I dont know if I'd call it boring. Other than maybe a bright orange GTO Judge I always thought the older GTO's were pretty low key styled and kept the fun under the hood. Pretty much the same with the newer ones. The "boring" looks are really the appeal for me, I feel like I could drive past a cop or leave it parked without it attracting too much attention, till I stomp the gas that is. Correct me if Im wrong, I want to say it was a '69 GTO judge they reviewed on one of those horsepower TV shows they show on sunday afternoons, was rated at a 14.4, not exactly exciting.
Totally forgetting which season let alone episode, but Top Gear spoke very highly of the Manaro and how it drove. Clarkson recommended buying a used Holden Manaro over the rest of the brand new exotics they happened to be testing around the track.

 

I remember that Top Gear. It was a good episode. He also tested the Monaro sport truck version too, which if Pontiac hadn't of died would have been the return of the El Camino in NA (or the G8 Sport Truck as they were going to call it). I wish Pontiac had of lasted for another few years just to see that G8 ST come to life.

 

I dont recall that part. Unfortunately tho out of the 4 seasons I have 3 (including the one the manaro episode is on) are afghani bootlegs that no longer play on my PS3 so I've only seen the episode once.

 

I agree, never liked this thing. When you hear GTO. You dont picture this. Always reminded me of a grand prix not a gto.

 

I think its almost the ultimate sleeper.... I mean, its just a two door car that has no super giveaway to the beast under the hood..

 

It may have been another episode. I believe they tested the monaro more then once.

 

Right you are. Once against 2 other cars ( an opel(vauxhaul) I think and something else.) and once with the pickup version.

I wouldn't mine having one either, but the cost kind of kills the deal. With tolls on weight, displacement and power(or CO2), it would cost me well over $100,000!

 

they tax "displacement" and "power"? BOOO!!! A land once famous for it's raiding warriors is no being forced to drive smart cars

 

haha im not sure how it took me so long to see this thread. There where alot of reasons that I got my car and I like the sleeper look and yes I laugh the gran prix jokes. But it does ride better and has a nicer interior than an f-body and it sits 4 people unlike a vette. And the whole thing that they shouldnt have put the GTO name on the car made me think of the article from this months GM High Tech. it was about the fastest independent rear GTO in the country right now and the owner quoted that he had some older guys say that his car was not a real GTO but when he asked them to race they shut up real fast. but dont get me wrong I love the old GTO's but trust me you would not want to drive or ride in one everyday.

 

Don't knock those Smart cars mate! My wife's got the 1500 4 door. Built by Mercedes with a Mitsubishi motor. No slouch on the open road.

But back to the Holden, just google the Holden ute (pick up) racing in Aussie! Great racing!