MENACE TO SOCIETY II

Firebird Trans Am WS6: Nothing subtle about it

By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor

Building on the success of the already popular Firebird, Pontiac has brought back a legendary feature to its' hottest product: Ram air. The 1996 Firebird Trans Am WS6 is a limited production menace to society, gulping air through the those dual nostrils and sucking gas at a sinful rate. As you would expect, you pay extra for the exclusivity that limited production brings you. Total vehicle price as tested was $27,658. This included safety and convenience features such as: dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, rear defroster, air conditioning, and remote keyless entry. Enough already. How does the Firebird hold its own on the street?

With 305 horsepower and peak torque of 335lb.-ft coming at only 3200 rpm, the Firebird gets moving quick. The big 275/40ZR 17" Goodyear GS-C tires make putting that power to the pavement easy. The power is delivered through the six-speed transmission that is very easy to shift hard; drag racing would be a breeze in this hot rod. The one negative part about the transmission is the 1st to 4th gear lock-out. During normal driving conditions 2nd and 3rd gear aren't available. You are directed with the shifter from 1st directly to 4th. This is done to improve fuel mileage. EPA ratings for the WS6 are 16 city, 26 highway. I got 19 mpg during my stint behind the wheel.

The Firebird features a very aggressive exterior design. It is unmistakably a Pontiac Firebird; no other car looks even similar. The Firebird still features a hatchback design; added on to the hatch on the test car was a huge rear wing. The hatch is heavy but stayed open with no trouble in the cold weather. With the redesign came many improvements in fit, finish and noise levels. One area that was missed was the rear hatch which seemed to rattle most of the time.

The interior features articulated leather sports seats that provide ample support for hard cornering or quick maneuvers. Space inside the car is limited and your best bet is not to use the rear seat. The rear seat backs fold down and make for good storage space. Our test car featured glass T-tops that were easy to pop out and store. Inventively, Pontiac put specific places inside the hatch well for the T-tops. The sound system featured in the Firebird had 10 speakers that just rocked!

It was difficult to drive in Michigan winter with snow, sleet and ice but when the pavement was dry the car stuck to the road like glue. It became very expensive at the gas pump and would be even more expensive with the insurance.

Comparisons between this and the Mustang Cobra are inevitable and it is a puzzling query which car is better the Cobra or the WS6. Both have very similar performance numbers each look equally mean on the street and both cost about $27,000. The thing that stands out as a difference is the seating position and forward visibility. The Cobra has the advantage with a higher seat position and better visibility. In the Firebird you sit back more and lower and figuring out where the front end stops is at best a game of chance. I think my height (6'4") might play a roll in the negative opinion of the Pontiacs' seat.

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6's body work, and performance numbers make it a menace to society worthy of purchase. But there is another option: don't get the Trans Am package just get the Firebird Formula WS6. You lose some ground effects and big rear wing but keep about $3,000 and all the power.