2000 PONTIAC Firebird 5.7L V8 4AT (315 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2000, Pontiac released the last sequel o its Firebird, and, even though it wasn’t a new vehicle, it was an important refresh. But that didn’t save the nameplate.

While it was still a competitive car on the market, it was overshadowed by its Camaro sibling. It was considered a sports car, and while it lacked the same performances as a Corvette, it was lower priced than it. Its main competitor from outside GM was the Mustang. Unlike the blue-oval contender, Pontiac bragged about its pop-up headlights, even though those were outdated for almost two decades.

For the last refresh, the carmaker installed a revised hood with two bulges that opened at the front with a pair of nostrils-looking air-intakes. Moreover, it removed the exhaust vents, and that led to a better airflow into the engine compartment and especially to the air filter installed on top of the engine. Another major improvement was the V-shaped bumper, which incorporated a pair of foglights mounted closer to the car’s center, not on the outer sides. Last but not least, the headlights featured two lamps on each side instead of one as on the rest of the Firebirds. A set of aerodynamically profiled door mirrors and a wing on the trunk completed the car’s aggressive look.

The Firebird featured high-bolstered bucket seats that supported the passengers during high-cornering maneuvers. But, just like the non-facelifted version, it didn’t provide enough room for rear passengers. Yet, Pontiac still insisted on installing a bench in the back, which proved to be very useful for a sports bag or a backpack.

Under the hood, Pontiac installed a 3.8-liter V6 engine for those who didn’t really care about performance, while those eager to hit the gas on a drag strip were granted a V8 powerplant.