A month ago I purchased a 2005 Impulse Blue Metallic GTO M6. Here's a little back story, but feel free to skip the BS and move to the good stuff.
G8 test drive
The transmission had started slipping in my Grand Prix(daily) and I decided it was best to retire it for the time being. I was on the fence to either get a G8 or a GTO. I found a white G8 GT that was at a local Chevy dealership and decided to check it out. Through the years on various boards people have hyped this car up. I was expecting it to **** unicorns or something. As I started to walk around and look inside it was more of a meh feeling. I went ahead and took it for a test drive which ended up leaving more to be desired. The power was decent, it had some decent leg room, but I couldn't get over how cheap the interior looked and felt. For the price these cars were originally sold for I was expecting a little more from the General. I left a little disappointed, but was satisfied with my decision to walk away from G8's all together. Maybe if I had found a GXP and wanted to sacrifice my left nut it would have be different.
GTO hunting
I started looking again, but focused my search on GTO's. I was picky because there was only a couple of colors I was interested in, blue, yellow, or orange. I came across another ad from a different dealer which showed a stock photo and didn't have much information listed other than the typical specs.
As I arrived at the Hyundai dealer my daughter and I searched the used lot, but couldn't find it. A sales person walked over and asked if needed any assistance. I mentioned the ad, and he responded with we just got it in 2 days ago and it's in the back. We went inside, spoke for a couple of minutes, and then he left to go pull it around. Shortly he returned and said I've got it out front for you, but just so you know it hasn't been serviced or detailed yet. As I walked outside the impulse blue metallic paint sparkled in the sunlight, even with a heavy coat of dirt. I must admit it was instant attraction with the color and I was already excited about the test drive. As I get closer I see the blue interior and notice the 18" factory wheels. It only added to the the excitement as that combo in the GTO is my favorite.
GTO test drive and pickup
We get in and I drive to the end of the parking lot and stop at the exit. I ask him were I needed to go for the test drive. He looks over and says, "Jon, I've only been working at this dealership for 4 hours and a with a car like this you do what you gotta do." I laugh, turn on to the service road, mash the gas, and rip through the gears as my 6 year old is giggling and saying faster daddy faster. I let off the gas at 110, slow down to 60, sink back down into the seat, and drive for the next couple of minutes, and enjoy it. I turn to the salesmen and said okay let's go back, talk some money, and wrap things up.
It stays through the next day so that it can get inspected, get the oil changed, and a full detail. I tell my wife about the car and she is anxious to see it and drive it. We head to go get it and I tell her she can drive it home if she wants. Of course she is enthusiastic and can't wait to get behind the wheel let alone see it in person for the first time. We arrive and wait for a couple of minutes while they bring the car around. As it is driven around the corner I can see my wife's smile getting bigger and bigger.
The drive home=first race
I hand her the keys, hop in her 08 GP, and we are ready to make the 30 minute drive back home. The whole time I'm thinking, wouldn't it be some **** if she gets the first race out of the car. Low and behold a potential challenger appears in a 99-04 red mustang GT. This couldn't be a more perfect race for her. As I pass I see its a young kid(18-19 maybe) who is dogging on his car and revving it up to hear the loud exhaust. he must be thinking his car was touched by the hand of God or something. We arrive at the stop light and the mustang is in neutral and the kid is showing off his loud exhaust while exchanging a few words out the window. My wife looks over at me and I get the, this kid is about to get ****ed up look. Light goes green they both take off and the GTO instantly puts bus lengths on the stang. I catch up to the mustang after a minute or two, look over, and the kid has a look of disappointment on his face. You could tell his ego had just been shattered. Not only did he lose in his precious mustang to a stock car, but a girl did the ass whopping.
Now that the back story is out of the way here are the pics I took before I left the dealership the first time.
Finally at home:
First back roads cruise with some buddies:
Its first dyno day was yesterday: obviously no mods it made-343/345
Stock 05 GTO dyno - YouTube
Stock 2005 GTO dyno 2 - YouTube