Episode 45

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Published on:

30th Mar 2023

4th Gen Pontiac Firebird With A V8 - The Devil On Your Shoulder

00:00 - OPEN:

The 4th Gen Pontiac Firebird With A V8 is The Devil On Your Shoulder

The focus of today’s episode is a car that can bring out the inner hooligan in all of us. And for those who aren't certain if an inner-hooligan lurks just below the surface of their personality, rest assured that if it's there, this car will find it, yank it loose and set it free. 

01:15 - INTRO

Looking for Fun? Get a Firebird With A V8 and a Manual Transmission

So what is this car that makes good people do bad things?  It’s the 1993-2002 4th Generation Pontiac Firebird, and in the case of today’s episode, I’m suggesting you get your 4th Gen Firebird with a V8 and a manual transmission, not a 6-cylinder engine and an automatic.  

05:25 - You Might Want One If...

  • You always wanted a V8 muscle car, but you keep putting it off
  • You like the idea of driving something different that still offers up serious driving fun and performance at a great price
  • You have a bit of a wild streak and you’re looking for a way to express it. 

07:00 - 4th Generation Firebird Details

SPECS – 1993 Pontiac Trans Am with 5.7-liter V8

  • Engine: 5.7-liter V8
  • Output: 275-hp/325-lb.ft of torque
  • Curb Weight: 3455 lbs
  • Transmission: Borg Warner 6-speed manual (4-spd auto optional)
  • Tires: 245/50-16
  • Brakes: 4-wheel Disc with ABS
  • Axle: Live axle rear end

PERFORMANCE - 1993 Pontiac Trans Am w/5.7-liter V8

  • 0-60 mph: 6.2 (Motorweek) & 5.5 (Car and Driver)
  • Quarter Mile: 14.7 @ 98-mph (MW) & 14.2 @ 99-mph (CD)
  • 60-0 Braking: 111-ft (MW)
  • 70-0 Braking: 172-ft (CD)
  • Road-holding: on 300-ft skidpad, .89 G (CD)
  • Road test fuel economy: 22-mpg (MW), 20-mph (CD)
  • EPA Fuel economy rating: 17-city/25-highway

EXTERIOR STYLING

The long, low and sleek aero-look of the 4th Generation Firebird drew inspiration from the design of the 1988 Pontiac Banshee IV show car and from the later California Concept Camaro.

INTERIOR APPOINTMENTS

The 4th Generation Firebird has a functional cockpit that doesn’t compromise driving fun.  Up front it has comfortable bucket seats for driver and passenger that offer good support with leather or cloth seating surfaces. On the downside, the interior plastic material won’t win any awards. Slick and cheap-looking, it won't win any awards.  In back, 2+2 seating with a folding rear seat back adds to carrying capacity under the rear hatchback, while also offering seating for two additional passengers for short trips.

13:00 - What's Great And Not So Great About The 4th Gen Firebird

WHAT'S GREAT:

  • Quick
  • Loud
  • Seriously fun to drive
  • Decent enough ergonomics
  • One of the last affordable V8 pony cars

WHAT'S NOT SO GREAT:

  • Serious on-throttle over-steer, so pay attention
  • Not safe for novice drivers… especially in the rain
  • Don’t buy one for your newly minted 16-year old driver
  • Requires a healthy dose of mature executive function to stay upright

13:50 - What To Look For In a 4th Gen Firebird With A V8

  • Adult Owned
  • Minimal owners
  • Well maintained (no deferred maintenance)
  • No wrecked/rebuilt examples   
  • Store indoors out of the elements  
  • Unmodified stock examples are best
  • Relatively Low miles
  • Get the manual transmission.

16:55 - What Should You Pay For a 4th Gen Firebird With A V8?

These cars are still affordable, but prices will go up over time, especially for models that offer more power and performance, including the WS6 package T/A, the Firehawk SLP and others.

  • $6,000 - $9,000: I have found amazing deals in this price range. 
  • $9000 - $12,000: Best value - Good cars will pop up, but be quick
  • $12,000-$15,000: You should easily find good cars in this range
  • $15,000+ Collector and well-optioned low-mile, one-owner cars

24:00 - CLOSE

No one said your commute had to be boring or you that had to be practical and buy a car that fits into some adult-shaped mold.  So go buy a 4th Gen Firebird with a V8 while they’re still affordable, then cancel your therapy sessions and live a little.  You can thank me later.   

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!