Used 1996 Pontiac Firebird Consumer Reviews
Used Firebird for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
1996 Trans Am WS6
NineSixWS6, 01/10/2004
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have a 96 TA with the WS6 package. I would reccomend the package to anyone considering the car. The hood, with the rims and exhaust give the car a much more aggressive look/sound along with increased performance and handling. It's a fun car with a good amount of power to keep up with many cars that are a lot more than it's price. No real complaints about it so far after over a year.
Firebird of Paradise
CamaroFan13r, 10/03/2009
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I am the former owner of a 1996 Pontiac Firebird, with the 3800 V6 engine. I miss my car. I was constrained by necessity to sell her in Feb. 2009. But for ten years, this car served me well. The V6 engine had good performance, with 200HP and 225 lb/ft of torque. But what really impressed me was the reliability of the car. I have owned other Camaros and Firebirds in the past. I love these cars, but they are generally not well known for their reliability. But my 96 Firebird was rock solid reliable. The 3800 GM V6 motors are excellent. The fuel economy wasn't top notch (in fact, I think that the LT1 engines were more fuel efficient), but the car was fun to own and drive. I miss it!
1996 Pontiac Firebird for sale near you
Showing 3 of 23 listings
- Formula 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $10,980265 mi away
- Trans Am 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $11,390270 mi away
- 1996 Pontiac FirebirdMSRP: $13,995319 mi away
See all 23 listings
Fun car. Not reliable at all
transamlady, 03/14/2011
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
This is a fun car to drive, Without a doubt! Love the design and overall look of the car. But the car is not very reliable. This cars makes a bad daily driver. It's not good on gas and a lot of stuff brakes on it. I had this car for almost 2 years and had problems the whole time. The transmission died on it at 125k and the motor fried up at about 135k .... The rear is still good (original rear now with 136k) I had this car towed twice... Once for the opti spark and another time for the motor (when it seized) If you decide to buy one. Spend a little more and get a nice clean one with low miles that was taken car of. this cars are very fickle. Prepare to spend lots of money on repairs!
Dont know.
Hot Momma, 01/05/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car for a while now and it is awesome. It is liked by teenagers and adults as well. Everyone always has something nice to say about the car. The gas mileage is great! I just hate the air bags system.
GM masterpiece
NUNPUNCHER, 06/24/2010
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
If you are going to buy one of these cars and plan on having a fast fun modded car, buy one that has a 6 spd and ws 6 package. Your life will be easier. Mine is an auto and I kicked myself after putting headers, 4.10 gears, full exhaust, 52 mm throttle body, bigger cam, basically put nuts in the motor. Now I can't drive it on the freeway due to the gears. Other than that I love it and wouldn't sell it for anything but a 6 spd ha ha. The only problem I've had was the fuel pump. I got 25 mpg around town before mods now it's more like 18, but that's the price you pay for power. Don't waste your hard earned money on a slow mustang. They are garbage and you'll be smoked by the red dragon.
Love this Car
MiamiSuzanne, 08/07/2002
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for 7 years & I ordered it in July 1995. I have driven it 3 times up to NJ and back. My Labrador Retriever is comfortable in it. I use it at Home Depot to transport shrubs, plywood, etc. I have not had any problems with it. Just minor things that any car would have. Mine has the Traction Control in it & is a great option have when driving in bad weather. My t-tops are fun and easy to take off & on.
1996 firebird v6 3.8
brandon, 09/29/2008
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My firebird is equipped with a 3.8 L v6, t-tops and and some nice rims and i am very happy with it.The power is amazing. I put headers, cold air intake and did some head work to mine and it will rip the tires off. The fuel economy is great. This car is all around fun to drive. The only reason I would sell this car is to by a v8 model.
Cops follow me when I'm driving my bird!
firebirdgoddess9, 06/14/2005
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love my firebird so much. I got it used and i wish i didn't because the person before got into a crash and had some paint marks and dents left behind but i still love it. the only problem i have is that the a/c makes a funny smell after its been on for 1/2 hour or more. i just need to turn it off and then back on and it goes away. but in the summer time it over heats easy with the a/c on. The covering on the diverside door is coming off, but that can be fixed easly. but other wise i love my car.
Top bang for the buck!
J-Rock, 03/12/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
WOW - what a car. To cut to the chase, if you can find one of these vehicles that hasn't been flogged to death by a snot-nosed kid and was properly maintained, it's an absolute bargain. For about the cost of a new Yugo back in '86 you can have Corvette level performance and handling, and in my opinion - exceptional looks (I prefer the T/A to the Vette of a similar vintage). Sure the ride is somewhat stiff, the plastics are typical GM, exterior panel fit varies wildly, and fuel economy suffers because it's soooo much fun to rip to 6,000 rpm on occasion, but who cares - you'll smile every time you drive it, and that is a quality that's hard to put a price tag on. LT1 engine is phenomenal!!
Another LT-1
Steve Meredith, 07/17/2005
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd LT-1 and overall it's been a great motor. I have replaced distributors in both ('92Vette) and it's $1100-1500 to fix. Coolant comes into AC and smells, gets HOT if fan is off and leaks(no one can find it) transmission fluid. Great Car, No real problems..my automatic(faster than the stick!) is one of the best trannys ever made. 17mpg avg w/about 21-23Hwy on trips. If you stand on the gas, you're gone. Chirps NEW tires going into second and still beats the NEW mustangs off the line. Low end torque is a B-E-A utiful thing! GO GM!
Super Muscle Car
MR. BAHR, 07/04/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Convertible
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It s lot of fun, powerful car with a 305HP and exeptional handling on the street, dry or wet. Lateral movements are super, you are stick in the floor. Acceleration is great, just punch the pedal and you are leaving the other car in the smoke. thank you MR. BAHR
1996 pontiac ws6 trans am
mr cook, 02/02/2016
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
this car is not built for new drivers .I have owned a few trans am,s and camaro.s but this ws6 is by far the best car of them all very fun car to drive and has the power when need it .i dont think i would enjoy driving the car across country very stiff and seat are not very comfortable for cross country driving handling is top notch i pick this car up after it was beat to hell and now slowly giving the car life again .I bought the car for $900.00 the body is in good shape the motor (325hp )and auto trans with( performance shift )kit have been rebuilt in 2014
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice, Fun, and Reliable Daily Driver
CB, 12/30/2016
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
When you buy one that was cared for and well maintained anyway. I was lucky enough to buy mine from the second owner and himself as well as the first owner were OCD about maintenance just like me, and I suspect also like myself they never abused the car. This is important for any car but especially on one that has the power to break things via neglect or abuse. The LT1 is a great motor and the Borg Warner T-56 is a great transmission, great low end torque and the transmission shifts out smoothly. Engine revs out nicely and the powerband is everywhere. Fuel economy is good shifting out between 2,000-2,500 and 5/6th are .74 and .50 respectively so you more or less idle doing anything under 55 mph, I average mid-upper 20's using 93. Opti-Spark is blown out of proportion with revised versions and can make it 200K miles without missing a beat. Clutch engagement and feel is nice, somewhere between my Miata and Celica in terms of effort. The transmission shift feel is ok stock, but a Core Shifters short stick makes it what it should've been from the factory for $30. The stock sealed beam headlights suck, but a Hella ECE H4 conversion with an upgraded relay harness and you're meeting/exceeding modern halogen setups for around $100. Also I can't overstate how important getting rid of the stock DeCarbon shocks for some Koni, Bilstein, or KYB shocks is, ride and handling are improved immensely with just that. The ride is comfortable and handling is good for what it is with the DeCarbons long gone, of course get into UMI, MWC, and Strano suspension parts and they can be very competent handlers along with putting on some good tires. At times you forget the car has a solid axle but in hard(especially left hand) cornering and/or over rough roads you're reminded but so long as you keep it in mind and drive accordingly it's a non-issue. The car is nice and quiet going down the road, no squeaks and rattles and nice solid feel. Which it's the hardtop but they're all cutout for T-tops in the fourth gen from the factory so no difference in terms of chassis rigidity, but NVH is definitely better as my father had a same year Z28 with T-tops and it wasn't as quiet or rattle free. A/C is nice and cold even in hot and humid climates and the heat works great as well though it rarely gets below freezing here, blower fan output is good to great. The biggest complaint I have and where a lot of people like to knock fourth gens is the interior, first let me say for the time period and for what it was it's actually pretty nice and really no worse than comparable imports of the time. Further adding to the that the carpet and the seats are very nice, the cloth material for the seats is nice and high quality(yet they cheaped out on the vinyl/leather) and the seats are comfortable and fairly supportive. Interior plastic panels are good and standard fare, except for one...the dash. The dash is downright frustrating, mine was nice except for one small crack when I got it and I made the mistake of removing it to reinforce and prevent cracking. Total nightmare I'm still trying to sort, but in their defense NA6 Miatas, S13 240SXs, and some same year BMWs just to name a few also have crap dashboards so it's not just them unlike how some would have you believe. All in all probably the best car I've owned, but I attribute a lot of that to the great previous owners. Find a nice one that's been taken care of and you can't go wrong, well so long as it's the 6-speed anyway.
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
my 95 trans am cnv
t.y., 03/24/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Convertible
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
overall, i have had lots of fun with this vehicle. It is very fast and has the power when needed especially with the 6-spd transmission. i change the oil on a regular basis and i take care of so that it can last me a very long time. The only thing with these tras ams is that you pretty much have t live with the oil leaks that occur. you will not be able to avoid it since so much power creats lots of pressure thus causing oil leaks.
Nice Car
Craig, 08/19/2008
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I traded my 1970 El Camino for this 1996 firebird with the LT1 motor in it. The guy before me put on hooker headers, Flow masters, cold air flow, lowered the rear end, put 6 way springs in the front end. This car is a rocket ship! It will blow any stock V8 away. Plus it looks nice and rides like a new car.
love my car
jjolin94, 01/28/2013
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i love my 96 formula it has 3:73 gears hurst throwshifter cold air intake front line lock and all around a very sound car. i have a question tho, if any of u can help there is a squeaking noise comming from the front end that i cnt figure out i dont no if its common or not if u can help it would be great. and another thing is there any other way to increase the horse power of this fire breathing beast it already has freekesh power but i want more of it thanks for the help.
My 96 WS6 Formula
Chris Jackson, 09/29/2002
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My WS6 Formula is a very nice all around sports car. It is fun to drive and gets lots of attention. It handles very well and has a better ride than the Mustang Cobra and the Camaro SS Z28. I have only had he car back to the dealership 2 times for warranty work which were both recalls. it has been one of the best cars I have owned and I have owned about 30 cars over the years. I will buy another one day when I sell this one. It is a very nice car.
Awesome Car
firebirdbandit, 10/30/2002
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is awesome. I feel like I am on a Rocket every time I go onto the highway. More powerful than most engines with a supercharger. And the scary part is you can get one for this engine. I love everything about this car but the performance is the best. Rear wheel drive is awesome. Who wants to lay rubber with the front tires anyways. Fast and deadly 1996 black firebird formula with t-tops
Power and Miles
Cruise, 12/31/2002
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had this vehicle since 2 miles have clicked over on the speedo. Its the RAM AIR edition. I've just rolled the speedo to 203,000 miles. The LT1 is as strong today as when I first drove it home. On the origional engine. Don't even think I took it easy in the car. I've blown the trans twice and the rear once. I've since made modifications to the 1996 standards like a 1999 trans and a BorgWarner rear. Firhawk aluminum drive shaft, SLP headers and a Borla exhaust. With the Hypertec reprogrammer this car still puts out 340+ bhp. Believe me, stock gears and it will out run all the high performance BMWs and other muscle cars at the top end. (160+)
My 96 Bird V6
Nata, 02/16/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Problems with oil leaking coming from the back of the engine and on the mufler "Y" pipe cause fumes to enter the interior of the car. Noise from the rear (probably the differential or similar part) notable when running idle specially down hill. Meanwhile, I already smoked at least 3 V8, including 2 mustangs on the HWY. Finally, performance is great but if whe get it back from GM, I will love those problems (found on newer models too) fixed and ofcourse, more power on the V6 3800 platform.
1996 Pontiac Firebird Convertible
qwertyuiop, 07/27/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Good car.
my 1996 trans am
ironchris03, 11/19/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
a great car all around
96 Firebird
lilpig, 02/29/2004
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have never enjoyed drving a car as much as I have this Firebird. The handling and maneuveribility of this car is awesome...the pickup is unbeatable...and I even look good while driving around. The gas mileage could be better, but it's not too bad for a V8!
the bird
the bird, 01/23/2005
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Good running vehicle. Lots of pick up power. Good handling. Very tough engine. 112000 miles and still going.
A Riot to Drive, Still Turns Heads!
Jeff, 07/15/2005
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car as a first car, and I could not be more pleased. I have owned it for a little over a year now, and I am still thrilled everytime I head out on the road. It is the V6 model, and all things considered, it is very peppy! With a few tweaks and mods the V6 can really move. Torquey enough to light up the tires as well! Reliability has been great. Nothing out of the ordinary has gone wrong with a car that is ten years old. Replace the fuilds, filters, plugs, gaskets and everything is running smooth. Ride quality is very good, not harsh over bumps, little body roll in the corners. It is much more responsive than my buddy's Mustang. Overall, A great buy!
good car
pontiacfan06, 01/17/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i just purchesed this car and i love it. this car is 10 years old with 119,000 miles on it and it runs very good. the interior is very comfortable with the bucket seats. the engine has plenty of power especialy for a V6. the car had a few minor problems. most of which are fixed already. i already have plans for a few performance upgrades which should make this car a real beast.
Awesome car, horrible dealership
GMOPAR, 09/02/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well i bought this car as a replacement for my 92 lebaron convertible, yeah it was a lebaron BUT i had owned it long enough to finally get ALL the jitters out of it. Now the Firebird a V6 Manual is the best daily driver i've ever had with reguarly over 21 MPG in the city! Only problem is, it's a used car and with that comes the growing pains of getting used to it. I've fixed almost all the initial jitters (most of which could have been avoided had the dealership Pete Moore of Pensacola been at ALL honest with me) Now all i gotta do is get a new fuel pump and it'll be all good.
awesome all around car
pontiacfreak, 09/04/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
this is my second car i've owned, my first was a 91 grand prix and it was an awsome little car, but i decided to sell it to get something that was a little quicker. which is my firebird. Its a good looking car with the power to back it up, even with the 3.8L in it. The car had a few minor problems when i bought it, but all were very cheap and easy fixes, and haven't had a problem with it since. And just add a few performance parts to these things and they REALLY move, i have just a few minor bolt on parts and im able to beat V8 mustangs with it! And i use mine as a race car and it has close to 130000 miles on it.
great car to keep
jamey b, 11/29/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have the `96 bird and an `01 grand am gt1 anniversary edition. The grand am will be out of my inventory long before the bird. I can't believe how well it has held up mechanically and stylishly. I am going to be pleased to give it a pimpin in the springtime. It is going to be a classic some day!
yes
chad, 11/29/2006
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
FUN! BUY ONE! i just got mine and i can't wait to bring it to the track! what a blast!
Not really reliable.
Jonathan, 08/17/2007
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I owned one of these for 2 years. I had to spend 6000 in maintaining the vehicle. Be careful of who you buy it from and get an ASE certified mechanic to check it out first.
My Baby Black Firebird
BeckySue, 06/19/2003
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I owned a 1984 white Firebird previously, and swore I would own another one. Well my wish came true last April when driving past the Used Car place on my way to work. I really wasn't getting too excited about this car, because a previous excitement about a green Firebird the year before fell through. Since I wasn't too excited, I felt that fates aligned and I was destined to own this car. I absolutely love my car!!! I have had it a year now, and nothing has gone wrong with it. My previous Firebird went kaput around 60,000 miles, but this one is going on 70,000 now and the only thing I have fixed have been the brakes and oil changes.
nice formula 6 speed monster
jim, 12/04/2015
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have a 96 formula, very fun and great to drive. Just not a very comfortable car, however having had many camaro and other basic two seaters. This car isn't built for that. I have an lt1 six speak, with cold air intake, corvette suspension and rear end. The car has has stainless 3in headers with Borla exhaust.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
awsome!!!!
brown, 03/29/2002
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i love this car, it's performance and style out match the peice of crap ford mustang. it's a car i will never let go for no matter what price i'm offered.
The Little Things
Mike, 04/21/2008
1996 Pontiac Firebird 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have the T-Top version with the 3.8 L 3800 Series II. The power is good and it's fun to drive. However, I've had to replace the motors in the windows, the oil pressure sensor, a power steering line, and the muffler has a hole in it. Also, the head light motors are out. It is reliable though I've only towed it twice. Just be ready for the little things.
Frames are Always Worth Inspection..
KruzMissle, 04/12/2020
1996 Pontiac Firebird Formula 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Buying a 1996 Pontiac Firebird, 3800, w/126,000k on it seemed like a deal. The Exterior Appearance caught my attention, being so Slick. The interior is quite comfortable and attractive. Having the miles it had, not being bad for a car of 24yrs old, I jumped on it...Took It 4 a Ride & what power for a V-6. It's handling was amazing! The only thing I Should have done was got it in the air, on a lift. What was left of its frame was a shock for a car that was stored for 9yrs. Rotted, Decayed & scary.......still driving her, no problems, minus a water pump, exhaust & new battery. Rumor is the cooling system needs constant attention, due to blown head gasket experiences. I was just wondering about the "frame" scenario. Should I Sell It or ???????
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Don't do it for 16,000 if you do you'll find out t
STQ, 08/25/2024
1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have a 96 WS6 WITH 102,000 MILES THAT I BOUGHT FROM BRAND NEW... The car is hard to work on if you're not familiar... good luck trying to change the passenger side spark plugs a fuel pump will go out I have to drop the axle to drop the tank... And good luck trying to clean the inside of that front windshield!! I wouldn't pay no more than $6,000 firebird trans Am with an LT1... Don't believe me go find out.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value