Good bye GXP, Hellloowww GTO

[1tinindian]

The time has come to move on.
My Bonneville GXP now has a new owner, and I have been taken by the Holden bug, and bought a sweet, low mileage, one owner, 2006 GTO, 1 of 632 with the 6 speed, 18" wheels and painted Spice Red Metallic.

The evening I sold the GXP


The night I bought the GTO.


I have been in close discussion with Lane through this process, and many thanks to him, as he took time out to personally inspect a GTO in Chicago for me, and advise on what to look for and what to avoid, to get a quality GTO, and I feel very confident that I have a sweet, well taken care of, 100% stock survivor.

The GXP was a fun car, and in some ways I do miss it, but the LS2 and 6 speed in the GTO seems to sooth any feelings I had for the Bonneville.

I still haven't had the time to wash and detail the GTO, so my pictures are very few right now, but I'll share what I have at this point.

[redfury]

Friend of mine at work ( bosses grandson ) has one in all black with the 6 speed. It has headers and he just had to replace the clutch and pressure plate ( broken springs ). The thing is a BEAST. He ate through a set of rear tires in 20k. What a nice car..congrats.

[CMNTMXR57]

Clutches are the weak link behind any LSx motor on purpose. Saves from breaking more expensive hardware. I've replaced my fair share of them and have Monster Level 4 now.

[MikeKerr]

Nice swap and beautiful GTO, congratulations on your new ride that I am sure you will cherish and enjoy.

[00Beast]

Looks good Leon!!! I hope to see more of it, considering I'm moving to the neighborhood soon.

[Yagyu]

That's one hell of a car. When my SSEi bites the dust, I'm hoping to replace it with an 05-06 GTO or a G8 GXP also. Gotta love those Holdens.

[CMNTMXR57]

What's wrong with an '04?

[Yagyu]

Nothing's wrong with it, I'd just rather have an LS2 than an LS1. I like the hood scoop better too. I mean, don't get me wrong, the '04 is cool too, I just like the other ones better.

[CMNTMXR57]

It's the same car underneath.

Many have retrofitted an '05/'06 hood onto an '04 ( I saw a torrid red '04 today with an '05/'06 hood), as well as rear valence panel and altering the exhaust outlets.

[Yagyu]

Isn't it a different engine though? '04 has 5.7L 350HP LS1 and '05-'06 has 6.0L LS2 with 400HP?

[CMNTMXR57]

Yes. But 18 cubic inches isn't the night and day difference many make it out to be. If you're planning on keeping it stock or bolt-ons, then yes, it is more powerful than an LS1. But if you're going to build something serious, say a heads and cammed engine, a stroker motor, or putting on a big blower (like a TVS 2300 or something) along with forging, many will argue that the LS1 is a better/more stout base to build upon. LS2's were prone to oil pump failures also.

The LS1 is a GenIII motor, the LS2 is a GenIV motor, based on the GenIII, but was developed with D.O.D. in mind (note the LS2 doesn't have D.O.D., but other GenIV motors, like the LS4 and truck variants do).

[Yagyu]

Not gonna argue with you on that! I know you know your *shoot*, probably way better than I do. I still prefer the '05-'06 version, but no accounting for taste, right?

[CMNTMXR57]

I get it. Just like Leon, he had specific wants. I just don't want someone to pass up a good vehicle simply because it doesn't look as good on paper as later versions if you follow what I mean. Even I look at GTO's as a DD, and tend to look at the '05/'06 cars as I want certain color or option combos. I'm happy with either engine.

I'm also one of the few that don't like the hood scoops on the LS2 cars. I like the flat hood like my '04. Believe it or not, that was an actual option in '05. You could actually get an '05 with the flat hood from the factory... but there were very few that have that RPO. So that is a rare car.

[MKMike]

Kudos to you Lane for helping him out with what to avoid to choose a good car!

Congrats on the GTO.
She's a beauty!

[1tinindian]

Thanks guys.
And yes, Lane has been VERY helpful to helping me sort through the "well-used" GTOs, and the much better ones.
I have over 100 pictures now, so I can show you all a couple here.

Leon

[MKMike]

Whoa-when you said "low mileage" I never imagined mileage that low.
Your car was hardly used---and a real beauty!

[CMNTMXR57]

Leon, that thing is gonna look completely different once you get those PVD chromed 18's on it. It is gonna "pop" in the sun.

[1tinindian]

Leon, that thing is gonna look completely different once you get those PVD chromed 18's on it. It is gonna "pop" in the sun.

Agreed!
I can't wait!

[1tinindian]

Sorry about the pictures, Photobucket is down. But, I have GTO pictures in my gallery here. Thanks,
Leon

[1tinindian]