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Follow-Up Test: 1999 Pontiac Firebird 30th Anniversary Trans Am
Pontiac's Pony Car, and an Edmunds.com Editor, Hit the Big 3-0
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By Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com
Date posted: 11-16-2000
Turning 30 can be extremely depressing. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that 26, 28, or even 29 don't indicate the passage of youth, there's something painful and perspective shattering about the age of 30. You can't escape the harsh reality any longer: You are getting older!
It is this undeniable fact of aging that makes it doubly ironic to be driving a Pontiac Firebird 30th Anniversary Trans Am on the same day that one experiences his 30th birthday. After all, during our recent Muscle Car Comparison Test, we described the Firebird as "the muscle car that refuses to grow up." We even called it the automotive equivalent of a "15-year-old punk kid."
So what does this take on the modern Firebird say about a 30-year-old individual who drives a Trans Am celebrating its 30th year in production? The simple answer, obviously, is midlife crisis (though the thought of having a midlife crisis at 30 only adds to the dreary nature of the situation), but is it possible that this car is more than just a four-wheeled fountain of youth?
One look at this Firebird's exuberant appearance makes it obvious that "going quietly into that good night" is not the car's primary mission. The chunky bodywork, covered in bright white paint and accented by dark blue stripes, catches even the non-enthusiast's eyes. More striking still are the powder-blue 17-inch aluminum wheels with 30th Anniversary center caps. Special headrest and door panel insignias, embroidered floor mats and a numbered ID plate complete the package and identify this Firebird as one of only 1,000 30th Anniversary T-top models built (500 convertible versions were also produced).
Unlike the typical 30-year-old model (or supermodel, for that matter), Pontiac did more than just a cosmetic upgrade. As with our last Firebird test car, this one featured the WS6 Ram Air performance and handling package. That means a 320-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 under a functional cold air induction hood. It also means a low restriction (and impressive sounding) exhaust system, stiffer suspension settings and 40-series, Z-rated tires. Performance is anything but geriatric, with 60 mph coming in just over 5 seconds and a top speed approaching 165 mph. You don't need a midlife crisis to appreciate these numbers, and, if Einstein's theories are correct, you may even slow the aging process by experiencing them (though, of course, as old fogies, we can't recommend that).
Not all of the Trans Am's power resides under the hood. Our test model was outfitted with a Monsoon sound system and 12-disc, trunk-mounted CD changer. Convenient steering wheel controls let us adjust the volume and station tuning/CD track without taking our eyes from the road (which is good because they need longer to focus these days). Sound quality, especially in the low frequencies, was exceptional and almost had us wishing for an appreciation of that new-fangled rap music the kids listen to these days.
Our aging backsides and slower reaction times appreciated the Firebird's other options, like custom bucket seats and electronic traction control. In fact, only the Hurst shifter left us griping about its clunky and imprecise feel. Take our advice (we're old now, so you can do that) and skip this $325 option.
Instead, spend your money on sunscreen and enjoy the exposed feeling that comes from the T-roof design. We were skeptical of this bodystyle at first, but after experiencing the ease with which the tops are removed, and the subsequent convertible-like sense of openness, we are now T-top converts. Pontiac even supplies a T-top "rack" in the trunk area where the glass pieces can be locked securely into place. But don't forget to wear a hat and/or scarf if you're going to drive around like this at night. We didn't and got sick. (We're not joking; we really did! Damn 30-year-old immune system!)
While the 30th Anniversary package adds to the Firebird's visual flare, it can't change the fact that this is a GM F-body. Issues like useless rear seat accommodations and cargo space, inconsistent interior materials and questionable build quality continue to permeate the Pontiac. We'd also like to see some functional cupholders, tilting headrests and better underhood service point identification. You know, in our day the underhood service points were so accessible you could add oil to a moving car while walking up a snowy hill...in bare feet!
From a purely nostalgic point of view, the 30th Anniversary Trans Am does an amazing job of capturing the spirit of the original model. In fact, if you were to place the two cars next to each other, the 1999 model would look like a computer "morphed" version of the 1969 T/A. We'd like to think we're aging as gracefully as the Trans Am, but the reality is that we don't have a team of highly paid engineers working on our complete redesign every five to eight years. With the possible exceptions of Michael Jackson and Cher, who does?
See all the Ratings: 1999 Pontiac Firebird 2 Dr Trans Am Coupe Road Test Scoreboard
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