Faults:
Rear end replaced at 65,000 miles.
Brakes (disc all-around), replaced numerous times. Cost: approx.$1,700.00
Transmission replaced at 120,000. Cost $1,859.00.
Clutch replaced at 120,000. Cost $680.00.
Replaced the radiator 3 times. Cost $260.00+ (each time).
Electrical system faults. Never completely identified or fixed, resulting in power window problems, door lock, and radio problems.
Steering gear box replaced at 135,000 miles. Cost $675.00.
Power steering unit replaced twice.
Fan on the radiator replaced twice. Electric fan.
Extensive body rot began at 6 years after manufacture, even though the car was in Florida.
Headlights were often "stuck" in the down position.
The glass "T" top leaked.
Left window was "dragging" itself to the "up" position, leaving rubber "drag" marks on the glass.
Most mechanics had trouble trying to "fix" the braking system.
The emergency brake was useless, not stopping the car within a reasonably safe distance.
I had trouble finding brake parts such as rotors and calipers.
The engine was not burning oil, but was leaking it onto the exhaust system.
These were internal gasket leaks.
It was virtually impossible to find a replacement exhaust system for the 1984 model year, in 1995. I was told I would have to go an have a customized system made up at 3 times the cost of a stock system!
In 1998 both the engine and transmission were making loud 'banging' noises.
Most mechanics failed to tune up the car properly, and I often drove it away not much better than when I drove it in to be repaired.
Even though the car did "did out" fairly quick, it was a lot of fun driving the car when it had low miles on it. The power and acceleration were scary to someone not used to driving such a powerful car. Even when the car had the transmission fixed at 120,000 miles, the head mechanic told me the car had "one fine engine in it"! I agreed.
Also, the leather seat on the driver's side fell apart at 85,000 miles, due to extensive cracks in it. They were Recaro Bucket seats. The seats were very comfortable and reassuring when cornering at high speeds.
General Comments:
The Trans Am is the most powerful American sports car in my book, although Corvette owners would disagree. The thing with the Trans Am is, unlike the Corvette, the Trans Am transmission and rear end are properly geared for quick, powerful accelerations. 'Vette owners rarely "jump-on-it", simply due to the fact their inherent defects in the transmission and rear end have never been dealt with! Powerful engines are nothing without properly geared transmissions and rear ends. Perhaps this is why the Pontiac transmissions fail so often, due to the fact it's too irrestible "not" to jam on the acceletator! But playing with the car means paying for the thrill, and it doesn't come at a cheap cost, either.
No Corvette ever beat my Trans Am, except 2 other newer Trans Ams. A cpuple of new Ford Mustangs held onto my tail pretty good, but couldn't get up that little extra oomph to pass me on a open road. The Trans Am was excellent on climbing hills in mountainous regions.
People always seemed to take it personal when my Trans Am beat them.
After all it's just a car, and now that I'm older and wiser I'd never own one of the things again, especially with the gas prices and insurance costs.
Somebody told me in an auto parts store I might be able to get my Trans Am to run if I bought 2 other ones for spare parts. I reluctantly agree with that! These cars are going the way of the dinosaurs, and thank goodness for that. Highways aren't places to play games when 50,000 a year lose their lives on them. Today I happy with my little fuel efficient 4 cylinder car.
27th Jan 2002, 00:43
I tend to thoroughly disagree with the review written. I own an '84 Trans Am very similar to the one in the review with all the same options. I currently have 185,000 on my car and the only thing that has gone bad on my car is the alternator and starter (typical items). It sounds to me that the person who had originally purchased the car before you had abused this car to a great deal, this is the only way I can see there being such a huge difference between the two cars. Of the few people that I know that own a Trans Am within a few years of 1984, they have also only had very minor occurrences of their Trans Am's breaking, usually the obvious stuff (new brakes, burnt headlight, starter, etc.)