He has legitimate points.

There are specific instances where Firebird has been the top performer (SD T/A, Turbo T/A, etc) and Firebird does have more famous media roles (Rockford Files, Knight Rider, Smokey and the Bandit, etc)

It doesn't have to turn into a pissing match... so please don't do so.

 

Skyline is based on RWD...Mitsu 3000GT/Dodge Stealth were based on a FWD platform.

 

Now, I admit I have only read to page 5 here in this thread, and have no concept what has been talked about for the last 5 pages...but here is my take. Here is what is FACT:

1) Coupe sales are down, real down. And it is not due to lack of new products. Its a trend. Sebring and Stratus Coupes? Not cancelled because they were selling! Solaras? Amazed Toyota makes them at all...I'm impressed. But they don't sell much. Grand Prixs only sold 20% coupes in '02, down from 68% in '89.

2) Why make 2 cars nearly identical when one is less expensive for GM, and can probably carry the same sales numbers as two different lines? Will Firebird owners NOT buy a Camaro, if it is a good car, solely because it is NOT a Firebird? Right....

3) Is there room at GM for a MC SS, Camaro, GTO and Firebird? Probably not. There IS overlap with a GTO and a Firebird. Overlap not needed. It is also fair to say there would be overlap with Chevy, too. So why can Chevy have 2 coupes and Pontiac one in this segment? Chevy sells more cars!!

4) Camaro has more brand recognition and street presence than a Firebird does.

Its hard to argue with any of that...now here is what I THINK...

1) A distinct Firebird would be a compliment to the marque.

2) There is NO POINT to have 2 pony cars, when pony car sales are down.

3) Firebirds already has significant brand recognition as a Pontiac sports car...Solstice? Say what?

4) Pontiac should have the right, and the respect from GM, to build more than a warmed-over Chevy. Solstice will be their chance. Adding "Firebird" to it I think not only builds upon Pontiac heritage, but gives them bragging rights.

At first, I thought the idea was crazy....now? I say go for it...

 

this thread is turning into a highschool discussion on which ricer is better than the other.

 

Some years...not always. A well driven LT-1 Camaro never needed to fear a T/A...until the '73 SD.

The 9,000 or so '79 T/A 6.6 cars ruled the street.

The '80/'81 Turbo T/A were nothing more than Z/28 bait when they came out.

An equivalent 3rd gen Camaro was always faster than a Firebird...due to a more restrictive intake...except on '89 Turbo T/A...and the handful of 3rd gen Firehawks.

Look.....I like Firebirds alot....please refer to my previous posts. I don't want to get into a Camaro vs Firebird pissing match over this. That's ridiculous. I did enough of that in the late '70s, when the cars each had their own identities.....and there was something to argue about. There hasn't been anything to argue about on this subject for over 20 years....THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT! T*H*E*Y* _ A*R*E_ T*H*E_ S*A*M*E !

I hope that one day Firebird returns. But if it's no different than Camaro .....what's the point?

From the sound of it, it seems like some of you guys just want to keep the 'Bird dead.

I'd like to see it reborn.

 

Same goes for the 1st Gen against the Firebird and Camaros are almost always lighter. It went back and forth, you can also say the same for handling, most of the time Camaros had higher G numbers and handled better (rougher too) but I'm sure there was some exceptions. Camaros have been used alot on media too but they don't need it because they are way more popular and sell alot more which is maybe why Firebirds get more *real* special editions.

 

I knew sooner or later, this'd turn into a camaro vs firebird debate.

Z284ever, that's a shocker...the 3000GT being based off a Fwd platform. I'd have never guessed. Kind of explains why they went AWD with the high performance Vr-4 TT models.

 

There was a point when I was thinking about getting a Stealth R/T(non turbo, that's all I could afford) but then I learned it was fwd and it was basically a Mitsubishi and I killed that idea quick.

The piont of the Firebird returning when it is SIMILAR to the Camaro, not the same, is that it gives the enthusiast other choices when buying a car. They were never the same, different exterior, interior, wheels. Yes the mechanicals are the same but the point is more choces and the oportunity for more people to like the product. They can also be customized in different ways. I made a post like this a few weeks ago saying the same thing. If the Camaro stands alone in this class, then it need to have more variety to pick up the slack left by the missing Firebird. It would be kinda nice to have a Camaro and Firebird that is differentiated from each other in drivetrain(if they were in the same segment), but who will take the lower performance position? Camaro sure as hell doesn't want that and the people at Pontiac don't want to play second fiddle to a Chevy.

Add me to the list that if the Firebird name does not go on a car that is V8, rwd, then just let it die and be remembered for what it was.