Fire-breathing Trans AMMy immediate response to your article on the '98 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Sept. '97) was, "Wow!" First of all, I was amazed by its lightning-quick quarter-mile times. Plus, its stunning good looks were a definite seller to me. Goodbye, Camaro; hello, Firebird. I was a diehard Camaro fan until I saw the '98-yuck! More horsepower is always better, and GM doesn't skimp on that. Watch out, Mustangs, there's a new screaming chicken on the loose!Greg "Rio" SandhagenSarasota, Fla.via Motor Trend Online
I must congratulate Pontiac on an excellent styling upgrade to the already attractive Firebird Trans Am. Its more aggressive looks go along nicely with the more powerful LS1 V-8. My chances of buying a Trans Am have definitely increased!Oscar LlerenaMiami, Fla.via Motor Trend Online
The new Firebird and Camaro can only spell one thing for the Ford Mustang: trouble. C'mon, Ford, 225 measly horsepower won't cut it anymore, especially at a higher price than a Z28. Heck, a regular V-6 Camaro could smoke the GT with a few aftermarket products bought with the money saved by not buying a Mustang. Sure, a top-of-the-line Cobra may put up a fight against the Z28, but at a price.Brad HansenMuscatine, Iowa
I love the new styling on the '98 Trans Am, the braking is awesome, and the performance is getting better every year. I'm glad that the new Firebird won't look anything like the new Camaro. The price is great compared to other sports cars; you get more bang for your buck. Who in his right mind would pay more than $50K for a car just for top speed that you won't use and 0.5-second-faster 0-60-mph time? With the Firebird, you still have money left over to pay your speeding tickets. Keep up the good work, Pontiac.Ben JuddHuntington, W. Va.via the Internet
As soon as I saw your September cover, I started drooling over the '98 Trans Am's new front fascia. I never thought Chevy and Pontiac could top the styling of their '93 ponycars, but they most certainly have for '98. Both cars have superb new drop-dead looks and even better performance stats. I was worried when I read that the Firebird might lose its hideaway headlamps, and for once I'm glad you guys were wrong. GM has once again set the standard for styling and performance. The new Camaro and Firebird are definitely winners.Adam VanAntwerpAttica, Mich.via Motor Trend Online
After seeing the new '98 Firebird revealed in your latest issue, I was horrified. What in the world were the designers at Pontiac thinking when they tried to cut and paste this car together? The headlights look like they've been taken off an NSX and placed onto the front end of a Saturn wanna-be sports car. The side intakes by the fender look like two misplaced nostrils. The rear taillamps are in very poor taste; they look like a cheap aftermarket product. After many years of respect and admiration for the Trans Am, Pontiac has lost another customer. What happened to the good old "Smokey and the Bandit" (hawk on the hood) Trans Am that was so fierce and sharp looking?Han H. DuongGaithersburg, Md.via the Internet
Yeah, the '77 T/A with 180 horsepower was quite fierce. It's a real shame the current V-8 only offers 305 horsepower and sedate styling.-Ed.
Snake FestNo surprise, the new Viper should be better than ever now, borrowing the GTS' 450-horsepower engine. But I'm surprised at how the Cobra 427 S/C kept up with the Dodge, despite technological advances in the past 30-plus years. The Cobra should be brought to production just as Nissan's "Z" car is, under one condition: The price needs to be way down in the sub-$100,000 neighborhood.Brian MaciejewskiBrunswick, Ohiovia the Internet
Better than restored, new CSX4000 Cobras are available from Shelby American, and priced very reasonably. Call 702/365-5610 for more information.-Ed.
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