The Different types
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: East Bay, CA
The Different types (pontiac) Sup everybody. New to this message board and new to the "muscle" car world. I was into imports for a few years and it was basically stupid. I had a 99 civic si and it was a piece of sh*t. 
But anyways... Im currently looking for a Trans-am but there are so many types of pontiacs out there and didnt really know the difference between them.
Trans am
Firebird
Firehawk
Formula
Etc..
Can anyone school me on this plz? lol
But anyways... Im currently looking for a Trans-am but there are so many types of pontiacs out there and didnt really know the difference between them.Trans am
Firebird
Firehawk
Formula
Etc..
Can anyone school me on this plz? lol
ok well the base pontiac is called a firebird. which has a V6. then we move to the firebird formula which is about the same as the V6 firebird but you get a V8. the next on the list is the Firebird Trans Am. with this one you get the same V8 from the formula but you get options included like leather seats, power drivers seat, rear defrost. also the front bumper is different on the Trans Am's and the rear spoiler. you have a more aggressive look from the Trans Am in my opinion. the next option on the list would be the WS6 versions of the formula's and trans am's. this is a different exhaust, hood, wheel/tire package, badges, and suspension. and both the formula and the trans am's can have this option. they did make a few hurst formula firebirds, and carl black (pontiac dealer) had GMMG which is a performance group that does special vehicles for GM. make a firebird called the blackhawk. now i am not sure if that has to be a trans am or formula. but the last on the list would be the firehawk. basically an upgrade to the WS6 package with a different hood/wheels/tires/suspension/and a few more go fast goodies. hope this helps. and i know I may be missing a model or two. but this is what I got so far.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: East Bay, CA
Yea, that cleared it up. Thanks for the reply. Is it true that there are only 17 Blackhawks made? I saw one listing on ebaymotors.com and the guy who posted it said that GMMG planned on making 200 or so but it got cut down to 17. I've never heard of any special editions that only has a production line of 17 vehicles.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Quad Cities, IL
Dont get hung up on trying to aquire an "elite" model. You can get a base trans am and mod it to your appearance/performance desires. The money you save from not getting a WS6 or Firehawk can go a long way.
Trans am also has a different front bumper than a firebird or formula and I believe the formula at least is missing some gfx that may be an option anyway.You could get a formula as a hardtop which I believe was not an option with the TAs, Firehawks were considered another limited production vehicle and had a funky looking ram air hood. If your looking for the best price on an LS1 a formula is probably your best choice because they can be had with practically no options whereas most of these came as standard equipment on trans ams
I think the hardtop option was more of a year thing than TA vs. Formula.. I know at least for the firehawks, the last 2 years, hardtop wasn't an option reguardless of whether it was a formula or TA..
straight line performance, WS6's and Firehawks are virtually identical.. the hawks claim 5hp more stock, the WS6's have 1/2 inch wider tires.. biggest difference was looks, and the firehawks had an optional upgrade to beefier suspension and auburn differential, so they really shine in the corners..
formulas, as mentioned earlier, were the basic v8.. at the track, they've got a weight advantage over the TA's because they could be ordered without all the bells and whistles (leather, power seats, etc..) only thing the TA's came with that couldn't be ordered on the formulas was the TA wing and the TA front bumper.. might also be a difference in wheel style, but I'm not positive on this one..
straight line performance, WS6's and Firehawks are virtually identical.. the hawks claim 5hp more stock, the WS6's have 1/2 inch wider tires.. biggest difference was looks, and the firehawks had an optional upgrade to beefier suspension and auburn differential, so they really shine in the corners..
formulas, as mentioned earlier, were the basic v8.. at the track, they've got a weight advantage over the TA's because they could be ordered without all the bells and whistles (leather, power seats, etc..) only thing the TA's came with that couldn't be ordered on the formulas was the TA wing and the TA front bumper.. might also be a difference in wheel style, but I'm not positive on this one..
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Note also that most of the above facts are for 93-02 Firebird models.
In the 1982-92 models, for instance, ALL Formulas were also WS6 cars right from the factory. The only real difference between a Formula and a TransAm is the lack of lower ground effects and less interior options on the Formula. But the Formula is not just a base Firebird with a V8 in it, not even close. In fact, the Formula is usually the fastest of the factory models.... all the power of the TransAm, but lighter in weight.
In the 1982-92 models, for instance, ALL Formulas were also WS6 cars right from the factory. The only real difference between a Formula and a TransAm is the lack of lower ground effects and less interior options on the Formula. But the Formula is not just a base Firebird with a V8 in it, not even close. In fact, the Formula is usually the fastest of the factory models.... all the power of the TransAm, but lighter in weight.
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On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Arizona, USA
Originally Posted by NikonDrgn
I think the hardtop option was more of a year thing than TA vs. Formula.. I know at least for the firehawks, the last 2 years, hardtop wasn't an option reguardless of whether it was a formula or TA..
straight line performance, WS6's and Firehawks are virtually identical.. the hawks claim 5hp more stock, the WS6's have 1/2 inch wider tires.. biggest difference was looks, and the firehawks had an optional upgrade to beefier suspension and auburn differential, so they really shine in the corners..
formulas, as mentioned earlier, were the basic v8.. at the track, they've got a weight advantage over the TA's because they could be ordered without all the bells and whistles (leather, power seats, etc..) only thing the TA's came with that couldn't be ordered on the formulas was the TA wing and the TA front bumper.. might also be a difference in wheel style, but I'm not positive on this one..
straight line performance, WS6's and Firehawks are virtually identical.. the hawks claim 5hp more stock, the WS6's have 1/2 inch wider tires.. biggest difference was looks, and the firehawks had an optional upgrade to beefier suspension and auburn differential, so they really shine in the corners..
formulas, as mentioned earlier, were the basic v8.. at the track, they've got a weight advantage over the TA's because they could be ordered without all the bells and whistles (leather, power seats, etc..) only thing the TA's came with that couldn't be ordered on the formulas was the TA wing and the TA front bumper.. might also be a difference in wheel style, but I'm not positive on this one..
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont, TX
Original 1999 coupe MSRP:
Firebird V6 = $18,250
Formula = $23,280
Formula WS6 = $26,215
Trans Am = $26,390
Trans Am WS6 = $29,325
Firehawk standard package additional cost (add to Formula or TA cost): +$3,999
Blackbirds were certainly higher, but was an 'aftermarket' thing, not a regular model.
Firebird V6 = $18,250
Formula = $23,280
Formula WS6 = $26,215
Trans Am = $26,390
Trans Am WS6 = $29,325
Firehawk standard package additional cost (add to Formula or TA cost): +$3,999
Blackbirds were certainly higher, but was an 'aftermarket' thing, not a regular model.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Arizona, USA
Originally Posted by ACW
Original 1999 coupe MSRP:
Firebird V6 = $18,250
Formula = $23,280
Formula WS6 = $26,215
Trans Am = $26,390
Trans Am WS6 = $29,325
Firehawk standard package additional cost (add to Formula or TA cost): +$3,999
Blackbirds were certainly higher, but was an 'aftermarket' thing, not a regular model.
Firebird V6 = $18,250
Formula = $23,280
Formula WS6 = $26,215
Trans Am = $26,390
Trans Am WS6 = $29,325
Firehawk standard package additional cost (add to Formula or TA cost): +$3,999
Blackbirds were certainly higher, but was an 'aftermarket' thing, not a regular model.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont, TX
Originally Posted by 98NBM_TransAm
there was also anniversary edition firehawk and a collectors edition for the ws6 ta
Just the prices for the main models. Full list is at Firebird Models link in my sig. 