I am looking into a 99-02 SS or Trans Am. Besides body, they r pretty much the same car right?? Any differences that make one just a little bit better than the other. Now I am a chevy man all the way, but I do like the aggressive look of the TA. So if the only difference is the body, then it is an easy decision. Thank You for any help you can give me.

 

Anyone Out There?????

 

Well you'd have to compare the SS against the WS.6. The Trans Am's "cousin" is the Z28. I hope that makes sense?

 

That does make sense. I've never really looked at TA before so i didn't know that. Well then lets say an SS & WS6

 

there is no tangible performance differance between a ws6 and ss just like there is little or no difference performance wise between a z28 and a t/a. ws6 has ram air and ss doesnt but that is mainly a looks deal. Im looking for a ta or z28 and i look for whatever i find the best deal on, i could care less which one i end up buying.

 

One wears the Pontiac Badge, the other the Chevrolet.

That's really about it. They both have the LS1 motor, which can be equally modded.

 

... doesnt the TA/WS6 generally have a higher curb weight because it comes with more standard equipment?

also.. i've heard the Ram Air on the WS6 is a bit more effective than the functional scoop on the SS.. because the SS's scoop routes it through ducts in the hood from the back of the hood to the front of the airbox.. and when the hood gets warm, that air gets warm, and thus defeats the purpose of the scoop

by contrast, the WS6's scoop is directly in front of the airbox and get's cool air directly into it

 

WS6 (and all 4th-gen Firebirds) has popup headlights. Headlight motors fail eventually, guaranteed. Buy an SS.

If you're buying an M6, try to get an '01 or '02, because they upgraded to the C5 Z06 clutch for those years. They also upgraded the intake manifold in '01, and the horsepower is a touch higher because of it.

 

"Anyone Out There?????"

wow...you waited a whole 8 mins to post that...patient aren't we?

:blah:

 

i thinks its gonna be mostly preference......the cars are almost identical performance/ potential-wise like the other guys said you just gotta decide which one you would rather drive, which interior you prefer, etc. also which car you can find out there with the lowest miles, least amount of owners/mods, and for the cheapest amount of money. ask the guys in the drivetrain forum about wear and tear on trannies and clutches on the M6's also.

 

My thoughts. One wears a bowtie the other a dart.

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I guess it will be on which one i like better in person.

 

When I was looking for an f-body I didn't really have a major preference between a Z28 or T/A, but I did favor the Camaro a little bit more and that is what I bought and got a hell of a deal on it as well. If it was a Formula and a T/A and I was able to get the same deal on it then I would have bought the Formula or T/A as well.

 

Off-topic, but if you're calling the Pontiac logo a "dart", you'd be wrong. (I'd imagine) it's an arrowhead, seeing how the word Pontiac was taken from an Ottawa Indian chief, known as "Pontiac"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac

 

The real differences between 4th-gen Camaros and Firebirds, aside from the obvious visual stuff:

The 500w Monsoon audio system was available sooner on Firebirds than it was on Camaros. Firebirds had a 10-speaker version, Camaros never had more than 8.

Firebirds have adjustable headrests; Camaros are fixed.

Firebirds have popup headlights.

Firebirds have power antennas (optional, I think); Camaros never had them.

I don't have any firsthand experience, but I'd be willing to bet that the Trans Am high-rise wing obstructs rear visibility more than the SS spoiler.

Firebirds have "speed holes" in the sideview mirrors.

That's all I can think of. This thread has some good info too.