Looks like my account got purged for lack of use... lol
Interesting thread....
I am SOOOOOO glad to finally see people posting some Firebirds and Trans Ams. The '89 Anniversary in particular is about as ideally suited to this series as any car could be - the Grand National engine in a lighter, better balanced, car with an *already* good suspension and handling capabilities (enhanced by the lighter tubo V6, which also further improved the weight bias).
However, despite the 5.7L pushrod engine, the 2002 WS6 Trans Am is a beast not to be taken lightly. It too NEEDS to be in this game. (especially since PD could cut corners and just make a 3D model and use the camaro code, so it's easier to add than a totally new vehicle)
2 things I didn't see listed here -
The 1992 (and first) Firehawk -
This car, created by SLP Engineering, when properly optioned, was faster and better handling than the '92 Corvette. It was a force to be reckoned with.
The '97 Firehawk -
Packed an LT4 in the last year of the LT1 body style.
Formulas are stripper Firebirds with the Trans Am drive train, Firehawks are Formulas that have been massaged in all areas of performance.
Oh, and someone posted a '68 Firebird 400, that gets a +1 from me. The '68 Firebird 400 was quicker than the crappy camaro (and mustang), while looking immensly better too.
I also wanted to touch on the argument a few pages back from the US car haters. In the first place, complaints that a car "can't turn" always come from people with sub-2 liters torqueless wonders that can't accelerate or go fast, all they CAN do is turn. See, there's more than 1 way to a fast lap time. You don't have to go warp 5 through corners. You can utilize braking, acceleration and top speed to get good lap times too.
However, be that as it may, the argument that US cars can't turn is utter BS. As someone here posted, the C6 Z06 ran the Nürburgring in around 7:42, absolutely smoking everything costing less than 10 times as much (pretty much the Porsche Carrera GT is the only thing faster). And the Blue Devil is coming..... It's only going to get worse for the exotic car snobs. lol
Even the C5 Z06 is impressive by ANY stretch of the imagination. Heck, even in GT4, the 2000 model year Z06 beats the top of the line R34 GTR (from Nissan itself, not Nismo or any of the other tuners - GM doesn't have an equivalent of Nismo). And the Z51 package on the C6 (bang for the buck performance package) is equal to the C5 Z06 (top of the line model). And due to their change to the aero-coupe, the new cars are faster than the C5 Z06 as well (top end).
And with that in mind, I did a little GT4 comparo - 2000 F-Body (had to use the crappy inferior chevy, since the GOOD one (Trans Am) still isn't present), vs the same GTR I mentioned above. Running around Trial Mountain, totally stock with just an oil change. The GTR was about half a second slower than the C5 Z06, which was 2 years older. The F-Body, was about 2.7 seconds behind the GTR.
2.7 seconds might sound like a lot, but remember, the GTR has the advantage in HP, and power to weight, AND is the king of the hill, the top dog, the ultimate Japanese car hands down bar none, right.....?
When you consider the GTR's place and legend, the fact that a 'mere' camaro, a second tier econo-minded street bruiser, that's down on power and strung with a live axle, could come so close to the mighty R34 Skyline GTR, you HAVE to tip your hat and unless you're blind and stupid, realize that YES, US cars CAN turn (and brake and accelerate).
You ought to see the #s break down of the 2002 T/A WS6 vs the 2004 Porsche Cayman S. The Cayman loses in areas, ties in others, and on a track would be unable to lose the T/A.
People can't accept that, but it's the truth.
And the worst part is that the T/A is hamstrung with crap shocks, while these other higher end cars are not. Leveling the playing field there makes things even worse for the "higher end" cars.
Sorry... <rant off>. lol