Hello again beautiful people... I'm gonna be real with you, I'm an absolute newbie, not just with firebirds but cars in general. Regardless, I've always sorta wondered "why do the firebird have so many trims?"; More importantly "what is the difference between these trims?" I've been told a Formula and a Trans Am are the same thing with differences in styling, but I don't frankly know what the heck a GTA or a WS6 is, I'm not even sure if third gens come as WS6. Heck, I'm not even sure why all firehawks are manual. Or why there are so many color options designed solely f-for the Trans Am?! (Like c'mon man! I want a brown formula too XD) But this is just the beginning of the trim-based-chaos in my uninitiated head. Would anyone be willing to explain the differences, maybe like a pros and cons list or something? I'd be very grateful. And feel free to pummel me with information.

 

Different levels of equipment, engines, suspensions. I'm sure people could give you a detailed answer, as well as a lot of other websites. The full answer here would be very long.

I think the 3rd gens started off with base Firebirds that had 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engines. There was the mid-level SE trim with a V-6, and the Trans Am with the 5.0.

Over time, there were different variants. Regular Firebirds could be had with the 5.0 The 2.5 eventually went away, to no one's dismay.

Towards the end of the 3rd gen, it was base Firebird with a V-6 or 5.0, Formula with a 5.0 or 5.7, and Trans Am with 5.0 or 5.7.

Formulas were conceived as sort of a "stripper" Trans Am. Lighter without the ground effects, but with the same engines and WS6 suspension. More basic interior with cloth seats. My personal favorite trim. I had two of these, though I drive a GTA now.

The GTA was a higher trim level of Trans Am with more standard features like power seats, upgraded audio, and the WS6 suspension.

WS6 was Pontiac's performance suspension. Standard on Formula models and Trans Am GTAs.

The engines changed a lot over time, with the V-8s going from carburetors to "crossfire" fuel injection to tuned port injection. Horsepower in 1982 was only 155 I think, eventually going up as high as 245 by 1992. The 2.5 was pretty anemic, I think only 85 HP and crawled to 60 mph. The V-6 was good for 125HP I think, decent in the early 1980s.

I don't think this page has been updated in a long time, but has some pretty cool info on it: http://www.gtasourcepage.com/

 

Woah, that was, actually really helpful. I'm now somewhat wondering if I should keep watching over this '83 TA, lol. Power seats sound really nice. The only thing I'd want more would be one of those Brown '84s, ohhhhh maaann.
Hey man, thanks for the info! I will surely put it to good use... Hopefully.

 

Welcome to TGO, This site is a the best place for information on the 82-92 F-Body
Power seats is definitely doable.
4th Gen Firebird Seat install into 3rd Gen Firebird (Wiring Instructions) - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards