Selling the S10. Buying a Z or a Goat. I need opinions.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: St. Louis, MO
I almost bought a 05 GTO exept after having a 02 Z28 Camaro I just felt to cramped. So I bought a full size truck instead at the time and a Z a few weeks ago. I just loved the way the Z handled. The balance in them is almost 50/50 and for a RWD vehicle that is amazing. The only thing I miss though is some torque. One guy was right...sitting in the GTO felt like sitting in a supped up Cavy.
Originally Posted by Arnold K.
Oh God, here come the GTO haters. My advice to you:
Do not (!) listen to anyone here. Drive both and see for yourself. Make sure the GTO you get is a 2005-06, and the Z is a 05+.
Do not (!) listen to anyone here. Drive both and see for yourself. Make sure the GTO you get is a 2005-06, and the Z is a 05+.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: The Kingdom of Kansas
Originally Posted by Shawn07z
My friend was telling me that he saw a brand new 06 gto sitting at a dealership still not sold. The reason they're "rare" is because they didn't sell. People wanted a more agressive body styling like a mustang, instead they got the grand am lol.
Frankly, if I were you and really liked GM products, I'd wait and get a '09
GTO. That is a nice looking ride.
Last edited by marhot; Apr 3, 2008 at 04:57 AM.
Originally Posted by 350z_racer05
All i can say is, atleast he's not 16, 17, or 18 and asking which one his dad should buy for him. But definetely get the 6.0 if you go for the GTO, Z's are sexier 
Originally Posted by Whyzed
I am currently trying to sell my lifted S10 that I have owned for about 3 years now. I bought the truck stock and have put thousands of dollars into it. The time has come however, where I realized I just have to get something faster than 15-16 seconds in the 1/4 mile.
I am not looking for bias responses, but I realize these are enviable. I have narrowed my choices down to these two ('03+ Z or '05+ GTO), but I have struggled over which I should get for about a year now.
I love the color of the Z called, "Lemans Sunset" and I am looking to spend about $20,000-$22,000, so this narrows me to either a 2003 or 2004 350Z.
I will not get the 5.7L GTO, so this narrows me to the 2005 or 2006 GTO.
I realize the "up's" and "down's" of both choices, but I am looking for honest and helpful replies only.
Here is what I have figured for each vehicle thus far:
350Z Pros:
More aggressive styling
Excellent handling
Lemans Sunset
"More attractive"
??
350Z Cons:
Not as rare as the goat
??
GTO Pros:
Stop light rumbling 6.0L
Rare
Somewhat faster 1/4 mile
Torque
Back seat
Sleeper
??
GTO Cons:
Does not handle as well as the Z
93 Octane (Not essential, but I would definitely run premium)
??
I don't want to spend too much time on this poll, so I am looking for you to fill in some of these pros and cons for me.
I have test driven a '04 LS1 GTO 6-Speed and loved it and I have also driven a '03 VQ35DE 350Z 6-speed. The only advice I can give myself is to test drive both the Z and the LS2 GTO in the same day and compare, but other than this, I am completely and utterly torn.
Let me know what you would do and why please.
I am 19 years of age if that is a factor to you. Thanks in advance guys. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
I will not get the 5.7L GTO, so this narrows me to the 2005 or 2006 GTO.
I realize the "up's" and "down's" of both choices, but I am looking for honest and helpful replies only.
Here is what I have figured for each vehicle thus far:
350Z Pros:
More aggressive styling
Excellent handling
Lemans Sunset
"More attractive"
??
350Z Cons:
Not as rare as the goat
??
GTO Pros:
Stop light rumbling 6.0L
Rare
Somewhat faster 1/4 mile
Torque
Back seat
Sleeper
??
GTO Cons:
Does not handle as well as the Z
93 Octane (Not essential, but I would definitely run premium)
??
I don't want to spend too much time on this poll, so I am looking for you to fill in some of these pros and cons for me.
I have test driven a '04 LS1 GTO 6-Speed and loved it and I have also driven a '03 VQ35DE 350Z 6-speed. The only advice I can give myself is to test drive both the Z and the LS2 GTO in the same day and compare, but other than this, I am completely and utterly torn.
Let me know what you would do and why please.
I am 19 years of age if that is a factor to you. Thanks in advance guys. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
Originally Posted by PrevWon
Don't forget about insurance. The insurance companies will rape you with the GTO though beause of the V8, especially since your 19. Don't forget to take reliability into account. Don't really need to say much there...
Not really sure what you mean by the reliability line there. I have an 04 GTO with 81k+ on it and the only thing that's ever given any trouble was the factory CD player which I replaced about 2 months ago. I know that with any make or model there are lemons and that is a risk no matter what car someone choses.
To the OP go with whichever makes you happier. I drive a GTO daily and work at a premier Nissan shop, I'm around 350Z's all day and love them as well. Both cars are a good choice just depends on what you want more. The Z is more nimble and looks more aggressive. The Z community is also much larger and is very tight, you'll make a lot of friends in the Z community. The GTO group is pretty tight as well from the few that I know.
In the end it's gonna be your call, just remember that either way you go when you buy a sports coupe you'd better stick with your choice cause you're gonna lose $$$ big time if you buy one and then try and trade for the other shortly after.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 35
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From: Bowling Green, Ky
Pro- Mpg
con - Ground clearance
Pro- Roadster
con- How long does a pontiac engine last when it's used for jack rabbit starts off redlights, ask your friends, though the junk yard engines for them are cheap
con - Ground clearance
Pro- Roadster
con- How long does a pontiac engine last when it's used for jack rabbit starts off redlights, ask your friends, though the junk yard engines for them are cheap
GTO's are bad *** cars period.
I was in the same boat. I was pondering a GTO or the Z.
The thing that made up my mind is I know Nissan realiability (questionable by some, but always been good for me), the Z will flat out handle better and looks a little more sporty.
The GTO though has raw power and looks pretty bad A$$ even though its an agressive Grand Am style. The downside is GM reliability and resale value. I couldnt justify paying that much for a GM product. My wife would not settle for a Pontiac either for some reason. Even if I told her it had 400hp. lol
I was in the same boat. I was pondering a GTO or the Z.
The thing that made up my mind is I know Nissan realiability (questionable by some, but always been good for me), the Z will flat out handle better and looks a little more sporty.
The GTO though has raw power and looks pretty bad A$$ even though its an agressive Grand Am style. The downside is GM reliability and resale value. I couldnt justify paying that much for a GM product. My wife would not settle for a Pontiac either for some reason. Even if I told her it had 400hp. lol
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6
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From: Ohio
Originally Posted by marhot
+1
Frankly, if I were you and really liked GM products, I'd wait and get a '09
GTO. That is a nice looking ride.
Frankly, if I were you and really liked GM products, I'd wait and get a '09
GTO. That is a nice looking ride.
Originally Posted by Z_Driver
Tell you the truth. We have some GTO's show up at our LS1.com meets. They say the handling isn't that good and can't keep up with us. The LS2 Power in the GTO will keep up with the LS1 powered Bird or Camaro in a straight line so that part is cool. But, they get 17 around town and 26 on the freeway if you keep your foot out of them. Not much different than 20 around town and 26 that the Z is rated at. I get 21 around town in my Bird and 28.5 on the the freeway with double OD six speed(stock-lots of torque to push that gearing). In my Z I get 25 around town and 29 on the hwy. That is doing my best at keeping my foot out of them. You start stepping into the V8 all the time and your looking at 16mpg. The Z almost performs as good as my Bird (when it was stock) in the quarter and so with gas what it is today I'd say Z car. But, I won't give up my V8 for it torque or fun factor. There is something about lighting up the tires at 70mph that thrills me.... ;-)
I'd consider a G8 or a GTO to replace my Sable but, not my bird. My buddy just bought a G8 and it's pretty nice. Stock he posted a 13.2 quarter. He owns two Birds as well. He just needed something for the wife and kids now that they are getting bigger. Great $30K family car ....
Not a Z
I'd consider a G8 or a GTO to replace my Sable but, not my bird. My buddy just bought a G8 and it's pretty nice. Stock he posted a 13.2 quarter. He owns two Birds as well. He just needed something for the wife and kids now that they are getting bigger. Great $30K family car ....
Not a Z
Originally Posted by PrevWon
Don't forget about insurance. The insurance companies will rape you with the GTO though beause of the V8, especially since your 19. Don't forget to take reliability into account. Don't really need to say much there...
Originally Posted by Z04
shouldn't that read your parents bought?
yet you posted this on a 350Z forum, what did you expect?
so if you have done all of that already, how about making up your own mind
yet you posted this on a 350Z forum, what did you expect?
so if you have done all of that already, how about making up your own mind
Originally Posted by 07Zarek
I almost bought a 05 GTO exept after having a 02 Z28 Camaro I just felt to cramped. So I bought a full size truck instead at the time and a Z a few weeks ago. I just loved the way the Z handled. The balance in them is almost 50/50 and for a RWD vehicle that is amazing. The only thing I miss though is some torque. One guy was right...sitting in the GTO felt like sitting in a supped up Cavy.
Originally Posted by PM-Performance
GTO's are bad *** cars period.
I was in the same boat. I was pondering a GTO or the Z.
The thing that made up my mind is I know Nissan realiability (questionable by some, but always been good for me), the Z will flat out handle better and looks a little more sporty.
The GTO though has raw power and looks pretty bad A$$ even though its an agressive Grand Am style. The downside is GM reliability and resale value. I couldnt justify paying that much for a GM product. My wife would not settle for a Pontiac either for some reason. Even if I told her it had 400hp. lol
I was in the same boat. I was pondering a GTO or the Z.
The thing that made up my mind is I know Nissan realiability (questionable by some, but always been good for me), the Z will flat out handle better and looks a little more sporty.
The GTO though has raw power and looks pretty bad A$$ even though its an agressive Grand Am style. The downside is GM reliability and resale value. I couldnt justify paying that much for a GM product. My wife would not settle for a Pontiac either for some reason. Even if I told her it had 400hp. lol
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 435
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From: south florida
i almost bought a gto the day i bought the z. It was an 05 but it was automatic, so that ended that decision. With hindsight, i am happy i didnt get the gto, its way too loud for everyday. Also like people have said, the resale value seemed, at the time of searching, to be taking a nose dive.
Had one pull on me the other day, very fast vehicle.
Had one pull on me the other day, very fast vehicle.
Originally Posted by Arnold K.
Oh God, here come the GTO haters. My advice to you:
Do not (!) listen to anyone here. Drive both and see for yourself. Make sure the GTO you get is a 2005-06, and the Z is a 05+.
Do not (!) listen to anyone here. Drive both and see for yourself. Make sure the GTO you get is a 2005-06, and the Z is a 05+.
best advice ever haha
true though, drive both and see which one feels better and provides what you need/want
Originally Posted by hsl350z
you want chicks to dig your ride or just dudes??? get the z hands down...the only benefit to the gto is room for more biches