2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Pontiac GTO. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Pontiac GTO.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Review

Pontiac revived its iconic 1960s "muscle car" for 2004 as a midsize V8 coupe based on a car built by Holden, GM's Australian branch. A 350-hp 5.7-liter V8 derived from the Chevrolet Corvette drove the GTO's rear wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission or available 6-speed manual. ABS, traction control, and a limited-slip differential were standard. Seventeen-inch wheels and performance tires were the only available wheel-tire combination. GTO had seats for four and came with leather upholstery, in-dash CD changer, and remote keyless entry. Side airbags, sunroof, and antiskid system were unavailable.

Year to Year Changes

2005 Pontiac GTO: A 400-hp 6.0-liter V8 replaced the 350-hp 5.7 V8 as GTO's sole engine for 2005. Also newly standard was a hood with two air scoops. A scoopless hood was a no-cost option.

2006 Pontiac GTO: Available 18-inch wheels marked 2006 for what Pontiac said was GTO's final model year. Slow sales and an aging basic design sealed this sporty car's fate.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration	Fuel economy

Steering/handling	Rear-seat entry/exit

Brake performance

Seat comfort

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

Manual or automatic transmission, 350 or 400 hp, all GTOs have muscular acceleration, lending credence to Pontiac's claim of less than 5 sec 0-60 mph. The manual transmission suffers from imprecise shift action, long throws, and heavy clutch action. Test manual-transmission GTOs averaged 17.5-18.0 mpg in mostly highway driving. A test automatic-transmission model averaged 15.7 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Pontiac recommends premium-grade fuel. Testers are divided about GTO's ride quality. Some fine ride control laudable for a sporty car, others criticize it for bounding over bumps and swells. The tradeoff is athletic handling, with minimal body lean, responsive steering, and strong brakes. This coupe's muscle-car acceleration is accompanied by a muscle-car exhaust note while accelerating, but it settles down while cruising. Tire noise is only prominent on very coarse pavement, and wind rush rises markedly above 70 mph. GTO's interior design is generally a step above other GM vehicles with a user-friendly controls and large, legible gauges. Materials quality also is better than in other GM products, but it still falls behind class-leader BMW. Driver and front passenger comfort is quite good. Seats are firm and well shaped with exceptional lateral support in turns. These seats, coupled with a standard tilt/telescope steering wheel make finding a comfortable driving position a snap. Even with its sporty stance and standard rear spoiler, visibility is also very good. Some drivers, though, complain of tight pedal placement in manual transmission test cars. The rear seat is surprisingly roomy for adults, but getting back there is a chore. The front seats power fore and aft via outboard buttons on the backrest, but do so very slowly. A lack of tipping front-seat backrests and no assist handles further complicates entry/exit. Trunk space is meager for a coupe this size because the fuel tank intrudes into the cargo area. The actual trunk is deep and wide, but only 18 inches front to rear. That's about enough for a weekend of soft luggage for two. Cabin storage is mediocre.

Value for the Money
A nicely appointed cabin with a usable back seat are pluses in this class, but it's the blend of American muscle and Euro-worthy road manners that make GTO a Recommended pick. Low demand has dealers discounting already reasonable base prices, but be sure to budget for potentially heavy fuel thirst.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Pontiac GTO base manual	Rating

Performance	9

Fuel Economy	4

Ride Quality	5

Steering/Handling/Braking	8

Quietness	4

Controls/Materials	6

Interior Room	7

Room/Comfort (rear)	3

Cargo Capacity	1

Value within Class	7

Total:	54

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Audio system: The radio controls in the steering wheel may work intermittently due to loose connections between the wheel and radio head. (2004-05)

Audio system: Radio reception may be poor or have static because the rear window defogger may have invisible cracks in the grid lines. (2005)

Clutch: The clutch pedal may keep getting lower over time, then may not fully release because the pressure plate bolts come loose on cars built before February, 2004. (2004)

Fuel gauge: The engine may not start or may stall because the tank is empty yet the gauge shows fuel remaining, or the fuel gauge will not show full after refilling due to sulfur corrosion of the fuel level sender and if after treating with Fuel System Cleaner PLUS the problem remains, the sender may need to be replaced. (2004-06)

Seat: The front seat may not move forward when the lever is pulled because the microswitch is not activated, requiring an improved switch (2004); and, some vehicles the easy entry feature fails because the module malfunctions, especially if battery voltage is low. (2005)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$845

Alternator	$345

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$2,650

Brakes	$980

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$1,450

Constant Velocity Joints	$1,350

Exhaust System	$1,450

Radiator	$565

Shocks and/or Struts	$2,350

Timing Chain or Belt	$950

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

2004
GTO	$17,000-18,200	$15,600-16,700	$10,900-11,600

2005
GTO	$19,500-21,000	$17,900-19,300	$12,700-13,700

2006
GTO	$23,000-25,000	$21,200-23,000	$15,000-16,300

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe

Wheelbase, in.	109.8

Overall Length, in.	189.8

Overall Width, in.	72.5

Overall Height, in.	54.9

Curb Weight, lbs.	3725

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	7.0

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	18.5

Seating Capacity	4

Front Head Room, in.	37.3

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.2

Rear Head Room, in.	37.3

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	37.1

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

All GTOs used V8 engines and a 4-speed automatic transmission. Optional was a 6-speed manual. The 2004 models had a 350-hp 5.7-liter V8, and 2005 and later GTOs had a 400-hp 6.0 V8.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohv V8	5.7 / 346	350	365	6-speed manual: 17/29 4-speed automatic: 16/21	6-speed manual: 16 4-speed automatic: 15.7

ohv V8	6.0 / 364	400	395	6-speed manual: 16/25 4-speed automatic: 16/21	6-speed manual: 17.8 4-speed automatic: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: Australia

Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

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Also in the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Review:

Pontiac GTO

Pontiac GTO Road Test

Pontiac GTO Reliability

Pontiac GTO Prices

Pontiac GTO Specs & Safety

Pontiac GTO Photos

Pontiac GTO Full Review