i saw a gto at the autocross yesterday - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 11-13-2006, 01:23 PM

so as i walked by the start line i noticed this red two door sitting to one side. i didnt look closely, dismissing at as a cavalier or such.

then while i was working corner #4 later, i saw this red car take off with a large cloud of rubber smoke, and soon as it came toward me i noticed a muffled thumping which reminded me of the gut shaking sound of a wwo sprint car. soon i could see the twin hood scoops and said to myself.."duuuuhhhh, thats no cavalier thats a gto!"

so they do look nondescript as charged by the old goat lovers but i am here to tell you that is a fast car! his main problem was keeping it straight under acceleration. and unlike its granddaddy, this one has pretty good weight distribution.

and i ran my 280e euro too. with slicks with 8 or so autocrosses on them and forties temperature, it was a slidey ride. wheel spin off the line and off every corner was the biggest issue. the car ran well, didnt miss a beat and i won my class......

course i was the only one in ESP.

but it was fun. now i will spend the winter thinking of what to do next to prepare for next year and what class to prepare the car for.

tom w

zero · #2 11-13-2006, 01:36 PM

Yea.. i own a 2006 gto.
"non descript?" well it looks like a pontiac (even though its a holden).
Its supposed to be A gto.. not THE GTO. It was homologated for racing, unlike the original, and did very well.
I still dont understand why people think the original gto was flashy or something. Other than the silly spoiler and hot paint colors (by that day's standards) it was just a lemans without the chrome bumper (depending on year). A bodys were cheap and frankly fairly ugly. I've owned 3 70 GTOs and half a dozen other A body cars... like any american male muscle head. Well I've gone to the 06 and never looked back. When i want a cool project-- I'll hit up a mercedes or similar.

THe 2006 GTO is pretty frikkin awsome. Its american (gm) but based on the omega and designed in australia for the australian market. So GMs ideas of how american cars should be (cheap, broken and shoddy) didn't get so infused into the GTO. Not to mention the GTO is/was Holden's and Pontiac's "top of the line" so it got a bit more attention.

Say what you will about the exterior, but i've never sat in a car with better buckets.

mwood · #3 11-13-2006, 01:37 PM

I'm quite new to auto-X and honestly don't have the ideal car for the sport but will still have fun within the limits of my 06 Mustang vert. It has a 4.0 V6 manual trans with Hurst short throw shifter, 410 gears, lowering springs and sway bars. I've only gone once and have a lot to learn how to drive but I'm going to keep trying. I didn't see any MB's at the event I went to; a lot of Subaru's and other Japanese cars and a few Corvettes. I wouldn't think my 300E would be any good for this sport.

t walgamuth · #4 11-13-2006, 05:31 PM

first, dont get me wrong. i like the gto. and i agree totally the old ones were just lemans with extra trim and a big motor. so the modern concept is true in that way. and i like the sneaky aspect of a kindof bland looking car that will simply blow you away with its performance.

as for a benz on the autocross, yes, they arent expected to be used so they arent classified in a way that they can really be competitive, but i have had a lot of fun with mine this year.

i wouldnt be surprised if the 300e would be competitive.

and it never fails that people are amused by me bringing a benz on a trailer with hoosier slicks.....as if i think it is a real race car.... a couple have commented and i just say, hey it is 22 years old, if i break something i dont have to worry how i will get home!

i am hoping to actually get something more appropriate over the winter to drive next year.

tom w

t walgamuth · #5 11-13-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero

Yea.. i own a 2006 gto.
THe 2006 GTO is pretty frikkin awsome. Its american (gm) but based on the omega and designed in australia for the australian market. So GMs ideas of how american cars should be (cheap, broken and shoddy) didn't get so infused into the GTO. Not to mention the GTO is/was Holden's and Pontiac's "top of the line" so it got a bit more attention.

Say what you will about the exterior, but i've never sat in a car with better buckets.

so you think the quality is pretty good? are they receiving good reports on maintenance and such?

i would be tempted but have a general fear of anything made by gm in terms of quality. although my last of six suburbans was pretty impressive except the engine which lost its bearings at 150k miles.

tom w

cmac2012 · #6 11-14-2006, 02:49 AM

They had a big write up on the new GTO in the SF Chron recently. I think it looks pretty good, and I'd rather have a 4 door anyway, unlike the original 2 door. I imagine it adds a bit of weight but for a car with that much power, not having the option of hauling a crowd with ease is a bit whacked.

t walgamuth · #7 11-14-2006, 06:14 AM

actually a four door sometimes weighs less than a two door, especially if the two door is post less in the center of the side. the post adds strength without adding much weight.

the desireability of a two door is mostly visual.

tom w