2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.7 V8 6-speed from North America

Summary:

Buckle your seatbelts!

Faults:

Nothing as of yet.

General Comments:

Wow, I have to say, all GM small block pushrod engines are the ultimate road power plants. Not only that, this car also has the most bad ass, in your face styling to match.

I love everything about this car; the tire-spinning takeoffs, the back pinning acceleration, whipping the rear end around corners. Even when you're not driving bat crazy, you still feel so bad ass thanks in part to the aggressive seating position and the V8 burble.

Mine is red, and has the duck bill spoiler on the back, so I get a ton of looks.

Another thing I love is the stump pulling torque. You can literally be in 4th gear at 30mph and it still pulls like hell.

I would highly recommend this car to any speed demon whose budget won't allow for a Corvette.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th August, 2007

2000 Pontiac Firebird 3.8L V6 from North America

Summary:

Simply AWESOME!

Faults:

Fifth gear synchro rebuild at 90,000

New Catalytic Converter at 125,000

Blew Engine at 173,000 miles

New Power steering system at 180,000.

General Comments:

Upgraded the sway bars to 1.25 in front, 1" on back

KYB gas adjust shocks.

Put on 255 50 r16 tires.

Car is amazingly great in corners. Simply breathtaking. Stays level, grips like bubblegum.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th March, 2007

9th Mar 2007, 05:58

Wow, I am surprised that a fifth gear sync would go. Compared to the sync in the lower gears, fifth is not really subjected to that much abuse. Were there any extenuating circumstances that you know of?

Is this a 5 speed or a 6 speed? If it is a six speed, were there any frequent and/or quick down shifts from 6 to 5. That might be a plausible explanation, unless there was just something wrong with the transmission to begin with, and the problem was just destined to happen no matter what anybody did.

Down shifting in general, really asks a lot of the synchronizers. That is why I always double-clutch and match revs on the down shift, regardless of what I am driving. Just a thought, which in your case would only apply if the transmission is a 6 speed, and did not have a problem to begin with.

In any event, I love Firebirds of your vintage. I am also thrilled that Chevy is bringing back the Camaro. The fact that GM does not have any rear wheel drive car (besides Cadillac) in their lineup is a disgrace. At least Chevy is bringing back the Camaro. Too bad new cars are not so outrageously over priced, or else I might just buy one.

I'll take your generation Firebird or Camaro any day. I was so upset when GM stopped making them. I think they have realized the folly in their ways. They are putting out some some great top notch quality cars, that I would put up against anything on the road today. Now, if they could just get a business strategy that makes any sense... Actually, I think they are making improvements in that area too. GM will never be given a fair rap by the automotive press and news media, so it is unfortunately up to the public to figure out what is what. Why does that give me shivers?

9th Mar 2007, 19:56

I down shifted a lot... I don't know what "double shifting" is probably why I busted a 5th gear synchro. A lot of people told me this is unusual. Bummed out the engine only lasted 173,000, but I also drove a Honda Civic so hard it was burning 5 quarts every 3000 miles.

I did beat up the original Firebird engine; maybe 5,000 miles at 4000 rpm, maybe even 500 miles at 5000 rpm.

Still the original transmission in the Firebird.

Thanks for the feedback. Considering dropping that 275 hp v6 GM has now for the Outlook. But, not until I reach 250,000.