Rep Power: 0

I test drove both cars expecting that the mach 1 will be slightly better than the GTO since it is a special edition. I wasn't looking at both car's hp because the GTO clearly wins. But in terms of driving experience and comfort. The mustang definitely loses in this department. First off the Mustang felt so cramp inside and everything felt cheap. I was hoping that it would be slightly better than a regular GT, but I guess I was wrong. The shifter was also kind of weird, I was never really sure what gear I was in and it felt notchy. While it felt smaller inside, the Mach 1 felt like I was driving a huge car. Probably due to the huge shaker hood. The gto was a luxury car compared to the mustang. Everything felt more solid and rigid. There were no rattles, and felt like there wouldnt be any rattles coming soon. The interior was warm and the pieces felt tightly together. The shifter, however, felt like rubber. It did not feel solid like a smooth shifting honda transmission. The seats were also great compared to the Mustang's bench like cafeteria seats. Power wise, I wouldn't really be able to compare because I did not want to push it. I was kind of annoyed with the GTO's skip shift feature because I kept shifting to 2nd and the car bogged down.

 
Rep Power: 336

wow big suprise. gto>stang

 
Rep Power: 334

Thanks. Informative.

 
Rep Power: 0

Sounds about right. The GTO is actually a very good performer and has a level of refinement much higher than the name or look of the car suggests. Its a RWD Holden fom Australia, with much better quality than most GM North America products. I would get one if they had some more mature color combinations. Right now the exterior/interior combos look like only something a 16 year old kid could love.

 
Rep Power: 360

The GTO is going to be discontinued, but I highly doubt the mach 1 is yet. I try to learn all the bad things in the american car market so I can laugh, but the rest... I couldn't be bothered

 
Rep Power: 277

hes right.. gto is gone. so mach 1 > gto

 
Rep Power: 256

gto is sweet my buddy traded his saturn ion redline for a red one last month.

 
Rep Power: 252

not to sure about mach 1's, i like them though.

what i do know is that i have driven a cobra, and a gto for a soild duration of time.. here's what i gathered:

cobra feels more controlled as you are accelerating, and it is a tad faster. The interior is a lack-lusted black and grey suade, and the fit and finish is crap. Pieces don't fit together, and the stereo looks like it was pulled from the junkyard. The suspension seems tighter than the gtos, but the interior and driving position aren't very astounding.

the gto has a lot of body roll, may be a touch slower, but there is no feel like it. The interior is much nicer. fit and finish is supurb, dials have a metal bezel, and red and black leather add some contrast. It pulls and pulls and roars with a subtle hit of refinement, where as the cobra rumbles with the whine of the supercharger.

to put it into a car analogy, GTOs feel like the cadillac of muscle cars, where as the cobra is just a beast on a short leesh.

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah, GTOs are badass. Most of the complaints are due to things that they have to do to the car to squelch the complaints from whiners (the shifter is rubbery b/c it is isolated so you don't get engine vibration through it). Put on a set of pipes, tires, and a B&M and the GTO is a beast.

 
Rep Power: 276

GTO may be back in 2009 with a rumored LS7 engine. If you like the 04, check out an 05 or 06. The difference between the LS1 and LS2 might only be 50hp, but you can feel the difference. The fit and finish is very high, and the seat are ALOT more comfortable than the new vette seats. You can pick one up at a great price even if its new. Get an 04 with low mileage for around 20-24k and a used 05 for around 24-28k depending on where you live. Ive seen people ordering new 06's for 29k. Not a bad price for 400hp. I will have one.

 
Rep Power: 261

The GTO is not dead AGAIN!!!

New GTO coming around the bend,Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Joshua Dowling, Special to The Plain Dealer

Geneva, Switzerland- The Pontiac GTO isn't dead after all, says a top General Motors Corp. executive, who also hinted there might be a new ultra-fast Corvette coming. The current GTO will be phased out at the end of this year, but an all-new model is expected to return at the end of 2008 as a 2009 model, said Bob Lutz, who heads GM's global vehicle development.

In an interview at the international auto show in Geneva, Switzerland, Lutz also suggested an even more powerful version of the Corvette might be on the way. Industry insiders have talked about a "Blue Devil" Corvette that would be more powerful than the 505-horsepower Z06 that is currently the fastest Corvette. Lutz stopped short of confirming that, saying: "There will be something special for the Corvette soon." When "Blue Devil" was mentioned, he simply smiled.

The GTO, however, is definitely on the way. Last year, it appeared that GM had canceled any future GTOs as part of its efforts to reduce costs. And a Pontiac spokesman confirmed this year that the last GTOs would be sold this summer because the model wouldn't meet a new airbag standard taking effect in the fall. The spokesman said that the automaker would like to have another GTO but that there was nothing to announce.

But in the interview Tuesday, Lutz said the GTO plans were just off the shelf for a few months and he always wanted a new version. The new GTO might be built in North America, particularly if the Chevrolet Camaro concept gets the go-ahead for production, he said. Both the Pontiac GTO and Camaro could be based on GM's Zeta mechanical underpinnings, which are being developed by the company's Australian outpost, Holden, Lutz said.

With the current strength of the Australian dollar and the recent free-trade agreement between Australia and the United States, it would be more feasible to build the GTO in North America and export a version called the Holden Monaro to Australia, he said. The GTO, which is based on the Monaro, has been built in Australia and shipped to America.
Dowling is motoring editor of the Sydney Morning Herald.