Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird

4 generation ran from 1993-01-01 to 2002-12-31 as a Cabrio. The catalogue lists 33 versions for this generation; 12 of them are shown in the extract. Shown names are 3.4 AT, 3.4 MT (162 hp), 3.4 MT (148 hp), 3.8 AT (208 hp), 3.8 AT (205 hp), 3.8 MT (205 hp), 3.8 MT (208 hp), 5.7 AT (329 hp), 5.7 AT (309 hp), 5.7 AT (314 hp), 5.7 MT (314 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp).

4 generation (1993–2002), Cabrio

4 generation ran from 1993-01-01 to 2002-12-31 as a Cabrio. The catalogue lists 33 versions for this generation; 12 of them are shown in the extract. Shown names are 3.4 AT, 3.4 MT (162 hp), 3.4 MT (148 hp), 3.8 AT (208 hp), 3.8 AT (205 hp), 3.8 MT (205 hp), 3.8 MT (208 hp), 5.7 AT (329 hp), 5.7 AT (309 hp), 5.7 AT (314 hp), 5.7 MT (314 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp). Cylinder layouts on the shown set are 6 V-shaped or 8 V-shaped, all with boost No. Gearboxes are Automatic 4 or Manual 5 or 6. Ground clearance on every shown 4-generation version is 110 mm. Fuel tank volume on every shown version is 64 l. Front brakes are Disc; rear brakes are Drum, Disc or Disc ventilated depending on version.

3 generation (1982–1992), Cabrio

3 generation ran from 1982-01-01 to 1992-12-31 as a Cabrio. The catalogue lists 30 versions; 12 are shown. Shown names are 2.5 MT, 2.5 AT, 2.8 MT, 2.8 AT, 3.1 MT, 3.1 AT, 3.8 AT, 3.8 MT, 5.0 MT (140 hp), 5.0 AT (140 hp), 5.0 AT (210 hp) and 5.0 MT (210 hp). The 2.5 pair uses a 4 Inline engine at 90 hp; the 2.8 and 3.1 pairs use 6 V-shaped engines at 140 hp; the 3.8 pair is the only Turbo pair in the whole Firebird extract (248 hp); the 5.0 pair uses 8 V-shaped engines at 140 hp or 210 hp. All shown 3-generation gearboxes have 4 gears (Manual or Automatic). Drive is RWD. Tank volume is 59 l. Ground clearance is 115 mm. Front brakes are Ventilated disc; rear brakes are Drum. Kerb weight, gross weight, 0–100 km/h, top speed, fuel consumption, CO2, eco class and wheel size are not measured on the shown 3-generation set.

2 generation (1970–1981), Coupe

2 generation ran from 1970-01-01 to 1981-12-31 as a Coupe. The catalogue lists 11 versions, and all 11 are shown: 3.8 AT, 3.8 MT, 5.7 MT, 5.7 AT, 6.6 MT, 6.6 AT (180 hp), 6.6 AT (325 hp), 7.5 AT (340 hp), 7.5 AT (360 hp), 7.5 MT and Trans Am 5.0 AT. Power on this generation spans 150 hp (3.8 AT, 3.8 MT and Trans Am 5.0 AT) to 360 hp (7.5 AT 360 hp and 7.5 MT). Cylinder counts are 6 V-shaped or 8 V-shaped. Gearboxes are Automatic 3 or Manual 3. Drive is RWD. Boost is No on every shown version. Ground clearance is 117 mm where measured; it is not measured on 7.5 AT (340 hp) and 6.6 AT (180 hp). Rear brakes are not measured on this generation. Front brakes are Ventilated disc.

1 generation (1967–1969), Cabrio

1 generation ran from 1967-01-01 to 1969-12-31 as a Cabrio. The catalogue lists 9 versions, all shown: 3.8 AT (two entries, both 165 hp), 4.1 MT, 5.3 AT (two entries, both 250 hp), 5.7 AT (325 hp), 5.7 AT (320 hp), 6.6 AT (two entries, both 325 hp). The 3.8 AT and 4.1 MT engines are 6 Inline; the 5.3 AT, 5.7 AT and 6.6 AT engines are 8 V-shaped. Gearboxes are Automatic 3 except 4.1 MT, which is Manual 4. Drive is RWD. Boost is No. Ground clearance is 178 mm on every shown 1-generation version. Front brakes are Disc. Rear brakes are not measured except on 4.1 MT (Drum).

Engines and specs

All versions below are Gasoline and RWD. Version names are written exactly as in the catalogue. Duplicate names are split by horsepower.

On 4 generation, engine placement is Front, longitudinal except 3.8 AT (208 hp), 3.8 AT (205 hp) and 3.8 MT (208 hp), which are Front, transverse. Fuel injection on shown 4-generation versions is Distributed injection (multi-point). Valves per cylinder are 2. Compression is 9 on the 3.4 set, 9.4 on the 3.8 set, and 10, 10.1 or 10.5 on the 5.7 set.

On 3 generation, engine placement is Front, longitudinal. The 2.5 pair uses Distributed injection (multi-point); the 2.8 pair uses Central injection (single-point or single- point). Valves per cylinder on 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT are 2; on 2.8 MT they are not measured.

On 2 generation, engine placement is Front, longitudinal where measured (3.8 AT, 3.8 MT, 5.7 MT, 5.7 AT, 7.5 AT 340 hp, 6.6 AT 180 hp, Trans Am 5.0 AT) and not measured on 6.6 MT, 7.5 AT (360 hp), 7.5 MT and 6.6 AT (325 hp).

On 1 generation, engine placement is Front, longitudinal where measured. One of the two 3.8 AT (165 hp) entries has engine placement not measured; the other is Front, longitudinal. Both 5.3 AT (250 hp) entries are Front, longitudinal with fuel 95.

Performance and economy (0–100, top speed, mpg)

0–100 km/h is measured on a small subset. 4 generation 3.8 MT (205 hp) is 7.8 s. 4 generation 5.7 AT (309 hp) is 6 s; 5.7 AT (314 hp) is 6.1 s; 5.7 MT (314 hp) is 6 s; 5.7 MT (329 hp) is 6 s. 2 generation Trans Am 5.0 AT is 11.2 s. 1 generation 4.1 MT is 10 s. 0–100 km/h is not measured on 3.4 AT, both 3.4 MT versions, 3.8 AT (208 hp), 3.8 AT (205 hp), 3.8 MT (208 hp), 5.7 AT (329 hp), every shown 3-generation version, 2-generation 3.8 AT, 3.8 MT, 5.7 MT, 5.7 AT, 6.6 MT, both 6.6 AT, both 7.5 AT and 7.5 MT, and 1-generation 3.8 AT, 5.3 AT, both 5.7 AT and 6.6 AT.

Top speed: 3.4 MT (148 hp) 207 km/h; 3.8 MT (205 hp) 200 km/h; 3.8 AT (205 hp) 200 km/h; 5.7 AT (309 hp) 250 km/h; 5.7 AT (314 hp) 255 km/h; 5.7 MT (314 hp) 250 km/h; 5.7 MT (329 hp) 250 km/h. 2 generation 7.5 AT (340 hp) 201 km/h; 6.6 AT (180 hp) 182 km/h; Trans Am 5.0 AT 169 km/h. 1 generation 4.1 MT 183 km/h. Top speed is not measured on the remaining listed versions, including all shown 3-generation versions.

Fuel consumption is measured only on three 4-generation 5.7 versions. 5.7 AT (329 hp): city 13.1 / highway 9.1 / combined 11.2. 5.7 MT (314 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp): city 12.4 / highway 8.4 / combined 10.7. City, highway and combined consumption are not measured on every other listed version. CO2 is not measured on every listed version. Eco class is not measured on every listed version.

Dimensions and weight

Length is not measured on any listed Pontiac Firebird version in this extract.

Ground clearance: 4 generation 110 mm; 3 generation 115 mm; 2 generation 117 mm where measured (not measured on 7.5 AT 340 hp and 6.6 AT 180 hp); 1 generation 178 mm. Difference between 1-generation 178 mm and 4-generation 110 mm is 68 mm.

Fuel tank: 64 l on every shown 4-generation version; 59 l on every shown 3-generation version; 76 l on Trans Am 5.0 AT; not measured on the other 2-generation versions and on every 1-generation version. Wheel size is not measured on every listed version.

Kerb weight, where measured: 3.4 AT 1470 kg; 3.4 MT (162 hp) 1470 kg; 3.4 MT (148 hp) 1528 kg; 3.8 MT (205 hp) 1605 kg; 3.8 AT (205 hp) 1585 kg; 3.8 MT (208 hp) 1521 kg; 5.7 AT (309 hp) 1635 kg; 5.7 AT (314 hp) 1650 kg; 5.7 MT (314 hp) 1635 kg; 5.7 MT (329 hp) 1635 kg. 2 generation: 7.5 AT (340 hp) 1670 kg; 6.6 AT (180 hp) 1671 kg; Trans Am 5.0 AT 1595 kg. 1 generation 4.1 MT 1488 kg. Kerb weight is not measured on 3.8 AT (208 hp), 5.7 AT (329 hp), every shown 3-generation version, and the remaining 2- and 1-generation versions.

Gross weight, where measured: 3.4 MT (148 hp) 2000 kg; 3.8 MT (205 hp) 1950 kg; 5.7 AT (314 hp) 2060 kg. Gross weight is not measured on the other listed versions. Payload implied by 2060 − 1650 on 5.7 AT (314 hp) is 410 kg; on 3.4 MT (148 hp) 2000 − 1528 is 472 kg; on 3.8 MT (205 hp) 1950 − 1605 is 345 kg.

Front suspension Independent, spring and rear Independent, spring on shown 4-generation versions. 3 generation: front Independent, spring, rear Dependent, leaf spring.

Which version to choose

The lowest listed output is 3 generation 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT at 90 hp and 173 Nm from 2471 cm³, 4 Inline, boost No. That is 270 hp below 4 generation 5.7 AT (329 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp) at 329 hp and 475 Nm from 5665 cm³, 8 V-shaped.

If the goal is the shortest measured 0–100 km/h, the 4-generation 5.7 set is the one with numbers: 6 s on 5.7 AT (309 hp), 5.7 MT (314 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp), and 6.1 s on 5.7 AT (314 hp). That is 1.8 s quicker than 3.8 MT (205 hp) at 7.8 s, 4 s quicker than 1 generation 4.1 MT at 10 s, and 5.2 s quicker than Trans Am 5.0 AT at 11.2 s. Highest measured top speed is 5.7 AT (314 hp) at 255 km/h, 5 km/h above the 250 km/h of 5.7 AT (309 hp), 5.7 MT (314 hp) and 5.7 MT (329 hp), and 86 km/h above Trans Am 5.0 AT at 169 km/h.

If the goal is a 6-cylinder 4-generation Cabrio with a measured sprint, 3.8 MT (205 hp) is the only 3.8 with 0–100 measured (7.8 s) and top speed 200 km/h; kerb weight 1605 kg, gross 1950 kg, fuel 95. 3.8 AT (205 hp) shares 205 hp, 312 Nm, 3791 cm³ and 200 km/h but 0–100 is not measured; it is Automatic 4, Front, transverse, kerb 1585 kg (20 kg lighter than that 3.8 MT). 3.8 AT (208 hp) and 3.8 MT (208 hp) add 3 hp over the 205 hp pair; 0–100 and top speed are not measured on both 208 hp 3.8 versions; fuel is 80 rather than 95.

Among 3.4 versions, 3.4 AT and 3.4 MT (162 hp) share 162 hp, 271 Nm, 3352 cm³, fuel 92 and kerb 1470 kg — the lightest measured 4-generation kerb. 3.4 MT (148 hp) is 14 hp and 14 Nm below that pair, displacement 3353 cm³, fuel 80, kerb 1528 kg (58 kg heavier), gross 2000 kg, top speed 207 km/h (the only 3.4 with a measured top speed). 0–100 is not measured on any 3.4.

Turbo is available only as 3 generation 3.8 AT and 3.8 MT at 248 hp and 481 Nm from 3791 cm³, 6 V-shaped. That 481 Nm is 6 Nm above 4 generation 5.7 AT (329 hp) at 475 Nm, at 81 hp less. Fuel grade on those Turbo 3.8 versions is not measured. The non-turbo 3-generation 5.0 AT (210 hp) and 5.0 MT (210 hp) make 210 hp and 393 Nm from 5013 cm³; the 5.0 AT (140 hp) and 5.0 MT (140 hp) make 140 hp from 5000 cm³ with Nm not measured.

Largest listed displacement is 2 generation 7.5 AT (360 hp) and 7.5 MT at 7500 cm³ and 360 hp — the peak horsepower in the extract, 31 hp above 4 generation 5.7 AT (329 hp). 7.5 AT (340 hp) is 20 hp below that 360 hp pair, 7467 cm³, 500 Nm, top speed 201 km/h, kerb 1670 kg. 6.6 AT (180 hp) is the mild 6.6: 180 hp and 420 Nm from 6555 cm³ versus 325 hp on 6.6 MT and 6.6 AT (325 hp) from the same 6555 cm³; top speed 182 km/h; kerb 1671 kg (1 kg above 7.5 AT 340 hp).

Trans Am 5.0 AT is the only version whose catalogue name is not a displacement-plus-gearbox code: 150 hp, 312 Nm, 5001 cm³, 8 V-shaped, Automatic 3, 0–100 11.2 s, top speed 169 km/h, tank 76 l (12 l above the 4-generation 64 l tank), kerb 1595 kg, clearance 117 mm, fuel 92.

1 generation 4.1 MT is the only 1-generation Manual: 215 hp, 325 Nm, 4118 cm³, 6 Inline, 4 gears, 0–100 10 s, top speed 183 km/h, kerb 1488 kg, clearance 178 mm. 5.7 AT (320 hp) is the only 1-generation 5.7 with measured torque (515 Nm) — 40 Nm above 4 generation 5.7 AT (329 hp) at 475 Nm, at 9 hp less. 5.7 AT (325 hp) in 1 generation has Nm not measured. Both 3.8 AT (165 hp) entries share 165 hp, 3800 cm³, 6 Inline, Automatic 3; they are listed as two catalogue rows, one with engine placement not measured and one Front, longitudinal.

Reliability, typical faults and service life are not measured in this extract. Prices are not in the data.