Pontiac Phoenix

Pontiac Phoenix: generations compared: what actually changed

Years overlap in 1979: both generations list that calendar year. A 1979 Pontiac Phoenix in this catalogue is therefore either 1 generation RWD at 107 mm or 2 generation FWD at 193 mm; the badge year alone does not pick the chassis.

1 generation (1977-01-01 to 1979-12-31) is a Coupe with 6 versions, all RWD: 2.5 MT, 2.5 AT, 3.8 MT, 3.8 AT, 5.0 MT, 5.0 AT. Ground clearance is 107 mm on all six. Engine placement is listed only on the 3.8 pair: Front, longitudinal. Peak power in this generation is 150 hp on 3.8 MT and 3.8 AT; peak listed torque is 285 Nm at 2200 rpm on those two. The 5.0 pair adds displacement (5000 vs 3791 cm³, +1209 cm³) and two cylinders (8 vs 6) without adding power: both 5.0 MT and 5.0 AT are 140 hp, 10 hp below the 3.8 pair.

2 generation (1979-01-01 to 1984-12-31) is also a Coupe with 6 versions, all FWD: 2.5 AT, 2.5 MT, 2.8 MT (112 hp), 2.8 AT (112 hp), 2.8 MT (140 hp), 2.8 AT (140 hp). Ground clearance is 193 mm on all six — 86 mm above 1 generation (193 − 107). Drive is the other hard split: RWD is gone. The 3791 cm³ and 5000 cm³ engines are gone; the 2800 cm³ 6-cylinder V-shaped 2.8 family replaces them. Two 2.8 MT and two 2.8 AT share names and must be split by power: 112 hp / 82 kW with 135 Nm versus 140 hp / 103 kW with 230 Nm. The 2.5 engine (92 hp, 183 Nm, 2471 cm³) carries over with the same listed figures, but drive changes from RWD to FWD and clearance from 107 mm to 193 mm.

Years overlap in 1979: both generations list that calendar year. A 1979 Pontiac Phoenix in this catalogue is therefore either 1 generation RWD at 107 mm or 2 generation FWD at 193 mm; the badge year alone does not pick the chassis.

Engine specs by version

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) ranks the listed engines as: 2.8 140 hp at 50.0 hp/l (140 ÷ 2.800), 2.8 112 hp at 40.0 hp/l (112 ÷ 2.800), 3.8 at 39.6 hp/l (150 ÷ 3.791), 2.5 at 37.2 hp/l (92 ÷ 2.471), 5.0 at 28.0 hp/l (140 ÷ 5.000). Torque per litre where torque is measured: 2.8 140 hp at 82.1 Nm/l (230 ÷ 2.800), 3.8 at 75.2 Nm/l (285 ÷ 3.791), 2.5 at 74.1 Nm/l (183 ÷ 2.471), 2.8 112 hp at 48.2 Nm/l (135 ÷ 2.800). 5.0 MT and 5.0 AT torque is not measured, so they cannot be ranked on Nm/l.

2.5 (both generations): Gasoline, 2 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8.3, bore × stroke 101.6 × 76.2, power at 4800 rpm, torque at 3200 rpm. Engine location is not measured.

3.8 MT / 3.8 AT: Gasoline, 2 valves per cylinder, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8.5, bore × stroke 96.52 × 86.36, power at 4400 rpm, torque at 2200 rpm.

2.8 112 hp pair: Gasoline, Central injection (single-point or single- point), bore × stroke 89 × 76. Power rpm, torque rpm, valves per cylinder, compression and engine location are not measured.

2.8 140 hp pair: Gasoline, Central injection (single-point or single- point), bore × stroke 89 × 76, power at 5200 rpm, torque at 3600 rpm. Valves per cylinder, compression and engine location are not measured.

5.0 MT / 5.0 AT: Gasoline. Valves per cylinder, injection, compression, bore × stroke, engine location, power rpm and torque are not measured.

Front suspension on every version: Independent, spring. Rear suspension: not measured. Front brakes: Ventilated disc. Rear brakes: not measured.

Performance, mpg and what the extra displacement buys

0–100, maximum speed, city, highway and mixed consumption, CO2 and eco class are not measured on all 12 versions. Weight is not measured, so kg per horsepower cannot be calculated. The buying comparison therefore uses the listed hp, kW, Nm, displacement, rpm, fuel grade, drive and clearance.

1 generation 2.5 vs 3.8. 3.8 MT and 3.8 AT add 58 hp (150 − 92) and 102 Nm (285 − 183) over 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT. Displacement rises 1320 cm³ (3791 − 2471). Cylinders go from 4 Inline to 6 V-shaped. Fuel grade drops from 95 to 80. Peak torque arrives 1000 rpm earlier (2200 vs 3200). Peak power arrives 400 rpm earlier (4400 vs 4800). Compression is 8.5 vs 8.3. That is the largest power step in the whole Phoenix list.

1 generation 3.8 vs 5.0. 5.0 MT and 5.0 AT add 1209 cm³ (5000 − 3791) and two cylinders (8 vs 6) but lose 10 hp (140 vs 150). Torque on the 5.0 pair is not measured, so the 285 Nm of the 3.8 pair cannot be compared in newton-metres. Fuel stays 80. If the extra 1209 cm³ is meant to buy more listed power, the data do not show that purchase: the 3.8 pair is the more powerful 1 generation Phoenix.

1 generation 2.5 vs 5.0. 5.0 adds 48 hp (140 − 92) and 2529 cm³ (5000 − 2471). That is 0.019 hp per extra cm³ (48 ÷ 2529). The 3.8 step from 2.5 is 58 hp from 1320 extra cm³, or 0.044 hp per extra cm³ (58 ÷ 1320) — more than twice the 5.0 step on that arithmetic.

2 generation 2.5 vs 2.8 112 hp. 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT at 112 hp add 20 hp (112 − 92) but lose 48 Nm (183 − 135). Displacement is +329 cm³ (2800 − 2471). Fuel grade is 92 vs 95. Injection changes from Distributed injection (multi-point) to Central injection (single-point or single- point). Layout changes from 4 Inline to 6 V-shaped. For a buyer who cares about listed torque, the 2.5 pair is the stronger of these two; for listed peak hp, the 112 hp 2.8 pair is 20 hp up.

2 generation 2.8 112 hp vs 2.8 140 hp. Same name, same 2800 cm³, same 6 V-shaped, same Central injection (single-point or single- point), same 89 × 76, same 92 fuel, same FWD, same 193 mm. The 140 hp pair adds 28 hp (140 − 112) and 95 Nm (230 − 135). That is +25% power and +70% torque at the same displacement. Power per litre jumps from 40.0 to 50.0 hp/l. Torque per litre jumps from 48.2 to 82.1 Nm/l. This is the one same-badge split that must not be collapsed: a 2.8 AT at 112 hp is not a 2.8 AT at 140 hp.

2 generation 2.5 vs 2.8 140 hp. The 140 hp 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT add 48 hp (140 − 92) and 47 Nm (230 − 183) over 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT. Displacement +329 cm³. Peak power is 400 rpm later (5200 vs 4800). Peak torque is 400 rpm later (3600 vs 3200). Unlike the 112 hp 2.8, this pair does not trade away torque to gain horsepower.

Cross-generation 140 hp. 1 generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT and 2 generation 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT at 140 hp share 140 hp / 103 kW. Displacement is 5000 vs 2800 cm³ (the 5.0 is 2200 cm³ larger). Cylinders are 8 vs 6. Drive is RWD vs FWD. Clearance is 107 mm vs 193 mm. Torque is not measured on 5.0 and is 230 Nm on the 140 hp 2.8. Fuel is 80 vs 92. Same listed power is not the same car.

Cross-generation peak power. Catalogue maximum is 150 hp on 1 generation 3.8 MT and 3.8 AT, 10 hp above the 140 hp 2.8 and 5.0 versions (150 − 140). Torque on 3.8 is 285 Nm vs 230 Nm on the 140 hp 2.8 (+55 Nm). Peak torque rpm is 2200 vs 3600. The 3.8 pair is the torque and power peak of the model; it does not exist in 2 generation.

Manual vs Automatic inside a pair does not change hp, Nm, displacement, fuel, cylinders, layout, boost, drive or clearance in this data. The gearbox difference is always Manual 4 versus Automatic 3.

Dimensions, weight, tank and wheels

Kerb weight: not measured on all 12 versions. Gross weight: not measured. Tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured. 1978 Pontiac Phoenix weight searches cannot be answered from this catalogue.

The measured chassis figure is ground clearance. 1 generation (1977–1979) 2.5 MT, 2.5 AT, 3.8 MT, 3.8 AT, 5.0 MT, 5.0 AT: 107 mm. 2 generation (1979–1984) 2.5 AT, 2.5 MT, 2.8 MT 112 hp, 2.8 AT 112 hp, 2.8 MT 140 hp, 2.8 AT 140 hp: 193 mm. The second generation sits 86 mm higher (193 − 107), about 1.80 times the first-generation figure (193 ÷ 107). Body type is Coupe in both generations; a hatchback label is not in this data.

Reliability and problems are not measured here. No failure rates, no known-issue list.

Which Pontiac Phoenix version to choose

Choose 1 generation 3.8 MT if you want the highest listed power and torque and a 4-speed Manual. 150 hp / 110 kW at 4400 rpm, 285 Nm at 2200 rpm, 3791 cm³, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, Gasoline, fuel 80, Distributed injection (multi-point), Front, longitudinal, RWD, 107 mm, Coupe, 1977–1979. 3.8 AT is the same engine with Automatic 3. Nothing in 2 generation matches 150 hp or 285 Nm.

Do not choose 5.0 MT or 5.0 AT for more power than the 3.8. They are 140 hp, 10 hp down, 5000 cm³, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, fuel 80, RWD, 107 mm. Torque, injection, compression, bore × stroke and power rpm are not measured. The extra 1209 cm³ versus 3.8 does not buy extra listed horsepower.

Choose 2 generation 2.8 MT 140 hp if you want the strongest later Phoenix with Manual 4 and FWD. 140 hp / 103 kW at 5200 rpm, 230 Nm at 3600 rpm, 2800 cm³, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, Gasoline, fuel 92, Central injection (single-point or single- point), FWD, 193 mm, Coupe, 1979–1984. 2.8 AT 140 hp is the Automatic 3 twin. Confirm 140 hp, not 112 hp, on the same name.

Skip 2 generation 2.8 MT 112 hp and 2.8 AT 112 hp if torque matters. They are 112 hp / 82 kW and 135 Nm — 20 hp above 2.5 but 48 Nm below 2.5 (183 Nm) and 95 Nm below the 140 hp 2.8. Same 2800 cm³ and same badge as the 140 hp pair. Power rpm and torque rpm are not measured on the 112 hp pair.

Choose 2.5 MT or 2.5 AT if you want the four-cylinder, 95 fuel, multi-point 2471 cm³ engine. 92 hp / 68 kW at 4800 rpm, 183 Nm at 3200 rpm, 4 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, compression 8.3, 101.6 × 76.2. In 1 generation that package is RWD at 107 mm; in 2 generation it is FWD at 193 mm. Engine figures do not change between generations; drive and clearance do. 2.5 AT is Automatic 3; 2.5 MT is Manual 4.

Generation pick without naming an engine. RWD and 107 mm only exist in 1 generation (1977–1979). FWD and 193 mm only exist in 2 generation (1979–1984). 1979 can be either. 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984 Pontiac Phoenix cars in this catalogue are 2 generation only. 1977 and 1978 are 1 generation only.

Manual vs Automatic. Every engine appears once as MT (Manual, 4) and once as AT (Automatic, 3). Listed hp and Nm do not change with the gearbox in this data. Pick 3.8 MT, 5.0 MT, 2.5 MT, 2.8 MT 112 hp or 2.8 MT 140 hp for four ratios; pick the matching AT names for three.

Fuel grade as a filter. 2.5 versions specify 95. 2.8 versions specify 92. 3.8 and 5.0 specify 80.

There is no Ventura row in this dataset, so Pontiac Phoenix vs Ventura is not a numbered comparison here. Hood ornament, sale listings and asking prices are not in the data.

Short ranking by listed output only: 3.8 MT / 3.8 AT (150 hp, 285 Nm) first; 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT 140 hp (140 hp, 230 Nm) and 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT (140 hp, torque not measured) next; 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT 112 hp (112 hp, 135 Nm) after that; 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT (92 hp, 183 Nm) last on horsepower but above the 112 hp 2.8 on torque. Then apply the RWD/FWD and 107 mm / 193 mm split so the generation matches the chassis you actually want.