1500Ks IN 4 DAYS IN A VZ GTO

[Pickles]

Did a good trip in the GTO recently. Travelled from Melbourne to Dunkeld, where we enjoyed a sensational Hopkins River eye fillet & a good local red, whilst staying at the excellent Royal Mail Hotel. Then down to Port Fairy, & on to Portland for a couple of nights( & where we enjoyed some more good steak! ). Whilst based in Portland, we travelled over to Mt gambier, Penola & return. Then on the last day it was back to Melb, via the great Ocean Rd. Travelled approx 1500ks & averaged 11.78 litres/100k.
There have been a few comments on the site about VZ GTOs-about the LE-stripes, lack of spoiler etc, the Signature GTO--not good enough for last one etc, & of course many think the 4 speed auto is rubbish! All fair enough, because right or wrong, everybody's entitled to their opinion!
Well, my opinion is that the VZ GTO is a sensational vehicle to travel in. Plenty of power, & the A4 was great on the Great Ocean Rd, when one wanted to pass quickly etc--just press the accelerator & you're AWAY--absolutely brilliant acceleration. The suspension seemed to soak up road undulations quite well, & we were both totally comfortable during the 4 days away. My wife particularly enjoyed driving it, & on one of the days ( to S.A.), she drove over 400ks, & loved it.
Of course, there are only the two of us, so we can get away with the ridiculously small boot( it is a sportscar after all, someone said!), & also the very slowly moving electric seats!
But all in all, we loved it, & couldn't think of anything better, for the price, that we would prefer to have driven.
So, our advice to anyone contemplating a GTO is, go for it, particularly at the moment when there are such great deals around. The best ADVERTISED price I've seen is $68990 + ORC, which is about $10k discount--and you'd probably do better, if you produce the cheque book.
Anyway, whether you've got an "ordinary" VZ GTO like us, an LE, or are contemplating the "Signature" series, my opinion is that ANY Coupe with an LS2 in it is a magic bit of gear--try it & see!
Cheers, Pickles.

[spuddamonaro]

A very inspirational account there pickles!! as soon as the finances improve enough where id be able to buy one in the near future, id have no hesitation doing so.

I pass a second hand one at Hartland Holden in blacktown everyday, its such a tease!!:bawl: cannot wait for the day where i could shop for one!!

One day!!

Cheers

Pete

[jwilson]

So, our advice to anyone contemplating a GTO is, go for it, particularly at the moment when there are such great deals around. The best ADVERTISED price I've seen is $68990 + ORC, which is about $10k discount--and you'd probably do better, if you produce the cheque book.
Anyway, whether you've got an "ordinary" VZ GTO like us, an LE, or are contemplating the "Signature" series, my opinion is that ANY Coupe with an LS2 in it is a magic bit of gear--try it & see!
Cheers, Pickles.

Amen mate. I've has my GTO for exactly a month now, and I couldn't be happier.

Jim

[sandmanls1]

very nice pickles love to see some pics

[NickS]

Anyway, whether you've got an "ordinary" VZ GTO like us, an LE, or are contemplating the "Signature" series, my opinion is that ANY Coupe with an LS2 in it is a magic bit of gear--try it & see!
Cheers, Pickles.
Great write up Pickles ... but I have to disagree with one thing !!!

Any Coupe is a magic bit of gear ... LS1 or LS2 ... there is just something special about them :yup:

[LA^BLOOD]

true luv to see some pictz

[GTO_]

Did a good trip in the GTO recently. Travelled from Melbourne to Dunkeld, where we enjoyed a sensational Hopkins River eye fillet & a good local red, whilst staying at the excellent Royal Mail Hotel. Then down to Port Fairy, & on to Portland for a couple of nights( & where we enjoyed some more good steak! ). Whilst based in Portland, we travelled over to Mt gambier, Penola & return. Then on the last day it was back to Melb, via the great Ocean Rd. Travelled approx 1500ks & averaged 11.78 litres/100k.
There have been a few comments on the site about VZ GTOs-about the LE-stripes, lack of spoiler etc, the Signature GTO--not good enough for last one etc, & of course many think the 4 speed auto is rubbish! All fair enough, because right or wrong, everybody's entitled to their opinion!
Well, my opinion is that the VZ GTO is a sensational vehicle to travel in. Plenty of power, & the A4 was great on the Great Ocean Rd, when one wanted to pass quickly etc--just press the accelerator & you're AWAY--absolutely brilliant acceleration. The suspension seemed to soak up road undulations quite well, & we were both totally comfortable during the 4 days away. My wife particularly enjoyed driving it, & on one of the days ( to S.A.), she drove over 400ks, & loved it.
Of course, there are only the two of us, so we can get away with the ridiculously small boot( it is a sportscar after all, someone said!), & also the very slowly moving electric seats!
But all in all, we loved it, & couldn't think of anything better, for the price, that we would prefer to have driven.
So, our advice to anyone contemplating a GTO is, go for it, particularly at the moment when there are such great deals around. The best ADVERTISED price I've seen is $68990 + ORC, which is about $10k discount--and you'd probably do better, if you produce the cheque book.
Anyway, whether you've got an "ordinary" VZ GTO like us, an LE, or are contemplating the "Signature" series, my opinion is that ANY Coupe with an LS2 in it is a magic bit of gear--try it & see!
Cheers, Pickles.


Pickles your talking about me ;)

It's all a bit of :stick: mate ... some people get so cut up if you have a different opinion to the rest of the "sheep" on this forum ... Mate if someone didnt like my car, or it's colour I couldn't give a rats :moon: ... If they were funny at bagging my ride I'd laugh as well, not cry and sulk about it like a baby.

Your $, you spend it where you like and on what you like!

What gets me, and why I give a bit of :stick: is when you notice certain forum members (most ppl know who they are, but couldnt be bothered saying ... ppl do talk) know shit about cars, but just post all over the place about what they own, how its the best, how theyre going to blow everyone, put it in their signiture and go on and on about it ... then u get the other little turds (with their executives) blowing so much sunshine up these guys butts like they're getting paid to sing their praises ... give me a break!


Back on track, you're right the GTO is a great car IMO. Looks good, goes well, is really comfortable and has plenty of room for mods (for those that want to). Still even if I was buying the GTO today, I'd go for the regular one with just 2 options AP 6 psitons and sunroof. I can live without all the rest. Manual or Auto? doesnt matter both have their place. But I'm going to mod the car heavily and for the street M6 is the way to go IMO. This car was never going to be my daily driver and never will be.

End of the day GTO, LE or Sig series ... money is yours and so is the choice ... just dont believe that because u have a little number on your car it makes it more special ... coz not everyone will agree. I certainly don't!


PS: I don't like yellow leather either, reminds me of:spew: ... but who cares ... u love it ... doesnt mean i can't express my opnion on it :stick: it's all a bit of fun.

[LA^BLOOD]

cant wait till dis thing comes out

[Ghosn]

Nice right up and I agree whole heartedly, what better car to do it in. Did u get a chance to take any snaps with ur car and some nice backdrops?

[mallen]

Couldn't agree more Pickles. I've had mine for 2 and a half months now - it just keeps getting better!

Sounds like a great run you had - it would be awesome to take a GTO around the great ocean road.

[SteveK]

Great sharing of your experience Pickles. Love the coupes and they just eat up the Ks don't they. I'm clocking up 31,000ks in mine and it stills give me the same smile I had when I first bought it and drives as new as that same day too.

Next time you're up for a day trip to and from somewhere on a Saturday, lemme know, would love to clock up a couple 100 ks for the lease. ;)

Cheers,
Steve

[Ghosn]

Nice right up and I agree whole heartedly, what better car to do it in. Did u get a chance to take any snaps with ur car and some nice backdrops?

Sorry, need to correct myself, bit of a brain fade. :soap:

It's WRITE!!

[VY2 LS1]

Go Pickles. Where's Goggles.

PS Love that yellow thing you got. Cant afford one myself, private school fees for my two girls and crap pay a professional engineer gets and all, but hell my VY2 3.73 A4 226rwkw will have to do. But great to see someone really enjoying motoring. Yep that is what it is - motoring - what my grandpa used to do back in the thirties in Sydney - they'd go motoring. Also, I just wonder if the new VE, with all its sophistication is going to give that same motoring buzz. Maybe so. hopefully so, but it is a balance thing and no doubt the VZ GTO, not surprisingly after all that generational development, has got that balance right.

Go Pickles.

[Pickles]

Great write up Pickles ... but I have to disagree with one thing !!!

Any Coupe is a magic bit of gear ... LS1 or LS2 ... there is just something special about them :yup:
Nick, fair comment, but I must admit that I wasn't thinking about the Coupe 4 when writing the post- I was thinking of "ordinary" coupes!, & in fact, now that I've had time to think about it, the Coupe 4 really is in a class of its own, because as there is so much that is different about it, it's nearly a different car.
I've been promised a test ride in Marks Coupe 4, & I'm sure it'll be very much different than our GTO.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Haze_V8]

Nice write up Pickles!
It was good to hear your accout of the trip in person last night.

These cars were made for driving in conditions like you describe and I'm never happier than when i'm pushing my car hard on a nice bit of blacktop. It;s goot to know there are still some places where you can still have a ball driving within the legal limits.

I'm looking forward to making the trek to the Monaro nationals in November. Are you attending?

Cheers!

[zacz]

Guys

where are the MONARO NATIONALS? Sounds like it would be a good trip!

:)

[MARTY]

Guys

where are the MONARO NATIONALS? Sounds like it would be a good trip!

:)


http://www.monaronationals.com/

[Pickles]

Nice write up Pickles!
It was good to hear your accout of the trip in person last night.

These cars were made for driving in conditions like you describe and I'm never happier than when i'm pushing my car hard on a nice bit of blacktop. It;s goot to know there are still some places where you can still have a ball driving within the legal limits.

I'm looking forward to making the trek to the Monaro nationals in November. Are you attending?

Cheers!
G'day Dion, or is it "Mr GTO"!- yeah, good to speak you too. Yes, we're going to the Monaro Nats--should be some nice cars there.
Cheers, Pickles.

[james2]

i think you mob require a very long weekend in the NT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[TTT]

How did you like portland pickles? i live there.

[GTO Coupe]

Gotta agree with the above, I love my GTO and am about to start modifying her. Id post some pics but cant? Does that have something to do with the "non-validated" thing?

[Pickles]

How did you like portland pickles? i live there.
We loved Portland, & will visit again. We stayed at the Melaleuca Motel, Bentinck st, only 2 mins from shops (wife says only 1 min from Pub!) On both nights we ate at Macs Hotel-open fire etc--very nice. The motel was good as they have wide parking spaces-no problems opening doors etc.
Actually, you may be able to help us -we took a photo on the beach at "Captain's Head Arch", but can't remember where this place is--It's on the beach, have you heard of it? Is it near Portland, Nelson, or maybe even Port MacDonnell!!
But yeah, we loved Portland-lots of lovely old buildings, & the Marine Discovery Centre was excellent.
Cheers, Pickles.