Why does a 2006 GT out-accel my 2000 GTP?

**nickbuol** · 08-21-2009

I was driving my in-law's stock 2006 GT with 39,000 miles on it this morning, and compared to my 2000 GTP with a few mods and 55,000 miles, it seems like their 2006 GT accelerates easier (my 2000 GTP gas pedal is stiffer than theirs)/quicker (0-30MPH) than my 2000 GTP. I think that I could "take them" in a race (not that I would race them anyway) but they would beat me off the line.

Is there anything that can be done relatively easy to give me an easier and quicker acceleration from 0-30 MPH? My wife, who really has no idea what is what with vehicles, even says that she always thought that my GTP was "harder to push" on the gas pedal than her minivan or her parent's GT.

**Bio248** · 08-21-2009

better gear ratio.

better gear ratio.

you bought a GTP that comes stock with crappy 2.93s. the GT has 3.29s. it accelerates faster due to better gear ratios and that it has higher compression.

**Liquifire** · 08-21-2009

I believe that the 2000 has a manual throttle and the newer ones have electronic throttles.........that is the difference in how hard the pedal feels to push it

**minichopper6hp** · 08-21-2009

Originally Posted by Liquifire

I believe that the 2000 has a manual throttle and the newer ones have electronic throttles.........that is the difference in how hard the pedal feels to push it

Yep... the spring on the throttle body is progressive too. I personally think its a good thing, i know when i hop in my girl's cavalier after driving my gp, its hard to press lightly on the gas, otherwise i will be jerking the car around at every stoplight. Its just different spring rates, the 06 has drive by wire, and the spring they use in the actual gas pedal doesnt have to be very strong to return the pedal to normal position.

**Scimmia** · 08-21-2009

Well, the 2006 GP GT had the Series III Supercharged 3800, so the 20 extra HP from the Gen V blower is probably the reason.

**mystic231** · 08-21-2009

The 2000 GTP could also benefit from a tuned PCM.

On the flip side the GTP will get better fuel economy than the '06 GT due to the lower gears.

**chrisb** · 08-21-2009

dont forget the gts have a higher stall then the gtps.

get a tunned pcm with less torque managment in it that will help.

**nickbuol** · 08-22-2009

That all makes sense. Of course, I am getting pretty close (I would think) to the Series III's additional 20 HP with mods, but that is OK if I am not.

I personally like the fact that I can accelerate SLOWLY if I want to with my GTP due to the stiffer pedal. In the 2006, it is really easy to throw people back into their seat when just trying to accelerate smoothly.

Thank again for the answers.

**blueguy** · 08-22-2009

Originally Posted by nickbuol

I personally like the fact that I can accelerate SLOWLY if I want to with my GTP due to the stiffer pedal. In the 2006, it is really easy to throw people back into their seat when just trying to accelerate smoothly.

That is the exact reason why I hate that electronic throttle bullcrap.

**Sabrewings** · 08-22-2009

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

That is the exact reason why I hate that electronic throttle bullcrap.

GM should use a system similar to the SI drive in my STI. You can choose one of three engine maps that affects throttle response. Intelligent (tame, smooth throttle), Sport (more throttle response but still holding some back), and Sport Sharp (untamed throttle response, what you do with your foot the engine responds). The STI's pedal also has a fairly stiff spring so you don't gun it by accident. It's easily the most enjoyable drive by wire setup I've ever driven.

**nickbuol** · 11-30-2010

Reviving (momentarily) an old thread. As luck (good or bad) would have it, my 16 year old daughter totally my 2000 GTP just over a week ago. It is being replaced by a 2006 GT (at least it is still supercharged)...

**ZR1Vette09** · 11-30-2010

Only complaints on the 06 is the tuning difficulties. And the drive-by-wire, which has got to be the worst thing ever done to a car.

**blueguy** · 12-01-2010

Originally Posted by nickbuol

Reviving (momentarily) an old thread. As luck (good or bad) would have it, my 16 year old daughter totally my 2000 GTP just over a week ago. It is being replaced by a 2006 GT (at least it is still supercharged)...

Awesome! Still welcome to point ya in the right direction on this one too if you need the help

Originally Posted by ZR1Vette09

Only complaints on the 06 is the tuning difficulties. And the drive-by-wire, which has got to be the worst thing ever done to a car.

Agreed...DBW blows. I have it on my Cobalt. '06+ cars can be tuned...but teh gas gauge reads backwards...that can be fixed via EFI Live though from what I've gathered.

Pluses on the '06+ car? It has no U-Bend...interior is WAY nicer...everything is all around better FINISHED IMO, they don't look as good as a 97-03 on the outside...but that's just me...but you have a GenV blower from the factory...so love the extra 20-ish horse, different whine, and better transmission

**nickbuol** · 12-01-2010

Yeah, I've been reading up and they seem harder to mod/tune, or at least less options for it. I had also read about the EFI to correct the gas gauge.

I don't know, maybe I'll just put in a new intake, and see how bad the manifolds are (had a stainless p-log on the 2000 GTP which was much more open than the stock) and let it breath more.

Without the u-bend, is there a great need for a downpipe upgrade?

I figure I am set back at least a year on where I was before with mods just to get through the basic airflow stuff and other maintenance that will need to be done once I start driving the car and find its quirks... Plus it is winter and REALLY cold right now. Don't want to be freezing my butt off working on a car that drives just fine. :-)

**TheOtherNick** · 12-01-2010

Pull the plog off your old car.

**blueguy** · 12-01-2010

The PLOG off your old car will work...or you can just take it and the sway bars (if they are still good AND the DP) and sell them off for Speed Daddy headers...which are about $200 now...and are a GREAT breathing mod for these cars. Being GenV powered headers will help you tons...(and will allow for a drop to a 3.6" pulley, which is the eqivalant to the 3.4" setup on the 97-03 cars)...since the GenV is way more efficient than any ported GenIII blower.

If your wanting to keep it cheap...the PLOG and DP BOTH will work on an '06 car.

**nickbuol** · 12-01-2010

Yeah, I pulled the Stainless PLOG off. I was not able to pull off the downpipe as it was pouring down rain, and the place that they towed the car to just had a (muddy) gravel lot, and no real good way to get under the car. Oddly enough, I still have the rear sway bar (unused - I updated my sig when I put the front in, and never got around to putting the rear in or update my sig again).

Question, wasn't the biggest benefit of the downpipe for the 97-03's to get rid of the u-bend? Without a u-bend on the 04+ cars, how critical is the downpipe?

Since I would have to buy that part again, I could apply the $$$ towards the headers and sell off the PLOG and sway bar, plus my 2 month old HUMount is of no use, or my 2 month old steering wheel control module, so put those together and I should have them covered. Problem is I have never put headers in before. I will have to research the difficulty of that.

Then, toss on an intake and the other supporting mods and be to the same point I was with my 2000 GTP.. Ready for the pulley drop and tune...