Is it worth it?

Can you make it faster than a 4th gen at the same weight?

Has independent rear. Anyone make suspension stuff like Strano does for our cars?

WHat brakes can you get on them?

Pros: The LS2 is effing awesome. I drove one and I was impressed.
Cheap for what it is.

Cons: The looks. I have tried, and I just can't get past the boring looks. Whoever designed it should be shot.
It's heavy. Really heavy
The suspension is WAAAAAY too soft. That can be fixed though.
It's not an Fbody.
It costs twice as much as an Fbody
It doesn't look like an Fbody

How's that?

Yeh, I see those damn independent rear cars pull out of a corner and its damn impressive to see.....from behind.

I think the wheel wells kind of limit the width of tire you can put under the car, and the stock tune does some real stupid stuff when you try to work the car hard, i.e., bang a gear too hard, and it goes into limp mode, and when it gets hot, the car goes into engine cooling mode where it dumps so much gas into the engine, your eyes will burn. That can probably all be tuned out, but those are the complaints I got from a good friend who owned one for a while. He's an avid autocrosser (his wife is a national champion), but he rarely autocrossed the car.

But he said the car was stupid-fast and very comfortable on the street.

They had issues with the front wheels rubbing the struts...and that may have been with stock width front tires. Not sure it applied to all years or if it was eventually fixed somehow....but it's a potential concern.

I believe the rub came from bushings that were damaged in shipping on the boat from Australia. They strapped the cars down so tight, it collapsed the bushings on the tops of the struts. There is a good aftermarket for them, but many of the best speed parts come from Australia.

Check out Pedders for suspension parts.

I'd love to have an 05-06 as a toy - make mine Brazen Orange Metallic and a 6 speed. Like Steve91T said above - it's heavy....

I think the G8 is a better car. Especially the LS3 version.

I have daily driven an 02 ws6 Trans Am and an 04 GTO, and currently have both. The GTO is much more comfortable, the ws6 is faster because of the weight, however I think my 04 could be made just as fast by adding headers and exhaust. The 04's are the LS1 and cable driven while the 05-06 are Ls2 and drive by wire. Some on the GTO forums like the ls1 better for the cable throttle.

Other annoying things with the GTO. The trunk sucks, if you want to track it you have to get the pedders suspension upgrade, all 4 tires wear the inside, the leather stitching on some cars comes apart, and the bolsters on the front seats wear. The seat motors on the 04 are slow, supposedly the 05 and 06 are faster, get in the back seat a few times and you will know what I am talking about.

There are more good things about it though. It will fit 4 adults comfortably in it. You can fit a baby seat in it without smashing the passengers face into the windshield. It is more comfortable to ride in than an f body (no stupid hump).

I like both of them, both have strengths and weaknesses.

Bryan