The small things we critiqued, GSC has already addressed and plans to fix, such as the rear spoiler, which according to GSC, most everyone likes, but we found it just a little high for our liking. (GSC says it will be shaved by a few inches to make it look better from the back.) The dividers in each taillight will be taken out so they are a true one-piece design. Up front, the faux carbon Shaker will be made from real carbon-fiber.
As for performance, it's essentially a '10 Camaro SS with a supercharger, so you can imagine the potential. Unfortunately, our test car didn't have the proper fuel for testing, so it was a little down on power and the humid Florida air was as thick as a milkshake, further degrading performance. In spite of these issues, it was a very comfortable street car and performed quite well.
At the dragstrip, the T/A suffers from the same clutch we felt in the G8 GXP ("Quarter-Milestone," Nov. '09), so it was a careful dance of wheelspin incited by the supercharged LS3 or launching too low and bogging it. After more than six passes, neither Evan Smith nor I was able to find that "sweet spot" that we know is in there. With a drag radial, this car would be nasty on the 'strip.
I always get excited when I strap in to make a few laps around the road course. The anticipation was showing in my face as soon as I eased off the clutch and the 4,030-pound F-car pulled forward. I took it easy on my first lap so that I could get a feel for the car's grip and identify where the braking zones would be.
As I started to push the car harder, I noticed that it became a handful. The 22-inch wheels and tires, while visually stimulating, translated into poor communication to the driver. Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Tech Editor, Steve Baur, commented: "You could see the car sliding through the corners-22-inch wheels and tires don't really promote good handling."
Back inside, I could feel what he was saying. It certainly wasn't going to take home road-course glory, but it made up for it by feeling appropriately firm, with limited body roll, thanks to the KW Variant 1s.
The bright side of all of this was that the car was very fun to drive because of the taut suspension and slippery tires. On the down side, I was only able to get a couple of good laps out of it.
When it was all said and done and the photo shoot was over, I was happy to see and drive the car we had heard so much about-no longer a dream, it was a reality. While we may not ever see a Pontiac-made Firebird again, GSC has stepped up to the plate and is offering Pontiac fans a fill for the void in our lives. This T/A looks every bit as good as we could have hoped, and we think that the reaction from rubber-necking pedestrians and co-workers is a good indicator of just how cool this thing really is.
Keep the spirit of Pontiac alive.