Though GM typically makes vehicles which are surprisingly good to drive, there’s simply as typically one thing about them that shrieks “Florida man”. However as time passes, the reputations of the late Firebirds and Camaros proceed to enhance.

This 2002 WS6 would turn into one of many final Firebirds and, in line with Jay Leno, among the finest. That’s hardly a shock, although, GM is uniquely gifted at killing vehicles proper as they become good (see: Fiero). Endowed with a 325 hp 5.7-liter V8, it was typically referred to as a four-seat Corvette. And with good purpose.

Though it was barely less powerful than the ‘Vette, that was solely due to GM hierarchy. Between its energy and its 350 lb-ft of torque, it might run the quarter-mile in simply 13.1 seconds. That’s round about the identical time as a 2001 Corvette might handle (per Motor Development testing) and continues to be fairly fast at present.

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And this wasn’t only a straight-line hero. Pontiac had long been fascinated by making vehicles that would deal with, which is why it launched the WS6 bundle within the first place. In accordance with the outdated wives Leno talks to, the time period refers to “extensive suspension, 6 items,” and that appears cheap sufficient.

No matter it stood for, the bundle has been round for years. In 1979, Automobile and Driver decided that the Firebird WS6 the best-handling automotive of the 12 months. And, certainly, Leno experiences that the 2002 version of the car is a superb automotive to go canyon carving in.

So, possibly it’s a very good time to begin certainly one of these. With a throaty V8 making sufficient energy for any cheap functions, a 6-speed manual, a suspension that doesn’t journey throughout itself, four-wheel discs, and costs which are nonetheless cheap (even for wildly low mileage examples), these appear like a strong efficiency choice for the budget-minded purchaser.