CIDLTEL: 4th Gen Firebird

"El Rivinado" (joeman856) 12/11/2014 at 16:50 • Filed to: CIDLTEL

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Oh, this is gonna get brutal.

Hello guys, welcome back to Cars I don't like that Everyone likes, and today we're going to be looking at a target that pisses me off the more I see it. The 4th Gen Pontiac Firebird

This car, is one that inspires pure rage in me. Few cars can inspire rage in me, but this one does. (Trust me, the truly rage inducing cars will come at a later date.)

Now I know what your thinking, "How can you hate this? It's got so much horsepower, its a bargain, its one of the best values going right now" all of that is true, it does have a lot of horsepower, it is a bargain, but I don't care about that. Lots of cars have tons of horsepower, doesn't mean I automatically like them. So the horsepower arguments are irrelevant.

First off, look at this car.

Do you know how hard you have to try to make a car that doesn't look sick in black? Pretty damn hard.

This car looks so wrong, it's an embodiment of everything wrong with Pontiac's styling department after 1990, the unpleasant shape, the fake performance bits that don't do anything, and enough plastic cladding to submerge a Mattel factory. I know Pontiac used plastic body panels in the 80s as well, but most of the time that stuff wasn't as bad or tasteless. This just takes it too far, and check out that interior.

I never understood the hate for GM Interiors from that decade, I get it now.

So it looks ugly and has a bad interior, why should those be qualifiers for the hate I have for it? Easy, its what those represent that pisses me off.

As you all know both the Camaro and Firebird were the cheap horsepower alternatives to the Corvette, easy enough, but for some reason when the fourth gen came around, Chevy and Pontiac took cheap to a whole new level. Thus gave the catfish monstrosity of the 4th gen Camaro and this plastic clad thing. And it makes me mad.

Pontiac did not have to go this cheap, the 4th gen Firebird represents a certain level of laziness, and that's why I hate it. Firebird was Pontiac's most prestigious name, the name that defined who Pontiac was, I mean for god's sakes its a name that's achieved fame in two separate generations!

Admit it, you're drooling at both right now.

But where was that admiration and passion for the 4th Gen, it seemed like Pontiac just thought, "Well people like it, just make it go fast and slap the name on it and it'll sell!" but that's not how it works. And that's why I hate the 4th gen, it reeks of laziness, a hack job designed to appeal to people who like the nameplate and the mentality of "make it go fast, screw everything else" just angers me. In some ways it's why I can't get behind the revived GTO Pontiac made back in 2004, you need effort, not a nameplate, in order to make a good car.

So what about you guys, am I just some kook wishing for the good ol' days? or do you feel like Pontiac should've actually cared? Join me next time, when I decide to go a bit different and give my opinions on the generations of a car with a very storied history.

HammerheadFistpunch > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 16:45

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I don't care one way or the other with F bodies....i think they are a cheap ticket to manual horsepower...but you goina find that people are going to have opinions about em here.

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 16:47

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At least it isn't an automatic...

Bandit > HammerheadFistpunch 12/11/2014 at 16:48

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Do you mean me? :p

T5Killer > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 16:53

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UHHH that is a 2nd gen interior not the 3rd gen.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 16:57

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Buddy ya got the wrong interior pictured:

...not that that one is any better...

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 16:57

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It's not really pontiac's fault. It's the entire american auto industry at the time (Roger Smith era onward). IMO everything went massively downhill following Smith taking power. That's when the "make stuff cheaper" motto and the typical "gm culture" came into its next phase in life. Nobody in the industry gave a flying fuck. Look at ford's offerings, basically the exact same mustang design from 1978 through what, 2004?

Not related but look at this statement (I think about engineers or something) from 1985 spoken by one of the executive board members: " Why haven't we unleashed their potential? The answer is: the General Motors system. It's like a blanket of fog that keeps these people from doing what they know needs to be done. I come from an environment where, if you see a snake, you kill it. At GM, if you see a snake, the first thing you do is go hire a consultant on snakes. Then you get a committee on snakes, and then you discuss it for a couple of years. The most likely course of action is—nothing. You figure, the snake hasn't bitten anybody yet, so you just let him crawl around on the factory floor."

Takuro Spirit > T5Killer 12/11/2014 at 16:58

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*3rd not 4th.

Seriously though, 3rd gens are my favorite, but come with the worst interiors.

Bandit > T5Killer 12/11/2014 at 16:59

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Uhh... this is a 2nd gen interior (this is '80 or '81):

Bandit > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 12/11/2014 at 17:01

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I actually like it. I mean, the quality was shit, but the interface was simple and effective. Best A/C control design ever! The whole interior of the 4th gen was a major improvement over the overly disappointing 3rd gen.

DoYouEvenShift > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:06

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Neat post!

I have 2 LS1 TAs! Lotsa fun!!

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:06

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Last comment, I promise. That's not a real Special Edition. It has the wrong interior, the one in the car is the standard base model interior. In 1977 they had the horse collar seats.

T5Killer > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:07

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I love the 4th gen and would own one over the Camaro any time. Its the only 4th gen that looks good. Its a bit over styled but it looks like nothing else on the road and goes like stink.

El Rivinado > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 12/11/2014 at 17:15

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Fair enough, I apologize, couldn't find one online. Still hideous though.

El Rivinado > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 17:16

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Technically 79 but yeah I agree, if you want to blame anyone, blame good ol' Roger Smith. In fact that should just be a motto with American cars. "When all else fails, blame Roger Smith."

El Rivinado > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 17:18

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I didn't realize the seats were different between base and standard editions, doesn't make them any less awesome though.

El Rivinado > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 17:28

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Hey I like the F-bodies as well, sure it's cheap horsepower, but it's good cheap horsepower. Hell before I got my Cadillac, I wanted my first car to be either a third gen Firebird or Camaro. Far as I'm concerned, anyone who likes them is alright by me. :)

daender > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:32

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IMO, the 4th gens look amazing with a bit of extra metal around the fenders.

Although the Dick Harrell super-limited 4th gen Camaro look amazing with some beefed up fenders.

The only issue I have with them minus the low-quality interior is the fact the engine is 1/4 of the way under the base of the wind shield. Wanna do any sort of work on the motor? Prepare to drop anchor...

PS9 > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:36

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But the GTO was a good car. I'm not sure what you mean by 'effort', since it was everything you would want out of 2k0 era muscle: Large V8, 6 speeds, 3 pedals, room for 4 adults and your weekend bags, plus a great chassis meant it could haul ass on all kinds of tracks, not just the straight ones.

It's not hard to see why GM went with that platform for three other cars years later (G8, Camaro, SS) , because what they already had was excellent, and left little room for improvement besides weight. As a bonus, The GTO totally dodged the wangs 'n thangs styling cues that plagued every other Pontiac, though they did unfortunately try to fix that with the LS2 refresh.

camaroboy68ss > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 12/11/2014 at 17:37

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hate that dash, one of the main reasons I bought a 4th gen Camaro

MultiplaOrgasms > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:38

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There are people who like 4th gen F-Bodys?

/lel

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:40

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I'm sorry, (this will make me sound like a dick...) but if you haven't been around long enough then you probably haven't learned I'm the resident 2nd gen F-body expert around here haha. I'm not a fan of the 3rd gens or of the 4th gen fish face camaro though.

camaroboy68ss > daender 12/11/2014 at 17:40

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oh you can do work but be prepared for cut up arms. I swapped intakes on mine in car, won't do that again

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:41

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No not at all! It's crazy the amount of small differences between all the models of 2nd gens. If you're bored check this link out: http://www.78ta.com/special.php

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:42

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Oops, thanks for the correction! I'm not up to par on mustang knowledge yet.

Bandit > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:44

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Ooh, and this one http://www.78ta.com/interiors.php

camaroboy68ss > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:44

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it's all about the first gen F-Bodys

daender > camaroboy68ss 12/11/2014 at 17:46

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I helped a friend rebuilt his blown-up LT1 once from start (dropping the engine and trans) to finish (putting it back in), never again am I doing it and he still managed to blow it up afterward.

crowmolly > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 17:55

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This is a Camaro steering wheel in a modified 3rd gen interior.

camaroboy68ss > daender 12/11/2014 at 17:58

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I will never touch another lt1 anything. I had a 97 Z28 I hate the opti spark with a passion.

Yanking the motor wouldn't be bad if you had access to a 2 post lift. That would make the job easy.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 18:08

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Erm, that's a third-gen interior. It just has a fourth-gen Camaro steering wheel.

While I 100% disagree with you, everybody has their own opinions, I guess.

TDogg > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 18:08

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Amen! It's a shame they didn't at least make the interiors livable (albeit they aren't the one pictured, but they're still horrible). I might be able to live with the exterior, which, while not very attractive, is far from the worst thing to come out of the 90's.

El Rivinado > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 18:26

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That's fine, you sound like a nice guy, hell you're probably a cool guy to be around when it comes to 2nd gen conversations.

El Rivinado > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 18:27

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That's alright.

El Rivinado > PS9 12/11/2014 at 18:28

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It was a good car, not denying that, I just could never get over the fact that they basically slapped the nameplate on what was a Holden and try and pass it off as the real deal. I know I sound petty, but it needed something a bit more to carry that name.

El Rivinado > Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage 12/11/2014 at 18:39

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I know I got the interior wrong, I'll be cursed to forever be known as "Wrong interior man".

It's alright to disagree man, my view is as long as your civil, you're alright. Believe me, I try not to be like this, even if I don't like most cars I can respect them. To get me angry about a car, it's got to represent something that just gets my blood boiling, and the 4th gen rubs me in a way I can't get over.

Funktheduck > Bandit 12/11/2014 at 18:42

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Dun dun duuuuuuunnn

Axial > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 18:57

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It is hideous, but also really comfortable because the whole thing is made out of pillows.

It does have a tendency to disintegrate before your very eyes, though.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > El Rivinado 12/11/2014 at 19:25

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Lol. And yeah, I gotcha. Everyone has a car that angers them, and those cars will always have fans. Its just how it is. To be fair, if I didn't love the 4th gen like I do, you put up some strong arguments. I gotta say, even though I do love 4th gens, they are still probably my least favorite generation of the Firebird.