1997 Pontiac Firebird Review

1997 Pontiac Firebird

Pimped-out bird.

by: Dan Jedlicka

The storied Trans Am has been at the top of General Motors' hot car list since it debuted in 1967 as an upscale version of the then-new Chevrolet Camaro.

The $27,364 Trans Am convertible is the sportiest version of the car, which also comes as a much less costly $21,414 coupe. But the price difference doesn't seem so dramatic when you consider that the Trans Am soft top will have more resale value--and that it offers the extra driving kicks that only convertibles can.

Moreover, the slick power convertible top, which has a glass rear window, doesn't detract from the car's appearance when in the raised position--although its wide rear sides block driver visibility to the rear.

Both Trans Am models are serious machines, with a 285-horsepower V-8 hooked to either a six-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic.

The automatic works fine with the 5.7-liter V-8, but is tuned more for smooth shifting than performance. The manual, which can be a nuisance in heavy traffic, results in quicker acceleration.

Figure on 0-60 m.p.h. in just 6.5 seconds and a reported top speed of nearly 160 m.p.h., even with the $790 automatic.

One doesn't buy a Trans Am for fuel economy, but it delivers an estimated, noteworthy 26 m.p.g. on the highway with the manual and 25 with the automatic. You can thank the overdrive gears for that economy; they help the engine just loaf at 65 m.p.h.

Economy in the city only is 16 with manual and 17 with the automatic; after all, the Trans Am convertible is a big, 3,605-pound car that takes a lot of fuel to get moving from stop signs.

Despite its size and weight, the Trans Am convertible has a cramped cockpit--and the front passenger-side floor has a space-eating bulge caused by a catalytic converter. The rear seat is strictly for kids and pets, although you can flip the rear seatbacks forward for more cargo room. The oddly shaped trunk offers little space.

The rear-drive Trans Am's power steering felt sluggish until I inflated the car's underinflated tires to manufacturer specifications. It's easy to accidentally activate the steering wheel radio controls and suddenly find yourself listening to a different station in the middle of a favorite song. Front seats are comfortable and the ride is surprisingly nice for such a good-handling car.

Braking is first-rate, but the $450 traction control system is almost a ``must'' if Trans Am owners plan to drive on slippery winter roads. The system isn't offered if the car has the optional $225 high performance P245/50ZR16 tires. Stay with the standard P245/50ZR16 all-weather performance tires and you can get traction control.

The interior is fairly quiet with the top up. Rigid body construction does away with most of the typical convertible shakes.

A long list of standard equipment ranges from dual air bags and anti-lock brakes to air conditioning, a killer sound system, remote keyless entry, and power windows and door locks.

Pontiac should bottle and sell the sexy exhaust sound.

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

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