gears cammed goat's Avatar
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    Phantom Black Metallic
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZAPFOOL!! View Post
    is it bad i look at the guy beside me and think...what gear u want?
    LOL. Makes me think of the Lemons12 addage:

    Give em this--->

    and they give ya this--->

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