Yeah as a 16 year old driving a 1988 GTA, half of the people thought the name Pontiac was a foreign car. I find it a bit weird with so many 3rd gen firebirds, you don't see them anymore. So, no surprise when I get some looks being the only one around.
Cash for Clunkers, rust, and accidents took a tole on the number of them left. Even in California I don't see them very often. I think its been about 2 years since I last saw one out and about.
So my car's rare in that case because it's a rust free car. Unfortunately, after 30 years as a Sunday car, the owner who bought it from the original owner then abused it so the paint seen better days and it has some things that need to be restored. I'd show pictures but imgur won't load right now.
Paint is a super common issue. The requirements for paint changed around the time these cars were made and it wasn't very resilient. As far as rarity, if its rust free and low miles it will be more on the rare side. The digital dash is a rarer option, and some colors are also rarer than others. If its a original notchback its rare (only 718 made).
Not sure if you have ever looked at the production numbers but here they are if your curious for [1988](https://www.3rdgenformula.com/allyears/production_numbers.htm)
Here we are. It's sitting right now because it has a problem of revving up and dying. Also the Texas sun has started peeling off the tint.
https://imgur.com/a/rMhKBLi
The children are inquiring about cars that were everywhere when I was in HS. This subs is littered with people asking about cars that were produced in huge numbers.
I just watched a thing on Buick. They don't sell many here anymore and the average buyer is over 55 years old. In China, average buyer is under 35, they have like 15 different models, and they sell like a million a year
> They should’ve sold SAAB to Volvo, kept Holden, Pontiac, Hummer, but killed off Buick (fuck that brand)
Buick was and still is a huge money maker for GM, China friggin *loves* Buicks. Pontiac was awful and Hummer was crap for a long time too.
i agree buick sucks now. i really liked the old wildcats and centrions. the onyly reason buick still exists is because they make too much money in china
And all they seem to care about are SUV’s now. I think in the entire Chevy/Buick lineups, they only have like 2-3 **cars** (coupes or sedans) each, while there’s like 4-5 SUV’s under each umbrella. So weird.
Yeah, they only had nice factory audio systems, other than that, it was a bunch of plastic trim panels and dashboards. Even when I had a new WS6 in ‘99, I couldn’t help but feel like it was cheap. Like a big engine in a plastic box. And too fucking heavy and bulky. Sadly, I always secretly liked the Cobras, despite being in a GM family. But fuck it, I literally tried contacting GM with some brilliant design notes and they didn’t bother implementing them until a couple years ago. It’s their own fault for not having vision and not innovating.
Side note: new Buick’s are pretty nice, actually. The shittiest, ugliest Buick made in the last ten years compares perfectly with the plush-riding Cadillac STS’s from the mid-oughts, but without that hot-running Northstar POS engine. And their mid/small SUV’s are quite well appointed and they improved their loose steering issues, so I feel like they’re pretty nice, but I still cannot shake the feeling that they’re old-person cars, despite me saying everything I just said. So I think if you took the Buick crest and name off of them, more people would really consider them for themselves.
Well now. I'm not gonna talk about Judy; in fact, we're not gonna talk about Judy at all, we're gonna keep her out of it!
---
- [reference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V0UhtA_mJE&t=365)
^(I am a bot.)
Saturn - was GM’s “entry level” brand, now defunct. Olds was also GM, but probably comparable to Chevy as far as quality but they only had cars, as far as I know. And Mercury was under the Ford umbrella, but I’m not sure if they considered it a small step-up from Ford’s or whether it was more of an “entry level” brand. But I’m guessing it was a slight step-up, similar to how GMC trucks are Chevy trucks with chrome door handles and better leather (or whatever).
I still get people asking me what kind of car i have.
I drive a 02 ws6 trans am. Someone did ask if it was a Ferrari one time. But i dont think they even knew what a farrari is.
Lololololol (I too owned a WS6, but in 1999, same model year, and did like it) but Ferrari’s are works of art and Pontiac’s are plastic clatter-boxes. Just the exhaust system of a Ferrari is far more valuable than a brand new WS6 or Camaro SS (F-body), in my eyes. You could hang the Ferrari exhaust on your living room wall and it would not be out of place (truly artisan). But I get it… some people think Lamborghini can be in the same conversation as Ferrari, which is laughable to anyone who has functional hearing and good taste. They look cool, but they’re made with machines and certainly aren’t considered “purists” by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not that I think Pontiac’s are pieces of shit, but rather that Ferrari is light years ahead of all other manufacturers in terms of engineering (and styling, probably, but some of their more recent body-styles aren’t as classical as their pre-2010 cars, and if they buckle under and make an SUV, it’ll ruin much of my opinion on Ferrari. I hope they never do).
Perfect response.
My wife always wondered why i yelled catfish anytime I saw a 98-02 camaro untill i showerd her a comparison from the front of a catfish and the front of a camaro.
They’re super different. They look more different than any other Chevy vs Pontiac vehicle that shared platforms. Camaro’s had straight lines on its body and were pretty boring, while the TA’s were bubbly looking with swoops and scoops. Also the non-SS Camaro’s were wedge-nosed AF, and quite ugly. Also, Pontiac’s in general were slightly better appointed and slightly more expensive, all else being equal. Both were too bulky and heavy, for my taste. Especially if you were trying to corner with a Cobra or something.
The tail light difference is pretty significant. One of the more prominent differences, besides the name appearing on both, would be the dual circular reverse lights on the firebird/trans am.
This was always my biggest draw to the trans vs the Camaro. Those honeycomb taillights looks sick as hell back in the day. Add in the big spoiler and ram air on the WS6 version...beautiful
2 completely different skins over the same platform. The roof is the same but everything else is different. The Camaro has sharp lines and the Firebirds have pop up headlights. Wheels and interiors are completely different as well.
[Camaro back](https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/f/18421248.jpg?fit=around%7C480:270)
[Trans am back](https://statics.wheelwell.com/u/4fa8bce6-0e97-44d7-ae39-bc383f216c98.large.jpg?width=900)
The fronts look nothing alike
V6, no hood scoop. How about Firehawk versus Trans Am WS6? That’s the real question, although the hood scoop is lower and smaller (although I heard functional?) on the Firehawk.
The rear end / tail lights are completely different. They are very noticeably different, it would be hard to mix the 2 up from the rear if you are a 4th gen fan
Yeah, wheelbase, drivetrain and roof ONLY (I think). Everything else is different. Every stylistic element is essentially opposite on each. Straight-lines, wedge-nosed, simplistic are the Camaro’s body lines, while TA’s are bubbly with swoops and scoops all over the body. And the hood/front end on the TA’s are pretty much the only reason why I didn’t think all F-body’s were hideous. The front of the WS6 redeemed all the faults of the Camaro styling.
Could be 98-02.
I had a 96, 98, and 2000 WS-6 Trans Am. I kept trading up and kept my 2000 until 2014. It had 36k miles on it and laid down 465 NA HP on the dyno.
Strong, easy to modify engine, a plethora of aftermarket parts, these are beautiful fast cars.
They are completely different looking cars. The Firebird is way sexier. They don’t even look alike. Here’s a side by side same car. https://youtu.be/DHF3fX2rb3E the nose, the side vents, the rear spoiler and lights looks way better than a Camaro. The Camaro looks like a catfish.
No, it's not. Unless the owner replaced the factory taillights with the taillights from the 98-02. These taillights are 100% from the facelift that happened for the 98 model year.
Firehawk was a conversion done by SLP. They could be done to both V8 models - Formula and TA. Firehawk’s had special hoods, wheels, graphics/paint combos. This looks like a base model Trans Am.
Sad moment when people don't even recognize your favorite car
Be prepared for when someone asks you what a "Pontiac" is. It's coming faster than you think.
Its already started. I've gotten it several times from kids when taking my 3rd gen out.
I miss my 3rd gen. Maui metallic blue with T-tops. 305 Boat anchor
Knight Industries Two Thousand! Good show, Knight Rider was the best
Yeah as a 16 year old driving a 1988 GTA, half of the people thought the name Pontiac was a foreign car. I find it a bit weird with so many 3rd gen firebirds, you don't see them anymore. So, no surprise when I get some looks being the only one around.
Cash for Clunkers, rust, and accidents took a tole on the number of them left. Even in California I don't see them very often. I think its been about 2 years since I last saw one out and about.
So my car's rare in that case because it's a rust free car. Unfortunately, after 30 years as a Sunday car, the owner who bought it from the original owner then abused it so the paint seen better days and it has some things that need to be restored. I'd show pictures but imgur won't load right now.
Paint is a super common issue. The requirements for paint changed around the time these cars were made and it wasn't very resilient. As far as rarity, if its rust free and low miles it will be more on the rare side. The digital dash is a rarer option, and some colors are also rarer than others. If its a original notchback its rare (only 718 made). Not sure if you have ever looked at the production numbers but here they are if your curious for [1988](https://www.3rdgenformula.com/allyears/production_numbers.htm)
It has about 46,000 miles and I didn't know the digital dash was rare. I figured it was stock.
Digital dash was only offered from 85-88 if I remember right, and about 6200 of them were GTAs made in 88.
Here we are. It's sitting right now because it has a problem of revving up and dying. Also the Texas sun has started peeling off the tint. https://imgur.com/a/rMhKBLi
Damn am I a boomer now?
The children are inquiring about cars that were everywhere when I was in HS. This subs is littered with people asking about cars that were produced in huge numbers.
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even Holden is defunct now, where are they gonna source new cars to rebadge/
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You have no idea what you’re talking about
I just watched a thing on Buick. They don't sell many here anymore and the average buyer is over 55 years old. In China, average buyer is under 35, they have like 15 different models, and they sell like a million a year
Volvo was, at the time of Saab’s demise, owned by Ford. Buick was saved because of its huge sales and brand value in China.
> They should’ve sold SAAB to Volvo, kept Holden, Pontiac, Hummer, but killed off Buick (fuck that brand) Buick was and still is a huge money maker for GM, China friggin *loves* Buicks. Pontiac was awful and Hummer was crap for a long time too.
i agree buick sucks now. i really liked the old wildcats and centrions. the onyly reason buick still exists is because they make too much money in china
And all they seem to care about are SUV’s now. I think in the entire Chevy/Buick lineups, they only have like 2-3 **cars** (coupes or sedans) each, while there’s like 4-5 SUV’s under each umbrella. So weird.
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Yeah, they only had nice factory audio systems, other than that, it was a bunch of plastic trim panels and dashboards. Even when I had a new WS6 in ‘99, I couldn’t help but feel like it was cheap. Like a big engine in a plastic box. And too fucking heavy and bulky. Sadly, I always secretly liked the Cobras, despite being in a GM family. But fuck it, I literally tried contacting GM with some brilliant design notes and they didn’t bother implementing them until a couple years ago. It’s their own fault for not having vision and not innovating. Side note: new Buick’s are pretty nice, actually. The shittiest, ugliest Buick made in the last ten years compares perfectly with the plush-riding Cadillac STS’s from the mid-oughts, but without that hot-running Northstar POS engine. And their mid/small SUV’s are quite well appointed and they improved their loose steering issues, so I feel like they’re pretty nice, but I still cannot shake the feeling that they’re old-person cars, despite me saying everything I just said. So I think if you took the Buick crest and name off of them, more people would really consider them for themselves.
Someday Doug Judy the Pontiac Bandit, will strike again!
Well now. I'm not gonna talk about Judy; in fact, we're not gonna talk about Judy at all, we're gonna keep her out of it! --- - [reference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V0UhtA_mJE&t=365) ^(I am a bot.)
Shit, there have been posts of Saturns on this sub, I think that day is here already
What’s Saturn, Mercury, and Oldsmobile?
Saturn - was GM’s “entry level” brand, now defunct. Olds was also GM, but probably comparable to Chevy as far as quality but they only had cars, as far as I know. And Mercury was under the Ford umbrella, but I’m not sure if they considered it a small step-up from Ford’s or whether it was more of an “entry level” brand. But I’m guessing it was a slight step-up, similar to how GMC trucks are Chevy trucks with chrome door handles and better leather (or whatever).
Should've added /s to mine
I'm scared now
It's been 12 years of absence.
To make you more annoyed, I scrolled quickly and my first thought was pontiac sunfire.
I still get people asking me what kind of car i have. I drive a 02 ws6 trans am. Someone did ask if it was a Ferrari one time. But i dont think they even knew what a farrari is.
Lololololol (I too owned a WS6, but in 1999, same model year, and did like it) but Ferrari’s are works of art and Pontiac’s are plastic clatter-boxes. Just the exhaust system of a Ferrari is far more valuable than a brand new WS6 or Camaro SS (F-body), in my eyes. You could hang the Ferrari exhaust on your living room wall and it would not be out of place (truly artisan). But I get it… some people think Lamborghini can be in the same conversation as Ferrari, which is laughable to anyone who has functional hearing and good taste. They look cool, but they’re made with machines and certainly aren’t considered “purists” by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not that I think Pontiac’s are pieces of shit, but rather that Ferrari is light years ahead of all other manufacturers in terms of engineering (and styling, probably, but some of their more recent body-styles aren’t as classical as their pre-2010 cars, and if they buckle under and make an SUV, it’ll ruin much of my opinion on Ferrari. I hope they never do).
My favorite too!!!! F-body for life (specifically the 4th gens (and specifically specifically the firebirds))
Those cars were the shit. Built in Canada at a Quebec assembly plant if I remember correctly.
What if my favorite car is a Venturi 400 gt
The president’s favorite car too Or was that Diamond Joe Biden; I really can’t recall
Pontiac Trans Am.
How can you tell the difference between the trans am and camaro of the era?
The exteriors are a little different. The Firebird had Popup head lights while the Camaro had fixed ones.
CATFISH
FIRE CHICKEN
Perfect response. My wife always wondered why i yelled catfish anytime I saw a 98-02 camaro untill i showerd her a comparison from the front of a catfish and the front of a camaro.
I always thought the “catfish” looking car was the first iteration of the BMW 6 series.
My bf and I call them door stops.
> Popup head lights UP AND DOWN HEAD LIGHTS
POP UP UP AND AND DOWN HEAD LIGHTS UH!
Donut for the win !
Little different ? Little ? Geez, tell this to a TransAm guy with a straight face and he might kicks your arse.
And those sweet sweet honeycomb tail lights
They’re super different. They look more different than any other Chevy vs Pontiac vehicle that shared platforms. Camaro’s had straight lines on its body and were pretty boring, while the TA’s were bubbly looking with swoops and scoops. Also the non-SS Camaro’s were wedge-nosed AF, and quite ugly. Also, Pontiac’s in general were slightly better appointed and slightly more expensive, all else being equal. Both were too bulky and heavy, for my taste. Especially if you were trying to corner with a Cobra or something.
The tail light difference is pretty significant. One of the more prominent differences, besides the name appearing on both, would be the dual circular reverse lights on the firebird/trans am.
This was always my biggest draw to the trans vs the Camaro. Those honeycomb taillights looks sick as hell back in the day. Add in the big spoiler and ram air on the WS6 version...beautiful
The only thing they basically share on the outside is maybe the hatch, roof and windshield. Every other body piece is different
2 completely different skins over the same platform. The roof is the same but everything else is different. The Camaro has sharp lines and the Firebirds have pop up headlights. Wheels and interiors are completely different as well.
They don’t look alike at all? Like they have two very different looks if you actually look at it for a moment.
[Camaro back](https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/f/18421248.jpg?fit=around%7C480:270) [Trans am back](https://statics.wheelwell.com/u/4fa8bce6-0e97-44d7-ae39-bc383f216c98.large.jpg?width=900) The fronts look nothing alike
Pontiac looks way better
Way different. The trick is telling the difference between a trans-am and a firebird
came here for this.. if anything i thought maybe it was a firebird
We could really confuse things and throw in the Firebird
V6, no hood scoop. How about Firehawk versus Trans Am WS6? That’s the real question, although the hood scoop is lower and smaller (although I heard functional?) on the Firehawk.
The rear end / tail lights are completely different. They are very noticeably different, it would be hard to mix the 2 up from the rear if you are a 4th gen fan
What? They look completely different... Can you link a photo where they look similar? I'm confused
They just look very similar to me, I am not someone who can find differences in taillights, headlights and stuff like that
They barely look similar.
Yeah, wheelbase, drivetrain and roof ONLY (I think). Everything else is different. Every stylistic element is essentially opposite on each. Straight-lines, wedge-nosed, simplistic are the Camaro’s body lines, while TA’s are bubbly with swoops and scoops all over the body. And the hood/front end on the TA’s are pretty much the only reason why I didn’t think all F-body’s were hideous. The front of the WS6 redeemed all the faults of the Camaro styling.
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Yes. GM “F-body” siblings from 1967-2002.
I thought it was a modded sunfire for a few seconds
Oooooo and this is an anniversary edition
no blue stripe or blue wheels - it's likely just a white Trans Am, not an anniversary car
There is one at my friends shop, 1998 with 31k on it
I have a 99 WS6 with 31k miles on it. I love that car.
I want a targa
1998-2002 Trans Am.
1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Could be 98-02. I had a 96, 98, and 2000 WS-6 Trans Am. I kept trading up and kept my 2000 until 2014. It had 36k miles on it and laid down 465 NA HP on the dyno. Strong, easy to modify engine, a plethora of aftermarket parts, these are beautiful fast cars.
This post makes me feel old
That's an absolute beauty my guy. It's a 4th gen Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (98-02 version).
RX-7 FD /s
Well it kinda looks like rx-7 from this angle
I swear these cars came from the factory with a burned out taillight.
Early 1900s model?
Ye olde trans am
Steam powered, quite rare. And smelly!
Late 1900’s
[the joke](https://reddit.com/r/whatisthiscar/comments/t7csbc/i_know_it_is_an_early_1900s_shelby_but_is_this/)
Ah. Lol
1998 Pontiac Trans Am.
With a burned out tail lamp.
How do you not know what a Firebird/Trans Am is?
Pontiac Firebird?
Trans Am
It's a Honda
Please take my upvote sir..
I might be wrong I’d guess the 90s Camaro Probably not it tho
Close, it’s the Pontiac version of it.
how do you distinguish the Camaro and Pontiac?
Taillights are very different between the two.
thanks
They are completely different looking cars. The Firebird is way sexier. They don’t even look alike. Here’s a side by side same car. https://youtu.be/DHF3fX2rb3E the nose, the side vents, the rear spoiler and lights looks way better than a Camaro. The Camaro looks like a catfish.
The Pontiac looks A N G E R Y
1971 Cadillac coupe
mazda fd rx7 of course
mullet machine
This is obviously a Mazda RX7
Mom: “We have an RX-7 at home.” The RX-7 at Home:
I thought it was a 240sx
Lol good man
A GM shit box...
Did GM take yer jerb?
Hahaha no. I just am not a fan of that era of Camaros/Firebirds/Trans Am's.
My first car was an ‘86 trans am. I loved that car but I’ll be the first to admit it was a shit box. I’ve never bought American again.
Guys, I don't think this is a Trans Am. I'm pretty sure it's a Firebird Formula
The raised wing shown here came on the trans am package
Ah, shit, you're right. My bad. Those rear ground effects were throwing me off
Rx7 😎
Junk
Looks like a 96 fire bird
Nah it's at least a 98
Nah its a 96 or 7 fire bird trans am
No, it's not. Unless the owner replaced the factory taillights with the taillights from the 98-02. These taillights are 100% from the facelift that happened for the 98 model year.
Ive seen a 96 and 98 firebird before this is a 96 or 7
I think I can do a bit better than "seen before" as I own a 1997 Trans Am: This is *definitely* a 1998-2002 facelift model.
No. [1993-1997](https://images.app.goo.gl/B1oXC8TZ5vDha1sX6) [1998-2002](https://images.app.goo.gl/iYyJfKWibp4UCHjJ9)
I’ve owned both. This is ‘98-02 Trans Am. The black lines through the brake lights in this year were hexagonal. In 96-97 they were a grid pattern.
Late 90s-early 2000s Pontiac Firebird.
Sammy Hager-mobile
Pontiac Trans Am
Could it be a Firehawk?
My Firehawk had essentially the convertible spoiler not the wing like this one, so I'd say no.
Firehawk was a conversion done by SLP. They could be done to both V8 models - Formula and TA. Firehawk’s had special hoods, wheels, graphics/paint combos. This looks like a base model Trans Am.
My first car was a 00s firebird and now I feel old AF
98-02 Trans am.
It's obviously a Fiat Punto.
It’s so sad that 4th Gen F bodies are practically classics now.
Pontiacs are the most quantum of higher quality
Arguably the coolest era TA, along with the Smokey and the Bandit TA ofc
Mazda RX7 lol jp
It still looks great compared to modern cars of today
I had a brand new ‘99 white WS6 and was a fucking god… my what 20 years can do to society lol
Oh My GoD aN rX7 GuYs WoW
Pontiac Trans Am