I'm sure this has been done before but one more for fun!
Which would you rather have? An 1989 GTA or 1989 IROC any color or options is fine.

GTA. Why? Because, GTA.

The GTA is just a more stylish ride both inside and out, really it's not even a fair contest as the base Trans Am is ment to be on par with the iroc and it beats it there on style as well, The GTA is just that much more above.

I'd have to say both

I intentionally bought a GTA but the more I think about the F-body platform, the more I think the IROC is the truer interpretation of it. And so better, with the definition that better is the purer and more true to the philosophy of the 3rd gen.

Without making this profound (lol), I think it's fair to say the 3rd gen f-body was never designed to be a high quality luxury GT platform. It's a low cost performance car, that offered handling and straight line performance comparable to exotics but at a fraction of the price, and those cuts are evident in build quality and ride quality etc.

So the GTA for me is almost a misnomer. It attempts to take a rough riding blue collar performance car, and turn it into a luxury GT. But you can't change the DNA of the platform. Clothes don't make the man yo!

The IROC then I think is more truer to the philosophy of the platform. THe suspension is tuned firmer, it makes slightly more hp with the better airbox setup, the interior is more basic, and its marketed as such. A bit more function over form than the GTA? A bit more F-body than the GTA...

Well I say the IROC wins because more are on this forum.

I picked GTA because that's what I own. LOL And it's better. LOL

TO tell the truth it was about 10 years ago I bought it but when I was looking for an IROC but in the back of this crappy car lot sat the GTA I own now. Once I seen it there was no doubt it was going to be my car. The car was just traded in and not prepped at all. I even talked the guy down $1,800 on the price. It was a buy here pay here lot so all the cars had a way lower cash price. I had cash. LOL

He did not know what he had. It was a digital dash with burnt out bulbs. LOL He thought it was bad. He also said it was a 350 but I did not listen to him.

They both have their merits, but I just love the style of the GTA

i love the way an all black GTA looks. but at the same time irocs have a stance that stance that just gets your attention

Iroc. Because it even reminds me that "I Rock" lol

I would have to choose an IROC ive never been around any transams or GTA's so I just cant go with one... The first thirdgen I came to know and appreciate was a 1986 IROC (my brothers) So naturally my first Thirdgen was a 91 Camaro and my second one was a 1992 camaro and my third one will most likely be a camaro maybe an IROC or 91-92 Z28.. Although if I was to find a fairly priced GTA before a camaro I would not think twice...

Oh lord, this is a tuffy.... gonna have to go to the GTA. Even though im a trans am owner im not biased against the camaros, i just like the interior better and luxury trim. But if so to say the GTA was a little out of my price range i'd go IROC all the way.

I've owned 3rdgen Camaros and Firebirds, and I had my choice of a GTA or an IROC back then, but I chose a Formula, and I'd choose it again. But of the two cars polled, the GTA is a much more nicely-appointed car than an IROC; it's styling will never look as dated as an IROC; and it performs just as well as an IROC. Firebird also had the two most beastly performers of the era(TTA and Firehawk), and, of course, nobody will ever forget the most famous Firebird of the era, Knightrider. But when "time" looks back, IROC will define the generation.

Trans Am is the name synonymous with 2ndgens, thanks to Smokey and the Bandit. But IROC will be the name synonymous with 3rdgens.

That's a really, really hard choice. But, I will go with the IROC-Z. I like the look of them a just little better.

I didn't vote, but I think that due to the design of the front end, the GFX look better on the Iroc than the GTA... I prefer no or minimal GFX on the Firebirds.... my 91 Formula, I only added the rear stone deflectors... other than that, it's naked

Raf

Neither.

I would rather have a Formula.


But I own an IROC.

as the OP of this thread I thought I would chime in on my thoughts. I had a 83 Camarao Sport Coupe V6 as my first car. I was an only child and bought it new. Black with Rally rims. After I proved myself as a responsible driver, I talked Dad into a 86 TA (hence my nick on here) and I was enamored with the interior and exterior of it. the lines outside spoke to me and the inside was very cool. the lit dash and night looked much better than my camaro... and the buttons.. oh the buttons and sub woofer.. gawd.. it was bad a** and l looked it. was never a real fan of knight rider.. thought when the added the GFX it looked so much better. lower... meaner. the 83 SC I had the dash seemed cheaper.. (plastic is plastic) but the rounded edges and the different gauges struck my fancy. I got an 88 GTA a few years ago but miss my 86 a lot. it will always look like the best 3rd gen out there.. here are pics.
the turbo wheels and white letter tires do it for me.






sigh...sorry as original poster I thought I could share this

I prefer the body style of the "89" IROC-Z .
The GTA also looks nice until you put the headlights up. Really don't care for that.

I don't remember what year the race was.. but I was just watching a playback of Indy500's from the past as a tribute to this weekends race. I wasn't even thinking about it, but then the Yellow flag came out and out came out a 3rd gen TRANS AM!!!! I have an IROC, but I love my T/A brethren.. and felt SO proud seeing that T/A lead the pack!!!! That was way too cool ! Stone

I used to cruise with the fogs quite late in the lit city streets and if I had to then I would pop up the battering rams, as we would call them

I've owned both so I'd say as along as it's an f-body.

I own both, so that should say something. It's like choosing which child you like better. In my book there is no choice. They're both awesome in there own right!!

i figured if I put "both" then most would put that as we love all third gens

The GTA, of course. The VIN 7 Turbo Buick engine was not available in the IROC heheheh!

I like the Pontiac aero package too, but the engine is what sold me on the choice.

Currenty, i own both,

GTA has a 350 and is a good running car.

Iroc vert is a 305 and needs love, the vert perhaps being a bit lighter, has a nice ride compared to the GTA.

Tough choice but went w/ GTA.

GTA's ride nice enough considering the entire Thirdgen line. All of the tier 3 suspension equipped cars were stiff rides.

For me? I think my profile picture and wallet have already spoken.

The Iroc all the way. My first car was a '83 silver Trans Am but I always wanted an Iroc.

IROC-Z.

Since I have had a variety of years when it comes to thirdgens. For Trans am GM should have kept the classic lines of the 83/84 aero t/a. Rather then re-designing the skirt package yet again for 85. They could have done a rim change or some other cosmetics for 85. They go from functional hood to non functional. Then take a superior hood and downgrade it to the Formula hood. Put a cheaper center console in and also the heavy aero wing that does not stand the test of time. They also switched to tail lights that de-laminate over time. The list goes on.

IMO the ultimate thirdgen trans am. Not exclusively because I own one either.I had a 85-90 before this.

For me, that is like asking "do you want a Cadillac or a Buick"
a Buick is nice and so is an IROC.
But the deluxe is the Gta and Cadillac.

You're analogy is good, as long as the Buick in question is a GNX.

I'd love to have a GTA of any year to compliment my 91 Z/28.

I am a firebird guy, period. My first muscle car experience as a kid was a red 1968 white interior 4 speed firebird my late bother in law owned, at the time, my sister boyfriend, great guy, great car. From then on I LOVED firebirds. I almost had my hands on a 1970 formula 400 back in 1985, but my old man would not loan me the remaining 400 bucks. Thought I would end up killing myself.

I am a Formula 350 guy before GTA, but I if I had to choose, GTA. IROCs are nice cars, but I go for the underdog car every time. Pontiac in most of its cars always had a nicer interior and refined look I felt. That's why my wife and I have a 1999 Grand Prix, bought new, and my daily driver is a 2005 Grand Am GT bought used. Pontiac, all the way!!!!