I pull up to a stoplight, and glance around casually to check out the other drivers around me. Suddenly I notice my car is shaking. Trembling, actually. What's going on? Is some kind of catastrophe from The Day After Tomorrow roaring my way? But wait-nobody else's car is vibrating. OK, I get it-that's the GTO's big V-8 that's bouncing me in my seat. I guess that's why everybody is looking at me.
Any doubts about whether General Motors has lost the knack for muscle cars can be officially put to rest. The new GTO, reincarnated for the first time since 1974, is fast enough to outrun an act of God-and it's probably louder than one, too. The official stats: The 350-horsepower V-8, borrowed from the base Corvette, will rocket from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds, faster than a Porsche Boxster S. There are lots of other nods to the drag strip. The engine is so responsive that the tires will actually chirp when you floor the gas-not just from a dead stop but at moderate speeds, too. Then there's the sound. GM designed the exhaust system to mimic the rumble of the original 1964 GTO, one of the era's most popular street rods. It definitely attracts attention at streetlights (in contrast to the GTO's subdued looks) and could probably deafen small children under track conditions.
Porsche 911 Accessories AccessoryPorsche 996 Accessories AccessoryPorsche Boxter Accessories AccessoryGM raised $13 billion in debt principally to provide sufficient monies for its pension funds. Many other large American businesses have similar problems with their pension funds, with some estimates quantifying the liability at $239 billion for the S&P 500.[3] (http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2003/commentary030625bm.htm)
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I also wonder why GM doesn't aim higher. The GTO is faster than most competitors, and rear-wheel drive produces stability that's been lacking in the front-drive cars GM has been churning out for most of the past 15 years. But the GTO doesn't handle nearly as well as the Nissan 350Z or the Mazda RX-8 or other sports cars in the same price range, around $30,000. The GTO rolls more than it should on curves-even with stabilizer bars and plump 17-inch tires-and there's as much play in the steering as on many family sedans. That suggests Pontiac is writing off the Europhiles partial to VWs and BMWs, or other enthusiasts who appreciate a whole driving package. Too bad. Big muscles are just part of a healthy driving experience.
