Firebird

[JoansDriver]

I wonder if it'd be possible for GM to revive the Firebird? Don't bring back the entire Pontiac line, just the firebird, and perhaps the GTO as a sports specific line within GM.

Because man, how sweet would it be to see that running beside you on the strip?

[Lumix]

Originally Posted by JoansDriver

I wonder if it'd be possible for GM to revive the Firebird? Don't bring back the entire Pontiac line, just the firebird, and perhaps the GTO as a sports specific line within GM.

Because man, how sweet would it be to see that running beside you on the strip?

I love good ideas...
Unfortunately, it ain't gonna happen.

[SnowVert]

I'd rather see the solstice or sky brought back. We need a good domestic roadster

[JoansDriver]

Originally Posted by SnowVert

I'd rather see the solstice or sky brought back. We need a good domestic roadster

Not a fan. Barely a step up from a Miata.

[SnowVert]

Originally Posted by JoansDriver

Not a fan. Barely a step up from a Miata.

And a firebird is a camaro with different clothes... I'd rather see something offered that would be completely different from anything else they currently make.

[ChrisBlair]

Originally Posted by JoansDriver

Not a fan. Barely a step up from a Miata.

I traded in my 2007 Solstice GXP for my Camaro. Ever drive a Sol GXP?

In addition to being gorgeous, the car has a nice chassis, 49/51 weight distribution, and with a full factory warranty behind it, you can have the car make 290 bhp and 340 lb/ft, and that's from a 2.0L 4 cylinder. Chassis feels like a hardtop even with the roof down. Since it's RWD, there's no vibration through the wheel. The car feels like a mild V8 powers it. With VVT and variable vaen turbo, there is zero turbo lag. My Sol GXP was a little rocket and had nice tech like sodium filled valves. The LS3's tech? Roller cam? OK, I like it just fine and I like the LS3 too because I'm a pushrod V8 fan. But that's all we get?

Look at the torque curves and do the math, comparing the 1SS Camaro and the Sol GXP with the factory upgrades. It approaches the power to weight ratio of a 1SS, and the torque curve of the LS3 is peaky by comparison; the LNF's torque curve is flat flat flat to redline unless you have the factory upgrade, in which case it just goes up until redline. The Solstice GXP with the GMPP upgrade has more torque available in relation to weight at most any rpm, under the curve, than the 1SS. The 1SS has more torque in raw numbers but let's face it, we all live under the curve. That's while getting 25 mpg around town and 31 on the highway.

The solstice shifter doesn't look like a gimp mask, either, and the shifts are crisp, unlike the stick-in-the-mud manual in my Camaro

My 2007 Solstice GXP would outrun my 1SS Camaro at any stoplight grand prix. The Camaro's long legs in second gear would make it win at the 1/4 mile track though. On a road course, I don't feel the Camaro has any advantage over my old GXP because in my opinion, the LS3 is way too peaky and needs more torque at lower rpms to get our overweight Camaros moving.

Don't like the Solstice all you like but 'barely a step up from a Miata'? You never drove one, my friend

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by JoansDriver

I wonder if it'd be possible for GM to revive the Firebird? Don't bring back the entire Pontiac line, just the firebird, and perhaps the GTO as a sports specific line within GM.

Because man, how sweet would it be to see that running beside you on the strip?

The only way they could do that is create a new brand like Chrysler did with the SRT brand. The could call it GMP for General Motors Performance. Any new performance car would have that designation. They talked at one time splitting the Vette off from Chevy to allow any GM division sell it. This could be the way.

Originally Posted by SnowVert

I'd rather see the solstice or sky brought back. We need a good domestic roadster

That won't happen because GM lost money on every Sky and Solstice they sold. If they had been highly profitable I could have seen GM moving one of them with a few styling changes to another division. But since they were not profitable and were just halo cars for their divisions they were allowed to die.

[JoansDriver]

Originally Posted by ChrisBlair

I traded in my 2007 Solstice GXP for my Camaro. Ever drive a Sol GXP?

In addition to being gorgeous, the car has a nice chassis, 49/51 weight distribution, and with a full factory warranty behind it, you can have the car make 290 bhp and 340 lb/ft, and that's from a 2.0L 4 cylinder. Chassis feels like a hardtop even with the roof down. Since it's RWD, there's no vibration through the wheel. The car feels like a mild V8 powers it. With VVT and variable vaen turbo, there is zero turbo lag. My Sol GXP was a little rocket and had nice tech like sodium filled valves. The LS3's tech? Roller cam? OK, I like it just fine and I like the LS3 too because I'm a pushrod V8 fan. But that's all we get?

Look at the torque curves and do the math, comparing the 1SS Camaro and the Sol GXP with the factory upgrades. It approaches the power to weight ratio of a 1SS, and the torque curve of the LS3 is peaky by comparison; the LNF's torque curve is flat flat flat to redline unless you have the factory upgrade, in which case it just goes up until redline. The Solstice GXP with the GMPP upgrade has more torque available in relation to weight at most any rpm, under the curve, than the 1SS. The 1SS has more torque in raw numbers but let's face it, we all live under the curve. That's while getting 25 mpg around town and 31 on the highway.

The solstice shifter doesn't look like a gimp mask, either, and the shifts are crisp, unlike the stick-in-the-mud manual in my Camaro

My 2007 Solstice GXP would outrun my 1SS Camaro at any stoplight grand prix. The Camaro's long legs in second gear would make it win at the 1/4 mile track though. On a road course, I don't feel the Camaro has any advantage over my old GXP because in my opinion, the LS3 is way too peaky and needs more torque at lower rpms to get our overweight Camaros moving.

Don't like the Solstice all you like but 'barely a step up from a Miata'? You never drove one, my friend

Not looking to be converted, friend.

[Butcher]

Originally Posted by JoansDriver

Not a fan. Barely a step up from a Miata.

Really? Ever hear of the Mallet Solstice? With a little bit of work, it was "barely a step down" from a 427 Cobra.

[flyer08]

GM performance team like srt would be nice. Id sell my ss for the right Trans am

[TheHorse13]

A retro version of the 1960s GTO would be interesting. That thing they produced in the mid 2000s was just awful.

[GearheadSS]

Originally Posted by TheHorse13

A retro version of the 1960s GTO would be interesting. That thing they produced in the mid 2000s was just awful.

The only thing wrong with the last gen GTO was that they called it a GTO. If it had been called something else, it would have been a bigger success. It didn't look like a GTO, imo. It was a great car though.

[GearheadSS]

As for bringing back the Firebird, I'm all for it but it'll never happen without the Pontiac brand being revived. You could never have a Pontiac brand with just one or two cars either. It would never make any money.

[stlrammer]

The 2006 GTO was an awesome car and bridged the gap for me between my 2001 Z28 and 2010 SS.