2004 Pontiac GTO

The interior is also quite nice to look at, with neat leather work, "GTO" stitching on the seats, metal pedals with little rubber buttons looking track-ready, a handsome instrument panel with proper round gauges and little chrome trim rings. There's a look to the whole that does most certainly not seem to owe its design parentage to Detroit as much as somewhere on the other side of the ocean.


But what this is about is gettin' and goin'. And it will do that. You can figure 0-60 mph will arrive in well under six seconds, so merging with the interstate should prove no problem, and if you hold the gas down long enough you'll see the high side of 150. The handling and steering package is up to the task, and certainly gets around with a very buttoned-up feel. In fact, just trundling around town it feels on the racey side, with what some may describe as a certain choppiness to the ride quality.

The engine is the aluminum block/aluminum heads version of Chevy's small-block, essentially the same as the Corvette.

So. It goes fast, handles good. The truth is that if you like cars like this, you'll really like the GTO, but if you don't like cars like this, you'll think it's kind of harsh and rough and you'd quickly tire of it.


All things considered, it probably is the best GTO ever, and certainly offers a higher level of all-around performance than any GTO of the past. We know, we know; the old-time purists will scream. But modern cars really are better than older ones. That's progress. If you like cars like this, you'll love this car. (www.pontiac.com)