I've got the bug and I've got the money and I'm getting me an '04, '05
or '06 GTO. I drove an '04 w/auto trans on Saturday and these things
are nice. Even the '04, with the 350 hp LS1 5.7 liter, will flatten
you to the seatback in first and second.
The differences between the '04 and the '05-'06, in addition to the
400 hp LS2 6.0 liter, are better brakes and stronger half shafts. But
all years have a minimum of 350 hp, IRS, 4-wheel discs, the best seats
ever in any Chevy, a Blaupunkt (?!) 8-speaker stereo with 6-disc CD,
and all the other typical luxury doodads. From what I can tell, 6-
speed Tremecs are about 4:1 as common as 4-spd autos.
Particularly the '05, and maybe all years, have crap bushings on the
Mac struts and on the various control arms, front and rear. The Mac
strut prob can cause extreme negative camber, causing catastrophic
rubbing damage to the inside edges of the front tires. Aftermarket
bushings are a common fix.
But the good news is the '04's are settling in around the high to mid
teens. The '05's are right around $20,000, and the '06's are $22,000
to $25,000.
One thing, though, it's hard to find a bone stock unit, and the
sellers sometimes want to charge more for a modded one. Still, for
example, I could pick up an '05 with 22000 miles and a Magnacharger
roots blower, 514 rwhp/498 rwtq, 28 highway mpg, for sale here in Cali
for $24,000. That's a purty good deal! I would have to add another
$20,000 to the $30,000 I already have in my '65 Mustang fb to get
close to as nice a car, and I would still fall way short.
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