Ex GTO Owners- How does the SS compare?

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

I've had an 04 and an 06 GTO. The GTO was a fantastic car as far as quality. It's real problem was with the way it looked. It was not eye catching at all. Very plain. The GTO does has a nice interior, but I am surprised to hear a comment that it is miles ahead of the Camaro. For me nothing could be further from the truth. While both interiors are nice, I prefer the Camaro's much more. It's just a perfect match with the overall car. Of course the Camaro looks WAY better and much more muscular. Basically, my SS is everything the GTO was not and that is mainly looking HOT!!!!!!

[nasty2ss]

GTO compared to a new camaro Are u kidden me

[iomamy]

Perhaps I should clarify - by 'miles ahead' I mean in terms of fit, finish and quality...the Camaro indeed has the upper hand in terms of styling and I do love my orange girl. It's just a different animal where everything you see is styled, the GTO has more of a luxury sports car interior - which is kind of what I was hoping to get for my nearly $40k 2SS...I just wish it didn't seem to be a tradeoff between styling and quality.

GTOs are great cars, they were the only [affordable] high performance/sport coupe GM made for quite some time and built the bridge until the Camaro came back - there's no reason to knock them...so the 2SS has 22 more hp, it also has 200 lbs more weight -

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by iomamy

GTOs are great cars, -

You got that right. They are great cars. If they had got the styling right the
reaction to them would have been MUCH different ala the Camaro reaction.

[VR Code R6P]

I had an 05 GTO that I sold, to be replaced by the Camaro. The Camaro is still not built, but I'm hoping it is a better car than my GTO. I know the looks will be way better, but my GTO was no slouch in the driving department, and at a much lower price point.

I was exceptionally pleased with how it drove, and to me, the exhaust sound was perfect (quiet while cruising, and a nice roar when you got on it, but not raspy). Only thing that was really bad on the GTO was the side window defoggers, and how fast the seats traveled forward and back, to get people in the rear (06's were better, but still not good). I'm 6 foot and was very comfortable in the rear too. I am slightly worried about the back seat in the Camaro. I had many comments on how nice the interior was in the GTO (it was red/black).

From the pictures of the Camaro dash, I think I like my GTO's guages better.

I just wish they would get it built and here, so I can find out......... ordered Oct 16th.

[iomamy]

Too funny!) Those seats sure do move slooooooow don't they! Well - you will be happy to know that you won't question whether or not your battery is dead when you get in and adjust your seat forward - ha ha! The thing I found funny on my 2SS is that the 'two-way' power passenger seat...well...the power is for the seatback, so the seat itself has a manual forward/back...how odd...
We have the black GTO w/the red interior too - it is probably one of GM's best interiors...
What Camaro did you order? I'm so sorry to hear it is taking so long...that is ridiculous...I put money down in Dec. though my order didn't actually 'go through' until April...three months after that it only took about a month to get to me after being shipped

The other bonus Camaro v. GTO is the fold down rear seat and no fuel tank in the trunk!!! Although - it's funny because, the Camaro trunk is HUGE inside yet I swear has a smaller opening than the GTO. Regardless, if you can get stuff in there - you can sure haul a lot of it!) And having the pass through is just a must-have... The backseat - well...it's all up to the front seaters as to how much leg room they'll give the backseaters, you can actually put the frontseat back far enough to touch the backseat...
Another tradeoff - the GTO has the 6-disc CD player, but no satellite radio...but, I think I like the satellite radio better.
The exhaust on the Camaro......sounds a lot like a Mustang, you know that deep but hollow sort of exhaust sound? It is very comparable to the GTO though, but I've noticed I hear the GTO coming about a block away more so than my Camaro. Both are sweet sounds to the ears!) I look forward to hearing your thoughts once you take delivery!) The Camaro sounds better at startup (it revs up higher and sounds as mean as it looks.) I just can't tell which one is faster, but believe me, it has been a topic of discussion every day since I brought her home... I think we will take them to the track in the next few months (I want to go through break-in first) meantime we just speculate and talk trash as we trade cars...!)

[badkarma]

Traded in my 04 GTO for the Camaro. No regrets. It's a little different with the 04s as we are getting about 70 more HP. Felt more connected to the car with the GTO.

Wife hates the seats in the Camaro and not being able to see over the dash lol

With the Camaro you feel like you are in a true muscle car with beast written all over it. The GTO felt more like a European sports coup.

Keep in mind I kept the GTO original except for the shifter and radio.

[VR Code R6P]

iomamy, I ordered a VR 2SS, RS, manual, biege interior, polished wheels.

Yea, the GTO trunk was pretty small, but it was bigger than what my 1999 Firehawk had! I like when the GTO started, it was a deep resonant feeling (kinda like, "excuse me, but get out of the way") rather than a big noise when standing behind it. I hope the Camaro is similar.

I picked the GTO up from a dealer in northern Michigan and drove it home. At that altitude, I thought it was very, very fast. In Colorado at 4300 feet (like all cars), it just didn't have the soup it did at lower levels, but very quick still.

I grew up in Dearborn Hts, are you a native of Ann Arbor?

[iomamy]

Hi VR Code,
Not a native of Ann Arbor - but, I am a native of Flint (yeah yeah...but it WAS the birthplace of GM...)

I have a funny for you all. We were checking out the GTO board to see what they were saying about the Camaro...

So, people here say the GTO is a quote "Bloated Cavalier" right? Well...
the GTO board says the Camaro is a "Bloated Hot Wheel" car or "Oversized Match-box Car" How funnyis that...they kinda have a point!!! So, I'm looking for the IOM Camaro "Match-box" or "Hot Wheel' car so I can put it in my back window - ha ha!)

[Rockytophummer]

Originally Posted by iomamy

My boyfriend has had a 2006 GTO since new - I've had my 2SS for a week. I must say - the GTO interior is miles ahead of my car...while I may have him beat on exterior styling - after 1hour in my car the A-pillar trim popped off, 4hours of him sitting in the passenger seat have left 2 10" creases in the "leather." His GTO has that nice thick European leather producing quality seats, better door panels. I hit my head all the time on the door post getting in though...so I don't see the difference between the two as far as roof height goes...I agree it feels more like raw power when driving it- but, question whether or not that is just more noise from the engine? Funny how different the shifter and clutch feel on the two cars - GTO is stiff and shifter requires some effort, while the 2SS has a soft clutch engagement and short shifter.

Trading it in? Hmm...I'd save your money...while the Camaro is hot now - it's also a lot more money than trade in for the same performance...it's a driver's race... I think that the 2006 GTO is miles above as far as quality goes (a bonus the "10 year old" model comes with) and from what I've heard from Camaro engineers - buy an extended warranty or be prepared... My GTO owner has been a little down on his car since I brought home my new baby - but, I think some stripes, and maybe the Holden front end to get rid of the Pontiac twin-grills, and maybe a new spoiler would make it a really fantastic car - and save your $10k for a twin turbo kit!)

Im not trying to be mean but how much does your boyfriend weigh? I havent noticed any creases in the seats after anyone has rode in it? I took one of my friends riding around other nighy and he's pushing 260-270Lbs. Only problem I have with the new GTO's is I think they copied the BMW looks. I was dissappointed when the GTO's 1st came back out. I was so excited I thought they were going to go retro like Mustange Challenger and Camaro did I was going to buy one thinking maybe the Judge was about to be reborn. After that dissapointment I bought a H2. And for the $30,000 price difference the Camaro leather is same quality if not butter than the H2. Camaro more comfortible just dont have anywere near rear room H2 and sound Quality of Bostin Accoustic is a joke! Still think GM dropped ball on that big time the Bose system is by far superior! Actually compared to there Homwe entertainment system B.A. puts out they dropped ball with camaro sound! Other than that I love this camaro. Never owned a GTO but that was just some things I had questions about your posting.

[iomamy]

Too fuuny!) He's just shy of 210...so that's why I'm a little miffed...no seat should wrinkle like that after a few hours... To me - the fabric has a lot of stretch to it, so maybe they didn't pull it tight enough in the beginning? I'll post of a picture of it tonight - maybe I'm just being too picky!)

[willisit]

Has anyone got a pic, or seen a pic, or a GTO parked next to a Camaro? I have the Monaro (UK equivalent) and would love to see that before I change...

[GEN-IV]

I have an 06 GTO that I plan on keeping, the Camaro is the perfect stable mate!

[SK360]

Having sat in a new 2SS, I can agree with everybody that says the GTO interior is much much better... It has backseats that can fit a 6'3" 250lbs adult quite comfortably, I can replace my headunit and the gauges do not make me want to throw up.

Visual styling is all personal preference... Id rather have the understated/underestimated street beast then the wild looking new car.. but that is just me.

I would def have a M6 2SS if I could afford both cars, but my GTO is not going anywhere anytime soon.