I finally buckled under to the urge today and test drove a GXP. I had to drive almost an hour to the nearest one I could find on Autotrader, but it was my day off so what the heck.

This was a black 2006 w/ebony interior and 50k on the clock. It showed a few sign of wear, but all that was minor compared to the things it boasted. I've mentioned before how much I love the turned dash panel, but actually sitting there looking back at it along with the head-up display was sweet. Chrome and polished metal touches abound throughout the cabin, and it gives the car a well appointed feel without being gaudy. The perforated leather steering wheel and shifter handle have serious competition look and feel, and the bucket seats cradle you, almost begging for a tight corner. The power lumbar support is useful touch as well.

The DIC is loaded with settings and the sound system was top notch, but those were not the real music or toys worth playing with. From the moment you turn the key the LS4 throbs with life and its melodic exhaust note is one I have missed for too long.
To get out of my Sebring and into this 300hp beast is like going from bicycle to a rocket sled. Each push on the accelerator is rewarded with a surge of thrust along with its coordinated exhaust music. Dropping the shift lever back to manual and using the shifter paddles felt awkward at first, but they were easy to reach with my thumb and index finger and the gear number in the HUD lets you instantly see where you are. I could get into this on a twisting mountain road, big time.

Once you are sucked in by all these sensations you completely forget you're driving a sedan, as the view and feel from the command chair is one of a strike fighter as opposed to a grocery getter. Big brakes,taut suspension and robust power all beg to be put to paces, and I can feel this car being a highway cruise missle of the lethal variety.

The Firebird and the stout Trans Am might be long dead, but the soul of those legendary muscle cars burns once again in this last and best example of the Grand Prix. As much as I dearly love my 2001 GT, no amount of modding,save trip to Chip Foose will bring my car up to the level of the GXP...I dont know when but I'm gonna have to get one of these.

I have long lamented my 79 T/A...driving this GXP today brought all those old feelings back to life in package made for the modern day world.

This is what a Trans Am looks like when its all grown up.

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk"
2001 GP GT coupe (now my sons)
GPONA Mopar owners club
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible

that was one hell of a description lol...glad you enjoyed the GXP as much as we do

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Only a memory
Pioneer Nav/Magnaflow Catback/E-Cutout/Poly MM/CAI/160*/TBS/STB F&R/Wrapped X-Over & 3'' DP/Flip Paint/XP5243 Atl. Plugs/10.4mm Taylor Wires/SSC

256HP/341TQ
14.05 @ 100.4 2.24 60'

I'd love an LS4 powered car. Wish there was more aftermarket support for them

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One Big Ass Mistake America

lol, damn dude, I think I feel a tear coming...... RIP Grand Prix and Pontiac performance

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2005 Pontiac Grand Prix:|SE front|SPO grilles|HPTuned|HUD added|5-button DIC swap|Wizaired CAI|180*|EGR delete|GMPP rear sway|F&R STBs w/DRs brackets|3.29s|HD Diff|7/8" chain|WBS TA's|SD Headers|GenV SSM90 Hybrid(INSTALL PENDING)

I know the feeling. I grew up in an 84 Trans Am. I still miss that car, however, my GTP would kick my old TA's ass easily.
I wouldn't consider a GXP as a 4 door Trans Am though. Not with front wheel drive. Now the G8, I definitely would call that a 4 door TA.


Before and after the remodel

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

I'm not so much locked into the RWD drive thing...to me its more the attitude of the whole package. I looked at a G8 this past summer and it reminded me of a 4 door GTO. Great hardware, tons of power and lots of nice toys, but the whole car is so understated. IMO the GTO suffered from the same issue, great car but in a very low key package. I've always loved Pontiacs for their in-your-face boldness, their unmistakeable look even if the car had no badges at all. Both the GTO and G8 just arent sexy to me,they dont get my blood pumping...the GP does.
No disrespect to any GTO or G8 owners...its just my personal point of view. If we all had the same tastes there would only be one car...perish that thought!

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk"
2001 GP GT coupe (now my sons)
GPONA Mopar owners club
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible

This is why all of us GXP'ers have the GXP's. I know that a GTP compg or just a GTP can be made faster with probably only $1,000 worth of mods, but they can't replace that V8 sound and torque that rest comfortably under the hood of the GXP. I love mine more every time I drive it.

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2007 GXP w/ minor mods

It's just too bad they are FWD. And yes, the aftermarket for them sucks. It's like the step-child of the LSx motors, unfortunately. I'm not sure why aftermarket is so poor on them, aside from the lack of demand, because they are an LSx motor.

The GTO/G8 being "low key" is a styling thing. Some say they (or one or the other) is very aggressive, others think they're very passive. GTOs are aggressive and passive. I must say, the LS2 does good work in something like looks like a Cavilier ate a Grand Am and a box of steroids.

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Everything needs more Corsa. No exceptions.

Follow my journey of flight at
http://alwaysastudentpilot.blogspot.com/

I cant get enough of mine. By far the best w-body I have owned thus far.

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HID's(8000K Dims),K&N Air Charger,LED tailights,STB's F&R with Don's brackets,Custom Catback.

been playing in PaintShop again (as I often do)...i saw a pic of a GP over at Ls1.com where a Trans Am shaker hood had been installed. The look was pretty slick so I thought I do abit of experimenting myself. The hood graphic in this pic is still to pronounced for my taste as I would like more of a "ghost image"...plus the black areas would be the cars base color for more subtle appearance.



Here is a pic of the "War Eagle" graphic I chopped to put on the hood of the GXP

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk"
2001 GP GT coupe (now my sons)
GPONA Mopar owners club
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible

Switch the layer mode of the graphic to "screen" and the black will dissappear and allow the paint to show through.

Here's quick sample. I didn't have a clean version of your car so I found this purple GP. I switched the layer mode to screen to get rid of the black. Then I dropped the transparency down to 50% to ghost it. After that, I didn't like the red lines on the purple so I changed their tone to a shade of purple for highlights.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

That actually COULD look good...

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One Big Ass Mistake America

Thanks for the tips. I bought one of those books "learn PaintShop in 24hrs" which was helpful but doesnt go into great detail about all the tools. There is still a ton I could learn. Actually I probably should upgrade to some form of Photoshop since my is rather dated

I really do like the way that turned out, and the switch to the purple shade for the accent color just plain works. I can tell I'm gonna have to experiment with this technique. I even like the way it looks on the SE hood,and the arrowhead blending with grille badge flows well.

very cool stuff

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk"
2001 GP GT coupe (now my sons)
GPONA Mopar owners club
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible

I didn't notice that you weren't using Photoshop. I don't know if PaintShop has layer modes or not. Photoshop would be a huge step up if you decide to get it.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

I just checked and my Paintshop doesnt have the "screen" option. It does have masks and layers but I've never been able to figure out how to use the masks with any success. I would like to upgrade to Photoshop soon, I just hate to start the learning curve all over again. lol

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk"
2001 GP GT coupe (now my sons)
GPONA Mopar owners club
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible

Being that Photoshop is the induxtry standard, it's well worth the learning curve.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

I've always liked the that image of the bird.

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2007 Black on Black GP-Smoked Led tails,SPO spoiler and grills,tint,d+s rotors,autostart with alarm,Hai

That look really cool. I love it

the only limiting factor the GXP has is the 4T65-E. why GM thought that trans was a good idea in a 303 HP V8 i have no idea exspecialy when the N* caddies got the 4T80-E and the N* had less HP

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92 LeBaron Convert: Turbo 3L 97 Grand Prix GT 4dr "Frankenstein": L67 4t65 swap
97 Grand Marquis: Summer DD 99 Grand Prix GTP: Top Swap Beater