Hey was there a ws6 package in 85 because I might be buying the car and seller says it's an ws6 package, thanks

 

Yes. WS6 is a Pontiac suspension package code that pre-dates thirdgens. In 85 WS6 was an option in 85, 86, etc.

 

One way to tell is , 16" Wheels,4 Wheel disk brakes.

 

the guy has two sets of wheels the gold gta wheels and "salad cutter" wheels, anything on the body that will be a give away?

 

No,nothing on the body, that's all I can think of for now.

 

Your talking about theses wheels right?

 

Look at the SPID on the inside wall of the center console for a white sticker with several 3 character codes. Then look for WS6. If the VIN on the sticker matches the car and WS6 is there, it's got WS6.

If the SPID sticker is missing, look under the hood for a metal tag near the radiator. It may list WS6 there, if equipped, but note the metal tag does not list all RPO codes.

 

WS6 was the "standard" upgraded suspension package for many many years. Might actually have been standard eqpt on the T'A that year; I don't know for sure, but I am sure the Firebird people will jump right in and tell you.

Nobody really cared so much about it until they put those giant STICKERZZZ!! on the 4th gen, which turned it into an instant BUZZWORD. Then all the sudden it became some sort of legend.

It consisted of course, of springs, shocks, & sway bars. The springs & shocks are totally wore-out and useless now and need to go in the trash, same as any other 30-yr-old stock crap springs & shocks. The sway bars for later model cars are typically larger than the ones in 85. All of which means, besides the BUZZWORD factor, that it pretty much doesn't mean anything at all anymore.

That car looks like it's in pretty decent condition overall, if it's the one in question. OTOH you can see how wore out the springs are by how low the back of the car sits compared to the front... which is itself a good inch and a half lower than it started out life. But the back looks like the bumper is about to start scraping the ground. Typical for such an old car with wore-out stock springs.

 

That's kind of the long way around. Open the driver's door and read the tire placard, if it shows 245/50R16 tires, it's a WS6.


Sofa is partly right, "WS6" didn't really get crazy until the 4th gens, but it does make a difference. In thirdgens the Trans Am is a model that can span everything from one step above a base model Firebird, all the way to a fully loaded car. A thirdgen Trans Am without WS6, generally is going to have a mid-level suspension, 15" wheels, less aggressive steering, softer suspension, thinner sway bars, etc. Potentially without WS6 might lack rear disc brakes or other features. At any rate, if you drive a WS6 Trans Am and a non-WS6 Trans Am back to back, you'll feel the difference.

WS6 was standard equipment on the Formula, and GTA, optional on the Trans Am. Because the Trans Am, like the Z28 could mean very little, or a lot, depending on how it was equipped.

 

85WS6



15 Mar 2015

 

BUZZWORDPretty expensive one at that!!$664.00 option compare that to the LB9(305 EFI) was a $695.00 option in 86,most likely the same for 85.

 

I seem to remember that!
I remember when I ordered my first 85. I was a poor E-4 in the Air Force. The salesman and I were going over the option list. I opt'd NOT to get it. I got T-TOP's, and AC, and some other stuff that added up to $14,500 ish. My buddy bought a WS6. Yes, you could tell the difference in handling.

 

Thanks for all your help!!! The RPO codes are off the car only thing left is the door tag which has 245/50r16 as the tire size and also sent me the VIN if anyone can run it but pretty sure it's a ws6 right?

 

If the door tag shows that, I'd go with what Drew says that it's WS6 based on tire size.

The SPID sticker is useful for not just WS6 verification but also other things as to how the car was equipped from the factory. Some 1985s also have the metal tag near the radiator with a few RPO codes.

If the SPID sticker is missing, you can't use the VIN on any 1989 or older ThirdGen to get the RPOs as that data is not available anymore unless the car is an export. The only option is to contact PHS and order a copy of the invoice which contains some (but not all) of the major RPO codes.