Thinking of buying GTO, some questions..

[StuntmanMike]

Hey everyone,
This is my first time posting on this board, at least under this username. I lost my old login years ago.

Anyway, I'm thinking of picking up a GTO, and I have a few questions.

First, are there any major issues with '04's? I know alot of the times there are a lot of bugs in a car during it's first model year. Any of these that I should be aware of?

Oh, and I'm looking used, btw. Probably an '04 or '05. I've been looking and I'm seeing quite a few of them with less then 30k miles in the 18-20k range.

20k is about my max for a car these days, and I know dollar for dollar I won't find a faster car.

Besides the lack of the LS2, are there any other downfalls to the earlier cars? I'd love the 400hp, but then again, 345 ain't too shabby. My 98Formy had 40 less, and that car was a rocket. So I think I can deal with "only" 345hp.

How's the reliability? Any major issues?

This would be a daily driver for me, I drive 60 miles round trip to work. Are these cars good for commuting? With an auto, could I get at least 23 or 24mpg with a light foot, mostly highway? This doesn't seem unreasonable, my M6 Formy got 28 on the highway.

And lastly, could I get away with using 89 (for commuting), or do they require premium fuel?

Thanks alot, I really appreciate any input.

edit: Just did some research. Turns out the '04 is 350hp, not 345, and the LS2 came out in '05. Sweet, maybe I CAN get into a LS2 then.

[05gtoautoX]

There was some front strut problems, But I'm sure if you buy a used one it'll be already taken care of, go for the LS-2 goat, the goat is about 300 lbs heavier than your formula so with the LS-1 it runs like low 14s, high 13s, but other than that I don't think there were any real reliability issues, also I get 23-25MPG
on the highway, it's an M-6 though.

[shady milkman]

your formy had the same rating of hp and tq as a ls1 goat..they where under rated. plus i agree with what 05 says..with all the threads i have posted in..i think maybe 3 where about stock problems with a gto...they are solid

[snaggeltooth]

Yea Shady I knew you would come around .... Get a 05 .. If you dont you will wish you did .....

[Speedy_Gonzales]

do all the gto's have the bad wheel hop ????

[snaggeltooth]

they all have IRS ...

[Speedy_Gonzales]

they all have IRS ...

i test drove one and it bounced like a basketball when i dumped the clutch...but on take off was frigin wicked out of the hole but for some reason at a 55 mph roll it seemed slugish...could that be due to being brand new ???

[jung]

they all have IRS ...

+1 Some have bad wheel hop and others don't have it as badly.

[05gtoautoX]

i test drove one and it bounced like a basketball when i dumped the clutch...but on take off was frigin wicked out of the hole but for some reason at a 55 mph roll it seemed slugish...could that be due to being brand new ???

It has the same gears as an F-Bod, so it should be the same if not better from a 55mph. roll, it seems the LS-2s have better mid-high rpm power, and will walk around an f-bod on the highway,The sweet spot for a goat with an M-6 is about 65 in third and then punch it, 55 is a dead spot.I've only raced one f-bod and it was from a dig, I did beat him, but not by much. I could be wrong here but I don't think these engines really have a break in period anymore, and if they do it's very short, so I doubt it was from being new.

[Speedy_Gonzales]

It has the same gears as an F-Bod, so it should be the same if not better from a 55mph. roll, it seems the LS-2s have better mid-high rpm power, and will walk around an f-bod on the highway,The sweet spot for a goat with an M-6 is about 65 in third and then punch it, 55 is a dead spot.I've only raced one f-bod and it was from a dig, I did beat him, but not by much. I could be wrong here but I don't think these engines really have a break in period anymore, and if they do it's very short, so I doubt it was from being new.

i test drove an 06 that had a m6 and from a 55 roll my 01 ss with a a4 would walk away from the one i drove

[Hi-Po]

wheel hop can be over come easily. From what I hear, it is a totally different beast when launching.

[shady milkman]

wheel hop can be over come easily. From what I hear, it is a totally different beast when launching.

awww hi-po

[GOT1GOAT]

I really don't know what mpg mine would get because I can't stay off the go pedal long enough to see. The LS1's have 350hp by the way but both are premium recommended and I know that the 1 time I used 87, My mpg went down significantly. Both are capable of mid 20's mpg and an m6 would get you more but in either one, this would require a light right foot.

If your budget is @ $20k, you will most likely be getting an 04.

[Raoul-Duke]

i test drove an 06 that had a m6 and from a 55 roll my 01 ss with a a4 would walk away from the one i drove

stock for stock a ls2 goat will eat a ls1 f-bod from a roll

[tonyjnjz]

get a 6 speed 05 if your planning on driving a ways for commuting....the A4's have 3.42's ?? or 3.73s in them i belive....and your NOT gonnna get great highway milage out of one.....definitly enough improvements in the 05s vs 04s to pay the extra 1 or 2k there sellin for.........your formula was faster than an 04 goat is....and proly close to as fast as an 05 goat......get a used ss or ws6 instead..save some money

[tonyjnjz]

what are the A4 goats rated at guys???? 16 city 20 highway or somthing??? i know its somthing horrible

[snaggeltooth]

I really don't know what mpg mine would get because I can't stay off the go pedal long enough to see. The LS1's have 350hp by the way but both are premium recommended and I know that the 1 time I used 87, My mpg went down significantly. Both are capable of mid 20's mpg and an m6 would get you more but in either one, this would require a light right foot.

If your budget is @ $20k, you will most likely be getting an 04.

it depends my GTO , a 05, was 23k OTD and that was almost 6 months ago... If you can buy one from a individual 20k is possible ...

[Speedy_Gonzales]

stock for stock a ls2 goat will eat a ls1 f-bod from a roll

the one I drove wouldnt

[Hi-Po]

awww hi-po

Havnt seen you in a long time.

[4TEHW]

I reaaaally, really want a Silver goat. I don't know why. I used to have a Silver 68 Goat that I was attempting to restore. Never did finish her.