Re: Lutz's "GTO" -- C6 Firebird Forum

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Date Posted: 21:11:32 06/13/02 Thu
Author: Monaro/GTO
Subject: Re: Lutz's "GTO"
In reply to: 454SSLS6 's message, "Re: Lutz's "GTO"" on 20:40:33 06/10/02 Mon

>>Well, Lutz just dropped a long way down the cool
>>chart. I thought he was a tasteful man. Perhaps I was
>>wrong. How could a so-called "car guy" think a big
>>dumpy Cavalier is a Pontiac GTO just because it has
>>rear wheel drive and a Chevy engine? What is his
>>intention here? This thing isn't any better then the
>>'74 GTO. It would be a disgrace to the legend if it
>>were sold here. If he makes a GTO by rebadging a
>>foreign car, he pisses away any chance of making a
>>true GTO--a beautiful, tough, sleek machine in the
>>style of the originals. A badge does not make a GTO.
>>Any moron would know that. Why doesn't Lutz?
>
>Hey man, Im American not Australian, but I love the
>new GTO. Im embarresed by all you idiots on here who
>bash the Holden Monaro. Do you not know a good car and
>a great oppotunity when you see one? A sleek machine?
>I love the classic GTO as much as anyone and would
>kill to get my hands on one but I will admit that it
>was a f'n gass sucking tank. In the style of the
>originals? Sorry, GM wont make a new sports car on a
>frame, or with a big block, or with a solid rear
>suspension or weigh 5000 tons or handle like an
>elephant anymore. I know that must break your heart.
>Get with the times man. Its not the 60's anymore and
>they are not ever coming back no matter how hard you
>wish. Im no ricer, I hate those guys. The Monaro isnt
>even really a "forign" car in the sense that most
>probrably think of it. Yes it is made in a forign
>country, but not Japan or Korea, and its not even made
>by a foreign company. Holden is a division of GM, so
>get your facts strait. Please dont tell me you are a
>fan of "retro" styling. "Retro styling" is another way
>of saying passe sh@*. Remember when the original GTO
>came out it was new and fresh. What would be a
>dis-service to the GTO would be to look "retro" with a
>car that stands for originality.

Well I'm an Aussie and 454 let me tell you some of my countrymen's infantile posts in here make me cringe too ..

It's amazing as well to see how passionate U.S F-body enthusiasts are as well yet a pity this hasn't tranlated to sales, which I understand have waned over the years. Anyone know recent production figures, btw? Unlike Commodore/Monaro, F-body has no high-volume RWD sedan version to both spread costs and keep the plant & profits humming so I guess it's demise was inevitable ..

Understandably GM-NA has decided to try and retain future F-body sales through another import (was Canada, now Australia) rather than just handing them to Ford Mustang on a platter. And it's to their credit I think that GM is providing customers with an alternative.

After all, apart from Mustang, can anyone name ANY OTHER affordable V8 RWD manual coupe .. wordwide?

I read a recent interview with Holden's Mike Simcoe (Commodore/Monaro stylist) btw who is tasked with spicing GTO up for your market. Reading through the lines 'retro' is not his direction, the proposal has already been submitted to GM-NA. I agree the styling needs a tweak for your market, but Monaro is not at all unattractive, is a competent and durable car which performs & drives very well. Of interest, I believe Holden begins local manufacture of Gen-III V8's late next year.

454 your reference to Holden not being a foreign company but in the GM family is very astute. Where do $ profits from Toyota-US or Honda-US go? Back to Japan! Yet guess where Holden profit goes, eh? Last financial year Holden repatriated a record 80% of profit from Australian & export sales BACK TO North America. This averages out at over 50% over the longer term (even through Holden's lean years) and enriches America by about 22% return-of-investment annually. Not bad huh? Lutz is quoted as saying Holden is GM's best-performing division.

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