1991 Pontiac Firebird FORMULA 5.0 LO3 from North America

Summary:

This is a serious long term owner vehicle as the engine can last over 200,000 miles

Faults:

When purchased, nothing.

After basic tune-up, the idle was rough. Found base timing was off and the timing was off 6 degrees. A vacuum leak was found too. Since then the car has a smooth idle.

General Comments:

Easy to mod. This 5.0 is awesome with my few upgrades. 300 pound/ feet of torque now.

This interior has withstood 16 years of use and still remains in seriously excellent condition.

I can't roll anywhere without compliments.

I did a formula clone to the base model and looks really awesome.

Many part dealers for this car!

Gas mileage is better with the headers though.

Still have the original struts and are working fine!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th November, 2005

1991 Pontiac Firebird Base 5.0 TBI from North America

Summary:

An affordable performer

Faults:

Windshield was cracked when I bought it and $215 later, it was replaced and looked great.

No driver's side cup holder when I bought it. A cost of $36 to replace from the dealer.

Some lights were out, but cost only a little bit of money to replace.

The sway bar mounting bolt was broken and was only $10 to fix.

My battery went dead after about a week when I bought it, and got a fresh new one the next day.

The front bumper's paint is starting to crack because it is designed to flex a little bit.

General Comments:

For a 5.0 (305), this bird has got some punch.

This car runs great and hardly burns any oil.

The body and paint look good for being a 1991.

It handles very well in the corners, and stops on a dime.

The seats are comfortable and everything is laid out nice and easy to reach.

When the t-tops are out, driving around town is cool.

If you get a 1982-1992 Camaro/Firebird and it has t-tops, see if they are the factory ones or aftermarket ones. The aftermarket ones (which I have), are made by Cars & Concepts and use a separate key to lock them instead of the door key like one the factory ones. They can be hard to get parts for, so try to be careful if you have the after market t-tops.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th April, 2004

17th Jun 2007, 08:39

I have a 1991 Firebird with the drivers side cup holder missing. I have looked everywhere and cannot find it. If you could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

31st Mar 2009, 16:44

In September of 1990 I bought my second new Firebird. A 1991 black and black. Hardtop. 5 speed. 305 TBI. I got 29.9 miles per gallon (prior to the reformulated gas fiasco) traveling at 80 miles per hour, turning 2000 RPM on regular trips from Milwaukee to Minneapolis. I'd gas up right at the expressway entrance, go 325 or so miles at 80 mph, had to slow down twice but resumed the cruise control and gas up right off the expressway. Note that these trips were not solo. I had my wife and son as well as luggage for us.

Nearly 30 MPG at 80 MPH! American V8 with a 5 speed manual.

Best car I have ever owned. Bent a lifter at 186000 miles. When we dropped the trans and looked at the clutch disk, we laughed our butts off. There was almost no material left on the disk. I had maybe 20 or 30 shifts left. Worn perfectly. Replaced engine. God, I loved that car.

I bought another one but it was T-top and slushbox. Otherwise the same. Had to sell em both when I moved out of state. Made me very sad.

I'd buy another one if I could find one just like it.

4th Jul 2009, 14:18

This is the owner with an update. I am at almost 140k on the car and it is starting to show its age since writing the original review back in 04. Clear coat has been flaking for about the past 2 years, but this car is getting pretty old now and is still running good. Bunch of stuff has gone out or been replace, but what do you expect with being 18 years old and with these many miles. Most of the stuff replaced has been a starter, alternator, more sway bar bolts, window motors, heater core, struts, and needs some other things. The transmission has a slow leak, but I am probably only going to have the car a few more years until I graduate from college.

To the poster above me, that is amazing gas mileage, but that sounds about right if you have a 5 speed. I typically get 25-26 mpg in overdrive on the highway and only like 13-15 in the city which is horrible haha. Definitely have to be on the highway to get the best mileage. I still think that the highway mileage is pretty good for a small V8, because I see V6's like 3.4-3.6L that get about the same as my 5.0L. Don't quote me on that because I know other V6's that get close to 30 on the highway.