GTO vs. Firebird Trans AM WS6

Me and a co-worker our having a disagreement over two cars, which both our Pontiacs. You see I favor the Pontiac Firebird Trans AM WS6 because it's faster in my opinion and more sportier looking. My co-worker like's the new Pontiac GTO because he says that it's styling looks more up to date with the times, it's interior is much better than the Firebird, and has more HP and TQ. So what do you guys think, if somebody was going to give you one of the two cars which would you rather have and for what reasons?

Pontiac Firebird Trans AM WS6
5.7L 8-Cylinder
325HP@5200RPM
350TQ@4000RPM
6-Speed Manual
3510Lbs

vs.

Pontiac GTO
5.7L 8-Cylinder
350HP@5200RPM
360TQ@4000RPM
6-Speed Manual
3730Lbs

Yes. the GTO makes 25 HP. It also weighs 200 lbs more, and is ultimatly slower in the 1/4. The only reason the GTO has better interior, is because its australian (Think about it, get in a GTO, and see which side the radio power button, and tuner button are on). So yes, the WS6 Is the winner, imo, and would be my choice.

i would probably choose the gto. it looks better imo and it is not as much "muscle car" as the ws6. and muscle cars don't appeal to me.

I'd have the GTO any day. While it lacks the "badass appeal" of the Firebird, it most certainly is a very nice looking car, handling should be better in the GTO- I'm not sure what chassis tweaks were made in the Americanisation of the Monaro, so don't hold me to that.

But the winner has to be the Interior (If they use a VY Interior instead of the hideous VX one in the GTO) of the GTO- The VY interior looks unspeakably good next to a Firebird one, I'm sorry.

Just so you know, the GTO doesn't have 25 horses on the WS6, they both have about the same, they both have the same LS1 engine, which was under-rated in the Firebird.

Just so you know, the GTO doesn't have 25 horses on the WS6, they both have about the same, they both have the same LS1 engine, which was under-rated in the Firebird.
Last time I checked, the WS6 came stock with 325hp and the GTO 350. Maybe my math skills are a bit off...

Just so you know, the GTO doesn't have 25 horses on the WS6, they both have about the same, they both have the same LS1 engine, which was under-rated in the Firebird.

Just because a car has the same engine doesn't mean that they have the same horsepower. The regular Trans AM also uses the LS1 and it's rated at 310HP I believe, now are you going to tell me it, really has the same power too, or what about the ZO6, so basically what your saying is that the Firebird Trans AM, Firebird Trans AM WS6, Camaro Z28, Camaro Z28 SS, Corvette, Corvette ZO6, and GTO all have similiar HP/TQ figures just because they have the same LS1 engine and GM is just underrating some? The LS1 engine is a great engine that can be tuned to make various HP/TQ figures, it reminds me of the 3.5L Nissan engine that makes 287HP, 280HP, 260HP, 255HP, and 240HP, so is Nissan lying and all these cars make the same HP because they use the same engine. Look don't get me wrong, I know of plenty cars that have been underrated in the HP department, one's that come to mind are the SRT-4 which is rated at 230HP but has been dynoed at 230HP to the wheels, the Skyline GT-R which really makes over 300 flywheel HP, and the LT1 Camaros and Firebirds which really made over 300HP to the flywheel, but I'm not sure if this is the case with these cars.

Z06 is LS6, not LS1 first off, rated @405.
LS1 in GTO, C5, or Camaro, Firebird, etc is THE SAME engine. just like the 3800 series II (the GM 3.8) is the same... in every car it makes 200HP. Grand Prix (non-supercharged) base Camaro, Impala, etc. You know what, you are right, the WS6 and the regular Trans AM are pretty much the same... do you know what WS6 is, well, for the most part it makes the car a limited edition and upgrades the appearence. All LS1 F-bodies dyno 330-345 @ the Wheels, many higher than C5's are dynoing. The only performance upgrade on the WS6/SS is exhaust. GM DOES under-rate them to give people a reason to spend 15K more on a Corvette. Also, while you will see 15HP gains from exhuast on a Trans Am, you'll prolly only see about 7 on a WS6... and now that both cars have the same exhaust they will dyno THE SAME, and THE SAME as a C5 which has a better exhaust.

Don't get me wrong I do believe and know the WS6 is faster, but it's not always just about HP/TQ figures.

no. its about power:weight.

FYI, just b/c it's the same motor, doesn't mean it can't have more power than in the f-body car.

and joseph also noted that the f-bodied cars were underrated, so the power is even closer.

but at the ratings above, 325, and 350, the gto weighing in at 200lbs. heavier will completely negate its advantage of 25hp.

so we're at square one.

consider that rhys millen removed 900lbs. from his gto drift car...
so it's not hard to get rid of the weight...

Well thought about it, and something just doesn't add up. Ok if the GTO makes 25 more HP, but weighs 200Lbs more than the Firebird, then shouldn't there 1/4 mile times be similiar, but they are not. The only answer should be that the Firebird is making more horsepower than rated. So been checking on what other Firebird owners have been dynoing at stock, and seems that most dyno at over 300WHP stock, usually between 310WHP and 330WHP, so yeah that makes sense. If the GTO and Firebird WS6 both had similiar HP, but the GTO weighed 200Lbs more, that would make the Firebird quicker. So yeah I guess that some LS1 engines are underrated. I don't know how Motor Trend tested one so low, guess it depends on what dyno you go to.

one reason they underrate some of the cars like camaros and firebirds is for insurance. if the car is rated 30 hp under, the insurance companies will make it slighty more affordable. the vettes dont get underrated because the assume if you can afford a $50000 car, insurance isnt a problem.

i'm sure that EVERYONE is aware of the insurance side of the ratings...
not to mention that it looks better when your car is making more power than you expected when you dyno.
but that's besides the point...

So you guys get what I was saying... ask anybody in the Camaro forum.

Last time I checked the GTO was in the mid to low 14's..The WS6 can hit low 13's high 12..

You guys and your power to weight :shakehead There is a whole lot more in play then that in determining a cars performance.













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yea, but considering we are comparing two cars with IDENTICAL drivetrains, the ONLY difference is their weight.

in straight line?
no, there's not much more...
suspension is important, yes...

but in a STRAIGHT line, power to weight is hella important...

but of course, who would say it's not an issue, but a guy who has a car that is definitely *heavy* in the weight side of that ratio... ;)

power to weight is part of the reason that cars like the lotus (caterham) super 7 is so quick in straight lines, and the elise...
both of which have under 200hp, and have 0-60 times equal/better than cars with twice that power...

yea, but considering we are comparing two cars with IDENTICAL drivetrains, the ONLY difference is their weight.

Really? The tires are the same? Weight distribution is the same? Air resistance is the same? ..... :rolleyes:













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Ok, but y do you have to be a nitpicker like that, damn... basically the same.

Ok, but y do you have to be a nitpicker like that, damn... basically the same.

Sorry if it came off a bit too nit picky. I've read to many threads where people got hung up on the weight of the cars without taking other things into account. Even with cars that are basically the same as you said, have differences that contribute to different times. Believe me - owning a VR4 has left me reminding people quite often that there is a lot more at play. :smile:













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No... if you have read my posts and gotten to know me, you will know I am a very exact person as well, so I can appreciate what you said... But for the most part, the both have the Same LS1, same T-56 tranny, and the same GU6 LSD rear. Of course then the Firebird is faster, it is lighter, more areodynamic, prolly has a stiffer suspension (better for launches), as for tires, I think they both have 16s not sure of width though.

Trans am for me. Looks a whole lot better.

Trans Am. I can't stand the new GTO, and the Trans Am is quicker.

I'd have a hard time choosing one over the other. From a pure performance perspective, the Trans-Am is the way to go. Lighter (even if only by 200lbs) and the solid rear axle suspension is actually a proven killer on road courses (just ask Grand Am Cup GS1 competitors who were staring at Trans-Am taillights up until the Sunoco team got Z06 Corvettes). However, by no means is the GTO a slouch. It's fairly nimble for a car of its size (not to mention you cannot compare the ride quality of a GTO against that of the Trans-Am) and there's plenty of acceleration and braking for anyone.

The styling is a matter of taste, and can waver from day to day. The Trans-Am is an extrovert. It's scoops and spoilers from here to Timbuktu. The GTO is much more understated. It's very clean and presentable. The Trans-Am is for the drive-in. The GTO for the country club.

Hell, they're both so relatively inexpensive compared to other cars in their class that you should just have one of each in your driveway.

No... if you have read my posts and gotten to know me, you will know I am a very exact person as well, so I can appreciate what you said... But for the most part, the both have the Same LS1, same T-56 tranny, and the same GU6 LSD rear. Of course then the Firebird is faster, it is lighter, more areodynamic, prolly has a stiffer suspension (better for launches), as for tires, I think they both have 16s not sure of width though.
The Tranmission, diff and engine is where the similarities end. The Suspension is chalk and cheese, the GTO is light years ahead in fit and finish, the GTO's ride quality is far better on crap roads than a TA, the interior of the GTO goes for luxury over crap plastics, Air con and a Radio.

Etcetera, etcetera.

Yes... this is what I said, but the Firebird is the true performer if you are buying the car for that reason, the GTO is a purchase for a powerful monster that is still able to haul kids, groceries, etc.