On the outside, it's fitted with a love-it-or hate-it nose that's more aggressive than a used-car salesman just one car shy of his monthly quota. Its major downfall are the old-school flip-up headlights. On the inside, this ponycar is styled for the teenager-at-heart, with a cockpit-like feel, red instrument lighting, and scant rear-seat room. But there's also an available ear-shattering 500-watt Monsoon 10-speaker sound system with steering-wheel-mounted controls, in case you've exceeded your tire budget for the month. However, we're put off by all the plastic. Pontiac could take an interior cue from the Audi TT. Remember the gorgeous bright-metal-trimmed instrument panels of '63-'66 Bonnevilles and Grand Prix?
At $32,090, this car isn't cheap. However, at $3150, the WS6 option package is reasonable. It can be had as a hardtop, a T-top (like our test car), or as a convertible. But this car's best quality is its fun factor, which comes via tire-spinning torque just a stomp away on the throttle pedal.
Hot To Trot-Give me a light, simple, reasonably priced, rear-drive car with strong brakes, slick-shifting manual transmission, 260 galloping horses, reasonable interior space, and time-honed chassis dynamics. Well, it looks like I've picked the Mustang GT and at first glance managed to save more than a few greenbacks relative to its ponycar competitors. Of course, I'll probably just end up spending them on insurance, tires, fuel and some go-even-faster goodies. But doesn't everybody need a hobby? This horse will do me just fine.
-Jack Keebler
On Second Thought-It's 1975, and I'm a teenager shopping for a perfect, one-owner, never-been-abused musclecar. Never thought I'd find one, because the performance era was dead and would never come again, right? I shouldn't have worried; all I had to do was wait 20 years. While great musclebound offerings from Oldsmobile, Buick, Mercury, Plymouth, and even AMC are no longer around, the Classic Americans-Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Pontiac-continue to carry the torch. For that, I'm grateful. The trucks in this gathering acquitted themselves very well, with handling, braking, comfort, and stonking go-power nobody would've dreamed of in pickups during the musclecar heyday. But to savor the American musclecar experience in its most undiluted form, ya gotta go with the GM F-body siblings. Of all the players, the Camaro SS and Trans Am remain most true to their late-'60s heritage, and to the original musclecar recipe. In their respective cold-air inducted forms, they're limited-production muscle machines that are handsome, decently affordable-and just go like hell.
-Matt Stone
Irresponsible Driving 101-To quote comedian Steve Martin, the most amazing thing is I get paid for doing this. Here's a fairly typical work request: "Mac, would you do a big ol' smoky burnout in the Lightning, a few full-throttle sideways laps of the skidpad in the Mustang GT, and run the Trans Am by the camera at about 120 mph?" My usual response: "Awrahht." Yes, my job description requires irresponsible driving. Ain't that great? If I were choosing one of these to go racing-straightline or road course-I'd go with the Trans Am WS6. If picking one I'd be required to drive every day, the Grand Prix GTP would be my selection. But if I were looking for a toy to play with on Friday nights, give me the Lightning and a loudspeaker so I can make sure all y'all are watching.
-Mac DeMere
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