What We Loved
* Incredible power for its price range* Great highway mileage given the power and weight* Highway speeds at fast-idle rpm (1,800 rpm in Sixth gear at 70 mph) keep fuel consumption and interior noise low* Highway wind noise is low* Competent yet smooth suspension* Upscale interior accommodations* Front seats are very comfortable for the long haul* Switches and controls feel substantial* High-beam performance* Adequate rear-seat room with average-height person in the front* In traffic you can let your foot off the clutch without pressing the gas and the car will move forward without stalling (GM calls it electronic throttle control)* A blowout at 70 mph did not make the GTO uncontrollable in the least
What We Loathed
* People still say, "Nice Grand Am"* Hitting our heads on the doorframe every single time we paid a toll* No oil-pressure gauge* The goofy Rest Reminder. It has a picture of a tree. Is it to rest under or is it the one you are about to hit from not resting?* The fuel door and hinge are flimsy plastic* Low-beam performance* Lack of available rear-seat room with a tall person up front* Cup holders were too small for many types of take-out drink cups* Rear vision is compromised by a high beltline and the spoiler* Driver's power seat stopped working* 1-4 skip shift* No outside temperature reading-lots of cheaper cars got 'em
Conclusion
If you are single or married-without-children, and you desire a GT car in the traditional sense-upscale appearance, powerful but smooth engine, secure handling and braking without giving up creature comforts-the '05 GTO will scratch your niche itch.
Add a kiddy and things become more challenging due to limited rear-seat room for a child's seat's ingress and egress and luggage space concerns. Older kids should not be a problem as long as the whole family is of average height, so the front seats don't have to be set all the way rearward on their tracks.
The hoodscoops and the rear fascia do dress up the aging body for the '05, and as I've said before, 400 hp can forgive many sins. Aside from the annoyances mentioned, the GTO is a very capable Pontiac that excels in most all performance areas while providing a cocoon-like atmosphere inside.
 Here is the price to be paid...  Here is the price to be paid for the great front seats-they don't fold all the way forward. Getting items like a kid's baby seat or booster seat in and out is a contortionist's exercise. And, yes, if you push the little button on the side of the seat it moves forward automatically to let people in and out, but it can still be tight for packages. And when you see the trunk, you'll know why you have to put packages in the back seat. |
 These are the most comfortable...  These are the most comfortable and supportive seats this side of the Recaro factory. We spent eight days in the same seats-no back pain. Can there be a better endorsement? |
 Whether or not you are a fan...  Whether or not you are a fan of the new GTO, you can see that great effort was made to add an air of luxury to the interior. The door panel features leather, a suede-appearing area, and a cushioned, leather-wrapped armrest. Styling is contemporary and seemingly less dated than the body. |
 If you are considering a GTO,...  If you are considering a GTO, buy small, soft-sided luggage. We did actually fit "stuff"-including camera equipment-for three people for our eight-day trip, but it wasn't pretty. The gas-tank-in-the-trunk-trick puts a real hurtin' on useable luggage space. The unoccupied rear passenger seat ended up full of overflow luggage. |
 Big brakes are good and the...  Big brakes are good and the GTO's are bigger for 2005. The pedal feel is positive, so enjoy the high-g stops. The red calipers are real "boy racer," too. |