I was wondering if there is a "class" difference between a Firebird"Formula" and a firebird"Trans Am" Like the difference between a Camaro RS or Z-28 or IROC. Are Base prices comparable or is each one a step up or down?

 

A base car is just that very spartan although Pontiac has always added more content on thier base cars than Chevy has.And this is reflefted in pricing.
In 3rd Gens the Formula usually shares the T/A's base engine - not always though and similar suspension.Biggest difference between the 2 has always been the T/A's "aero" body parts.In 3rd Gens T/A generally has better interior content(On 2nd Gen T/A's and Formulas the only real difference in interior was the T/A engine turn dash and base engine in the T/A was optional in the Formula).The Camaro follows the similar line in 3rd Gens except the Z28/IROC have specific engines that weren't available on the Sport Coupe(base),Berlinetta,LT or the RS(1 exception is the B4C cars).

 

Thanks for the input. I am fixing up my old car to give to my grandson in 15 yrs or so (he's only 16 mo LOL) and was just curious.

 

Coolram62 is correct. The Formula had the same base engine as the TA'a though it could be upgraded. It also had standard the top of the line WS6 suspension on it with 16 inch wheels and 50 series tires which was better than the base TA's got. It recieved the aero spoiler like the TA's but not the ground effects. The interior's of the Formulas weren't totally devoid of options but were "spatan" compared to loaded TA's and GTA's. It was definately a great bang for the buck at the time.
I have owned my Formula since new. Mine cost just under $14K. I remember at the time TA's being in the mid $15-$17k range with GTA's getting up above $18K(it's along time ago but I think those prices are close). At the time I was just really excited to have a great looking, great handling(for the time) car with a V-8 that I could sort of afford. It wasn't until later that I learned how lame the LG4 engine acctually was.

 

From 87- 92
The Formula - WS6 (Includes 16" Rims, Larger sway bars ) They are all Less the Ground Effects, However they got the Aero Spoiler. Also they got the Powerbulge hood. In 87 the base engine was the LG4, from 88-92 the Base engine was the LO3, but could be had with the 350 Engine. The LB9/M5 and L98 cars would have gotten the equivelant of the G92 performance rear axel.

The Trans AM - WS6 was an option, They all have the ground effects. Usually came standard with a few more options. Option packages were more extensive than the Formula, for example the Trans AM in 87 with the W63 Option package came with Power Mirrors, where it was an extra option on the Formula, not included in the package.
From 82-87 The Base Engine was the LG4, and LO3 from 88-89. Starting in 1990 thru 1992 the base engine was the LB9. Depending on the year, some LB9/M5 & L98 Trans AM's got a base gear ratio, and the performance ratio was NA UNless you got a 1LE.

Typically speaking the Formula was lighter, therefore faster than an equally equiped T/A, Also the Formula with the LB9/M5 or the L98 got the performance gear like that of the GTA, the Trans Am did not necessarily get the better gear. The Formula was really intended to per a performer, without the glitz. The Trans AM got the Glitz added on.

The Difference is not like an RS vs Z28, Because the RS would have never gotten the LB9 or L98 unless its a B4U??? (Cop car). The Formula you could be joe and buy a Formula 350... The Formula in some ways was suposed to be more like the LT, but the LT was 1 year only, and I am not sure what engines were offered.

John

 

"The LB9/M5 and L98 cars would have gotten the equivelant of the G92 performance rear axel"

In the tech data here on this site, it shows some formulas had the g92 option (3.42 gears Manual Opt.) and other's didn't (3.08 Manual Std gears).... On the 5 speeds....

Is G92 dual cats & 3.42 rear end or is there another code?

Rafael

 

I appreciate all the input. I was afraid the question might evoke some controversy between the individuals that owned one or the other vehicle types. I am glad to see that individuals can take pride in their rides and still remain factual. I had stated previously that I restored an 82 Z-28 without really knowing much about it,but would probably have kept it if I had known this site existed in 1997. Thanks for the facts!

 

That is one thing I wished Pontiac did.
Place the LC2 Turbo V-6 engine into the Formula that year!
Usually, the Formula could get every engine the Trans Am got, but not this engine!
Just imagine a Formula with the Turbo V-6!
Even faster than the 20th TTA! Much lighter, no frills, and best of all, less built!
Now, that would have been a high dollar Pontiac right now! And then!

George

 

If I recall, they had thought of placing the turbo v8 in the new 82 series, that's why the cowl scoop was on the hood, but changed their minds at the last minute...

I rode in a Grand National last year, it was pretty fast and fun

Rafael

 

The tech stuff is WRONG in regards to the Formula info, I think someone went off camaro information and made many assumptions.

John

 

I would be desperately seeking one today too if they made it. I still think they were going to make it a regular production thing in 1990, available in any color other than white, and available on the Formula and T/A, then and carry it through to the end of the 3rd gen production. But like we have discussed before, poor sales and the extra cost really set it back.

John

 

Luvofjah that's the exact reason for th offset hood.But the poor performance of the turbo 301 coupled with emissions/mpg/cost requirements on the redisgn meant Pontiac sharing motors with Chevy.Something they had been doing since the 1st Gens with the base 6.And then with the 2nd Gens beginning in the mid 70's with the base V8s,especially in California and then even on the T/A.It's a shame because the 301 was a good motor,well the non-turbo version.It was just wrong timing on the turbo version.Now if they could have worked with it like Buick did with V6 - well who knows.

 

The 1st-gens used a Pontiac Overhead Cam 6-cylinder. The Pontiac engine was dropped in 1970 and replaced with the Chebbie built OHV 250 cu in. Its another one of those cases of being ahead of its time. Had the Pontiac OHC 6-cyl been released in the mid 70's during the gas and emissions crunch it would have done much better.

Starting in the late 70's soon to be CEO Roger Smith and his bean counters were running rampid through GM. He was cutting costs everywhere and basically killing off the competition and uniqueness between GM divisions. By 1982 he succeeded in "corporate powertrains" across the divisions. That and the fact that the revised Turbo 301 for the '82 T/A would have outperformed the Chebbie CrossFire is what killed off the Pontiac V8. The '81 Turbo 301 was rated at 200 HP, with the larger turbo and possible fuel injection that would have been introduced it would have had at least a 50HP advantage over the CrossFire. Now we can't have anything better than Chebbie, can we?

 

Just a Buick V-6 Turbo with Pontiac heads.

George