GTO vs. Firebird Trans AM WS6

[3000ways]

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

[CamaroSSBoy346]

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.

[freakonaleash1187]

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.

[Jimster]

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.

[Joseph1082]

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.

[jon@af]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

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...

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

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.

[Joseph1082]

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.

[3000ways]

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

[flylwsi]

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...

[3000ways]

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.

[matt11583]

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.

[flylwsi]

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...

[Joseph1082]

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

[pre98zetec]

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