April 9th, 2009 | 
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There have been several award-winning cars from Pontiac over the years, including the Pontiac Firebird of 1998. There are four trim levels to the Firebird, including Trans Am, Formula, Firehawk, and Base. The Base version is one of the more popular options, outselling other configurations. Like in 1997 the popular 3.8 liter Buick has made this a popular choice for convertible buyers nationwide.
1998 Pontiac Firebird Base Specs
The restyled Firebird Base is equipped with a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine that utilizes 12 valves. The Buick engine is mated to a General Motors four-speed transmission. This has resulted in an increase in horsepower and torque over the 1997 version.
The Firebird uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.
The fuel system for the 1998 Firebird is a traditional SFI, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 15.50 gallons.
Statistics
The Firebird is 193.40 inches long, 74.50 inches wide, and 52.00 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 101.10 inches. It is able to seat 4 comfortably.
A powertrain guarantee is provided (50,000* miles/36* months), and a 50,000* mile, 60* month guarantee also comes with the Pontiac Firebird. This is average compared to the rest of the car market.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $18,015 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $16,484. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.
MPG Ratings
The Firebird Base received a miles-per-gallon rating of nineteen in-city driving and 29 - 30 when it came to highway driving. Being a gas-powered non-hybrid car, this was within normal parameters.
In 1997 and 1998 the Firebird Base was availble in the exterior colors of Arctic White, Black, Blue-Green Chameleon, Bright Green Metallic, Bright Red, Bright Silver Metallic, Navy Blue Metallic, Red-Orange Metallic, and Sport Gold Metallic. Additional options were available as special orders from the factory.
Parting Shots
The 1997 model began the promise of the Pontiac Firebird. The 1998 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Pontiac hopes that the Firebird Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.
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