JDM74

The bad:

The window motors like to go bad in them.
The monssoon stereo volume control has a mind of its own.
The paint on the sail panel will bubble because of the glue they used to hold it down
They tend to eat pop-up head light gears
Stock clutch hydraulics brings the suck when you ask to use it fast (pedal sticks on floor)
Stock hurst shifter leaves something to be desired
T-tops sometimes leak

The Good:

The whole platform has amazing aftermarket support
engine as well as whole car is easy to modify
T56 is bullet proof
Can fit real size tires in the back
Looks (personal preference)
and everything else everybody else has said

If you want a fast tin can that can be made into a real brute that has bareable ergos and interior, it's the car for you.

1998Silverbird

Why not?? My V6 was making 370rwhp and 450rwtq!! It was a 98 Firebird..

BCisme

that was on the bottle wasn't it? how much would an LS-1 make with a similar setup?

why get the V6 when you can get the LS1? they aren't pricey or hard to come by.

1998Silverbird

Yeah man I have a 02 WS6 that has 84,000 miles on it. I bought it back in 05 for 15,000 with 32,000 miles on it and put a aftermarket warrenty on it for a 100,000 miles.. It cost an extra 2500.00 but has bought me a new rear end, Window motor, and headlight motor. They are really great cars with tons of power.. Mine is a 6speed and with mid-length headers, slp LM2 with cats, and lid it made 340rwhp and 350rwtq on a stock tune. The cars handle pretty good for what they were.


The cons I have with them as in 4th gens is that you cant see the front of the car, The humps on the passenger floorboard are very annoying, and it makes all kinds of noise when you hit bumps, and they like to use up alot of Fog light bulbs, and tail light bulbs. Since I have that bumper to bumper warrenty I really dont have to worry about anything breaking..

1998Silverbird

The LS1 would make over 500hp tuned.. But my V6 was never tuned so I have no Idea what it would have made. All I could tell you at with a A/F ratio in the high 9's low 10's it made 370 and 450


As far as pricey compared to a V6 f-body, yes they are.. Everything is more exspensive for a LS1 car then a V6 car.. You can find V6 cars for 2000.00 dollars, the cheapest 00-02 trans am is atleast 8,000. Then the modding. You could either build up a V6 like I did 4 years ago for around 4,000 for a heads, cam, forged motor or you could maybe drop a LS1 into it for around the same price ( Magnus on LS1Tech did), or you could take that LS1 Trans am and drop 6-10k on the motor and have a fully forged heads and cam LSX.. Now you are looking at a 6000 dollar Firebird vrs a 18,000 dollar T/A..



If I did it all over again I would have got a V6 Firebird and just turbo it.. The compression is 9.4:1 and the bottom end is good to over 500hp.. On 15lbs of boost they usually see 450ish at the wheels.. Oh and one more factor is the gas miles.. My V6 with its Heads and cam and 4.10's still got 25mpg around the city. My WS6 with just bolt ons and 3.42's gets around 20mpg..

98formulaLS1

i had a 98 firebird formula. It was really nice, and fast too. it had some problems, all of which have been mentioned by one or another above. It was the A4 automatic. All i really needed (which I never did to it) was put in a nice tq and a set of 410's. I'm sure I would have broke that 10bolt though. I've got a friend with a 6sp formula, and he has 342's in the rear. Almost near stock and he already broke the rear end. Ate up all the gears.

Nice cars though, I'm always keeping my eye out for another formula.

rydnlow1120

Yea I had your previous car as well lol. They are great cars, very fun to drive, and lots of power (relative to what I'm used to at least). If you have kids, carry/haul gear or luggage of any sort, its sometimes not the best choice. I have a 95 Avenger for my beater to get the MPG's I want so I got the T/A as a fun car. I actually just traded it for a Tahoe for the space I need because 2 coupes are not the best for me right now (even though I would've loved to keep it!).

3Point5SE

I'm trying to get the WS6 model. But I'm just looking for a car that isn't fairly expensive and I can have fun with. I'll only be 18 so hopefully I won't have any planned kids or *knock on wood* unplanned kids. But I'm going to start my search in November when Football season ends so I have less worries.

I also want something that can keep up with my friend's G35 Coupe

WutupYo

i beat a 350z in my old camaro with just full exhaust. if thats what your worried about, don't worry lol.

carful though, once you get in an f body, you can get hooked which is why i now have another one

Pharm0r

tis true. why the other person up there is defending the firebird agisnt a transam i have no idea.

get the ls1/t56 transam and dont look back. the stuff that breaks is bareable. once you hit that 2nd gear going 55 its all worth it....lol until you watch your rearend get left beind in peices in the rearview mirror....

edit: that g35 coupe is a nice little ride, i respect them...and they are super sexy...but you'll smoke one stock for stock.