A couple guys on another car channel were having a behind the scenes type chat about what a great business model these car giveaways are, and I know of at least half a dozen on channels of various sizes, just among my own subscriptions. I'm starting to think that if I entered enough of them for maybe 5-600 bucks, I could probably have a pretty nice car by the end of next year. Flip that, throw half the profit into entering as many of these as that would pay for, rinse and repeat for the life of the trend. I wonder what the real numbers are on that (lousy I'm sure). I'm just thinking aloud here, not really a commentary on the trend. I did enjoy the video!
See I would love to own a 2000's muscle car especially one that's not a tang or vette or a maro I absolutely love Pontiac's and it's very sad that they aren't around anymore I've been looking for a Saturn or Pontiac for my first car but I gotta work on getting the money for it and I wish I could have an attempt at winning this but I don't have money right now to throw at it ik that your not asking for much but the point is even if I had the chance I probably wouldn't get it anyways....
Watching the first minute of this video you guys already drove the car harder than I did, the hardest drive it got from me was to local cars and coffee shows. Gonna miss this car, but glad it went to you guys! Side note, I didn’t do that k&n, I only put on the SLP cat back
@Jimmy Two Times nope, car before me was a woman’s daily driver for 9 years. The car never saw snow, hardly saw rain and only got driven to local shows. Never raced or beaten on. The car also has the original paper work form the dealer like the build sheet and dealer price sheet, really a collectors example.
Bought a 2001 Trans-Am (non- WS6) is 2004. Had 18k miles at the time. Only mod I did was Borla catback exhaust. She was my everyday, all weather drive until 2015 when I literally parked her in the driveway and threw on a cover. Mechanically sound, cosmetically good but aging as expected. Had 98k miles. Thought she would become my project car. Life got in the way for the next six years and she sat. Last year I finally had the means to get her back on the road. Took the cover off, turned the key just to see what would happen, and she started right up as if she had only been parked overnight. The LS1 is a beast. Cost about $8k to get the rest of her road worthy and over the next six months another $3k as she proceeded to show me just how scorned she felt. A year later she purrs like a kitten and it feels like 2004 all over again like it was when we met for the first time. Yes, the Trans-Am is happiness.
Dude, I feel for you...spent almost the same amount (well about half really 7.5k) on my 94 RX-7 in a 2 year period. I advise NO ONE to buy an FD RX-7 regardless of how fun, rare, ans simply beautiful they are. It will end in heart break, trust me! Wish I had bought a C6 Corvette instead.
You trying to tell me it sat completely untouched for 6 years and it just fired right up? I gotta call BS…batteries don’t work that way. Did you just leave out the jumpstart you inevitably had to do for dramatic effect?
I enjoyed the intro concept where Roman attempts to give a longform video essay on automotive history while Mr. Regular goes full imp mode on the throttle in the background. Add in random brake checks and high speed U-turns and I think you have a solid video format. Looking forward to _Roman Explains Renault: Live from the Monte Carlo Rally_
It’s too bad people part them and the fourth gen Camaros out for their drive trains because they don’t like the way they look. Because I don’t like the way I🤦🏻♂️
They really are. Sold my built fourth gen to get a current ZLE and while it's better and more capable in every way the fourth gen was just more "fun". Seriously miss the t-tops every time I drive too.
This is so true. As soon as I drove one it immediately struck me, "Oh, this is a muscle car." It just feels raw, and unrefined, yet does have a little bit of technology. Fuel injection, handles better than an original pony/muscle car. It really does feel like the natural progression or evolution of those old pony cars. I really love the level of technology in them-mine doesn't even beep at me when I don't wear my seatbelt. It just has a little light that goes out after a few seconds and comes back on periodically. The Trans Am is like, "I guess he didn't want to wear his seatbelt, I'll check back in a while." Which is such a Trans Am response. "No seatbelt? Ahhh, it'll be fine. Now push that gas peddle in a little more." lol
Had a black '99 Camaro with the 5.7L. Really did bring me joy every drive. I didn't know what feeling intoxicated by torque was until I got that car. Goosing the throttle in second gear from low RPMs was simply grin inducing. There are plenty of faster cars but not too many that pull from the bottom like that.
RCR hits it out of the park. Again. The car, the review, the humor, the nostalgia, the psychological introspection and study of the zeitgeist of the car and the times it was made. Then you throw in Kim Mitchel and "Go for a soda" and it's 1986 and I'm driving my 73 Z/28 with my girlfreind on a warm spring night and the world makes sense again. You made made my day. Thanks.
Watching Mr.Regular “presenting” in front of a camera I realize what a long way we came from the beginnings & that he definitely should do this more often. You’re a presentable presenter Mr.Regular. So glad I’m an internet user in the same era as you
These cars were (are?) cult legends. Way back when, I had a 1998 WS6 T/A in black with a 6-speed manual. It wasn't put together very well but it drew attention everywhere I went. On one Halloween night as I rolled through a parking lot, I heard somebody nearby say, "Holy shit, it's the Batmobile!" My dad bought a red WS6 the same year, and he still has his...with all 15,000 miles on it.
Only 15,000 miles!?!? Kindly request that he get out and enjoy driving it! To each their own, though. If he gets more joy from it being a garage queen with low miles, then all the power to him.
@@rjkStudios Keeping an ugly-cool Camaro garaged for posterity is just stupid and a waste of a fun car, and that's a fact. I'll judge the hell out of that.
@@yamahaguy1732 Hahaha, same. People love this car. But the people I get the most attention from? Women my mom's age lolol. They're always like, is that a Trans Am?! I went to high school prom in a Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am. But seriously, young dudes, old dudes, teenagers, people of all ages like this model. OP is right about the cult cool status.
I had not heard go for soda in years until a day ago when riding my 87 fiero it came up in my Spotify.... Now you reference it in this video for another Pontiac product. The Stars have aligned. Love your content and humor.
First heard that tune in Trailer Park Boys. It totally makes sense, I guess today I'll rip my T-tops off my Formula and get her going on the mitchell around town!
@@RegularCars Being Canadian, I have a soft spot for Kim Mitchell. If you're looking for more, give "A Million Vacations" a try by Max Webster (Kim Mitchel's former band). Also, Rockland Wonderland, Patio Lanterns, I Am A Wild Party, etc. Kim Mitchell is truly the musical version of this car - it's meant to make you happy, like the feeling you get with friends on a Saturday night at the local bar with a solid live band. It's just fun, and not to be taken too seriously.
98-02 Firebirds are my absolute favorite cars. They're so damn unique and aggressive looking. I own an all stock red 98, W68 Y87 Firebird that has chrome rims and a gray leather interior. The car gets so much attention and in my area Firebirds are not common at all, so when she's on the road, she gets a lot of admiration. One of the things I got a kick out of back in the late 90's/early 2000's was how every other person was putting ram air scoops on their cars and or trucks. My high school parking lot was full of modified hoods on nearly every make and model of vehicles, that resembled the Trans Am's ram air hood. 😄 I enjoy your wit on your videos. You're very clever and creative. I get some good laughs from your jokes, comparisons and analogies.
I have a 2002 WS6 convertible. You have summed it up perfectly!!! Dropping the top, cranking the classic rock tunes and mashing the gas pedal to the floor on the highway while the LS roars, the wind blows and the music blares is 100% pure joy and happiness!
I miss these days. Early 2010s seemed like the natural progression of the 90s, and the early-mid 2000s was my adolescent and early college years. I'm now old enough to reminisce about whatever was 20 years ago.
Also nothing really sums up life like falling in love with the Corvette, fiending after it, and then coming to accept the Firebird. And not only accepting it, but being truly happy with it. Telling yourself it's "actually better if you think about it" in some way or another even if it really isn't. I just made myself sad lol.
@@louiearmstrong c5 corvette is so good it's wild. The best looking corvette to my eyes. Cheap, easy to fix, reliable anyway, very tunable, and as our host pointed out you can even get 30 mpg on the highway (or more if you baby it). The c4 was a big disappointment to me, and the c6 was ok, but c7 especially leaves me cold. The c8 looks like an electric shaver even if I'm sure it's fantastic. But as a family man I can't buy any two door two seaters for a while. If I could though I'd be hunting for a clean c5 or a 370z like I had until recently.
"Firebirds, energy weapons Both of these things are interesting to me I don't care how you get them I need them both and I need them urgently" - Neil Fallon of Clutch
My '99 base Trans Am does daily duty, all I needed was to swap out the radio for modern a infotainment system. It feels like a classic car while providing modern car dependability, all while being fun to drive.
The performance value of these was unreal. They should have sold well enough to keep Pontiac around. I liked the look too. I didn't know the nostrils were not that great. I lived in Germany in the 2000s. I mostly saw these in the hands of American junior officers stationed there. I wanted one, but none of them ever put one up for sale.
The trans Am we're really expensive compared to the mustangs, granted they were more of a luxury vehicle and even produced more horsepower, that you would pay a premium to own one, it was cheaper to buy a mustang and just add boltons and you could outrun one of these. The sales dropped that's the reason they stopped making them,
When I was in college, and still living at home, there was a bunch of town houses across the street from me. There was a guy who lived in one who had one of these in black. At the time I was 18-19 years old, and I thought that was the coolest car ever. You couldn't convince me otherwise at the time. It's a damn shame GM axed Pontiac.
I know its strange but this is one of my top dream cars, everything I want in one package, V8, rear wheel drive, T tops, 6 speed manual transmission and pop-up up and down headlights!!
I've had a few F-Bodies... 2000 Camaro 2000 Z28 1999 Trans Am (years later) 1999 Camaro SS. Not an F-body, but I also had a 2011 Camaro. None of those cars stayed with me the way the TA did. The Trans AM was far and away my favorite one. Drove it to the Outer Banks on my honeymoon. As dusk was approaching, I was driving through Nags' Head, and turned the headlights on. A kid took notice, pointed it out to his dad "wow, that was cool!" It was the only car that I had that had chrome wheels. I don't like Chrome wheels, but it looked good on that car. Absolutely loved this review. Thanks Mr. Regular.
Back in 2002, my best friend's Dad would pick us up from elementary school in his silver, always freshly waxed WS6. I hated crawling into the cramped back seat and the car reeked of cigarette smoke. My friend's parents were going through a nasty divorce at the time. I never liked or understood the car back then, but in retrospect the car fit the situation perfectly. Now I kinda want one.
I always loved the tail light design on this car. The 4th gen TransAm was so much better looking than the Camaro. I was a huge fan when Pontiac had the 1998 Purple colour. Somewhere packed away, I have the 1998 Firebird / TransAm brochure from the local dealership - the best I could do when my parents were buying a 1998 Grand Am instead of the Trans Am. :p
I own 2000 ws6, hurst shifter, articulating bucket seats and the 10 disc changer. Waited 9 months when I ordered it. Has 45,000 miles, never seen snow and three times in the rain. Love the car. Still drives like I left the dealership. Only upgrades are SLP bolt on subframe connectors, hotchkis strut tower brace, flow master cat back exhaust and a k&n air filter. I still have the original exhaust in my basement.
A boss I had at a cabinet shop in around 2004-5 had one of these in black. It was a stick like this one, 2001 model and all, and was just absurdly quick, borderline scary for a completely factory car. Well, almost, it had a cool air intake, headers, exhaust, and some computer tweaks. Great, GREAT car.
Love these types of cars..90s and early-mid 2000s seem like the MOST regular cars to me. As cool as the varied types of reviews RCR does have been, THESE types of cars are the ones I love the most.
Bought a pewter 2000 WS6 with Hurst 6 speed. Sold three years later with 9k miles as my daughter was on the way. Looking to replace it.. the car not the daughter. First T/A I bought was an '85 purchased in '86. Second was a '76 I restored factory appearing with upgrades to the 400. Love and missing Pontiac. Thanks for the memories.
Didn’t they do this already? I love that Regular speaks on camera the same way he does in voiceover. The fuss about the filter had me cracking up.😂 Another great review!
I used to sell these when I was in my 20s. Some of the best test drives ever. Nothing better than fishtailing around a corner and climbing effortlessly to 135 in 5th gear to show what this gem could do!
This review reminds me so much of my 2001 Mustang Roush Stage 2. It’s not supercharged, it’s not a late model 5.0, so the expectation of it to be this world beater isn’t there. But it is fun, and nothing takes me back to high school faster than it.
I almost teared up watching this review. I had a 25th anniversary with the LT one, I took my four-year-old son for joy rides, he loves the Chi tops down and the wind in his hair. He is 11 years old now and he still talks about it to this day as if I was just driving around in it. I had to sell it when times got tough after the military (yes I was a douche bag). It was my second car ever owned, and I think of it often
A friend of a friend had a WS6 around 2008 that only had an exhaust, a cam, and a 28" tire. He ran low 11s in the quarter mile. Thing was so cheap to buy and make fast back then
@@bwofficial1776 Yeah they definitely can, they just don't make the top end power generally. I wasn't used to having a V8 pull at the higher end coming from my IS500 now, having a V8 with top end is actually a lot of fun
the late 4th gen firebird/ transam is by far my favorite car, I have been wanting one since I was a kid. Even now in my 30's i dream of owning one and sometime next year I hope to finally have mine.
Man i am loving these reviews and im impressed you keep getting funky and interesting cars to give away. All desirable and fun! Like im not a big muscle car guy but always thought these where funky and i do appreciate them, even more now! Just a big angry American s2000 right? Sorta? Haha
GM didn't nerf the LS1 on F bodies. People dyno them with 308-318 to the wheels. A simple intake, headers, cat back exhaust and tune will get you 350 hp and 350 tq to the wheels. They're the most responsive to mods, way more power per dollar spent than a thing else.
I mean, the small-block Chevy is probably the most used engine in performance and sports. I've seen them in BMW's, Land Cruisers, Racing boats, and even planes.
Also- @3:17 you mentioned the power. In fact all LS1s regardless of car made the same HP. GM deliberately underrated the F-body models to drive trim level sales and to protect the image of the Corvette C5. Put a stock LS1 F-body on a dyno and you’ll get ~ 345 at the crank just like a same year Corvette.
I bought an 02 Trans Am convertible (not WS6 sadly) in September 2022 and I found it hard to not agree with everything you said in this video. As a kid my parents had a Grand Am so when I had a chance to buy the Trans Am I took it. The nostalgic feel of the interior, and the loud V8 make it so much fun. I didn’t buy it to show off, but to enjoy it. The Grand Am my parents had wasn't great by any means, but I had fond childhood memories of that car. A car from a different era, and a more simple time. The Trans Am is like a time capsule for me. I often find myself playing classic rock while Im cruising in it, with Kenny Logins' Danger Zone blasting, all while Im gunning it from a stop sign or stop light so the tires can scream and the V8 can roar.
2001 😂😂😂 I remember a girl literally telling me on a hay ride on 10/30/01 at 13 that her dad's friend just bought one of these and it could do 75 in second gear. Wound up meeting the guy last year -20 years later and he confirmed lol
I bought a ‘98 trans am with light engine mods, exhaust system, aftermarket radio speakers n sub port, rims, tints,ls6 brakes 118k miles for $8k back in may and it’s no doubt the best car I’ve ever owned. Every time I drive this car around the city or just going to work makes me feel like a total badass as I fly past most production cars and catch lights at last second. It’s sad knowing this beast of a car got stopped being made then years later lost Pontiac entirely. You got a sub from me this review was well presented and hilarious 😂 keep it up man great job
To much Govt. regulation in the car industry. I'm not some Randian worshiper, but for Christsake all the manditory bumpers, specs, backup cams, ad infinum... has made cars LESS aerodynamic and heavier, ergo less MPG. And uglier to boot!
@@drownthepoor Yes, your right. American Blue Collar workers should all be living on 20 Grand a year. It would help make the US economy even better. Blaming trade unions is a tired old trope.
@@seththomas9105 the unions did a great job preserving the auto workers then right? I've known people who were union who couldn't even do the trade proficiently. They were paid and had same benefits as the workers but their job was to go and sabotage non union worksites. They would remove nuts and pins in such a way that when work resumed there would be an accident. I also know people who make good salaries working in unions. But in the auto Union it didn't work out to their advantage.
"And a performitably angry aesthetic. Like a guy who discovered the gym after getting his heart broken." Why am I that basic? Awesome content as always guys. Keep up the good work!
Every car or motorcycle person who’s ever bought and installed a K&N filter knows EXACTLY what happened to Mr Regular!!! 🤣 I want this car SO bad. This was my absolute favorite Firebird. It reminds me of the 1989 Batmobile. Positively gorgeous. … and I don’t care how big a redneck that makes me. Yes, I bought a mug. Pick me, please. Pick me, pick me, pick me. Love you guys (even when I don’t win). ❤❤❤
Welcome back, The Roman! I know The Roman is his own man and doin' his own thing, just like Robin (Nightwing) no longer needs Batman, but still .... Batman is better with Robin. It's always nice to see The Roman and Mr. Regular driving' along in this week's Regularmobile and even better to hear the song at the end. Thank you!
Get Entered to WIN this WS6 Trans Am!
link.whynotyougear.com/RCR
DEADLINE to ENTER is October 26th @ 11:59pm (PST).
A couple guys on another car channel were having a behind the scenes type chat about what a great business model these car giveaways are, and I know of at least half a dozen on channels of various sizes, just among my own subscriptions. I'm starting to think that if I entered enough of them for maybe 5-600 bucks, I could probably have a pretty nice car by the end of next year. Flip that, throw half the profit into entering as many of these as that would pay for, rinse and repeat for the life of the trend. I wonder what the real numbers are on that (lousy I'm sure). I'm just thinking aloud here, not really a commentary on the trend. I did enjoy the video!
See I would love to own a 2000's muscle car especially one that's not a tang or vette or a maro I absolutely love Pontiac's and it's very sad that they aren't around anymore I've been looking for a Saturn or Pontiac for my first car but I gotta work on getting the money for it and I wish I could have an attempt at winning this but I don't have money right now to throw at it ik that your not asking for much but the point is even if I had the chance I probably wouldn't get it anyways....
I’ve always loved these cars, especially with the stick , T- Tops and backseat for friends !
I’ve always loved these cars, especially with the stick , T- Tops and backseat for friends !
Do you guys both take it up the chuff?
This car is so badass they reviewed it twice
As a late 80s millenial, this car was as cool in 2001 as the Smokey And The Bandit Trans Am was in '77
I mean this one is also for a giveaway so I feel like it’s warranted for a second review lmao
And the first one was lightly molested.
@@ic1815 Plus the first one was a test mule for Pypes Performance Exhaust and had a _TON_ of stuff done to it.
@@louiearmstrong Yep. Same here. Born in 87' in New Orleans
Watching the first minute of this video you guys already drove the car harder than I did, the hardest drive it got from me was to local cars and coffee shows. Gonna miss this car, but glad it went to you guys! Side note, I didn’t do that k&n, I only put on the SLP cat back
thanks for keeping it so clean!
Cool to see the history of it
Great video thanks
@Jimmy Two Times nope, car before me was a woman’s daily driver for 9 years. The car never saw snow, hardly saw rain and only got driven to local shows. Never raced or beaten on. The car also has the original paper work form the dealer like the build sheet and dealer price sheet, really a collectors example.
@Jimmy Two Times FYI, you don't have to buy anything to enter!
Bought a 2001 Trans-Am (non- WS6) is 2004. Had 18k miles at the time. Only mod I did was Borla catback exhaust. She was my everyday, all weather drive until 2015 when I literally parked her in the driveway and threw on a cover. Mechanically sound, cosmetically good but aging as expected. Had 98k miles. Thought she would become my project car. Life got in the way for the next six years and she sat. Last year I finally had the means to get her back on the road. Took the cover off, turned the key just to see what would happen, and she started right up as if she had only been parked overnight. The LS1 is a beast. Cost about $8k to get the rest of her road worthy and over the next six months another $3k as she proceeded to show me just how scorned she felt. A year later she purrs like a kitten and it feels like 2004 all over again like it was when we met for the first time. Yes, the Trans-Am is happiness.
What did you have to do to it? 11k is a lot.
I have a 98 non WS6 Trans Am and I love it.
This is amazing, and I love it. As a person who has bonded with his own Trans Am, this is wholesome content
Dude, I feel for you...spent almost the same amount (well about half really 7.5k) on my 94 RX-7 in a 2 year period. I advise NO ONE to buy an FD RX-7 regardless of how fun, rare, ans simply beautiful they are. It will end in heart break, trust me! Wish I had bought a C6 Corvette instead.
You trying to tell me it sat completely untouched for 6 years and it just fired right up? I gotta call BS…batteries don’t work that way. Did you just leave out the jumpstart you inevitably had to do for dramatic effect?
I enjoyed the intro concept where Roman attempts to give a longform video essay on automotive history while Mr. Regular goes full imp mode on the throttle in the background. Add in random brake checks and high speed U-turns and I think you have a solid video format.
Looking forward to _Roman Explains Renault: Live from the Monte Carlo Rally_
I WISH I had been trying to say anything nearly that coherent! But all my wordiness deserted me after 30 seconds. 😂
Best comment 🥇
These are seriously fun cars. They sit at a wonderful crossroads between modern fuel injection and original pony car.
It’s too bad people part them and the fourth gen Camaros out for their drive trains because they don’t like the way they look. Because I don’t like the way I🤦🏻♂️
@@B_B797 don't see why peeps do it
They really are. Sold my built fourth gen to get a current ZLE and while it's better and more capable in every way the fourth gen was just more "fun". Seriously miss the t-tops every time I drive too.
This is so true. As soon as I drove one it immediately struck me, "Oh, this is a muscle car." It just feels raw, and unrefined, yet does have a little bit of technology. Fuel injection, handles better than an original pony/muscle car. It really does feel like the natural progression or evolution of those old pony cars.
I really love the level of technology in them-mine doesn't even beep at me when I don't wear my seatbelt. It just has a little light that goes out after a few seconds and comes back on periodically. The Trans Am is like, "I guess he didn't want to wear his seatbelt, I'll check back in a while." Which is such a Trans Am response. "No seatbelt? Ahhh, it'll be fine. Now push that gas peddle in a little more." lol
Had a black '99 Camaro with the 5.7L. Really did bring me joy every drive. I didn't know what feeling intoxicated by torque was until I got that car. Goosing the throttle in second gear from low RPMs was simply grin inducing. There are plenty of faster cars but not too many that pull from the bottom like that.
"As phallic as GM could make it without adding veins." That right there is just fantastic stuff.
Real ones remember when they did this the first time
Yessir
Uhuh...and im from the UK where such things don't exist
1978, I was 3 yrs old at the time.
What happened to the first time?
@@nutshot_brawler8466 They reviewed a 2001 WS6 already, 6 years ago.
RCR hits it out of the park. Again. The car, the review, the humor, the nostalgia, the psychological introspection and study of the zeitgeist of the car and the times it was made.
Then you throw in Kim Mitchel and "Go for a soda" and it's 1986 and I'm driving my 73 Z/28 with my girlfreind on a warm spring night and the world makes sense again.
You made made my day. Thanks.
Watching Mr.Regular “presenting” in front of a camera I realize what a long way we came from the beginnings & that he definitely should do this more often. You’re a presentable presenter Mr.Regular. So glad I’m an internet user in the same era as you
He was probably a real fun teacher to have! I probably would've got better grades than I did with teachers like him!
@@Robby94LS Totally, he is the one class that students actually wanted to go to after lunch and not cut class. I had a few of those dudes.
He's also HOT
I liked Roman trying to do dialogue getting thrown around by the aggressive maneuvers 😂
These cars were (are?) cult legends. Way back when, I had a 1998 WS6 T/A in black with a 6-speed manual. It wasn't put together very well but it drew attention everywhere I went. On one Halloween night as I rolled through a parking lot, I heard somebody nearby say, "Holy shit, it's the Batmobile!" My dad bought a red WS6 the same year, and he still has his...with all 15,000 miles on it.
Only 15,000 miles!?!? Kindly request that he get out and enjoy driving it! To each their own, though. If he gets more joy from it being a garage queen with low miles, then all the power to him.
@@rjkStudios Keeping an ugly-cool Camaro garaged for posterity is just stupid and a waste of a fun car, and that's a fact. I'll judge the hell out of that.
Oh yes for sure I daily a 2000 ws6 and get looks everywhere!
@@yamahaguy1732 Hahaha, same. People love this car. But the people I get the most attention from? Women my mom's age lolol. They're always like, is that a Trans Am?! I went to high school prom in a Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am.
But seriously, young dudes, old dudes, teenagers, people of all ages like this model. OP is right about the cult cool status.
@@bradleylovej yeah I got some free donuts one day😂
I had not heard go for soda in years until a day ago when riding my 87 fiero it came up in my Spotify.... Now you reference it in this video for another Pontiac product. The Stars have aligned. Love your content and humor.
I heard it for the first time in my life this year and then listen to it for two days straight!
@@RegularCars I turned it on in a separate browser tab, and mixed it in for the rest of the review
First heard that tune in Trailer Park Boys. It totally makes sense, I guess today I'll rip my T-tops off my Formula and get her going on the mitchell around town!
I always thought that was a 38 Special tune.
@@RegularCars Being Canadian, I have a soft spot for Kim Mitchell. If you're looking for more, give "A Million Vacations" a try by Max Webster (Kim Mitchel's former band). Also, Rockland Wonderland, Patio Lanterns, I Am A Wild Party, etc. Kim Mitchell is truly the musical version of this car - it's meant to make you happy, like the feeling you get with friends on a Saturday night at the local bar with a solid live band. It's just fun, and not to be taken too seriously.
98-02 Firebirds are my absolute favorite cars. They're so damn unique and aggressive looking. I own an all stock red 98, W68 Y87 Firebird that has chrome rims and a gray leather interior. The car gets so much attention and in my area Firebirds are not common at all, so when she's on the road, she gets a lot of admiration.
One of the things I got a kick out of back in the late 90's/early 2000's was how every other person was putting ram air scoops on their cars and or trucks. My high school parking lot was full of modified hoods on nearly every make and model of vehicles, that resembled the Trans Am's ram air hood. 😄
I enjoy your wit on your videos. You're very clever and creative. I get some good laughs from your jokes, comparisons and analogies.
How many times did he say the car was about enjoyment, not admiration?
My favorite too. I also own a 98. It's a non WS6 Trans Am.
@@mnhsty that's his opinion. Why would this car be any less admired than any other car?
Man, that grocery store analogy was so familiar and powerful.
Right? We've all been there, feeling the dread. Love this channel!
I have a 2002 WS6 convertible. You have summed it up perfectly!!! Dropping the top, cranking the classic rock tunes and mashing the gas pedal to the floor on the highway while the LS roars, the wind blows and the music blares is 100% pure joy and happiness!
Got a t-top 02 myself. Agree with you 100%
yup its a thing
I miss these days. Early 2010s seemed like the natural progression of the 90s, and the early-mid 2000s was my adolescent and early college years. I'm now old enough to reminisce about whatever was 20 years ago.
Aught-stalgia is so hot right now
@@louiearmstrong it's because millennials are feeling old and unfulfilled or old and formerly hot.
@@Arkeo36 I'm one of them. Get me a C5 or an NSX, and a McDonalds senior coffee please
Also nothing really sums up life like falling in love with the Corvette, fiending after it, and then coming to accept the Firebird. And not only accepting it, but being truly happy with it. Telling yourself it's "actually better if you think about it" in some way or another even if it really isn't.
I just made myself sad lol.
@@louiearmstrong c5 corvette is so good it's wild. The best looking corvette to my eyes. Cheap, easy to fix, reliable anyway, very tunable, and as our host pointed out you can even get 30 mpg on the highway (or more if you baby it). The c4 was a big disappointment to me, and the c6 was ok, but c7 especially leaves me cold. The c8 looks like an electric shaver even if I'm sure it's fantastic. But as a family man I can't buy any two door two seaters for a while. If I could though I'd be hunting for a clean c5 or a 370z like I had until recently.
This was my dream car growing up.
This channel never disappoints, I even bought your under rated band camp album “Songs I wrote while I pooped”
"Firebirds, energy weapons
Both of these things are interesting to me
I don't care how you get them
I need them both and I need them urgently" - Neil Fallon of Clutch
But I dont own a firebird.....perhaps this old Datsun will do.....😅🤣😂😉👍 Clutch friggin rules!
My '99 base Trans Am does daily duty, all I needed was to swap out the radio for modern a infotainment system. It feels like a classic car while providing modern car dependability, all while being fun to drive.
"Like a guy that discovered the gym after getting his heartbroken", now that was some juice to go pump on back in the day.
The performance value of these was unreal. They should have sold well enough to keep Pontiac around. I liked the look too. I didn't know the nostrils were not that great. I lived in Germany in the 2000s. I mostly saw these in the hands of American junior officers stationed there. I wanted one, but none of them ever put one up for sale.
Yeah so they could bring back the Fiero.
Unreal performance? You're an idiot.
@@danielc1417 read the whole sentence. I said the performance value was unreal. Considering the era and the price, it was quite an impressive value.
The trans Am we're really expensive compared to the mustangs, granted they were more of a luxury vehicle and even produced more horsepower, that you would pay a premium to own one, it was cheaper to buy a mustang and just add boltons and you could outrun one of these. The sales dropped that's the reason they stopped making them,
@@davedave2882 except the T/A owner also did full bolt ons, and now that Mustang is breathing exhaust fumes, again
When I was in college, and still living at home, there was a bunch of town houses across the street from me. There was a guy who lived in one who had one of these in black. At the time I was 18-19 years old, and I thought that was the coolest car ever. You couldn't convince me otherwise at the time. It's a damn shame GM axed Pontiac.
Literally been my dream car since I was a little kid circa 2001... down to the trim, color, interior, transmission, and year
NGM, NBM, SOM... And Purple. The colors I always wanted back when I had an Arctic White and Triple Black WS6.
I know its strange but this is one of my top dream cars, everything I want in one package, V8, rear wheel drive, T tops, 6 speed manual transmission and pop-up up and down headlights!!
And the t tops
@@md4luckycharms especially the T tops haha
Seeing Mr. Regular spin the tires and the Roman sitting there nervously was the best way to start the video
He can make 10 WS6 videos and I’ll watch them all
Love the watery passenger side highbeam at 9:18. Like it's brimming with tears at the way its being flogged.
Tears of Joy I hope.
in the first 60 seconds: "from people crossing a state highway with all holes filled with EDM and mass-effect porn"
True to form RCR great stuff
I've had a few F-Bodies...
2000 Camaro
2000 Z28
1999 Trans Am
(years later)
1999 Camaro SS.
Not an F-body, but I also had a 2011 Camaro. None of those cars stayed with me the way the TA did. The Trans AM was far and away my favorite one. Drove it to the Outer Banks on my honeymoon. As dusk was approaching, I was driving through Nags' Head, and turned the headlights on. A kid took notice, pointed it out to his dad "wow, that was cool!"
It was the only car that I had that had chrome wheels. I don't like Chrome wheels, but it looked good on that car. Absolutely loved this review. Thanks Mr. Regular.
Back in 2002, my best friend's Dad would pick us up from elementary school in his silver, always freshly waxed WS6. I hated crawling into the cramped back seat and the car reeked of cigarette smoke. My friend's parents were going through a nasty divorce at the time. I never liked or understood the car back then, but in retrospect the car fit the situation perfectly. Now I kinda want one.
When RCR gets philosophical, they somehow make me nostalgic for a car I've never actually owned...
I always loved the tail light design on this car. The 4th gen TransAm was so much better looking than the Camaro. I was a huge fan when Pontiac had the 1998 Purple colour. Somewhere packed away, I have the 1998 Firebird / TransAm brochure from the local dealership - the best I could do when my parents were buying a 1998 Grand Am instead of the Trans Am. :p
If you are talking about that dark blue/purple color they had yes I absolutely love that color!
The 88u purple metallic 🤤
I own 2000 ws6, hurst shifter, articulating bucket seats and the 10 disc changer. Waited 9 months when I ordered it. Has 45,000 miles, never seen snow and three times in the rain. Love the car. Still drives like I left the dealership. Only upgrades are SLP bolt on subframe connectors, hotchkis strut tower brace, flow master cat back exhaust and a k&n air filter. I still have the original exhaust in my basement.
A boss I had at a cabinet shop in around 2004-5 had one of these in black. It was a stick like this one, 2001 model and all, and was just absurdly quick, borderline scary for a completely factory car. Well, almost, it had a cool air intake, headers, exhaust, and some computer tweaks. Great, GREAT car.
This video getting uploaded as I'm finishing up my 01 TA project (after 2 years on jackstands) is so perfect
I wanted a black WS6 so bad back when I graduated HS in ‘02. It’s still a great looking car!
This review came out as I was taking a hike and I ran out of podcasts. This review got me home. Thanks guys!
Those final years of production for the Firebird were gorgeous. She’s a thick gal, in all the right places
As someone who LOVES Firebirds, this was my absolute favorite review you've ever done.
Love these types of cars..90s and early-mid 2000s seem like the MOST regular cars to me.
As cool as the varied types of reviews RCR does have been, THESE types of cars are the ones I love the most.
Bought a pewter 2000 WS6 with Hurst 6 speed. Sold three years later with 9k miles as my daughter was on the way. Looking to replace it.. the car not the daughter. First T/A I bought was an '85 purchased in '86. Second was a '76 I restored factory appearing with upgrades to the 400. Love and missing Pontiac. Thanks for the memories.
The original review of the red one is one of the reasons why I bought one. They are wicked fun cars.
A blast but not only from how fun the car is to drive but also all the attention they draw!
As a 2 year owner of a stroked 1994 z28 I can confirm this car does one thing and that is giving you fun.
And the A/C still works
383?? So is mine lol although I did ac delete hahaha
Having just watched the latest Technology Connections video I SEE YOU DUAL RECTANGULAR SEALED LAMPS
Yessss!
In my band, our Drummers dad has one of these in this exact color. It’s a sick car
Didn’t they do this already? I love that Regular speaks on camera the same way he does in voiceover. The fuss about the filter had me cracking up.😂
Another great review!
“The George Harrison to the Mustang’s Paul and the Camaro’s John.” What an excellent and relevant quote!😮
A very accurate assessment,good show old chap
Great to hear a new song from The Roman. Excellent review as always. It makes Mondays worth getting excited about.
Heck yeah! I have a black 2000 WS6 that just turned 67k miles. It's stick as well. These cars are awesome! 🏁
“Predates apologizing to Ms. Jackson” 😂😂😂 thats genius
As a proud owner of a H/C/I WS6, I salute the makers of this video!
Wtf is HCI, idiot?
@@danielc1417 Heads, Cam, Intake...
Probably the last best thing from 2001.
20 years later and still my favorite Pontiac ever
I would love to try a G8, they are so rare though
@@connor3288 good luck finding a GXP
@@pontiacGXPfan Even a G8 GT. It's a good platform, has an ls. I would want an auto anyway
Stop everything and listen to Kim Mitchell’s Go for a soda, made my day 🤣
I used to sell these when I was in my 20s. Some of the best test drives ever. Nothing better than fishtailing around a corner and climbing effortlessly to 135 in 5th gear to show what this gem could do!
I missed Romans songs so much!
Also his time travel series was so amazing, I really felt like I belonged to the lore of something great!
My father bought a 99 Formula WS6 1LE new in mid 99. As of today, still has 30k miles on. Car was a powerhouse of the time.
And that number 8 spark plug is a joy to change
Way worse in the 93-97 editions. The lt1 was super tight
Just remove the coil pack first. Go from the top. No need to unbolt the exhaust or jack up the motor.
Its way easy than changing spark plugs on a FWD V6 vehicle.
This review reminds me so much of my 2001 Mustang Roush Stage 2. It’s not supercharged, it’s not a late model 5.0, so the expectation of it to be this world beater isn’t there. But it is fun, and nothing takes me back to high school faster than it.
God the 98 firebird was my first car miss it everyday
I almost teared up watching this review. I had a 25th anniversary with the LT one, I took my four-year-old son for joy rides, he loves the Chi tops down and the wind in his hair. He is 11 years old now and he still talks about it to this day as if I was just driving around in it. I had to sell it when times got tough after the military (yes I was a douche bag). It was my second car ever owned, and I think of it often
WS6 is very cool, but I've always wanted a black/gold SLP FireHawk to match my 73 Cutlass S Hurst/Olds
SLP FireHawks are Halo cars. I member' when they came out and they were unobtanium for the Plebs even then. They are so badass...
My high school car was a 98 trans am ws6 but with an automatic. God I loved that car, the engine detonated in 2017 and I've wanted one again since.
A friend of a friend had a WS6 around 2008 that only had an exhaust, a cam, and a 28" tire. He ran low 11s in the quarter mile. Thing was so cheap to buy and make fast back then
only 1 cam dude
@@whocaresaboutsubs I'm used to every other modern car in the world that now has 2 cams lol
@@the_frankc Good old pushrod V8s. DOHC is cool but pushrods can still get it done.
@@bwofficial1776 Yeah they definitely can, they just don't make the top end power generally. I wasn't used to having a V8 pull at the higher end coming from my IS500 now, having a V8 with top end is actually a lot of fun
That Steinbeck quote was absolutely perfect.
This is the most 2000s automobile to ever exist.
the late 4th gen firebird/ transam is by far my favorite car, I have been wanting one since I was a kid. Even now in my 30's i dream of owning one and sometime next year I hope to finally have mine.
This car in the metallic purple. Friggin gorgeous.
I would like to see a video where its just Mr.Regular doing regular car maintenance.
Imagine him collabing with ChrisFix.
3 albums to blast in that car
1. Master of reality
2. Last command
3. Floored
Love those cars. I wanted a yellow special edition one for my first car, but ended up with a '99 Suburan LT...
The ultimate car of my highschool. It destroyed everything except for one built Buick regal with drag radials and nitrous.
Man i am loving these reviews and im impressed you keep getting funky and interesting cars to give away. All desirable and fun! Like im not a big muscle car guy but always thought these where funky and i do appreciate them, even more now! Just a big angry American s2000 right? Sorta? Haha
"The best revenge is not caring."
That sounded like a line by Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty.
GM didn't nerf the LS1 on F bodies. People dyno them with 308-318 to the wheels. A simple intake, headers, cat back exhaust and tune will get you 350 hp and 350 tq to the wheels.
They're the most responsive to mods, way more power per dollar spent than a thing else.
I mean, the small-block Chevy is probably the most used engine in performance and sports. I've seen them in BMW's, Land Cruisers, Racing boats, and even planes.
"You can be happy. And have a full life without knowing perfection on an intimate level".
Well said thank you.
Also- @3:17 you mentioned the power. In fact all LS1s regardless of car made the same HP. GM deliberately underrated the F-body models to drive trim level sales and to protect the image of the Corvette C5. Put a stock LS1 F-body on a dyno and you’ll get ~ 345 at the crank just like a same year Corvette.
You’ll get more than that. The same year LM7 is roughly 350-355 horse at the crank, proven time and time again.
It's a proper WS6 review because they opened it with revving, burnouts and giggles. As one should.
These are the deep reviews i love.
_”sorry bro, gotta leave the bar early. My girl needs a ride”_
“Oh, from work?”
_”school”_
Mr. Regular had me at “extramarital bone rodeo”
@Nicholas Bartlett did you not notice that he actually said extra maritable?
I bought an 02 Trans Am convertible (not WS6 sadly) in September 2022 and I found it hard to not agree with everything you said in this video. As a kid my parents had a Grand Am so when I had a chance to buy the Trans Am I took it.
The nostalgic feel of the interior, and the loud V8 make it so much fun. I didn’t buy it to show off, but to enjoy it. The Grand Am my parents had wasn't great by any means, but I had fond childhood memories of that car. A car from a different era, and a more simple time.
The Trans Am is like a time capsule for me. I often find myself playing classic rock while Im cruising in it, with Kenny Logins' Danger Zone blasting, all while Im gunning it from a stop sign or stop light so the tires can scream and the V8 can roar.
2001 😂😂😂 I remember a girl literally telling me on a hay ride on 10/30/01 at 13 that her dad's friend just bought one of these and it could do 75 in second gear. Wound up meeting the guy last year -20 years later and he confirmed lol
I bought a ‘98 trans am with light engine mods, exhaust system, aftermarket radio speakers n sub port, rims, tints,ls6 brakes 118k miles for $8k back in may and it’s no doubt the best car I’ve ever owned. Every time I drive this car around the city or just going to work makes me feel like a total badass as I fly past most production cars and catch lights at last second. It’s sad knowing this beast of a car got stopped being made then years later lost Pontiac entirely. You got a sub from me this review was well presented and hilarious 😂 keep it up man great job
Right?! i drive my indestructible Japanese shitbox all week and once Friday hits its WS6 time its like totally changing charachter lol
This car just makes me wonder where the last 21 years went and how we have let things get so bad.
To much Govt. regulation in the car industry. I'm not some Randian worshiper, but for Christsake all the manditory bumpers, specs, backup cams, ad infinum... has made cars LESS aerodynamic and heavier, ergo less MPG. And uglier to boot!
@@seththomas9105 Don't forget about the auto-workers unions. They made it impossible to even try to be competitive with Japan/Mexico and now Korea.
@@drownthepoor Yes, your right. American Blue Collar workers should all be living on 20 Grand a year. It would help make the US economy even better.
Blaming trade unions is a tired old trope.
@@seththomas9105 the unions did a great job preserving the auto workers then right? I've known people who were union who couldn't even do the trade proficiently. They were paid and had same benefits as the workers but their job was to go and sabotage non union worksites. They would remove nuts and pins in such a way that when work resumed there would be an accident. I also know people who make good salaries working in unions. But in the auto Union it didn't work out to their advantage.
I'm so glad mr regular is self aware and stopped just repeating shocking words over cars
"And a performitably angry aesthetic. Like a guy who discovered the gym after getting his heart broken." Why am I that basic?
Awesome content as always guys. Keep up the good work!
I was 13 years old when the WS6 hit the showroom. Our local dealer had a red one with black interior. It’s still in my top 5 must have cars.
Every car or motorcycle person who’s ever bought and installed a K&N filter knows EXACTLY what happened to Mr Regular!!! 🤣
I want this car SO bad. This was my absolute favorite Firebird. It reminds me of the 1989 Batmobile. Positively gorgeous.
… and I don’t care how big a redneck that makes me.
Yes, I bought a mug. Pick me, please. Pick me, pick me, pick me.
Love you guys (even when I don’t win). ❤❤❤
Could be the most literate, clever, insightful automotive channel on RUclips. This may be too smart for its own good !
No one:
RCR: Enter to win this car
I just all around love the WS6 it's just an amazing car, Pontiac really had it's moments
excellent review for one of the coolest cars out there.
shame the giveaway is only restricted to the US :/
Agreed. Would love to be able to participate from up north!
Welcome back, The Roman! I know The Roman is his own man and doin' his own thing, just like Robin (Nightwing) no longer needs Batman, but still .... Batman is better with Robin. It's always nice to see The Roman and Mr. Regular driving' along in this week's Regularmobile and even better to hear the song at the end. Thank you!
My god what a gorgeous car
I gotta be honest, that speech about good and perfect was exactly what I needed today. Thank you lads for the pick up.
The greatest car of all time
A guy at my high school had one of these in 2007. Pretty crazy car at the time for a kid