I was recently in a wreck and I was looking to get a firebird. I have been doing quite a bit of research, but I'm still a little confused. I have never been super into cars so forgive me for being a noob.

I realize there are different types like the firebird, formula, and trans am.
I love the look of the trans ams, but unfortunately I would need to get a firebird because I cant afford the gas of a v8.

It was from my understanding that trans ams have a more aggressive look to them and were only made in V8's but why do these cars look like trams ams but have v6's.

Notice how this car has the side skirts and the rear bumper.. Was this put on afterwords? http://macon.craigslist.org/cto/4443469033.html

this one too.. http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/4352670657.html

but this one doesn't have anything.. it looks kinda plain and round.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4430059082.html

So were those some kit the owner put on the car? I'm confused. If they were part of a kit how much would something like that cost?

 

Those 2 cars are a visual package available for the non-trans ams.

Trans Ams have different side skirts and bumpers. The rear bumper on those cars are still the base models with skirts added to the sides.

 

If gas is your only hold up from getting a v6 or v8 get a 6 speed trans am

 

First 2 are a firebird WS9 package if I recall, the last is a base firebird. There is not much in common with the TA or WS6 package. The bumpers and GFX are not the same.

Honestly the difference in gas isn't as big as you think. The value in the car is in the V8. You may be young and the ins could be an issue.

 

The mpg difference is practically negligible if you drive it nicely. Expect to see high teens-mid twenties from both, depending on how you drive.

 

What is a 6 speed trans am?

 

t56 6 speed trany.

 

My brother is a mechanic.. an he goes on an on about how bad a V8 would be on gas an how "theres no way you would get better than 15 mpg."

I'm about to be 26, not really sure what the insurance will be.

 

w68 package is the appearance package lol. WS9 means it's a V8 (formula conversion RPO code)

 

I have no idea what that means

 

"6 speed" refers to the "Standard" or "Stick shift" transmission, which has 6 gears. A 6 speed trans am will have one more forward gear (5 gears) than an automatic (4 gears) allowing a 6 speed car to get better mpg than automatic car. They are right about the mpg not being very different. V6s from 15 years ago are no where near the V6s of today.

 

I don't know how to drive a manual. Even if I did I would imagine it would get annoying after a while. I just looked up the statistics and I guess yall are right.. there is only like 2 - 3 mpg difference. Does this apply with most newer cars?

 

Your brother the mechanic is wrong. These cars with the LS1 V8 get much better gas mileage than 15. Insurance shouldn't be too bad for your age either. If you plan on having a car that has power and will be fun to drive then do yourself the favor and get the V8. You won't regret it. All of the above suggestions of getting the stick shift version I agree with.

 

maybe 25 years ago gas mileage would be that bad. i would get around 26mpg on the highway back when i was stock. 17ish in town, if i was light on the gas. this is out of an ls1. i had a v6 3.8l bird at one point that got near identical mpg, only when i floored it, it sipped less gas then the ls1.
insurance is pretty cheap on a 12 year old car.

 

I'm 19 and insurance isn't bad at all...

 

Ive had my 2001 V8 Formula since new. Mileage in town is around 15-17 mpg. Mileage on the highway is 22mpg. Its an A4 (4-speed automatic).

 

Your math is a bit off.
6 speed transmission has 6 forward gears + 1 reverse gear.
4 speed transmission has 4 forward gears + 1 reverse gear.

Therefore, the 6-speed manual, has 2 more forward gears than the 4-speed automatic.

 

pretty much everythings been coered that you asked about. The Red and white cars have the W68 appearance kit, the added ground effects, everything else will be the same as the base firebird. The Red car is just missing the front pieces. The pewter car is the normal look.

Gas.. i've had both the V6 and V8 at the same time, both auto's, there wasn't that huge of a difference, not enough to sway me toward keeping the V6... maybe if I was driving like a couple hundred miles a day and I needed it strictly as a commuter... otherwise you'll be MUCH happier with the V8 power.


*base firebird: V6, short spoiler, plain hood

*base firebird with W68: same as the base, but with ground effects on the front, rear, and sides, and dual exhaust

*formula: V8 LS1, same body as the firebird.

*formula WS6: same as the formula, but has the Ram Air hood, some suspension changes, a couple other basic upgrades... and the WS6 badging

*trans am: V8 LS1, different front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and high rise spoiler, same hood as the firebirds

*trans am WS6: same as the trans am, but has the Ram Air hood, some suspension changes, a couple other basic upgrades... and the WS6 badging

 

^^^^

No offence, but really don't know what a 6 speed manual trans? Ok, so I assume you may not know how to drive a manual. So an auto may be the future for you. 6spds are hard to find and are a bit more expensive. If you do the auto make sure it shifts smooth and firm. My only auto doesn't get that great gas as my 6spd especially on the HWY.

Look at it this way, in a year the V8 will still be worth a few bucks and the v6could visit the bone yard. GL

 

I completely agree with the V6 vs V8 gas mileage statements. I've had both, and the V6 was horrible on gas. It got the same or worse than the V8. Both my V8's were 6 speeds, but an automatic doesn't make that much difference. Sounds like since you don't want to drive a stick, you should get an auto with the LS1 V8. I'll get 17mpg in the city all day.