a recap of what i've read -
05 Mach 1 - nope
Boss, Cobra, Shelby possibilities in 06
Imma go off topic and try to squish the whole GT vs GTO debate, while probably only enflaming it more
05 GT vs 05 GTO
13.5 stock for GTO according to magazines, the same time should be attainable in a 5 speed mustang GT
Comparing price to price isn't exactly fair, as I believe the GTO has only 1 option (shifting from auto to manual) which actually lowers price because of no guzzler tax
Production runs will be different, the mustang should outsell the GTO at least 10:1 because Mustangs traditionally sell 150-200k cars a year, while the GTO is limited to 18k
Any way you cut it, the GT is cheaper
I doubt the GT will be underrated by much (though 300 hp is a very round number, wouldn't surprise me if they went over that a tiny bit jus to be safe + other reasons earler), but the GTO is heavier and this will, by all accounts, offset
I do agree with people saying the GTO is stopgag until other pony cars can come out. GM seems to simply have done it so that their lineup doesn't look like "Corvette and a bunch of other stuff," without putting a whole ton of development behind it.
Realistically, with its limited run it can only possibly be there for image (and for this reason, GM may see it fit to offer it at a lower price, since volumetrically they won't make much money even if they jack the price up a few grand). The run is supposed to end in 2007, just in time for the projected new F-bodies.
It is a shame GM decided to use the GTO nameplate, I maintain that the Chevelle would have worked better, since you could see it at the same time with a Corvette and the Chevelle (in my eyes, anyway) always looked plainer than a GTO, which would fit the description of the current GTO's body (which does look like a Grand Prix, even though it might have much different guts). To me, they slaughtered an icon. I see a 67 black GTO coupe every day, and even though its not in great shape, it has a stunning look to it, with an aggressive presence that makes me want one. This from a die-hard ford guy. The current GTO makes me laugh every time I have seen it. Think about it, GM did little more than take a car from Australia and throw the GTO nameplate on it. Yes, this is similar to what they did to the original GTO, but now that the car has heritage, you can't do that. Ford can't take the Taurus (the modern equivalent of a Fairlane) and drop a V8 into it and call it a Mustang. GM shouldn't have done that either. The car loses the soul of what is considered by most the first real musclecar.
Anyway, if you are going to compare the Mustang GT to the GTO, the Mustang a) shamelessly lives up to its heritage, b) is a mass-production car meant to back up its power numbers instead of being used only in verbal arguments, and c) will definitely run with a GTO closely while being cheaper. Which is exactly what it should do. Okay /rant on GTO.
And to get back on topic, I am betting that there will be a special edition in 06 outside the Cobra, and while I hope it is a Boss, my gut says it will be a Shelby of some type. A Boss 302 could come later when the F-bodies come out, when a (more affordable and smogged) 5.0 Cammer could really come in handy to fend off LS2 powered Camaros. By then I could foresee them being able to pull that off, it should not be that hard to bore a 4.6 out for an extra 21 cubes.
who knows, GT500 or something??
I was in my early years on this world when the muscle cars were popular. When I was in High School, my first car was a Chevelle SS396. I wish that era in producing cars could come back. With the technology of today, I'm sure they can come up with a 350 hp car that can fly thru emissions. All I can do is dream.....
