1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.7 Liter LT!

Summary:

Awesome deal compared to other sports cars!

Faults:

When I first bought the car, I looked underneath it and noticed how poorly it had been undercoated.

Water pump weep hole corroded at 140,000. Had water pump replaced at 150,000.

Intake rubber elbow was cracked sometime before I bought the car which let unfiltered air enter the intake.

Coolant sensor went bad at 140,000.

Leather seat bolsters wear out at about 150,000 even with a pampered car.

Transmission shot at 150,000.

Several small oil drips under car after sitting for a week or so.

Steering wheel controls broken at 150,000 and horn worked off and on from the time I bought the car.

Typical squeaks and rattles in the interior (common on all f-bodies). A lot of the rattles came from the spare tire well.

All of the felt guides for the driver and passenger side windows broken at 150,000 causing the windows to scratch every time they go up and down. This is due to how long and heavy the doors are.

CD player would only play Cd's when it wanted to at 150,000 miles. I wasn't surprised though, it was used almost every time the car was driven.

T-tops had a leak every time it rained. Easily fixed with rubber gasket sealant.

Right rear tire goes bald very quick. You MUST rotate tires often to ensure even wear.

Visibility poor (typical when you have tinted windows, aftermarket wing, and a hood with a huge blower on it).

Starter replaced for first time at 150,000 miles.

Spark plugs should be changed only by professionals! They are a huge pain to replace.

Insurance is a NIGHTMARE until you are over 25 years old! I had a clean record with all of the discounts possible and was still paying over $2000 every 6 months!

General Comments:

Interior is amazingly comfortable. I could sleep in this car!

Handles like a dream.

People have had wrecks because they couldn't stop watching my car.

Exhaust sounds very impressive with any aftermarket muffler.

My car stock at 150,000 miles will whip just about any car that has tons of modifications.

This car has NEVER left me stranded.

Started up every time until I replaced the starter for the first time at 150,000 miles.

This car has been put through the worst and still ran like it was new up until 150,000 miles. Engine and trans. were still running pretty good until they were replaced with all aftermarket parts. Very expensive to modify these cars. I have over $20,000 in modifications to my car and I am nowhere near being done with it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th March, 2004

1994 Pontiac Firebird Formula 5.7 litre V8 LT1

Summary:

Muscle car of the 90's

Faults:

If you are thinking of changing the spark plugs on this car save yourself a lot of trouble and band aids and take it somewhere to have it done, it is not fun.

The driver side power window came off of the tracking at 135,000 miles.

Now keep in mind that I drive this car extremely hard, the 4L60E automatic transmission blew at 156,000 miles.

At 161,000 miles the brake light ground faulted and needed to be reconnected.

General Comments:

I think that this is a very well built car. It has cloth interior which has held up very well and still looks like new. All of the buttons and switches may look very cheap in quality, but they are all still intact. The body of the car has held up extremely well and looks like new except for the thinning paint on the bumpers.

Every morning when I go out and turn the key the car starts. The car has never broken down on me before, except for the transmission.

One problem with the car is my oil pressure, water temperature and voltage gages all do not work properly.

When the traffic light turns green and I stomp on the petal the car smokes the tires the way that a Formula with 1,000 miles on it would. The engine has over 160,000 miles and the car still will totally destroy a brand new Mustang GT.

I ran the car at the race track and my time was 14.18 @98.7mph not bad for 130,000 miles (when I raced it).

This car is a great pick by me and within the next year or two I am going to get a newer one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st December, 2003