Well, this may be a touchy subject...but here goes.

I would like some perspective here.

I have an 84 Z28...fully loaded from the factory. T-Tops, tilt steering, cruise control, AC, power mirrors, windows and door locks, electric seat...the works.

I was helping someone the other day with a WS6. He was having a little trouble over-heating. In the trunk, there was no lid over the back compartment that drops behind the gas tank...didn't look like there was ever one. There was no shade that you could pull from behind the back seat to attach to the trunk lid to keep the sun or spying eyes off of whatever you are carrying.

It did have an attractive speedo, but the instrument cluster in my opinion was too long. I would think it would be easier to keep track of all of your gauges in a tighter set up like the Camaro's have.

From what I understand about the WS6 is that the handling is superior, but even then I don't think it had the subframe connector (the short one that goes underneath between the right and left side under the front of engine like in the IROC's)....which of course the IROC's came with.

I think the pop up headlights are kinda neat, but always break, and it has a nice looking hood. But other than that I think I like the Camaro's better.

What are your opinions?

 

My headlights have never failed me.

I'll stick with my GTA!

 

Instrument cluster: It's no big thing to get used to. Besides, your two "most" vital stats are right there anyway (tach and speedo)

Trunk: you could always do something to remedy the exposed space (tint,pull-down shade, hatch cover)

Headlights: Only speaking for the 4 3rd gen birds I've been around a LOT (my 2 and KZad's 2), we've never hadda any problems w/ the motors.

Just my 2 cents for you. Remember though, I'm quite biased towards birds

 

It took 220,000 miles of driving before our motors went out. Then it only took some JB Weld in mechanism to fix it. About 1 hour and 5 bucks. To me most pontiacs have more style. There are exceptions to both though.

 

You want lateral G's and better handling, but has a tough ride over terrain, go with an IROC-Z. You want handling that is good and is smoother over terrain, get a WS6.

 

My WS6 is rough over terrain Used to be a guy at the garage that would work on it and said it was the best handling WS6 he'd driven though, and he owned one...

 

Must be a reason for it. WS6 is easier over stuff than IROC suspension. Ususally the cars that aren't are the best handlers, but if you want handling, thats what you get, and some wouldn't have it any other way.

 

If parts are interchangeable between the two cars, how can one be any different than the other?

 

I could be wrong but i think that "subframe connector" you're referring to is the wonder bar steering brace that came with some IROCs. Both handle pretty much the same (damn good) and i think the 'bird's actually have a rougher ride. I've had two WS6's (an '87 formula and my gta) and in both cars you feel just above every bump. My friend has a '90 IROC and i've rode in that and the ride was much smoother. Now the headlight motors are just like anything else on the car thats used a lot and even then they don't go out very often at all. It only seems like it because our cars are getting up there in age now and stuff like that start to go out. It actually isn't the motors that go out, its the internal plastic bumpers inside the gear drive that break apart. It took 140000 miles for mine to go out in my '87 formula. 6 1/2" nylon spacers courtesy of ACE hardware and about 2 hours of work later; voila i had working headlights. Both are fine cars...it really comes down to personal preference and taste. I like the lines and style of the pontiacs and thats why i've bought them.

 

I'm surprided to hear that. Every Firebird I drove was easier on the road than the Camaros. (Been in a few of both and driven a few of both) But I like the Camaros sharper cornering.

 

Having never driven a 3rd gen Firebird I can't compare the way they handle....but for some reason it was in my mind that the WS6 was superior in handling...but apparently I was mistaken. (That happens a lot to me!)



Kind of funny, but for 1st, 2 nd and 4th gens, I like the Pontiac version much better, just for looks if nothing else. However, in the 3rd gen's, I've always prefer the Camaros.

But to each his own. I would certainly NOT be ashamed to be sporting a formula 350 around, that's for sure.