Letter from the F-Body Mailing list from: Tom Shook
Several f-buds asked for info from the March 98 "Car and Drive" road test of a Trans Am Firehawk (pp.69-71). Short summary follows:
They compared the suspension setups for the base Formula/Trans Am, the WS6 Ram Air, and the SLP Firehawk which has 3 levels of suspension performance options. The road test was conducted on a Trans Am Firehawk, 6 speed, and the Level II Performance Suspension (Level III recommended for racing). They also had the optional Auburn differential ($899) with 3:42 gears. It did not have traction control.
Firehawk ratings:
327 bhp at 5200 rpm
345 lb-ft at 4000 rpm
[the additional 7 hp over the WS6 Ram-Air comes from the SLP low restriction exhaust - no increase in torque]
They put the car through "eight punishing quarter mile runs, the best
two of which averaged to 13.5 seconds at 106 mph. Then we drove it 15 miles
at a top speed of 158 mph. Sprints to 60 mph took five seconds flat."
For comparison they list a stock Trans Am at 0-60 in 5.3 secs, and the quarter in 13.9 sec at 104 mph.
The WU6 Firehawk package lists at $3999.
[compared to the WS6 package which lists for $3100]
Base Trans Am listed at $26,500. List price of Firehawk as tested with all options: $33,878.
They say that SLP only expects to produce about 500 Firehawks in 1998.
Bottom line the folks at Car and Drive seemed most impressed with the overall package: good looks, good performance, good handling, good ride, and nice sound.
Given the recent list discussions on F-Body future C&D said it best:
"Superlative performance, distinctive looks, and exlusivity make the Firehawk the most potent weapon in GM's pony-car arsenal. Too bad potent
weapons don't seem to win the sales war in this segment."
Tom
94 T/A. M6
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