REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Burn Rubber

We have not had the privilege of living in that hallowed era when the fuel flowed like water into the Holley carburators of the big V8 engines, and we could impress our friends (and the girls) by squealing the rear tires until they almost burst. A tip for nostalgic car owners: Pontiac still produces a model guaranteed to bring back those glory days: the Firebird. And it promises, as one of the most extreme models available, to resuscitate your wild youth.Unless the unexpected happens, the Boisbriand plant in Quebec will soon stop production of the Pontiac Firebird and its twin, the Chevrolet Camaro, within a few months. Before the guillotine blade drops, the Firebird is still on the road, with a new bag full of innovations every year, to help fans forget that its end is near.

So what do people think of the Firebird? It ’ s certainly not attractive. But it is fascinating, even though it resembles a caricature of the 1960 ’ s idea of the car of the future, with its large tires and false air ducts on the hood. Devoid of all refinement, the lines of this Pontiac are frankly aggressive, flashy, and even monstrous, but that ’ s exactly what its fans are looking for.

The wide and heavy doors (be careful not to scrape them on the sidewalk, this car is low) open onto a surprisingly narrow cockpit given the model’s exterior dimensions. There is more headroom in the convertible or coupe—almost enough to wear a toque with a pom-pom. Into the bargain, the two small bucket seats in the rear are good only for well-behaved children who are old enough not to need a child’s seat (it ’ s much too narrow) and who are willing to travel without their favourite toys. The front passenger will wonder about the strange bump at his or her feet (for your information, it’s the catalyzer), while the driver must cope with a restrained visibility (the rear upright panels are unfortunately not transparent), which makes it particularly difficult to negotiate certain manoeuvres, even thought the turning radius is good. And whether you expect it or not, the Firebird is intimidating for whoever is found at the controls.

The driver ’ s seat is very low and the shift knob is enormous, while the steering wheel is extraordinarily slim. And what can we say about the trunk, except that the sill is high and it’s barely able to take on three bags of groceries. Small appetites are recommended! What ’ s more, the quality of manufacturing is questionable. It may be tempting to blame the Boisbriand factory workers for the sometimes rushed assembly of some parts, but you have to admit that the base design simply lacks refinement.When you get behind the wheel, there’s some good news and some bad news. The engine, a 5,7-litre V8, provides 325 horses and 350 pound-feet of torque in its Ram Air version (that is, its most oxygenated version), and this despite its simplistic technology.

And it ’ s got legs. Its formidable torque catapults you around tight turns with disconcerting ease. Acceleration is astounding, but stops short of violent. But if the Trans AM Ram Air engine lacks refinement, what can be said for its enormous and heavy chassis, which stresses bulk rather than up-to-date automotive technology? Overall, it ’ s clear that the convertible (the coupe is a about fifty kg lighter) weighs more than a tonne and a half on the scales. But the relationship between weight and power remains impressive.

On the road, the big V8 puts out a sort of smothered growl that is not unpleasant in the least. But at low and medium speeds, the Firebird can not be confused for a silent car, especially with the top off. The Trans AM ’ s behaviour on dry roads in good condition is decent. Tires grip like Velcro and the steering system has all the precision of a heart surgeon. On the other end of the spectrum, the six-speed manual transmission requires a hand and foot of tempered steel and you need healthy kidneys to help you absorb the effects of bumpy road, considering the non-existent vibration of the suspension parts. The automatic transmission, preferred by consumers, is better adapted, but the V8′s torque makes shifting a bit brutal. There’s no question that the tamer 3.8-litre, 200 horsepower V6 is a better idea for anyone looking for a car that makes day-to-day life as easy as possible.

This coupe’s tendency to oversteer (the rear fishtails) has been reduced with the addition of much-needed antiskid technology, designed to limit the frequent loss of control of the rear-driven wheels. But when you disconnect from this electric crutch, the rear starts to swing like only Ricky Martin can. These spectacular skids can be exhausting in the long run. Luckily, they can be easily corrected with the steering wheel and accelerator.

Lastly, considering the power of the beast, one would have expected better braking efficiency and a softer, easier to control pedal.

 Those who remain nostalgic (or incorrigible) for American-style racing will find comfort at the wheel of this speedster, and relive sensations from the past. For the rest of us, the car will solicit the desire to set off on an unbridled adventure…

PROS
Performance of the V8
Solid road handling
ell adapted automatic transmission

CONS
Cramped interior
 Jumpy and stiff suspension
Brakes lack bite

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * *