I fired up the Trans Am for the first time in weeks and drove to Freeman Pontiac (where I bought the red car). I parked it literally feet from where she sat the first time I laid eyes on it.
Anyway, I usually don't want a salesman to bug me, cause I hate them. After a long wait they finally called a blood sucker over from used cars to help me. He turned out to be pretty cool.
On to the car. They had no manual transmission cars in stock, so I drove a yellow GXP instead of a red base model. I fit in it extremely well, and it felt good. The interior is alright, and I like the pop out cup holders, but can see them breaking in time.
Steering was a little more numb than I was hoping for, but not bad. I did take one left hand turn under power with minimal slip angle. I was shocked at how quickly and controllably the rear came around. At idle the car was louder then expected. I didn't notice it driving the car, but walking around it idling it seemed definitely louder than the green car.
It was quick, but I think the green car would take it from a stop light. The 100k mile warranty is comforting and incentive not to mod the car. It looks like 17x9 wheels would fit fine and clear the brakes. I think it would kick butt with 17's in place of the 18's, and shod the wheels with 275/40/17 Nitto 555RII's. Cheap and sticky; good stuff. I wonder if F-body wheels are interchangeable???
The trunk is worse than the reports. It basically does not have one; seriously. The car is very sharp to my eye. The sales weenie verified the 0% financing is available. The boost gauge is digital; I would prefer analog. The other gauges are analog and are nice looking.
What do these things run in the 1/4 mile, both manual and autotragic?