a very cool retro-styled concept car (",)

[danny_galaga]

at the brisbane motor show, this car by GMH. supposed to be based on their first car, the FJ Holden, but doesnt really look it to me. the only original part is maybe the horn button on the steering wheel! a damn fine piece of work, none-the-less

[DrewKaree]

That is one sweet ride!  The only problem is if it's made, they'll scrunch it down to econobox proportions instead of the stretched out mode it should be made in.  I'd look at buying one of those if it were made.

[Minwah]

Wow, that actually looks like someone put some thought into making the body look nice, which is unheard of nowadays.

[Stingray]

Concept cars always look cool before the corporate suits get a chance to lame them down for the production model.

-S

[GGKoul]

The steering wheel is on the wrong side... 

[AtomSmasher]

I think Holden is GM's best asset. They have a ton of great cars with original ideas, too bad they're Australia only.  Luckily GM is starting to take notice of them and bringing their models to America.  They started with the GTO which is actually a Holden Monaro, the new Camaro (and the soon to be announced new model of GTO) is a Holden design (fortunately they'll be making them here so they don't have to worry about import restrictions like they had with the GTO) and theres talk of them bringing over the Ute as an El Camino.

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/conceptcar?modelid=20001

[Stingray]

The steering wheel is on the wrong side... 

Looks like the right side to me.

-S

[grantspain]

its got a big arse

[danny_galaga]

hehe. i like big arses (",). this is definitely not a car they will make. just an exercise for their designers. it looks cool to me because it reminds me a lot of zz tops (even the colour)- cadzilla. still my favourite car ever. its cool that holden will be doing utes in the US. it will certainly fit into the el camino mold i think.
about holden. most people outside of australia dont know much (or anything) about them. they actually predate GM, having started in the mid to late 19th century as an upholsterers. they progressed to car bodies and by the 20's were making bodies for imported cars like chev and buick. somewhere around that time they were bought by GM. wasnt until the 40's that they decided to have a go at their own car. i think it was called the 48-215, also known as fx. the fj came next and was a huge seller. that is the model this concept car is a hommage to.

[danny_galaga]

ha! i got the url linky thingo right first go! i didnt even check out anyone elses threads to see how its done. oh, and the arse really isnt THAT big, just the angle i took the photo from

[Stingray]

most people outside of australia dont know much (or anything) about them. they actually predate GM, having started in the mid to late 19th century as an upholsterers. they progressed to car bodies and by the 20's were making bodies for imported cars like chev and buick.

The same is true for a company called Fisher here in the states. They used to make almost all GM car bodies. Most older GM prodicts have a "Body By Fisher" plate inside the door. I don't believe they still put that plate on new cars, but I could be wrong.

-S

[Harry Potter]

I think Holden is GM's best asset.

Holden's are, for the most part crap (I may get a hiding from Bones for this  ). They only have one or two models which don't suck (both fuel and money for repairs).

I won't deny they're popular here but only because European cars are even more expensive to maintain here.

Then there's the Japanese cars which rock. 

[DrewKaree]

Then there's the Japanese cars which rock. 

Well, except for Toyota Corrolla's.  Those suck no matter what country you're in.

[Harry Potter]

Then there's the Japanese cars which rock. 

Well, except for Toyota Corrolla's.  Those suck no matter what country you're in.

Where's that Eff-You icon 

[Stingray]

Then there's the Japanese cars which rock. 

Well, except for Toyota Corrolla's.  Those suck no matter what country you're in.

Where's that Eff-You icon 

The autofilter would only turn it into a --smurf-- you icon.

-S

[pointdablame]

http://www.dieselstation.com/archive/Holden-EFIJY-Concept/

High res photos of the Efijy   It's one of my favorite new concept cars, although it's been around for a while now... its not brand new.

It's really stunning though, and very very detailed.  It however will never, ever, EVER see the light of day as a production vehicle.  Not even with major "laming" up by the higher ups.  It's strictly a show piece.

[DrewKaree]

Then there's the Japanese cars which rock. 

Well, except for Toyota Corrolla's.  Those suck no matter what country you're in.

Where's that Eff-You icon 

What?  What'd I say?   

[danny_galaga]

I think Holden is GM's best asset.

Holden's are, for the most part crap

don't you mean FORD  . a lot of holdens cars weren't very good in the 80's, but then nor were ANYONES cars... now the cars holden makes are realy good quality. i think they only make the commodore variants here now (sedan, stationwagon, ute, monaro and a panelvan). the rest are imported.

anyway, i can't imagine someone like honda making a ride this cool 

[Bones]

Very cool design but needs more Hemi.

[danny_galaga]

well seeing as how its from gmh that doesnt seem to likely...

[Bones]

Yeah you are right.... Needs more Windsor.

[danny_galaga]

Yeah you are right.... Needs more Windsor.

thems fightin words...

[Harry Potter]

I think Holden is GM's best asset.

Holden's are, for the most part crap

don't you mean FORD  . a lot of holdens cars weren't very good in the 80's, but then nor were ANYONES cars... now the cars holden makes are realy good quality. i think they only make the commodore variants here now (sedan, stationwagon, ute, monaro and a panelvan). the rest are imported.

anyway, i can't imagine someone like honda making a ride this cool 

Oh come on. I mean..... OH COME ON! 

[DrewKaree]

Toyota Corolla's still suck, right guys?   

[Harry Potter]

I'll send you a sharp piece of it to you in the mail.

[psik0tik]

I love the fat chick style old cars. Although I'm quite attached to my beetle I think I would actually buy one. And as far as Toyota Corrolla's go all I have to say is...I think Id rather ride a beach cruiser with cut off jean shorts on.

[danny_galaga]

welcome to the vw fold!  i have a type 3 and bones is a type 2 guy. your type 1 makes the trio  now we just need a type 4 owner to complete the set...

unless its a NEW beetle you have? then boo! hiss! to you 

[psik0tik]

welcome to the vw fold!  i have a type 3 and bones is a type 2 guy. your type 1 makes the trio  now we just need a type 4 owner to complete the set...

unless its a NEW beetle you have? then boo! hiss! to you 

NEVAAAA!!! 1969 with a 1915

[Bones]

I dig the new Beetles and as an added bonus they are always driven by pretty girls.

[danny_galaga]

I dig the new Beetles and as an added bonus they are always driven by pretty girls.

are you on crack? hehe. what is a distinct feature of a type 1, 2 or 3? they are air-cooled and rear-engined. new beetle is liquid-cooled front wheel drive just like every other car. how boring! at least the new mini is in keeping with what made IT famous...

[Harry Potter]

And as far as Toyota Corrolla's go all I have to say is...I think Id rather ride a beach cruiser with cut off jean shorts on.

I get the feeling you'd ride any bloke who wears cut off jeans.

[koolmoecraig]

I think Holden is GM's best asset. They have a ton of great cars with original ideas, too bad they're Australia only.  Luckily GM is starting to take notice of them and bringing their models to America.  They started with the GTO which is actually a Holden Monaro, the new Camaro (and the soon to be announced new model of GTO) is a Holden design (fortunately they'll be making them here so they don't have to worry about import restrictions like they had with the GTO) and theres talk of them bringing over the Ute as an El Camino.

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/conceptcar?modelid=20001

They can't give those GTO's away here. A friend of mine picked one up for close to $5000 UNDER STICKER!

Quick for sure, but GM has the worst stylists in the industry.

[Harry Potter]

Are we talking about the same 2005 (or 2004) Pontiac GTO?

The car is worth $50,000 AUS in Australia. How the hell can it be 1/5th of the price exported?

Unless it was a bandged up one or it was stolen.

[jbox]

A friend of mine picked one up for close to $5000 UNDER STICKER!

I took "under sticker" to mean he paid less than sticker price. But my understanding of car yards is that sticker price = sucker price. So the equivilant comment would mean he paid (say) less than ($50,000 - $5,000) for it instead. Is that right koolmoecraig?

[AtomSmasher]

He said $5000 under sticker, so thats around $28000 US.  I picked mine up for $6000 under sticker because the 2005 gto was coming out and it had a superior engine for the same msrp, so they had to put major discounts on the '04 models in order to move them.  And I'm sure your friend will disagree that the GTO has a bad style, the exterior is a little bland because its a sleeper, but the interior is by far the best interior of any sub $40000 sports car, and the exterior is easily made to look a bit more like a sports car by changing just a few things (as I did to mine).  Another problem was poor marketing (or lack of), did you ever see a GTO commercial?  If you did then you probably watch the Speed network as they rarely played commercials on any other channel.

I consider the GTO is by the best sub $40000 sports car currently on the market, partly because it has the most powerful and easily modifyable engine currently available (yes there is a 425 hp version of the charger now, but its msrp is over $40k and a ---smurfette--- to modify), partly because it has easily the highest quality and most comfortable interior, and partly because you don't see them on every corner (less then 40000 made in its 3 year production time).  Another nice thing about the GTO, when you see one you know its either fast or really fast, when you see a mustang or charger it's most likely the v6 versions.  And stock, its faster then the new mustang, new charger, magnum, 350z, g35, and every other currently available sub $40k muscle car.  Personally I've raced a 350z, magnum, and a new mustang, and I beat every one.

Next time you see your friend, ask him if he likes his car, I have no doubt that he will say he loves it.  Literally once a week, someone gives me a thumbs up or tells me how much they like my car.  I have a lot of stories I could tell about random, strange events of people telling me how much they like my car, but I think I've ranted long enough.

[koolmoecraig]

Oh he likes the car.

It wasn't purposely styled to be a sleeper. GM just didn't want to spend money on redesigning the car. They'd rather just tack on some fake air scoops and ground effects.

Also, I wouldn't exactly call it a sports car. Muscle Car, yes. Sports Car, no. Sports cars are all about light weight. At 3800lbs, it's fat.

For the money it's a good deal, but for my money i'll take a new Miata and add a 350hp turbo kit. With that power/weight ratio you'd smoke 95% of things on the road.

[AtomSmasher]

It wasn't purposely styled to be a sleeper. GM just didn't want to spend money on redesigning the car. They'd rather just tack on some fake air scoops and ground effects.

Uhh...you do realize its basically the same car as the holden monaro right?  The monaro was designed as a sleeper, it doesn't have hood scoops or even a spoiler.  The only real exterior changes between the monaro and the '04 GTO is the spoiler and a pontiac styled front bumper.  After the '04 GTO was released it got a lot of flak from pontiac fans because its didn't have hood scoops or split exhaust (it is dual exhaust, just not split to each side of the rear) which all the older GTOs had, so in '05 they changed that.  I wish more companies addressed public criticism so quickly.   Also, I'm not sure what ground effects your talking about that were tacked on since its the same as the monaro (and the monaro's been in production for many years before they started making the GTO), maybe you just have no idea what your talking about...ya thats probably it.

Also, I wouldn't exactly call it a sports car. Muscle Car, yes. Sports Car, no. Sports cars are all about light weight. At 3800lbs, it's fat.

True, its a muscle car, but I figured most people on an arcade board wouldn't know the difference between a muscle car, sports car, or pony car.  Especially since all magazines and most car review web sites don't have muscle car catagories and put the GTO in the sports car catagory.

For the money it's a good deal, but for my money i'll take a new Miata and add a 350hp turbo kit. With that power/weight ratio you'd smoke 95% of things on the road.

True, but then if you add a turbo to a GTO, get it up to 450 to 500 hp (500-550 hp for the '05 and '06 models)  and again its faster then the miata, plus you don't have the cramped interior of the miata.  Since I drive my car a lot for work, interior comfort was a huge selling point for me.

[danny_galaga]

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ooh, its a sleeper alright! i hadnt even noticed you had one in your sig. good onya for buying aussie made 

 

[Harry Potter]

oh $5000 UNDER. Whoops.

Must learn to read posts properly 

[koolmoecraig]

True, but then if you add a turbo to a GTO, get it up to 450 to 500 hp (500-550 hp for the '05 and '06 models)  and again its faster then the miata, plus you don't have the cramped interior of the miata.  Since I drive my car a lot for work, interior comfort was a huge selling point for me.

For the money MEANS for the money. Which means for the same outlay of cash for a STOCK GTO you can have a Miata with a turbo kit. Not to mention uprated brakes and suspension. You're talking at least $10k on top of the sticker to turbo a GTO. Properly anyway.

I'm not knocking your choice of car here. I'm simply saying that it is yet another case of GM coming close but missing on a car(styling wise). A GTO should not look like anything else out on the road. Currently,  the car looks like a Lumina/Monte Carlo. 

By the time they(GM) finally get the car right, they pull production because people aren't interested anymore(Fiero). They need to hire some Chrysler stylists. Hell, if it wasn't for a former Chrysler guy(Bob Lutz), the GTO wouldn't even be sold in America.

Oh, I thought of one more thing. For under $40,000 i'll also take a Mitsu EVO or Subaru STI which will smoke a GTO.