1985 Pontiac Firebird Coupe 2.8 V6

Summary:

High performance bargain

Faults:

The only thing I have had a problem with is the door pin had to be replaced. Cost $5.50.

General Comments:

The car has a nice sporty look, inside & out.

I replaced the V6 with a Chevy 355. It has about 400 horse power.

I paid $400 for the car. No rust.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 2003

1985 Pontiac Firebird 2.8L

Summary:

A great investment

Faults:

The only thing that has gone wrong with it is the mass air flow sensor.

General Comments:

The handling on this car is great! It really hangs in the curves!

Its got good pep once you get in the higher RPMs.

It is really fun to drive!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th July, 2002

1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.0 V8

Summary:

Nickel and Dime'd to death

Faults:

Doors, dash, and something in the trunk area rattle.

The car drives rough before it has warmed up.

Transmission had a leak when I bought it.

T-tops leak by windows.

I had a major brake problem when the rear brakes no longer worked, which wore out the front brakes until it broke the front brakes completly. ($700 to repair.)

Gasket in the engine was leaking radiator fluid. I had it fixed.

Heater core inlet tube broke, which leaked into the passenger side floor.

One of the rear spark plugs fell out.

Seats are starting to rip.

Center console cracked.

Rear spoiler material in peeling.

Turn signal light fell out.

The skirting that directs air to the radiator ripped off.

There in a buzzing noise that comes out of the speakers, and its pitch increases with the engine speed.

Cloth on the T-bar in falling off.

Emergency brake doesn't work sometimes.

Wires to the cruise control have broke.

Vents will not change for different settings (floor, defroster, etc.)

AC is not cold. It might just need to be recharged.

Water pump rusted through.

Alternator belt snapped.

Map light doesn't work.

Windshield washer pump was broken when I bought the car.

It still leaks radiator fluid.

General Comments:

When I first bought this car I thought it was going to be an awesome car. But I have had nothing but problems with it, and it has cost me a lot of money to keep it running.

However, it is a whole lot faster than my Probe was, although I got out done by a Duster.

The exhaust has a nice low roar to it, and it lets people know when I arrive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th April, 2002

15th Jun 2006, 03:05

This seems to be a review of an old, unmaintained, car-Firebird or not. A car in this condition is not an indication of how sound the car is, but of its former owner. I have had two third generation Firebirds and both were very good and both were used. The one I currently have is 21 years old. Good luck with this thing. I would just cut my losses and by another. They are very cheap now, if eBay is an indication. The third generation F-body is not very sought after.

21st Jun 2008, 01:37

Wow, that thing must have been rode hard and put up wet. You usually only see that laundry list of problems with the cars over 150,000 miles. They're all the little things that eventually do happen to these cars. The rear disc brakes from 1982-1988 were junk, though. GM should have owned up to that lousy design. I've had to fix mine at least once a year.

1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.0l 305-H

Summary:

The greatest car I have ever owned!

Faults:

Nothing major has ever gone wrong with this car. The only things repaired have been routine items like brakes, hoses, tune-up items and I replaced clutch at 90,000 and 170,000 miles.

General Comments:

I have heard horror stories of other GM F-body owners. I do have to admit to taking excellent care of this car, but its life started out a bit rough. It was originally sold at Peter Levin Pontiac/BMW in early spring 1985 after having been to Cars & Concepts Inc. in Detroit, Michigan for a custom T-Top package installation as per the request of the dealership. The man that purchased the Trans Am lived in Chicago and owned a small Dry-Cleaning business.

The fall of 1988 brought with it the cold blustery wind of thievery. The Trans Am went un-found for over a year, until it was found stripped of wheels, t-tops and interior in a field in rural Iowa. I was able to purchase the Trans Am through a theft recovery resale program in Des Moines, Iowa. I arranged to purchase a replacement at a local salvage yard, and quickly returned the Trans Am to its original splendor.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th January, 2002