That's an '04. '05's have hood scoops (vent only, non-functional),
revised rear fascia (separated dual exhaust, instead of single-side),
bigger brakes, upgraded A4 tranny, different gauge font, different
colors (cyclone grey and midnight blue metallic, instead of barbados
blue and cosmos purple metallic).

I own an '04. Great car, terrible dealer service experiences (since it's
a Holden from Australia, the build quality and tolerances are far better
than the typical GM dealer is used to. They can service the engine and
transmission, but the chassis, interior, et. al. are unique enough that
most dealerships really don't know how to work on the car - at least in
my experience).

There's no spoiler on the Holden Monaro (which is rebadged as the GTO).
It's worse than you think - the spoiler actually blocks your view out of
the rear window, making any car behind you seem like it's tailgating.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/features/0405pon_gtoautocross/

Autocross grilles (kind of inset "scoops" - Grand Am has these kind of
grilles) make the car look more like a 60's Pontiac. Ditto the autocross
spoiler, squared off like an old Judge spoiler.

Check out the Ram Air 6 a/k/a Woodward GTO - would have seen these sorts
of styling cues on the '07/'08 GTO had its platform (Zeta) not been
cancelled:

http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2004-Pontiac-GTO-Ram-Air-6.htm

The "stealth" factor is VERY useful when you're blasting by a cop at
10-15 over the limit. Although maybe not in a red car...

Best interior of any GMNA car (again, because it's a Holden). Incredible
seats, cool interior design, very functional driver info center/controls
(except no temp/oil pressure gauges!)
Great performance.
Awesome exhaust sound.
Decent ride and handling for a heavy car.
No trunk space (gas tank in trunk).
Huge key/weird door lock & security system.
Crappy Blaupunkt stereo (turn up the subwoofer in the trunk, and turn
off speed-sensitive volume and all of the preset EQ settings = huge
improvement).

The 1st-to-4th shift thing is incredibly easy to disable.

The original GTO was just another Pontiac with a hot motor.  I don't
understand what people expect here; this is the year 2005.  Pontiacs
look like...Pontiacs.  You think it's going to look like a '73 model?

If this GTO got any lower it'd be dragging.  Seriously the oilpan skid
plate is about 3-4 inches off the ground, and the front air dam won't
clear a standard curb.

If you can find another RWD V8 coupe with 350-400 HP and a luxurious
interior below this price point, you should buy it.

As much as I hate to burst your ignorant bubble, that car is no GM
refrigerator product. Calling it a Pontiac is doing it a disservice. The
was not designed or made in the US and the only thing Pontiac about it is
the name badge and the localized bling blings.

It is from Holden in Australia (owned by GM). The car is derived from the
Monaro version of the Holden Commodore, which in turn shares some DNA with
Opel.

Australian vehicles are hardly refrigerator products. Generally they are
much better constructed than US autos and they are designed for a harsher
operating environment. Suspension durability in particular is way superior
to what you are used to. Fit and finish, dust sealing and ergonomics are
usually excellent. Then there are other little things, like ABS brakes
that work well on dirt roads.

Australian cars in general have European handling/dynamics with "full
size" bodies and high torque powerplants.

Australia is one of the last outposts of RWD cars. Both GM and Ford design
and produce full size RWD cars in Australia.

I think GM have most likely f.cked up their marketing with this car and
have improperly positioned it with the punters.

To get the measure of this car you have to compare it with serious Euro
muscle.

It is not only GM that can source this kind of kit from Australia. Ford
Australia also produce some equally good stuff. How about an off the shelf
(straight 6) Australian RWD Ford company car that does the 1/4-mile in
14.3 sec?

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=26&article_id=8210&page_number=1

There is a long tradition of high performance RWD in Australia. The
article below is a road test of a 1971 Australian Falcon GTHO Phase 3.
This factory car was capable of reaching the rev limiter in top gear.

http://www.raceplace.com.au/articles/

Phuoc