There are probably alot of domestic haters out there, but i think Pontiac has got something here. I don't know how many people live in the Toronto area, but if you read the Star today, the wheels section put the 2004 Grand Prix head to head with a Maxima, and the Grand Prix came out on top.

The Grand Prix GTP fits the OHV 3.8-liter engine with an Eaton supercharger for 260 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, besting even the quick 240-hp Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

Factory-provided acceleration numbers put the GTP at 15 seconds flat in the quarter mile, or a full second quicker than its 16 key competitors. The claimed 0-60 mph time is 6.5 seconds, just a hair quicker than an automatic Altima.

(reality times prove that it can actually beat a Maxima)

Adding to the driving excitement are the TAPshift steering-wheel mounted toggle controls to offer F1-style shifting. In the "manual" mode, gear selection is indicated in the driver information center. Just a light tap commands the automatic transmission to do the driver's bidding, increasing the man-machine interaction. A welcomed distinguishing feature, such controls were previously the province of premium autos, such as the Aston Martin, BMW, or Ferrari.

The Competition Group (aka Comp G) suspension package features unique tuning, larger-diameter anti-roll bars, lighter-weight 17-inch aluminum wheels, and more aggressive tire fitment to achieve a reported 0.83 lateral g. So fitted, the Grand Prix feels solid with limited body roll and controlled manners, though not firm. Tipping the scales at 3583 pounds, the GTP is a hefty car that feels solid and unperturbed by aggressive driving, encouraging a heavy foot.

and another bonus is that it looks nice as hell

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0304_gtp/

what do you guys think? i think this car will be kicking a lot of asses on the road, and will have a lot of tuning potential, all at a decent price.

I've always liked Pontiacs (bonneville SSEi, GTP, trans am, fiero etc.) and I would buy one if I had the money and needed a larger car. I assume it'll be quite the sleeper as many people will not know of its capabilities.

those gtp are pretty nice cars and pretty quik because of all that torque:licker: ........what really anoys me is that they are trying to pass those user selected automatic shifts as the same thing as the sequentials in ferrari's.....they are NOT.....unfortunatelly the common buyer has no ideea of the difference so they are getting false information....i do not apreciate this type of marketing.:mad:

There nice cars, but the way I look at it is that the Maxima, Altima, and Accord are putting up very close numbers on Natrually Aspirated engines.

But if your going by how much they cost, then the GTP is a pretty decent car.

Saw a two white ones at a dealership nearby. I gotta say the tan interior is disgusting. Both Grand Prixs were white and that interior just made me sick really, I think it was just too bright or too cheesy looking.

Question. Whats the deal with all the vents? You got like 4 vents on the passenger side, do you really need all those?

Also what is that small screen above the radio control, the thing that has 5 buttons underneath it.

Originally posted by dbartoschek
Factory-provided acceleration numbers put the GTP at 15 seconds flat in the quarter mile, or a full second quicker than its 16 key competitors. The claimed 0-60 mph time is 6.5 seconds, just a hair quicker than an automatic Altima.

(reality times prove that it can actually beat a Maxima)

j/w, i thought the new maxima's were low 14's STOCK. wouldn't that make them quicker? i could be WAY off base here, so correct me if i am wrong. jus something i heard in the grand ol' scheme of cars...

yea, i read that the Honda Accord V6 manual run's 14.6's stock..

The GTPs have been and will be pretty good performers for the money. I just don't like the fact they require premium gas to run. They are not a sports car and should not require the fuel of one.

I'm not really a fan of the "Alien Wasp" styling they've got going on. The GTP's have always been fast, though. Easy to modifiy as well.

Originally posted by KrNxRaCer00


j/w, i thought the new maxima's were low 14's STOCK. wouldn't that make them quicker? i could be WAY off base here, so correct me if i am wrong. jus something i heard in the grand ol' scheme of cars...

Yeah, with the 3.5L they are in the 14s stock. 15 seconds in the 1/4 is nothing that impesses me from a F/I V6.

hey i saw the delorean in yer post and this question came to mind.
how come the delorean has such terrible horsepower? i mean its got a beefy 6 cylinder but it only produces 120hp? my moms rav4 has 127hp! someone please enlighten me. lol

Well actually the grand prix's have been known to hit mid to low 14's stock.. all depends on the launches. With the redesigned SC on the 2004's they can now run on 87 octane.

I know a guy over on the GrandPrix forum right now that is running a solid 14 flat with very very few mods :)

Originally posted by LoW_KeY
With the redesigned SC on the 2004's they can now run on 87 octane.

That is plain stupidity. I don't buy that.

what that the 2004 can run on 87 octane.. have a magazine article that stats the differences between the 03/04 superchargers.. and they said they were able to run 87 in the 04's motors.

maybe it was a typo or what not.. I refuse to run 87 in any motor I have its 89+ what I used to use a month ago.. now its 92+

Originally posted by LoW_KeY
what that the 2004 can run on 87 octane.. have a magazine article that stats the differences between the 03/04 superchargers.. and they said they were able to run 87 in the 04's motors.



Only if they are running at a normal compression ratio. If it is lower, they are just asking for people to bring their cars in with holes in the pistons. It is not a change that would be made in the S/C. It is a change that would be made in the cumbustion chamber.

The new GTPs should be capable of low 14's stock. After all, if I can hit it with less power (even though I have a K&N) they should be able to with the 20 extra hp and better gearing....:coolguy:

Only if they are running at a normal compression ratio. If it is lower, they are just asking for people to bring their cars in with holes in the pistons. It is not a change that would be made in the S/C. It is a change that would be made in the cumbustion chamber.

The stock CR is 8.5:1 for the L67. The 5th Generation M90 is also more efficient. Either way, I also read the new GTP's will be able to run on 87 octane. With a more efficient blower, and some software changes in the PCM, it is not plain stupidity.

Hey Devil, there are so many vents, I think, because of the dual-zone climate control. My 98 GTP has a total of 5 vents for the same reason. I honestly like the interiors on the new GPs. I also like that this car, unlike any other in its class that I know of, has the head-up display. I never saw the use for one until I drove my car (which has one). Bang-for-buck, I think this is easily the best car in its class. When I replace my car, I will buy one of the new ones if I need the room. If not... STI!!!

Originally posted by non sequitir


The stock CR is 8.5:1 for the L67. The 5th Generation M90 is also more efficient. Either way, I also read the new GTP's will be able to run on 87 octane. With a more efficient blower, and some software changes in the PCM, it is not plain stupidity.

With a compression ratio of 8.5:1 you are looking to get detonation with 87 octane. I'd hate to GM when people start bringing their cars in with problems, that will be one heafty bill.

With a compression ratio of 8.5:1 you are looking to get detonation with 87 octane. I'd hate to GM when people start bringing their cars in with problems, that will be one heafty bill.


As I said, software changes would enable it to run lower octane. I could put 87 in my GTP right now if I wanted to. The PCM would just pull the timing if it detected any knock. My Knock Retard degrees would go up hurting performance, but not damaging the engine. I'm sure the engineers at GM have already thought of the chance of detonation running such a low octane and devised a plan for them to do so safely. I'm also willing to bet they achieved it with minimal hinderance on performance and minimal (if not 0) KR. I drive a '99 Grand Prix not a '04 Grand Prix, so I wouldn't know. You should ask the driver of one.