The interior sees a continuation of the exterior's aggressive theme, although it was hardly touched when the Firebird's exterior was refreshed. Pontiac's trademark blood-red gauges fill the instrument panel, adding to the Firebird's menacing demeanor. Oversized control knobs dominate the console, both on the cabin climate controls and radio, making adjusting the levels of either a simpler, eyes-on-the-road task. The turn signal isn't as accommodating, however. The driver must forcefully push the lever to indicate a lane change.
The seats offer decent bolstering for all passengers, but getting comfortable behind the wheel still takes some effort. Taller drivers will find it requires kicking back into a Caesar-like position. And from there, trying to peer out over the long hood makes tight driving maneuvers difficult.
Shorter drivers will find the Firebird more comfortable. This short-legged test driver finds striking a good balance between the steering wheel and pedals a breeze. Reaching all the car's controls is easy as well, although getting out becomes an acrobatic feat. The Firebird's long, heavy doors only add to the difficulty, especially when climbing out while wedged in a tight parking spot.
The front passenger won't have an easy time of it, either, and must sit with one knee bent askew. This is because the catalytic converter sits under the right-side floorboards, leaving a large lump where the passenger's left foot rests. The back seat, with its deep buckets and dearth of legroom, remains the province of only the very, very small, which is what you expect in a pony car.
Once the driver is buckled in and on the road, the Formula really starts to shine.
The autocross package gives the Formula a stiffer ride than the basic Firebird -- itself a solid driver -- without becoming kidney-busting. Larger front and rear stabilizer bars, stiffer front and rear springs and control arm bushings and dual adjustable shock absorbers all add to the Formula's rock-solid feel. The result is a car that hugs turns with as much authority as it speeds through the straights.
The car sets up nicely into turns, and the stiffer spring rates do a good job of damping excess body roll. Likewise, compared to less effectively sprung cars, heavy braking results in reduced nosedive, and hard launches from the line produce less rebound.
Get up to speed and the Formula's extra-wide rubber grips the asphalt with authority, making tight cornering possible without fear that the wheels will break away. The antiquated solid rear axle setup displays nervous tendencies, however, especially when driven over uneven surfaces. The more frequent the bumps, the more jittery the back end can become.
The 6-speed works well with the 5.7-liter. Its gears are well-spaced, and the V8's fat torque curve assures ample power through most of the rev range, dropping off only after 5,000 rpm. Working the stock shifter efficiently requires some attention during particularly hard driving. Its long throws tend to bog the shifter when forced and, combined with the Formula's inordinately heavy clutch pedal effort, rush-hour driving turns into a test of endurance -- not to mention a great thigh workout.
As fast as the Formula is, even speed-demons have to slow down once in a while, and it's good to know that it doesn't take much effort to tame the Formula. The same 320 horsepower that propels this beast to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds is all but invisible at low speeds, making it a good daily driver.
The availability of traction control makes it a year-round driver, too. The system works by reducing engine torque and applying individual brakes at the first sign of wheel slippage, at which point the wheel with traction gets more power sent its way. The driver can deactivate the system by pressing a button on the dash. After all, one never knows when the need will arise to muster up a hellacious smoky burnout.
Those interested in a more sedate ride might do well to look elsewhere. Although not too stiff for the driver looking for sporty performance, the Formula's ride is by no means sedan-like.