Based on what someone else posted in another thread, since most everyone has said in porevious posts on how Firebird/TA shouldn't come back as the same car mechanically to Camaro, what if Pontiac offered Firebird/TA with IRS, more luxurious items, softer ride with a base MSRP $3-4000 more than Camaro? This way GM can target two audiences with the same platform. I mean hell, Pontiac is supposed to be more upscale than Chevy anyways, so offer more standard options and offer Firebird that way.

I'd rather this not get into another IRS/Live axle debate, or that Camaro should have it too. ( A Z28 could have it for example) But whenever Firebird was ever brought up as a potential 5th gen, almost every shot it down saying Camaro should be the only one. I obviosuly realize that his is CAMAROZ28.COM, and as such has more Camaro enthusiasts here, but I'm just throwing this out there to see if it would make a good business case to do. Camaro could retain the bang for your buck performance while the 'Bird/TA moves more upscale? What do you all think?

 

I'd suspect that this is the only way Firebird would return.

Although I only doubt we'll see another Firebird, I think it's given that Trans Am will never ever return. GM has to pay a royalty on each car that bears the name.

 

At that rate it moves into the same slot as the GTO.

 

Ah, just the guy I was hoping would respond. Guy, would you happen to know how much of a royalty GM has to pay for each car to use the Trans AM name? I remember reading somewhere it was $10 per car, but I'm not sure how long ago that was or if it was throughout the life of the Trans Am model. Because if it's not too much, why not just add it on to the MSRP? Being a Trans Am man myself, I'd gladly pay for it. (kind of along the same lines as everyone here wanting the Camaro name).

And Mako, yeah I do realize it'd be creeping up into GTO pricing, but ehre's a thought I have. Move GTO up even further, sort of the Corvette for Pontiac with the Firebird right below. Chevy has/had both Vette and Camaro so why couldn't Pontiac? But actually make the GTO worth it (not saying that at its current pricing it isn't). Guy, your thoughts on this?

 

Its a great idea, one that I think would work better than the combination of Camaro and GTO alone. I posted an opinion thread about this on GMinsidenews. Here's the link if anyone wants to read it and make suggestions.
http://forums.gminsidenews.com/showthread.php?t=13692

 

$5 per car paid to the SCCA. It may have gone up in later years, but it would take me a while to find out unless Red Planet drops by.

When GM 1st made the agreement, they only expected to sell 1000 or less per year over a few years, or a mere $5,000 or so per year. By 1978, Trans Am sold over 70,000 cars & it cost GM $350,000.

They planned to get out of that by calling the 3rd gen top Firebird the T/A. All early publicity shots of the 1983 Pontiac Trans Am has "T/A" decals on the side.

 

Guy: I'll go out and say it's $100 per car for the name just for arguments sake, why couldn't GM just tack that on the MSRP? I doubt anyone would notice or care. Now say if was $1000 or more, then I could see some people unwilling to pay for it. And if it still is $5-10, that's nothing.

 

firebird is dead forever.

 

Give up. Firebird is dead. The GTO is here to replace the upscale RWD V8 slot it held. A boy racer looking Firebird with a snarling V8 does not fit into the more upscale future image Pontiac wishes to hold for itself.

 

That's our logic. You gotta think like an accountant.

To an accountant who's task it is to find ways to squeeze money out for the company will look at it like: "Hey, we're going to sell 50,000 of these performance versions anyway, so if we forgo naming it 'Trans Am', we don't have to pay $100 per car to the SCCA. That saves us $5 million dollars!"

Guess which way the company will decide.

At least if Bob Lutz is around & that decision's made, he'll make the case to invest it in better interiors or put towards an IRS. Without Lutz, you can bet Rick Wagoner will put it towards GM's bottom line.

 

I believe the contract was a $5 per car fee for using the name for the life of the model, so I don't think it went up over the years. Since Trans Am is no longer used, and if GM brought it back I am sure GM would have to negotiate a new more costly contract to use the name.

Anyways I am sure that GM passed the $5 fee on to the purchasers of a new Trans Ams, so over the years the use of the name didn't "cost" GM anything.

 

But what if the Firebird came back and wasn't "boy-racer" looking? ( God I hate that term too Ramune) Everyone is making assumptions that it has to be this extremely radical, aggressive design. Hey, it could come back with a sleek, aggressive look that isn't too "loud" for Pontiac's new "image".

And maybe Camaro enthusiasts should just give up hope too then. Seems to me that right now GM can't come up with a suitable chassis for Camaro that will allow it to be inexpensive and able to compete with Mustang. Maybe GM should just abandon this market all together, and say to hell with Camaro as well. Maybe Camaro guys should just give up, the new Camaro won't compete anyways.

P.S. Just playing devil's advocate, I'm pulling for a top notch Camaro return as well as everyone else. It's just that it gets disheartening to see the level of disrespect that Firebird gets here. And I know, I know, this is a Camaro site, but still, Firebird is an F-body with as deep a following as Camaro.

 

I'd rather see a firebird return not as more expensive car, but as a car with a unique identity and a higher level of technology.. maybe a high output DOHC V6 (maybe even a turbo) and perhaps something like RX8 style doors. Is it a firebird? I dunno, but I'd rather see that than the same car with only body panel differences.

 

Werm: I've mentioned this several times as well, to make Firebird different from Camaro. I've suggested AWD, Turbo V6/V8, different suspension set up, more GT car than straight line bruiser etc. All I get is it'll be too expensive, Firebird is dead, etc. I honestly think that if Pontiac offered Firebird in thsi package it could sell if done right.

 

Actually I think it's a good idea.

However, it's begining to look like you are describing the future Buick coupe.