Hi? I am curious, why did Firebirds get six digit odometers years before the Camaros finally did. If I am correct I believe the first Camaro to have the six digit odometer was in 1990 whereas it seems the Firebirds had them a few years earlier in the 80's. I'm honestly surprised that General Motors did not have six digit odometers by the early '80s at least. It was obvious that cars lasted way longer than 100,000 miles long before the '80s. I see lots of people online trying to claim their early 80's Firebird or Camaro only has 25k miles on it when it's obviously 125k or more.

 

It's because Pontiac Firebirds are better than Chevy Camaros.

We got the 6 digit odometer in 1986.

Pontiac Firebirds got several things before Chevy Camaros got them.

 

I agree with you. I have always liked the Firebirds and Trans Am's best. They were always far more attractive than the Camaro's. Even going back to the 70's. Never cared for the Camaros nearly as much. I just wondered why the Firebirds got the 6 digit odometers first,since they are both F body cars and you'd think they would switch to the electronic instrument cluster at the same time

 

First year 1982 3rd-gens have 6-digit odometers. A bean counter must have
convinced GM they could save a few cents and the 5-digit returned in 1983.

 

I learned something new. Thanks.

 

Canadian versions had 6 digit 🤷‍♂️

 

Might check me on this - but I'm pretty sure Camaros had cable drive speedos longer that the Firebirds. The extra digit would be pretty simple on the redesigned electronic unit.

 

Fewer digits helps resale value.

 

...such as the axe from corporate
.

 

Camaros got axed the same time as Firebirds. Those monstrosities they call Camaros built after 2002 are Cadillacs.

 

IIRC the 1982 Camaro had the 6 digit, then they went to the 5 digit for 83-89, In part I think it had to do with the fact that the 5 Digit was a standard GM part, they were cable driven and inexpensive in volume. 1982 probably had it and then dropped as like a lot of things they realized they could save a few pennies by dropping a digit.

The 1986-1992 Firebirds got the Electronic Speedometer, and then in 1990 with the interior refresh, the Camaro got the electronic speedo, and they got the 6 digit Odometer. Again, I suspect it was one of those things that came down to cost, as GM would eventually migrate everything to an electronic Speedo, it was logical to invest into the 6th digit Odometer for all lines, as cars were now lasting way more than 100K