1985 Pontiac Firebird review from North America
"High performance dependability"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The rear end went out at 150,000 miles.
The transmission went out at 175,000 miles.
The dashboard has been cracked since I've owned the car. Nothing a dashboard cover couldn't fix though.
The center console covering has pulled away, but I've heard this is a common problem with most years of the Firebird.
The paint is flaking. I've been told it was a primer problem at the GM factory.
The driver side door sags a little making it frustrating when it doesn't close on the first try. I had the door re-hung in 1997, but the weight of the door is just too much and it started sagging again in late 2000.
General comments?
This car is very fun to drive.
From front to back this car has excellent styling. It looks fast.
Handling is exceptional.
The 200,000+ miles has really surprised me. I have definitely gotten my money's worth.
I have considered trading this car in for something newer/faster, but so far I haven't seen anything that catches my eye like my Firebird.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1993 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8L V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 125000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 210000 miles |
| Previous car | Mercury Zephyr |
| Date of Entry | 28th June, 2001 |