I have a 02 WS6 and I love it, open air driving and the LS1. These cars will are starting to get the recognition they deserve, and are modern era classics! Plus the styling is unparalleled by anything else, when you see a 98-02 Trans Am there’s absolutely no confusing it for anything else
I totally agree with you, I've had some younger folks ask comment "awesome looking car! What is it???" Lol...nothing like that to make a guy feel his age!
I've totally had that happen too, typically after putting them in my rear view mirror lol! One time a kid asked me what I put in the car to make it that fast, I told him "gas"....
Reg, you did an awesome job reviewing this classic ride. I, too, have been a Trans Am fan for many years. I remember when the Firebird first came out and even my Mom liked the car. My ex had a 1974 Firebird Esprit when we met and that car was like a Trans Am without the body panels, or the insurance. Loved that car!
I bought my 1999 Trans am in 2003....still have it today. I'm never getting rid of it. It will be passed down to my kids (who absolutely love the car).
Took me 19 years to finally own a WS6 Ram Air. I had several opportunities but they were pretty beat and abused. I didn't want to settle for less, then comes this low mileage all original 02 pewter grey Ram Air. It surprises youngsters what year it is, and it snaps necks all day! love it!
The first time I took my wife for a ride she was on her phone recording me being overjoyed with the car I was just crawling in first gear and I just decided to hammer it lol, her phone went flying into the backseat... I need to see if I can find that footage lol!
My Dad and I test drove that same Ram Air. Pewter! Looked grey to me. It was the first time I heard of that color. It was a 6 speed. We managed to squeeze the salesman in the backseat side ways. My Dad drove the crap out of that thing, fishtailing it and spinning the tires. The salesman was a young guy, although he didnt make the sale, I could tell he got a since of enjoyment out of the test drive. That was my Dad and I thing to do, we would occasionally get up early on Saturday mornings and go test drive sporty cars. I particularly remember the 02 Ram Air, Roush F150 (4 door) and a Cobra Mustang 01. Something about that Mustang was SWEET but nothing compared to the Trans AM, they're so slick and that hood is absolutely lovely. Quick story. My first car ended up being an 86 Z28, almost like a redish orange color with gold ground effects, and gold wheels to match. I swapped the wheels out for Iroc wheels, they had gold highlights down the spoke and they were alloy. T-Tops! My buddy ended up getting a Trans AM. We were in High School and we always raced. He kicked my ass all the time, he had a posi rear end and mine wasnt. His was a 350 and mine was a mere 305. Love the Trans AMs, congrats on yours!
I've owned 18 Firebirds, Trans Ams, and Camaros over the year. I currently own a 1999 and 2001 WS6. The 2001 is my daily driver. I absolutely love 4th gen Trans Ams. To this day I still think it's one of the best looking cars on the road and looks modern to this day. I get teenagers all the time asking if it's a 2022 model car.
I still remember this first time i saw one of these. One came driving past my high school parking lot and my 16 yr old mind was blown! I thought i was tripping, it looked as if someone was driving a fighter jet. If I saw this car parked on a dealership lot next to a Lambo and I would want the Trans Am. This car has super car looks. The pontiac brand was GMs overachiever child. In the south these are country boys Ferrari. All it needs is an touchscreen in dash with rearview camera and aftermarket wheels and tires and i little lowering and a garage to help it increase in value each year.
I was in the same boat as you when I was younger, I loved these! I've done a Kenwood headunit with wireless android auto and carplay, installed a backup camera, and rims/tires are on the to do list. For me the car only comes out on sunny days with no chance of rain lol
Glad you addressed the WS6 thing pretty quick. As soon as I saw it, it's easy to clock a non WS6 - the 16" wheels are a quick giveaway. Love fbodies :)
im a 4th gen T/A fanatic for life.... and this is the first channel i subscribed to because he showed the car from the most beautiful angles....WITH THE TOPS OUT! this man is a trans am man for sure.
Haha!!! Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm glad my passion for the car shone through! Hats off to the @TFL team for the edits! I just saw they did a feature on a 95TA that they picked up.... I'd be game for a roadtrip and a shootout lol!
@@RegsChannel its crazy to compare our parents generation version to a classic to ours... i mean look at that T/A. this is a 20 year old car and its design is still eyeball sex til this day.
My last Trans Am looked identical to this one but was a true 1998 Ram Air WS6 LS1 6sp & my buddy had a '99 Firehawk T/A that was just bad ass! My first Pontiac back in 1981 was a '67 326 HO then an '83 Trans Am, Bandit T/A & an '85 Bandit II that I bought brand new! Smokey & the Bandit being filmed around my hometown area the summer of '76 is what made me a Trans Am fanatic! We only lived a few miles from Snowman's house in Jonesboro Georgia then we moved to Covington in 1977 & I was lucky enough to be on the square when Burt landed his plane to get beer in Cannonball Run 1981, I was standing with the folks moving out of the way as the plane turns around {RUclips video Cannonball Plane} & I was on the opposite side of the square in 1978 when they filmed the first episode of Dukes of Hazzard {RUclips video Dukes Of Hazzard : Chase From 1st Episode}, I was in front of Harper's Dime store {red store as the General slides onto the square} & that is my dad's '72 Plymouth Fury II parked in front that you see when they U turn!✌💖☮
Everyone with and F-body knows that if you want to stop the squeaks and rattles you need subframe connectors. This is especially imperative on t-top cars and convertibles.
I've always preferred it's LS1 twin the Camaro SS but the WS6's style has grown on me over the 24 years now of this models existence. Now I just feel old.
The white Camaro SS with hugger orange stripes always had a soft spot in my heart! Not going to lie, I do feel a bit dated myself, but those sure were great times!
@@RegsChannel if i can work the salvaged title into the deal with the insurance company. i think the the engine and trans is salvageable so the dream would be to pull it all and put it into a late 70s or 80s trans am hopefully it works out.
@@ironpuppy2434 that would be a solid option. I know alot of guys are taking intact cars and simply parting them out knowing what they can get for parts will be worth more than selling the car whole. The sad reality of it being out of production for 20 years...
I currently a 2001 red formula Firebird with 75k miles (Still has the LS1 350) . I love that car. not something I would ever want to drive everyday but on nice weekends I take the tops off and cruise. Newer cars may out run it but they definitely don't have the muscle car feel of the Pontiacs and they dont have the fun factor either plus I don't pass 5 other cars that look just like mine either unlike newer sports cars. I get a lot more compliments on my bird then I ever did when I had my 2016 Mustang GT. Thanks for the review.
Thanks so much! Yup mine typically only comes out on sunny days or for some weekend cruises, they have a unique look that can't be mistaken for anything else out there!
I love this comment, bc to me, these cars are the quintessential muscle car. That really struck me when I was looking to get a car. I really wanted a Ws6, but test drove some 5th and 6th gen Camaros. The 'Maros were great cars, and faster than the Ws6, but when I finally found my Trans Am, it struck me how different it looked/drove/felt inside than the Camaros. It really feels like a muscle car, and I love that. I'm not sure how to describe it other than when you sit in one, it really does feel like the end of a long era, and in the Camaro it actually does feel like the start of a new chapter.
The 2001-2002 models had the LS6 block...pontiac totally underrated this cars power because GM always warned them to not outdo the corvette model after model. And how they were smart enough to create an air intake and hood to force air into the car was pure brilliance. The created a simple form of forced induction, the faster the car is going the faster air is forced into the intake. I would love to see a firebird formula v8 in the V6 model with the w68 OEM ground effects from the factory. I love the wide and muscular build of the ground effect package v6.
1995 5.7 without the T tops in a six speed and the upgraded suspension was a beast (it was essentially a WS-6 because in California at the time had to put a full dual exhaust to clear CARB). With BF Goodrich R-1 radials would pull over 1 g on a skidpad. Raced WS-6s all the time and always was just as fast. Unfortunately, cruise control does not work over 119 mph.
Proud owner of a black '97 T/A, non-WS6, hardtop, leather interior with lumbar, 4L60E (yeah, i know it's not a 6-speed), paid $4500 back in '16 and it was best thing I bought, never regretted it ever since, love it. Plus having some engine work already done to it (bigger mild cam and upgraded valvetrain) also helped seal the deal
But I know you wish you had the 98-02 body style. You got a hell of a deal on your Trans Am though. Anything under $10,000 is a steal for under 100,000 miles
I picked up a 1997 trans am WS6 6 speed with 85k miles for 8k. Front bumper needs paint, but otherwise it’s a very nice car. Still got the original window sticker and invoice too.
i just picked up a 99 for short money.... it needed some work but drivetrain was strong body was straight.....i know today its considered slow but that LS1 is a hell of a motor...fun times ahead.
I used to own a red t-top 96 Trans Am, but sold in 2010. I was a great car. For the past few years I've been searching for a red 99-02 WS.6 t-top Trans Am. But I couldn't justify many of their high prices, so I decided to search for a red 98-02 W68 t-top Firebird...man did I find one. This past summer I bought a red 98 W68 t-top Firebird. The guy I bought it from had the car since around 2001, drove it only on nice summer days and kept it in a climate controlled garage for all these years. The car has just under 88,000 miles, no rust, gray leather seats, chrome rims and is all orginal. Does it have the the LS1? No, but I can't complain how clean and well maintained this 3800 series ll engine is. Decent rumble when in idle.
Clean car. I have a set of the correct OEM 17" WS6 wheels sitting in the garage if you're interested in buying them to complete your OEM WS6 Ram Air conversion.
Hey there! I have been debating that as this season I am going to need some new rubber. .. feel free to pop on over to my channel and DM me, we can chat.
My dad's 2002 firebird had a blown head gasket and he sold it 😭 We went everywhere in that car. Long road trips to the doctor or vacation. He let me use it in college. I loved that car. Super comfortable inside. Rode so smoothly. Pretty fast too, I sped up so fast when in a hurry for college. I miss it. I am going to get one for myself some day.
I have always loved the Pontiac Trans Am, the WS6 was one of my dream cars when I was younger, so loving the hood on here. Really cool car, hope you enjoy it for many years
This has been my dream car since it was new and I was 10 and saw one on a car lot while car shopping with my dad. He got a Sunfire, which is much less cool...
I remember when I was 17 going to a dealership with my dad to look at a firebird, and the salesman tried to sell us on a Sunfire, needless to say we passed and we kept saving until about a year later when I was able to get my 95 with the V6. That was in 2000...
This was my first car. Black on black 02 WS6. Mine had a 4 speed auto though, but it sort of suited the car's character. The thing was simply explosive in a straight line, definitely one of the top muscle cars of it's era.
nice review from my hometown, I worked for GM Canada in the 90's and was a great place to be lots happening and some really cool cars were being built and sold and this was one that held its own on the road, there was were very few other cars available that had the hp available stock that this had for the price you paid and any 2 door sports car or touring sedan of this era all had the big door problems with a rattle or a shake , I test drove every model sold on the market in Canada that was a 2 door, sure some were better in some ways, not drastically, sure they were maybe a bit more finished or materials were fancier, they were also more than double the purchase price, many didn't have steering wheel controls and they didn't perform twice as good and cost a week or 2 pay check to maintain or fix, these were decently reliable cars and got what you paid for ,hp and fun smiles per mile and got reasonable economy for what they were a sports car , i had a few Volvo 2DR Coupes of the day and believe me those doors were as big and as heavy, they did not have the performance or the smiles per mile , great video 👍
Thanks so much for the kind words! Sounds like an amazing job! Agreed! Stock for stock, these typically had the edge on the Mustangs of the era, as well as everything else in that bracket. In terms of maintenance you nailed it on replacement part costs, still even today is very reasonable, you just need to decide, do you replace something with an OEM part, or a performance equivalent. The sky is the limit!
I got one......40,000 miles on new GM LS1 that I bought from Pace Performance back in the day...Got 400,000 on orginal LS1...Basic mods with off road Y pipe, Eaton True Trac rear end, no cats, electronic cut out, custom tune for 93 octane and the other mods...Factory rear rims widened to 11 inches with 315/35/17's...Sub frame connectors BMR Torque arm and tower brace, BMR lowering springs.l They run ALOT better with these bolt ons...Next will be some drag radials..The True Trac really does trac true....The car stays straight and lays down the twin black marks without much need for correction..Runs and drives well for a now antique vehicle....😎
I had a 93 firebird as my first car worked all year to buy that car. It started having issues so I sold it a few years later. I miss that car. Want to get a ws6 next
Love both my 2001 Z28's. They both have been super reliable. The cargo area is just fine. Both are head and cam cars, built transmissions. One did get a 6.0 after getting flooded in Harvey a few years ago but solid cars.
Love the 98+ z28's personally! Next stop for me will likely be headers and exhaust... I've always liked the idea of going with a Procharger setup but for the cost it seems like a turbo setup might be a more economical way to go..
I hate that these are suddenly popular again. It's making the values skyrocket. I've been looking for a clean, low miles, 1997, MN6, slicktop WS6 for a while and every time I find one, it's way too expensive. Really regret getting rid of mine back in 2002. Mine was black and always got attention when I pulled into a car show. The 1.6 rockers and Borla exhaust made it sound super sexy.
Awesome cars. Hard to find any for sale in Australia. Be good to import here. We have the 25 year old rule which means we register the car as a classic (cheap rego) and don't need to convert the steering wheel to right hand.
You totally got the spirit of this car. Build quality was certainly not their strength but they were also incredibly affordable, even new. Built for some real fun, not meaningless Nürburgring lap times...
I have a real 02 WS6 in pewter metallic with less than 50k miles and it's hands down the single greatest thing I've ever owned. show me a more beautiful car made in the last 25 years and I'll eat my hat. there is no comparison.
Fyi trans am ws6 cars, specifically 1998-2002 almost everything about the car is the same as a regular trans am/formula. The sway bars were beefier, ram air hood and air intake box, and 17" wheels were the only difference on 98+ ws6 cars. The Shocks, springs, and brakes exact same. Now the earlier ws6 up to 97 did have more suspension changes, but along with the addition of the ls1 in 98 the suspension was reworked and besides sway bars was left unchanged on ws6 cars from 98-02. I've owned 7 4th gens and currently own a 1998.
Talking to you now on Facebook, but I could not agree more with the styling, and overall feel of the car. Personally, they just do not make cars like this anymore. Granted, as you mentioned, you get some of the squeaks in the road noise, etc. which is to be expected from a 20-year-old car but it handles like a dream, and with simple driveway modifications, you can stiffen the chassis up and it’ll handle that much better. Very clean you’ve got there, and awesome videos. New subscriber for sure!
Lets get the record straight folks the only dy between the 4th gen ws6 and base trans am is it the ram air hood with raised air box and stiffer progressive springs. The sway bar brakes and shocks are same. Camaro or trans am with the slp package had to hd 1le bigger saway bars be and Bilstein shocks. The horse power difference between the fbody and the Corvette comes from the tune and on thebair box on the f body there is that funky sir silencer on connected ro the box which impedes air flow. The horse power is closer to 350 not 305. And with longtube header and a nice cam your close to 390 hp ive kept up or beaten 5th gen camaros and newer mustangs u have to remember these 4 th gen are lighter than the newer piny cars
1975 is my fave, along with the near identical 1974 model. I could do without the screamin' chicken hood decal, but I guess that's part of the appeal of that era. This featured model looks really brawny, no doubt due to bulbous hood scoops.
@@michaelm3381 I second the suggestion for founders performance, got my strut tower brace, adjustable panhard bar, weld in subframe connectors, and koni adjustable shocks from there. Money well spent.
to be honest they are still more affordable than most of the cars that car guys collect.. the prices are going up yes but they're nowhere near crazy yet
Great video! I SO miss my 1989 triple black TA with the 5.7 - it was not the GTA either, it was the GT special-order with the 5.7. Never should've sold that car! But now (someday) I have to add a 2000+ TA WS6 to my garage!
Not much affordable now for an Ls1 4th Gen Trans Am. I paid 6k for my 98 back in 2015, I'm the second owner. My same car is going for almost double what I paid. My car was all original when I bought it. I still have all of the stock parts but I upgraded my entire suspension, have weld in subframe connectors, and upgraded all of the factory lightning with led lighting and projector headlights. Not to mention full exhaust and bolt ons. Great cars for the most part but they have already hit their depreciation rut and are honestly going up in value. I got lucky when I bought mine.
@@FWDSUXARSE true, my first car was a Monte Carlo often thought it would be fun to fix one up, very simple cars by today's standards but not so feasible any more
My first new car I bought was a 78 Firebird. I loved the second gen. The 3rd gen were the worst. The last ones were pretty bad ass but I hope the build quality was better than mine
My biggest challenge in terms of build quality was always the squeaks and rattles inherent to this generation of vehicles. It was quickly forgiven with the t tops off and the sound of the LS1 making them disappear!
I wonder if it's the cars legitimately increasing in value or factors related to the pandemic pushing up the prices. Guess we will find out. The upside is even with a roller chassis you have so much flexibility in terms of what you can do with these cars. 5.3 or 6l truck motors will basically drop right Into them and can make some great power with the right mods
Detailed those when I was a lot younger at a Pontiac dealership my favorite was the firehawk it was a numbered one so I guess it was limited production,only saw one and it was black a very hard color to keep scratches from showing in the sun.
I loved the early 2000s Pontiac line up. It’s a shame the dissolved Pontiac they had some great sporty cars. I personally had a Grand Prix 2 dr and loved it
I'll never forget when I had my V6 firebird, I was "humbled" by a Grand Prix GTP. The 3.8 was solid for itself at the time, coupled with a supercharger... Just wow! It was a shame that Pontiac wasn't able to weather the storm.
The market as a whole has not been kind the past 2 years, they are going up in price yes, but decent examples are still out there if you know where to look for relatively affordable prices.
"for a 2-door car, the doors are absolutely gigantic" 😒 They're typical for a coupe. Why so many "for what it is" type of remarks. That's belittling. Like saying, "She's pretty...for this town." "He's smart...for this town."
Hey there, my comments in the video were intended as a retrospective compared to driving modern sports cars today and comparing it to this. Think of it like looking at fashion from the 90's compared to today, through the lens of time sure some of that stuff is a little silly by today's standards but there were redeeming qualities for other things. It's all about perspective my friend.
I have a 02 WS6 and I love it, open air driving and the LS1. These cars will are starting to get the recognition they deserve, and are modern era classics! Plus the styling is unparalleled by anything else, when you see a 98-02 Trans Am there’s absolutely no confusing it for anything else
I totally agree with you, I've had some younger folks ask comment "awesome looking car! What is it???" Lol...nothing like that to make a guy feel his age!
Always wanted one. It's a shame it's hard to find one in good shape anymore :( they're awesome cars
My 95 ta has been confused with a corvette at a gm dealership and a Lamborghini by a 4 year old kid and a camaro.
I've totally had that happen too, typically after putting them in my rear view mirror lol! One time a kid asked me what I put in the car to make it that fast, I told him "gas"....
I have a 2000 convertible WS6 manual... Every time I'm at the gas station people have to ask me questions.
Thanks again to the Team at TFL for highlighting my Trans Am! Was a pleasure putting this together for everyone.
Reg, you did an awesome job reviewing this classic ride. I, too, have been a Trans Am fan for many years. I remember when the Firebird first came out and even my Mom liked the car. My ex had a 1974 Firebird Esprit when we met and that car was like a Trans Am without the body panels, or the insurance. Loved that car!
@@wushock92 these cars just resonate with me! Thanks for the kind words.
I think you meant to say, what got you into this car was writing off a 78 Monte Carlo lol
@@TheGamingStuffs that was my 95 firebird, and we can't forget the 74 GMC in between lol!
@@RegsChannel Yes, the 95 :D The GMC was just classic lol
I bought my 1999 Trans am in 2003....still have it today. I'm never getting rid of it. It will be passed down to my kids (who absolutely love the car).
I've told my wife already, under no circumstances am I allowed to sell that car, ever!
I have a 2000 WS6 convertible 6 speed... And now I'm debating if I want to hand it down to my 16 year old🤔
Took me 19 years to finally own a WS6 Ram Air. I had several opportunities but they were pretty beat and abused. I didn't want to settle for less, then comes this low mileage all original 02 pewter grey Ram Air. It surprises youngsters what year it is, and it snaps necks all day! love it!
The first time I took my wife for a ride she was on her phone recording me being overjoyed with the car I was just crawling in first gear and I just decided to hammer it lol, her phone went flying into the backseat... I need to see if I can find that footage lol!
How much did you pay for your 2002 ram air? $15,000?
Yes sir all orginal 🎉🎉🎉🎉 is the way to go
My Dad and I test drove that same Ram Air. Pewter! Looked grey to me. It was the first time I heard of that color. It was a 6 speed. We managed to squeeze the salesman in the backseat side ways. My Dad drove the crap out of that thing, fishtailing it and spinning the tires. The salesman was a young guy, although he didnt make the sale, I could tell he got a since of enjoyment out of the test drive. That was my Dad and I thing to do, we would occasionally get up early on Saturday mornings and go test drive sporty cars. I particularly remember the 02 Ram Air, Roush F150 (4 door) and a Cobra Mustang 01. Something about that Mustang was SWEET but nothing compared to the Trans AM, they're so slick and that hood is absolutely lovely. Quick story. My first car ended up being an 86 Z28, almost like a redish orange color with gold ground effects, and gold wheels to match. I swapped the wheels out for Iroc wheels, they had gold highlights down the spoke and they were alloy. T-Tops! My buddy ended up getting a Trans AM. We were in High School and we always raced. He kicked my ass all the time, he had a posi rear end and mine wasnt. His was a 350 and mine was a mere 305. Love the Trans AMs, congrats on yours!
Crazy to me how this is now a "classic", oh how time flies.
You are telling me! Here in Manitoba I'm eligible for "collector" plates in 3 years... Yikes!
I've owned 18 Firebirds, Trans Ams, and Camaros over the year. I currently own a 1999 and 2001 WS6. The 2001 is my daily driver. I absolutely love 4th gen Trans Ams. To this day I still think it's one of the best looking cars on the road and looks modern to this day. I get teenagers all the time asking if it's a 2022 model car.
I look back at mine after I park it all the time. Probably my favorite car ever made
I still remember this first time i saw one of these. One came driving past my high school parking lot and my 16 yr old mind was blown! I thought i was tripping, it looked as if someone was driving a fighter jet. If I saw this car parked on a dealership lot next to a Lambo and I would want the Trans Am. This car has super car looks. The pontiac brand was GMs overachiever child. In the south these are country boys Ferrari. All it needs is an touchscreen in dash with rearview camera and aftermarket wheels and tires and i little lowering and a garage to help it increase in value each year.
I was in the same boat as you when I was younger, I loved these! I've done a Kenwood headunit with wireless android auto and carplay, installed a backup camera, and rims/tires are on the to do list. For me the car only comes out on sunny days with no chance of rain lol
They were affordable but the more videos I see the more they’re going to go up in value
I think ppl are just asking too much
Glad you addressed the WS6 thing pretty quick. As soon as I saw it, it's easy to clock a non WS6 - the 16" wheels are a quick giveaway. Love fbodies :)
Anyone who really knows the car is going to figure that out really quick, I have nothing to hide and love it regardless!
@@RegsChannel Yessir - They're super fun cars!
Beautiful car. Ive always loved that model of Trans AM.
Thanks so much!
It's model plate since it's release in the 60s was Firebird, trim was Trans Am
im a 4th gen T/A fanatic for life.... and this is the first channel i subscribed to because he showed the car from the most beautiful angles....WITH THE TOPS OUT! this man is a trans am man for sure.
Haha!!! Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm glad my passion for the car shone through! Hats off to the @TFL team for the edits! I just saw they did a feature on a 95TA that they picked up.... I'd be game for a roadtrip and a shootout lol!
@@RegsChannel its crazy to compare our parents generation version to a classic to ours... i mean look at that T/A. this is a 20 year old car and its design is still eyeball sex til this day.
My last Trans Am looked identical to this one but was a true 1998 Ram Air WS6 LS1 6sp & my buddy had a '99 Firehawk T/A that was just bad ass! My first Pontiac back in 1981 was a '67 326 HO then an '83 Trans Am, Bandit T/A & an '85 Bandit II that I bought brand new! Smokey & the Bandit being filmed around my hometown area the summer of '76 is what made me a Trans Am fanatic! We only lived a few miles from Snowman's house in Jonesboro Georgia then we moved to Covington in 1977 & I was lucky enough to be on the square when Burt landed his plane to get beer in Cannonball Run 1981, I was standing with the folks moving out of the way as the plane turns around {RUclips video Cannonball Plane} & I was on the opposite side of the square in 1978 when they filmed the first episode of Dukes of Hazzard {RUclips video Dukes Of Hazzard : Chase From 1st Episode}, I was in front of Harper's Dime store {red store as the General slides onto the square} & that is my dad's '72 Plymouth Fury II parked in front that you see when they U turn!✌💖☮
Sounds like you've had an awesome collection! Very cool story!
Everyone with and F-body knows that if you want to stop the squeaks and rattles you need subframe connectors. This is especially imperative on t-top cars and convertibles.
On the list of eventual upgrades!
I've always preferred it's LS1 twin the Camaro SS but the WS6's style has grown on me over the 24 years now of this models existence. Now I just feel old.
The white Camaro SS with hugger orange stripes always had a soft spot in my heart! Not going to lie, I do feel a bit dated myself, but those sure were great times!
@@RegsChannel Yea, that's one of my dream cars. That's a 1997 LT1 SLP SS. Much rarer then a LS1 based SS because they weren't "official".
Maro is like 3x less now
the Firebird eats the Catfish for breakfast. nobody wants a maro
just lost my 2001 ws6 trans am with 46,000 miles from a guy who ran red light and totaled it. i’m lucky to be alive but i will miss that car forever.
Oh man that's a heartbreaker... Any plans for a replacement?
@@RegsChannel if i can work the salvaged title into the deal with the insurance company. i think the the engine and trans is salvageable so the dream would be to pull it all and put it into a late 70s or 80s trans am hopefully it works out.
@@ironpuppy2434 that would be a solid option. I know alot of guys are taking intact cars and simply parting them out knowing what they can get for parts will be worth more than selling the car whole. The sad reality of it being out of production for 20 years...
Loved the Trans Am. I was a huge fan of Knight Rider growing up 👍
Always loved these and why I have a 1999 30th anniversary WS6 Trans Am and a 2002 Camaro SS both 6 spd cars and t tops
Absolutely loved the blue on white color scheme of the 99's moreso than the 02 CETA model
I currently a 2001 red formula Firebird with 75k miles (Still has the LS1 350) . I love that car. not something I would ever want to drive everyday but on nice weekends I take the tops off and cruise. Newer cars may out run it but they definitely don't have the muscle car feel of the Pontiacs and they dont have the fun factor either plus I don't pass 5 other cars that look just like mine either unlike newer sports cars. I get a lot more compliments on my bird then I ever did when I had my 2016 Mustang GT. Thanks for the review.
Thanks so much! Yup mine typically only comes out on sunny days or for some weekend cruises, they have a unique look that can't be mistaken for anything else out there!
LS1 is. 346
I love this comment, bc to me, these cars are the quintessential muscle car. That really struck me when I was looking to get a car. I really wanted a Ws6, but test drove some 5th and 6th gen Camaros. The 'Maros were great cars, and faster than the Ws6, but when I finally found my Trans Am, it struck me how different it looked/drove/felt inside than the Camaros. It really feels like a muscle car, and I love that. I'm not sure how to describe it other than when you sit in one, it really does feel like the end of a long era, and in the Camaro it actually does feel like the start of a new chapter.
@@bradleylovej I couldn't have put it any better! Just a different creature all together
The 2001-2002 models had the LS6 block...pontiac totally underrated this cars power because GM always warned them to not outdo the corvette model after model. And how they were smart enough to create an air intake and hood to force air into the car was pure brilliance. The created a simple form of forced induction, the faster the car is going the faster air is forced into the intake. I would love to see a firebird formula v8 in the V6 model with the w68 OEM ground effects from the factory. I love the wide and muscular build of the ground effect package v6.
I have a 2000 TA and installed the W68 ground effects, they actually sit about 1/2" lower.
1995 5.7 without the T tops in a six speed and the upgraded suspension was a beast (it was essentially a WS-6 because in California at the time had to put a full dual exhaust to clear CARB). With BF Goodrich R-1 radials would pull over 1 g on a skidpad. Raced WS-6s all the time and always was just as fast. Unfortunately, cruise control does not work over 119 mph.
Nice! The LT1 aside from some minor issues was a stout powerplant at the time!
Proud owner of a black '97 T/A, non-WS6, hardtop, leather interior with lumbar, 4L60E (yeah, i know it's not a 6-speed), paid $4500 back in '16 and it was best thing I bought, never regretted it ever since, love it. Plus having some engine work already done to it (bigger mild cam and upgraded valvetrain) also helped seal the deal
Bang for the buck you can't go wrong there at all! Enjoy the ride!
But I know you wish you had the 98-02 body style. You got a hell of a deal on your Trans Am though. Anything under $10,000 is a steal for under 100,000 miles
I picked up a 1997 trans am WS6 6 speed with 85k miles for 8k. Front bumper needs paint, but otherwise it’s a very nice car. Still got the original window sticker and invoice too.
i just picked up a 99 for short money.... it needed some work but drivetrain was strong body was straight.....i know today its considered slow but that LS1 is a hell of a motor...fun times ahead.
The sky is the limit in terms of the aftermarket depending what you want to do... The LS1 has tons of options!
I used to own a red t-top 96 Trans Am, but sold in 2010. I was a great car. For the past few years I've been searching for a red 99-02 WS.6 t-top Trans Am. But I couldn't justify many of their high prices, so I decided to search for a red 98-02 W68 t-top Firebird...man did I find one. This past summer I bought a red 98 W68 t-top Firebird. The guy I bought it from had the car since around 2001, drove it only on nice summer days and kept it in a climate controlled garage for all these years.
The car has just under 88,000 miles, no rust, gray leather seats, chrome rims and is all orginal. Does it have the the LS1? No, but I can't complain how clean and well maintained this 3800 series ll engine is. Decent rumble when in idle.
I used to have a 95 with the 3.4l. the 3.8 was a very stout and reliable motor for a V6 at the time. Enjoy the car, sounds like a beauty!
The muscle car lives!!! The Trans am is my favorite I have a 01 trans am ws6 in midnight blue!!!
I still remember the commercial of a TA "eating" another car at a stoplight, priceless!
96 trans am ws6 t/a 6 speed 383 stroker. Keep the LT1 alive!
Owned a 1998 Trans Am A4 and 2000 Z28 M6. Best bang for buck ever.
It's the same engine as a comparable Vette. The 305HP rating was a joke.
I preferred the Pro 5.0 shifter. Put a huge stereo in the Trans Am...waste of money.
I totally agree, this is a beautiful car and it will put a smile on your face. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated!
Clean car. I have a set of the correct OEM 17" WS6 wheels sitting in the garage if you're interested in buying them to complete your OEM WS6 Ram Air conversion.
Hey there! I have been debating that as this season I am going to need some new rubber. .. feel free to pop on over to my channel and DM me, we can chat.
Are they the speedline or sportline wheels? I may be interested.
Being from Manitoba, he would be able to take the t-tops off maybe 3, 4 times a year.
We are a hearty folk up here lol! With my old 95 I had them off into October and then again in March/April! With this one it's strictly summer only!
I love taking corners with this car it slips into position ready to take off
Wow this guy is a serious natural on camera very good angles and seems super comfortable. Awesome car man thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the kind words! Had a great time putting this together!
My dad's 2002 firebird had a blown head gasket and he sold it 😭 We went everywhere in that car. Long road trips to the doctor or vacation. He let me use it in college. I loved that car. Super comfortable inside. Rode so smoothly. Pretty fast too, I sped up so fast when in a hurry for college. I miss it. I am going to get one for myself some day.
I daily a m6 LS1 T/A (2000) and its my first ever car. I LOVE THE TRANS AM GOD BLESS PONTIAC RAHHHHH
I have always loved the Pontiac Trans Am, the WS6 was one of my dream cars when I was younger, so loving the hood on here. Really cool car, hope you enjoy it for many years
Thank you so much! I'm going to hang onto this one for as long as I can!
This has been my dream car since it was new and I was 10 and saw one on a car lot while car shopping with my dad. He got a Sunfire, which is much less cool...
I remember when I was 17 going to a dealership with my dad to look at a firebird, and the salesman tried to sell us on a Sunfire, needless to say we passed and we kept saving until about a year later when I was able to get my 95 with the V6. That was in 2000...
My dad test drove 1 in 02. He said it was the craziest car ever drove.
I have bought my 1999 TODAY/ finally!!!!. next summer 2023 will be the best
That is awesome!!! Congrats, and enjoy the ride!
I have a '01 TA WS6 and I still love driving it. It is red with black leather, t-tops and a 6spd with the factory hurts short shifter.
Sounds like a beauty!
I’ve got a 95 z28 and I absolutely love it
Nice!
Thanks for the video! I've owned fourth gen Firebirds for 23 years. I currently have 4, daily drive one, and absolutely love these cars.
That's awesome, one day I hope to add a Firehawk to the collection!
@@RegsChannel I would love one also.
Just sold my 98 firebird formula sport gold metallic. I must say I regret it now. Beautiful trans am BTW
Thanks so much!
My friends dad had a fire red WS6 that I used to drool over...when his dad gave it to him he just about crapped his pants.
Similar story here, had a buddy who's brother had a red one as well, was a beauty!
Love my father’s 98 WS6!
The last refresh of the 4th gen before they ceased production, iconic look!
I have a 78 bandit trans am and the heritage is evident in this car. The styling elements are all still there.
I couldn't agree more!
As someone who grew up in the middle of nowhere Minnesota, Alexandria is THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE MINNESOTA.
Reminded me of growing up rurally in Manitoba. It has its charm!
This was my first car. Black on black 02 WS6. Mine had a 4 speed auto though, but it sort of suited the car's character. The thing was simply explosive in a straight line, definitely one of the top muscle cars of it's era.
One of the sexiest cars GM built
Why would you ever even turn on the radio when you have a V-8 to listen to?
Oh trust me, the LS1 gets to sing every now and then!
I have SLP loudmouth on my birds, and I honestly haven't turned on the radio in years.
Loved my T/A's, had an '88 GTA, 94 GT, 95 and 97. Always loved the look of the '98+ ram air.
Nice!
This has been my dream car since I was a little kid. Great video!
Thanks!
I was in my first year of college in ‘00 I absolutely loved this car. Wonderful video
Thanks so much!
Proud owner of a 1997 ws6 is my lifetime keeper
That's awesome! Yup mine is not going anywhere
Gosh I love the sound of those cars!
Agreed! That LS1 sounds oh so good!
My favorite Pontiac is the GTO “The Judge”
A true classic!
nice review from my hometown, I worked for GM Canada in the 90's and was a great place to be lots happening and some really cool cars were being built and sold and this was one that held its own on the road, there was were very few other cars available that had the hp available stock that this had for the price you paid and any 2 door sports car or touring sedan of this era all had the big door problems with a rattle or a shake , I test drove every model sold on the market in Canada that was a 2 door, sure some were better in some ways, not drastically, sure they were maybe a bit more finished or materials were fancier, they were also more than double the purchase price, many didn't have steering wheel controls and they didn't perform twice as good and cost a week or 2 pay check to maintain or fix, these were decently reliable cars and got what you paid for ,hp and fun smiles per mile and got reasonable economy for what they were a sports car , i had a few Volvo 2DR Coupes of the day and believe me those doors were as big and as heavy, they did not have the performance or the smiles per mile , great video 👍
Thanks so much for the kind words! Sounds like an amazing job! Agreed! Stock for stock, these typically had the edge on the Mustangs of the era, as well as everything else in that bracket. In terms of maintenance you nailed it on replacement part costs, still even today is very reasonable, you just need to decide, do you replace something with an OEM part, or a performance equivalent. The sky is the limit!
I have a 98 WS6 Convertible..minimal modifications and I'm running a consistent 12.8 to 13.1 in the 1/4
That is awesome! Super fun cars out of the box
I got one......40,000 miles on new GM LS1 that I bought from Pace Performance back in the day...Got 400,000 on orginal LS1...Basic mods with off road Y pipe, Eaton True Trac rear end, no cats, electronic cut out, custom tune for 93 octane and the other mods...Factory rear rims widened to 11 inches with 315/35/17's...Sub frame connectors BMR Torque arm and tower brace, BMR lowering springs.l They run ALOT better with these bolt ons...Next will be some drag radials..The True Trac really does trac true....The car stays straight and lays down the twin black marks without much need for correction..Runs and drives well for a now antique vehicle....😎
Sounds like an awesome ride! Thanks for sharing
A high school friend of mine bout a 97 z28 six speed brand new back in the day
Still couldn't beat my old 68 383 coronet
Ha the LT1 was solid, but the LS1 was a game changer for GM!
I had a 93 firebird as my first car worked all year to buy that car. It started having issues so I sold it a few years later. I miss that car. Want to get a ws6 next
Get em while you still can! They are becoming a rarer beast as time goes on!
this car was the holy grail for me in high school
I was always a fan!
Love both my 2001 Z28's. They both have been super reliable. The cargo area is just fine. Both are head and cam cars, built transmissions. One did get a 6.0 after getting flooded in Harvey a few years ago but solid cars.
Love the 98+ z28's personally! Next stop for me will likely be headers and exhaust... I've always liked the idea of going with a Procharger setup but for the cost it seems like a turbo setup might be a more economical way to go..
They are pretty cool cars!
yea i love those trans ams, always have
I owned a Arctic White 2001 Firebird Formula, HT (pretty rare I believe). Bought it in 2014, and sold before I left the states in 2017, still miss it.
I have a '96 Ram Air T/A, 6 speed, t-tops
Nice! Beautiful car!
I like this car. RWD rules!
Agreed lol!
I hate that these are suddenly popular again. It's making the values skyrocket. I've been looking for a clean, low miles, 1997, MN6, slicktop WS6 for a while and every time I find one, it's way too expensive. Really regret getting rid of mine back in 2002. Mine was black and always got attention when I pulled into a car show. The 1.6 rockers and Borla exhaust made it sound super sexy.
I told my wife specifically, this car isn't going anywhere :)😂
Awesome cars. Hard to find any for sale in Australia. Be good to import here. We have the 25 year old rule which means we register the car as a classic (cheap rego) and don't need to convert the steering wheel to right hand.
You totally got the spirit of this car. Build quality was certainly not their strength but they were also incredibly affordable, even new. Built for some real fun, not meaningless Nürburgring lap times...
Thanks so much! I couldn't agree more. Honestly,with the T tops off the rattles pretty much disappear on the smiles begin!
I love those Pontiacs.
My dream car
Love my 2000 ws6
Hats off to that!
I have a real 02 WS6 in pewter metallic with less than 50k miles and it's hands down the single greatest thing I've ever owned. show me a more beautiful car made in the last 25 years and I'll eat my hat. there is no comparison.
Love it! I couldn't agree more!
Fyi trans am ws6 cars, specifically 1998-2002 almost everything about the car is the same as a regular trans am/formula. The sway bars were beefier, ram air hood and air intake box, and 17" wheels were the only difference on 98+ ws6 cars. The Shocks, springs, and brakes exact same. Now the earlier ws6 up to 97 did have more suspension changes, but along with the addition of the ls1 in 98 the suspension was reworked and besides sway bars was left unchanged on ws6 cars from 98-02. I've owned 7 4th gens and currently own a 1998.
Nice! I agree that the packages were somewhat similar, I'm hunting for a set of 17" rims to complete the escalation of commitment lol!
The exhaust was better on the WS’6 it’s included with the package
Talking to you now on Facebook, but I could not agree more with the styling, and overall feel of the car. Personally, they just do not make cars like this anymore. Granted, as you mentioned, you get some of the squeaks in the road noise, etc. which is to be expected from a 20-year-old car but it handles like a dream, and with simple driveway modifications, you can stiffen the chassis up and it’ll handle that much better. Very clean you’ve got there, and awesome videos.
New subscriber for sure!
Thanks for the kind words! Was a pleasure chatting with you, you got one right back lol!
Lets get the record straight folks the only dy between the 4th gen ws6 and base trans am is it the ram air hood with raised air box and stiffer progressive springs. The sway bar brakes and shocks are same. Camaro or trans am with the slp package had to hd 1le bigger saway bars be and Bilstein shocks. The horse power difference between the fbody and the Corvette comes from the tune and on thebair box on the f body there is that funky sir silencer on connected ro the box which impedes air flow. The horse power is closer to 350 not 305. And with longtube header and a nice cam your close to 390 hp ive kept up or beaten 5th gen camaros and newer mustangs u have to remember these 4 th gen are lighter than the newer piny cars
Toss a rowdy cam in that LS1 and you won't have to worry about sound dampening.
All in due time!
Feels like I’m watching a TFL audition 😄 great video though!
I'm a huge fan of the guys and their channels! Always up for another collab :)
That is a hot lookin' Trans Am my northern friend! I grew up with that as well and congrats! Good find and nice mods!
Thanks so much! Appreciate the kind words!
Love your trans am,especially the color.I am a huge Knight Rider fan and love the 3rd hen Trans am's.But this is beautiful too.
Thanks so much for the kind words, much appreciated! I was also a Knight Rider fan as a kid and this just felt right!
1975 is my fave, along with the near identical 1974 model. I could do without the screamin' chicken hood decal, but I guess that's part of the appeal of that era. This featured model looks really brawny, no doubt due to bulbous hood scoops.
If you want to reduce the rattles, consider installing a strut tower brace and subframe connectors.
Those are actually on my radar! Was going to start with the STB and see how big a difference it makes before moving on to subframe connectors. Thanks!
@@RegsChannel I have them both. The subframe connectors help the most, but it all adds up. Check out Founders performance for reasonable price parts.
@@michaelm3381 thanks for the tip, will do!
@@michaelm3381 I second the suggestion for founders performance, got my strut tower brace, adjustable panhard bar, weld in subframe connectors, and koni adjustable shocks from there. Money well spent.
These cars aren’t affordable anymore they were 10 years ago
Facts, Ihate it when i see poeple saying they’re affordable because they’re not anymorenbut i love them
@@maxence8337 right it’s usually someone who has money that’s says they’re affordable.
to be honest they are still more affordable than most of the cars that car guys collect.. the prices are going up yes but they're nowhere near crazy yet
they’re going for nearly 40k here in canada. same price or higher than a much younger Camaro SS.
@@immortal4942no where near 40k, there's a 2002 wS6 Firehawk with 35,000 miles for sale in NS for $29,000
Great video! I SO miss my 1989 triple black TA with the 5.7 - it was not the GTA either, it was the GT special-order with the 5.7. Never should've sold that car! But now (someday) I have to add a 2000+ TA WS6 to my garage!
Thanks for the kind words! It was a great experience putting this together! Sounds like you had a sweet 3rd Gen!
Not much affordable now for an Ls1 4th Gen Trans Am. I paid 6k for my 98 back in 2015, I'm the second owner. My same car is going for almost double what I paid. My car was all original when I bought it. I still have all of the stock parts but I upgraded my entire suspension, have weld in subframe connectors, and upgraded all of the factory lightning with led lighting and projector headlights. Not to mention full exhaust and bolt ons.
Great cars for the most part but they have already hit their depreciation rut and are honestly going up in value. I got lucky when I bought mine.
For sure sounds like you got in at a good time, here there has been a huge jump in price (I wouldn't necessarily call it value)
@@RegsChannel I miss the days when you could also pick up a clean G body for under 2k. Now a beat up one goes for double that. ☹️
@@FWDSUXARSE true, my first car was a Monte Carlo often thought it would be fun to fix one up, very simple cars by today's standards but not so feasible any more
@@RegsChannel Mine was a Cutlass Supreme Coupe. Really want a Regal to LS swap but with the price on a clean roller being over 5k now I might wait.
Those days factory audio was awful. Building a sound system was just part of the build.
My first new car I bought was a 78 Firebird. I loved the second gen. The 3rd gen were the worst. The last ones were pretty bad ass but I hope the build quality was better than mine
My biggest challenge in terms of build quality was always the squeaks and rattles inherent to this generation of vehicles. It was quickly forgiven with the t tops off and the sound of the LS1 making them disappear!
The 4th gen Trans Ams were awesome. I miss my ‘94. 6-speed, T tops, 5.7 LT1 engine… the car flew
They are a blast to drive, every time I do see one on the road, they always make me smile!
My left ear really enjoyed this
Affordable no more. They're going up in price like crazy!
I wonder if it's the cars legitimately increasing in value or factors related to the pandemic pushing up the prices. Guess we will find out. The upside is even with a roller chassis you have so much flexibility in terms of what you can do with these cars. 5.3 or 6l truck motors will basically drop right Into them and can make some great power with the right mods
Detailed those when I was a lot younger at a Pontiac dealership my favorite was the firehawk it was a numbered one so I guess it was limited production,only saw one and it was black a very hard color to keep scratches from showing in the sun.
Yes those were absolute beauties if you can still find one in great shape, the pinnacle of these cars for sure.
Winnipeg MB 🇨🇦🤘😎🤘
I want this car!
Thanks!
Classic beauty
Agreed!
I loved the early 2000s Pontiac line up. It’s a shame the dissolved Pontiac they had some great sporty cars. I personally had a Grand Prix 2 dr and loved it
I'll never forget when I had my V6 firebird, I was "humbled" by a Grand Prix GTP. The 3.8 was solid for itself at the time, coupled with a supercharger... Just wow! It was a shame that Pontiac wasn't able to weather the storm.
@@RegsChannel I think GM should bring back the Pontiac name and do what Stellantis has done with the Dodge name and make it a performance line
They are not affordable. The LS1 cars are the expensive ones and the LT1 cars are catching up with LS1 prices.
The market as a whole has not been kind the past 2 years, they are going up in price yes, but decent examples are still out there if you know where to look for relatively affordable prices.
Knock out the inner baffle on the RamAir hood intake
Not affordable anymore....prices are getting crazy for worn out rust buckets
"for a 2-door car, the doors are absolutely gigantic" 😒 They're typical for a coupe.
Why so many "for what it is" type of remarks. That's belittling. Like saying, "She's pretty...for this town." "He's smart...for this town."
Hey there, my comments in the video were intended as a retrospective compared to driving modern sports cars today and comparing it to this. Think of it like looking at fashion from the 90's compared to today, through the lens of time sure some of that stuff is a little silly by today's standards but there were redeeming qualities for other things. It's all about perspective my friend.
Dam I feel old after watching this 😂
Eyy! I have the same year with ws6 pack from factory. The difference is my rims are black, and it has 53k miles on it.
Nice! I am sitting at just over 43k miles.
@@RegsChannel really? That's great. Better keep our cars stock.
@@Sno3Bird I will never get rid of any of my stock parts when I do aftermarket upgrades, just in case!