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.

 

for 22k you should be able to get a 05 Z.

Z requires premium as well.

 

If you need back seat the GTO is for you. Maybe a G35 instead?

 

how can you compare Z and GTO?
GTO is sleepeR??? lol

 

I have a buddy at work with a Goat, and he has been salivating over my "Z" since I got it last week... He hates his car so much now... He has realized that his car looks like an old suped-up grand am with a hood scoop, he has now realized that his car gets like 13 mpg in town, and he has now been talking about painting it orange and putting a body-kit on it (<---Officially Lost his mind)... I tell no lies... Furthermore, he has realized that the extra 2.5 Gas Guzzling Liters that his engine has, does not make him superman, nor does it allow him to pull on me when we run...

The last thing, he has also now realized that everyone on the gto forums that he has chatted on are all borderline schizophrenic, Mustang-Noided, Rednecks... These are all facts that I found particularly relevant in your situation, do with them what you will, because after all, it will be YOUR car...

Cheers...

 

goat = HEAVY.....get a 6.0 if your goin to buy one...u really want a cavalier with a v-8??!!

 

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+.

 

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...

 

Australian, smart-a*s. Do some homework.

 

i HAVE driven both.....just tellin the truth....

 

u have to run premium on the Z too. U should consider the G35 too.

 

Homework completed *******. It was supposed to be funny...

Fixed.

I don't care either way. I don't like them.

 

GTO's aren't really bad cars. They're fast and all, but the styling is just bland/boring and the interior with the colors gets old after a while.
For the record, I've driven a couple GTOs.

I'm personally not a fan, but why does my opinion matter? Get what you feel is better for you, not what people tell you to get.

 

maybe some are hating.

but he clearly asked for opinions.

and id go with a Z. just cuz its a sharp car, quick, and doesnt look like a boat like the GTO does.

and as far as rare, i see them everywhere. go on autotrader or cars.com, ull see them everywhere.

 

if youre looking for straight line performance, the Goat will blow the doors of the Z easily..my friend has one, and that thing just pulls like crazy man..but it gets horrible MPG.sometimes less than 20 on the highway( depending on how you drive it, ofcourse) ..the Z also requires premium fuel, like the GTO.

 

get a blue 6.0 gto 6 speed

 

I had a 2004.5 350z I have a 2005 gto. You cant compare the two. The gto is only good in a straight line but can drift quite well. The 350z is good around corners and ok in a straight line. But the ls2 6.0 which is 05+ gto will demolish a 350z in a straight line. I beat a full bolt on g35 by 5 bus lengths or so and my gto is stock. Put down 342 to the wheels.

 

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. GTO is gonna drink gas like crazy aswell.

I'm not trying to be bias or anything, but it's the truth. I read the last few sentences off an article online, forgot where. I looked at every car I would possibly want before I traded in my 5AT 07 350z for a 6MT. I got lucky and found a good deal on a nismo :P. The GTO won't turn heads like a Z will either. Most avg drivers won't even know it's a gto, while the same ppl with think our Z's are porshe's .

If you plan on making the car a dragster, then go with the GTO. If you want sporty, great handling, great looks, compliments, and pretty good power, go 350z.

 

with the way gas prices are heading i'd go for the Z or G. and for all the other good reasons listed.

 

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