2002 Pontiac Firebird WS6 - Jay Leno's Garage
Jay accepted this car as payment and he found that this high-performance variant was one of the best Firebirds ever made!
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Hosted by legendary comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the series explores our obsession with all things automotive. From classic cars to supercars and everything in-between, Jay is hitting the road to discover the most exciting, weird and wonderful vehicles ever made and meet the passionate people behind their wheels. Each one-hour themed episode features a mix of stunts, challenges, reviews, and celebrity interviews that showcases the colorful history of the automobile. Whether he’s exploring the story of an iconic brand, road-testing the newest super car, or investigating the latest automotive innovations, there is no wheel Jay won’t get behind to tell the story of our love affair with the car.
About Jay Leno: Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”
2002 Pontiac Firebird WS6 - Jay Leno's Garage
• 2002 Pontiac Firebird ...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage
This man has a warehouse full of super cars and he can still admire an old F body that’s y he’s the man
Warehouse*
@@alloutkx450 Auto correct got me 🤷🏽♂️
Amen brother! F body! Fantastic body! 98 Z 6speed, 01 Formula 6speed. Jay, my favorite color is blue!
My respect for Jay just went up📈
@@davidhall5683 Yes sir! and it was made in Montréal (Boisbriand) Canada, not in the US of A my friend. We do make good stuff in Canada still when we get to it.
"I keep it pretty clean." Opens the hood to reveal an immaculate, better than new engine bay lol.
I imagine it's easy to keep a car's engine compartment clean when he just about has a vehicle to drive every day of the year.
@@rekinlas not so easy keeping individual cars clean if you have a car for every day in the year. That means he would have to clean a car a day to keep up lol
@@JustKeepFishin He has detailers for that
@@JustKeepFishin you don't need to clean a car after driving it one time in Southern California and then immediately putting it back into a garage
@@rekinlas and a garage to keep all of them in.
I was the last Firebird Brand Manager at GM. WS6 is the RPO - regular production option code. I gave him one of our yellow/black Collectors Series cars but as he said he preferred something more subdued. I was honored to present him the car at his garage and as a bonus attended one his shows. He was so welcoming and gave us all the time we needed- class act!
Ha! That's awesome :).
fitting the last firebird manager has a robocop profile picture
I thought everyone knew what WS6 meant, guess I was wrong.
00⁰e2 e2
@@jcstuart6978 7 I o p⁰p 00
This is my dream car. I've always wanted one for as long as I remember. Timing has never been right but some day.
Dude, same
@@bradleylovej Just drove myself 2 hours to get my offer turned down on my like 5th one i’ve looked at :/
@@ZacharyZimmer Man, I'm sorry to hear that. I just drove 4 hours and got one. It does happen, keep the dream alive!
@@bradleylovej thanks man, and where have you looked for them? i’ve drove around looking and checked probably every website on google so i don’t know what else to do right now
@@ZacharyZimmer Oh, and also, you may have to accept that the market is high on these right now. And it may only go up. At first, I couldn't believe how expensive they were. Then, after looking, I decided I was willing to pay a decent price for a nicer one (still not the 10k miles for $30k or $40k group). Once I decided I wasn't going to try and buy one at the $14k price I saw them all day long for when growing up, things got easier. I didn't even haggle with the dealership where I got mine. Given the market, the price was fine. So, that may be something to think about. You can find a sweet one out there, but you're probably not going to get a deal on it. Don't spend more than you can afford, but also don't mess around too much-people are very willing to buy these cars. The dealers and private sellers don't really have to worry about it that much. Idk what your price range is, but a Z28 LS1 Camaro is much cheaper with the exact same performance. Even though we know the Trans Am is way more badass. Good luck out there!
Jay: "I mean it helps to have 198 other cars but, you know" Lol
Not to mention a temperature controlled garage and a squadron of mechanics and detailers.
I own a lot of movies and games and sometimes forget what I have and buy it twice, I wonder if Jay has ever done that with his cars lol
I'm wondering if one of his employees ever tried to sell him a car again he already owned.
Not to mention a fleet of motorcycles.
I appreciate how he's just neutral about all the cars he has. He doesn't boast about it. He doesn't apologize. And he shares them with us! Pretty great.
Jay Leno- "It's not perfect underneath". Proceeds to show underneath the car and it's perfectly clean...
He’s forgotten what New England is like on the undercarriage for all vehicles 🚗
Maybe one of the most underated cars ever made. The 02 WS6 manual is just a magnificent car, Pontiac went out right, great finish. I love the way Leno genuinely loves cars.
I guess Some One had to post that it's Underated
Jay Leno is a man's man. He is exactly what I and a lot of car lovers would be if we were fortunate enough to become wealthy. Sure I'd have a nice house. But my garage would be bigger than my house. I'd have a whole fleet of cars. Something else I like about Jay is...he genuinely loves cars. Sure he has some extremely expensive super cars. But yet he can still appreciate this 20 year old Pontiac firebird. He doesn't have those cars as a status symbol. He has them because he loves cars. Not only that...he actually drives them. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty. Like I said, he's anyone of us. Only with more money.
Idk how the nose is controversial. The RamAir hood was cool as heck when I was ten years old and it's cool now
Exactly only thing controversial is his buzz light year chin
It's ugly and grotesque. And hardly functional. There seems to be no connection between the vent and the airbox.
@@SparrowNoblePoland cools under the hood.🤪
@@SparrowNoblePoland While the nose is a bit much in terms of holes, nooks, and crannies, I always preferred the Firebird/TA styling to the Camaro, and in my opinion that gap was never larger than this last generation.
Yeah man, I agree
"it's not perfect under here..." as he shows an undercarriage that is clean enough to eat off of. I love that he drives and takes care of his cars.
Jay Leno is the man
He's got a crew of guys that do it for him
@@ls6-ss413 who cares how he does it. Good for him.
Rock chips! I saw a few rock chips! Otherwise pristine.
@Benjamin absolutely! I'd have to take plenty of "test drives" 😁
I loved the WS6. That ram air hood was so mean looking in the day. Nothing else like it at the time. A beautiful car.
The massive nostrils are too much on the front!
My buddy had one I drove. Gobs of power
This was before all muscle cars started jumping on the retro-styling bandwagon.
Jay = Legend. A man who can afford any car in the world and still takes the time to honestly (and positively) review a twenty year old working man’s sports car that he still owns and has owned since new.
My mom bought this car from straight out of the dealership in 2002 with the WS6 performance package still uses it as her daily driver
Your mom is a cool lady
Is your mom single ?
a litle old lady that goes to church on Sunday??😁
Black is not rare i bet they made less blue ones like this
Some purple color is there rarest..... I know you didn't say rarest, I'm just saying that one IS the one.
When his drivers window went down no problem you know it’s pristine
as a prior buick regal GS owner from same era, yupp I caught that too LOL
I understood this comment too because I have an 02 Z28 and the passenger side window goes down slow.
Give it time it will blow lol
Lmfao
Seriously lmao!! I have a 95 and a 98 I know that all too well
Dude the nose of the WS6 was iconic not controversial. Best bang for the buck.
I was an ASE Master GM Technician for many years. Trained at the Burbank Delco Traning Center in the '80s. I also toured the GM Van Nuys plant when they were still building these cars. Am on the dying end of life now but wish I still owned one of my Trans Ams 1976, 1978, and a 1985. Wouldn't mind having this model as well. You are a lucky guy, Jay. Take care, Mike
Gotta love that jay is legit under the car recording by himself. That’s dedication people, don’t forget, he’s a multi millionaire, he could quit all social media and tv today and would be completely fine for the rest of his life and his family. He truly cares about his audience
And he doesn't even stuff the videos with adds to help pay for his gas ....
I get that from watching Jay... he is a real car guy... loves cars and bikes... just wants to share that love with us.
@@1982spqr ..and he doesn't brag on about how much they cost either ...
Jay I just want you to know I watch all the ads all the way through just to help out :) A VERY VERY TINY way to say thanks! Lol.
He's a petrolhead through and through.
I like that he can appreciate a "normal" car. I always like the Firebirds and Trans Am very under rated
It’s an all around sports car. It has four seats, gets decent mpg, it has a trunk so you can put groceries in the back. And it kinda looks like Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon in car form. Plus pop up and headlights. It’s my dream car
Idk.. the prices just keep going up.
@@didncozosksma4466 I had a 2000 Camaro SS for 8 years (Chevy sister to the WS6) and I agree 100% about the all-around sports car: could carve up curves on a twisty road, easily hold its own on any Interstate highway, yet had bullet=proof GM reliability.
Rarer than a vette from the same year. These trans ams go for more money than a similar condition vette from the same year.
How is this underrated? Everyone knows what a TA is
Love how he appreciates his sports cars and muscle cars in original form. He doesn’t modify them or change the look.
What a great car the WS6 is. I had two of them a 2000 in pewter and then traded that in 2002 to get one of the last off the assembly line, which was silver, literally identical to the one in this video. I was also at the Daytona 500 that he drove the pace car in and I remember that car vividly. 20 years later, I had no idea Jay Leno has the same car as I did and what a treat to see it featured on his channel. Thanks for taking us back to a time, when cars were true driving machines compared to the direction the industry is going today with this whole EV craze. I’ve had a lot of cool sports cars over the years but I honestly wish I would have kept this one.
Of the brands that have disappeared in my lifetime, I think I miss Pontiac the most.
🥺 I miss them so much.
I always felt GM should have gotten rid of Buick instead of Pontiac. What does Buick have now other than boring SUVs? Pontiac could have still been the sporty brand of GM.
For American muscle I agree, but I also miss some of the small European sports like Tiumph too.
@@joe6096 Buick is seen as the step between a cheap Chevy and an expensive Cadillac. Too many suits decided that GM "performance" was Camaro, Corvette and that Caddy that had the big engine in it. Heck, it was pretty sad to see Saturn go too. Just saw one on the street, still looked pretty good for something from 20 years ago (my mom's 97 Chevy that she owned got its entire life on the road barely limped to 20 years, she had to scrap it because repairs were more money than the value of the car. She never abused it, it's just exposure to NY weather wore it form over time.)
Joe ,they will continue Buick forever, it is there top seller in China. I miss Pontiac and Saturn. My previous car ( stolen, lol ) was a Chevy Captiva sportwaggon, a decent end for the Pontiac Vibe and Saturn Vue.
everyone my whole life has always made fun of me for the ws6 being my dream car even after I bought one. I feel vindicated after watching Jays video! im not alone!
I'll own plenty of cars in my life, but my 2000 WS6 isn't going anywhere. It helps it's my wife's dream car now too!
I'm now sold on this. Being 42 this year, I can feel my mid-life crisis dawning.
I own a 2000 Trans Am WS6, 6 speed blue with tan interior. I love it. I hired an artist to create a cool rendering of it to display in my office. Car folks know this is a cool car. Ignore everyone else.
Bro, Pontiacs are badass. Especially the ws6
I own a 2002 Trans Am WS6 black on black. I've owned it for 12 years now. It was my dream car when I was growing up and when I could finally afford one I saved up and saved up and finally bought one with only 28,000 miles on it. I baby that thing and after 12 years it still has just under 40,000 miles on it. To this day I don't think there has been any other any car that looks and sounds nearly as good for under $50,000
Still dont understand how/why GM cut Pontiac from the line up. 🤯
Crazy to think these cars are 20 years old. Thanks for sharing.
Jay deserves an "Automotive Medal of Honor" for all his good work through these times.
I know he’s a gozillionaire, but I hope the ad revenue helps pay the maintenance costs for his collection. The amount he shares his collection, it really has become more of a free virtual museum
He helps keep gearheads happy and could be captain gearhead. I think I enjoy his content meow more than ever, we grew up LOVING this gen Camaro and firebird. My buddies and I thought they were cheap vettes that people would appreciate someday. We are getting old when we are realizing trends!
Hear.Hear.
Yes he does...
As far as i am concerned he "preserves History" and i love that!
“Not with these arms and this chin.” -Jay 🤣👏
9:02 🤣
I laughed so hard. Mr. Leno is so funny.
I sold the last one we had in stock at Rally Pontiac, Palmdale, California in 2002 and the people still have it 😊
The Nose is the coolest feature about it, then the rear spoiler.. and this were drifts kings! You could swing them around so accurately it would scare people! I did it to the salesman swinging into the parking spot!
I like these "pandemic edition" episodes better than the regular ones! Theyre very personal
The closest I'll ever get to hanging out with Jay Leno...
Spot on
I could see watching "a car a day with Jay"
I don't recall seeing the lift side of the shop much
The thing I like about Jay Leno is that despite his massive success he is completely down to earth
I think there's a lot of truth to the statement "don't meet your hero's" however, I think Jay would be exactly like he appears to be, approachable and down to earth. I think Jay's cars are his Hollywood friends, more so than the "show biz" types he often has to mingle with..
Yes he is great
@@timculpepper4939 please...... he's a Hollywood Leftist......he sold his soul.
@@shaman9628 does his soul look sold to you?
@@matthewp9015 Yes.......
I have always wanted one of these. I graduated High School in 2002 and nothing on the road looked meaner than a Trans-Am WS6.
I remember in high school back in 2005 a classmate had one of these cars and he did very well with the ladies.
Can you imagine seeing Jay leno ripping an f-body around LA
Anyone else starting to like early 2000s cars more and more?
I like this design than the 2009 - present design.
No.
Seen my Holden ?
I refuse to drive anything newer lol. Fixing newer cars for a living will do that to ya...
@@hoonaticbloggs5402 Nice I have a Holden too. Mine is an 09' tho. VE Commodore.
First introduced on the 1978 Trans Am, the performance package included higher rate springs, specific shocks and final drive ratio, larger sway bars, 8" wide wheels and bigger tires. The WS6 doesn't acronym anything, it's just the GM code on the build sheet, like F41 (HD suspension) and Z71 (truck off-road package).
I genuinely appreciate someone who can have anything, has everything, and yet still appreciates cars that are from this price range that the average Joe like myself loves... Thanks Jay
Trust me (lol) it's more common than you think. The people you hear about, you generally hear about because they are in media or are a celebrity. The actual millionaire, in a typical townhouse in a suburban area with a garage of mid and "low" tier classic cars like this is much more common than the rich millionaire in a mansion with a garage full of supercars.
@@awesomeferret You don't say...
I admire a person who has no need for excessive possessions.
2000 WS6 M6 with 30k on her, makes me smile every time I open the barn door !
Nice! I have a clean 98 TA m6 with 60k i just picked up a few months ago for a deal, all my buddies and I had 98-02 trans ams in high school, so I always wanted another one as garage queen, finally got one. I LOVE these cars they are so nostalgic
And it’s one of the last cars with pop up headlights
@@johnsexton3380 Post a video of her
I had the Chevy version, a 2000 Camaro SS, for 8 years, and after a bit of suspension stiffening*, thought it was one of the best "sports cars" (vs. "muscle car") I've driven. Sure made me smile, too. Even so, seeing that WS6 snarling nose in my rearview mirror, even knowing that I had the same performance specs, still make me nervous: a very unsettling sight… :-) *OK, more than "a bit"; actually $8,000 worth of suspension and drivetrain stiffening. But who's counting? LOL
@@PaulZink liar
Honestly, I like it way better without the whole camera crews and everything. Makes the show feel more honest, in a way.
And we get to see a lot of cars I had no idea Jay owned.
I agree!!!
Personal as well
Yes scamdemic edition ftw
@@p71owner53 yeah, i think maybe that’s what i meant by “honest”, just couldn’t think of the right word
It's nice when Jay explains stuff under the car. It sounds like my dad teaching me about cars, so nice!
I got a silver 2000 WS6, these really are some of the best driving cars. They can still hold their own against some modern cars too!
I’ll never get rid of my WS6. It’s the one car I still look back at after parking.
I built that car
@@daveyboy_ really ?
@@raizonfi1527 Yep in Montreal , those cars , the Camaro 's Firebird's and Trans- Am's that were souped up to the SS , The Firehawk and Ws6 were done at SLP.
:)
👍 always
“I mean, this car is living proof that you can Keep a car your whole life if you take care of it. It helps to have 198 other cars.”
And a warehouse to keep them out of the sun/wind/rain/snow.
@@rx7racerca yea, that helps too.
And small army of mechanics/ employees to keep them in pristine condition lol
He forgot to mention that it's much easier to do that in California.
@@trumbley22 anywhere where they don’t dump endless salt on the roads come wintertime.
Love this review Jay just tells it like it is and no frills and gimmicks and he really makes the review about the car. I love it
Remember, these cars are rated under powered. Has way more power than on paper
Yep, it had the same power as the Corvette at 345hp, but they couldn’t sell it saying it had the same horsepower as the corvette cuz people would think twice abt buying a corvette back in the day, but it’s the same engine. Some people say Ls1 f body’s are faster than C5 Corvettes at the top end because of the body shape and air dynamics.
@@Robher85 Yeah, it has the LS1, with a lower cam profile, more restrictive intake, more restrictive (unless you nabbed the optional borla) exhaust, and a locked down OBD2 that kept the car locked at bhp. These weren't rated under powered, just the opposite, they were software locked.
Jay is the fantasy version we imagine to be, as true car enthusiast with MONEY. He’s so down to earth with his passion for cars and knowledge.
I would love to meet jay and tour his warehouse..that would an unforgettable day
@@jdubskiwright2380 yeah I agree it be cool to meet Jay and talk cars with him
@Nobody Important two of my friends (car guys of course) have bolt-down lifts in their garages. Not as expensive as you may think, and worth every penny.
I love this version of the Firebird. R.I.P Pontiac
@@FlameOnTheBeat definitely for what Buick turned into, Pontiac deserved to prevail
Drive one...it's terrible. Solid axle the same as a horse cart , gm materials which are terrible....sure kinda fast straight line but absolutely terrible everywhere else
And yet they kept Buick.......
@@-Window-Licker- perhaps you just can't drive.... 🤷
@@-Window-Licker- you exagerate, i drove an SS/SLP and a WS6 as well and of course there is better cars out there, but theses were great bang for the buck and still is today.
The WS6 Firebird and the R32 GT-R will always be my favorite cars of that generation
God love Jay for using the word "understated" to describe the WS6 Trans Am
Speck of dust: *settles on car* Jay Leno: I’m sorry the car’s dirty, I didn’t have time to clean it.
It was absolutely filthy, psycho......
That undercarriage looked at least 99% pristine to me.
@@boxcarent.3147 Should be reported for car abuse
You have no idea how much I appreciate it you are truly a car’s guy
I really enjoy these episodes WITHOUT annoying guests.
@@jayp9994 I agree
Your gay
@@mikep3322 you callin me gay?
@@jeffyeager4045 No, you're not gay
I had one of these back in 2002, a red one. Loved driving it, especially at night when the air was cooler and it felt like it had a few more extra hp. Rowing through the gears was a hoot, especially third as it was pretty tall and took awhile to wind out. That ram air set up worked well and sounded fantastic under WOT! I recall running wide open at about 165mph down the Interstate one night in 5th. The car felt so stable and planted I’ll never forget that feeling. I put it in 6th and it lost a few mph…crazy. 6th was a true overdrive. My roommate had a black one as well. Pretty cool to open the 2 stall garage to our apartment and seeing a pair of WS6 T/As. Great cars!
7:36 The GM key-on "bell/ding" brings back so many memories!
This guy knows how to appreciate a car and when they are special. He has 198 others and picks a 2002 GM that a lot of us wanted, have or had. Those that had it, want it back. Those that have it, will never let it go. The ones that want it are looking for one near them now lol.
“Those that had it, want it back” Yeah... that’s me 😔 there’s just something about sitting behind the wheel of a 4th Gen FBody that no other car has.
Yep. I miss my 2000 Trans Am.
Those that have it, will never let it go. That's me. 1995 Trans am I bought in 2000. Still have it. Love it. Can't wait to get it out of storage for the summer! Great times. Love the head turns from people too! Have a great day everyone!
@@dmb1995ta Excellent! I have a 94 Z28 bought new and can't wait to take her out. Oh I put in LED headlights last year! Love it!
Couldn’t agree more. I miss my ‘99 WS6 that I sold to buy my first house. I wish I could get it back now. This video really hit close to home. I look everyday on autotrader but they’re all going for stupid prices now. I sold mine for $12k back in 2011 and now they’re all +$20k. One day I’ll get one again.
I love how Jay appreciates this car as much as the stuff he owns that costs twice as much as my house
Guys pure class
Tell me. I'm homeless in Florida now
Love that Jay can really appreciate a car like this...as he says, it's a great car👍
One of my favorite cars all the time...super ahead of it's time... gorgeous design
i honestly prefer pandemic edition videos over your regular videos, they look more natural to me.
A whole lot less Blurry into Clear images. I get doing it once, but 40 times a video hurts my eyeballs.
That blurry into clear drives me nuts as well.
@@PetesCreativeRecycling I totally agree about that blurring in and out bullsh*t. Damn that's annoying, and it does hurt the eyes...
I can't say I prefer them, but they do have their own kind of charm.
They're way better than the traditional videos. Its more personal, seems less stressful on him
This man needs to live forever with that car collection
He's keeping them nice for the future, when hopefully the next person will do the same. Jay is not selfish to have all these cars, he is doing the future a big solid!
Thanks Jay for this one! I graduated in 2002, and wanted one of these so bad. But it was never in the cards. Glad to know there's at least one of my dream cars out there running the roads and in perfect condition.
These pandemic edition episodes are so good. It’s just a guy talking about how much he loves his cares and makes sure they are well cared for.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate what a cool and down to earth dude Jay Leno is even with a car collection what would break everyone’s bank
Well, money doesn't make the man, so your point is irrelevant.
@@creditrepairusa2232 i think the op means, that a lot of people just change if they have a lot of money
@@creditrepairusa2232 You totally missed the point.
Pftt''´´ gimme the cash & fancy cars Jay has, & see how cool & down to earth I am. Seriously, celebrity worship "still" here in the Internet age? smh
@@ronniepatterson2827 Celebrity worship has been around since before Julius Caesar and will be around 1,000 years from now, assuming we don't first blow ourselves up-Internet or not.
the pontiac styling from that era still looks great IMO. I miss seeing all the firebirds, grand ams, and grand prixs on the road.
One of my friend's has a nearly perfect 1999 Grand Am. It is really nice.
I have/had an 05 Pontiac Bonneville GXP V8 Northstar, heads up display, full gauge's, bucket seats, big beautiful comfortable car!...
Agreed. Loved the Grand Am , Grand Prix, and TA of those years. Im not a fan of the final generation (though I thought the GTO was alright, though very plain) though. I miss driving 2 door with a low stance and a little oomph ( very little relative to this WS6, but the 3.8's were pretty decent, especially with some mods)
Former 2002 grand prix gxp supercharged owner here…forest green. Sunroof, HUD, 16” american racing wheels, pinstripes…..i absolutely loved it!!! I now own a 2005 corvette…& i still miss my Pontiac!!! That v6 came off the line like a V8…even with FWD!! Take it from me ive owned fwd v6 supercharged & rwd v8…they both ran beautiful
That’s what happens when every other car looks like each other and car companies use interchangeable parts on many of their cars. If you told someone in the mid 80’s that they’d close Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Plymouth they’d laugh at you. How things have changed.
Enjoyed the video very much! WS6 didn't really have a meaning. It was just the code for the performance suspension package on the 1978 Firebird/TransAm. 78 was the first year for it. The package included a larger rear sway bar, quicker steering box, and 15x8 snowflake wheels(versus the standard 15x7 wheels), and better ratio rearend gears. In 79, they came out with rear disc brakes, so rear discs also became part of the WS6 package. An interesting bit of trivia is that in 79, WS6 TA's were selling so well, that Pontiac temporarily couldn't keep up with demand for the rear discs, so they came out with a new code, WS7, where they produced a WS6 TA without rear discs, using rear drum brakes instead. I guess the WS6 code lived on as a performance suspension package, and became the nameplate of some Firebirds/TA's until the end of production. Reminds me of how the code Z28 for the early Camaro's special performance package later became a model name for the top Camaro.
Funny all GM performance RPO codes are Zxx, then there’s WS6
Jay has always been a true car guy. The 2002 WS6 has always been my favorite, biggest mistake of my life was selling mine. When I die, I will be buried in a WS6 2002.
15+ years ago my dads boss was shutting down his business and selling everything off. He was going through a divorce. He sold my dad this same exact Pontiac color and everything for about half of its value. My dad parked it in the garage for 10 years. Then my dad and his old boss crossed paths again and he showed him his old car. My dads old boss bought it back from him and offered double the price my dad bought it from him. My dad refused to accept the money and only asked for the original purchase price back. The next morning my dad went to the mailbox and found the amount of money that doubled the purchase price. My dad only drove it like twice a year and would start it every week or so. I loved the smell and sound every time he started it. The thing had like 20,000 miles. My dads old boss left a note saying thanks for taking care of her for me.
That's pretty damn cool
Damn good story, I hope they are good friends now, cause I would be after that!
That is awesome!
Thanks for the miles of smiles :D
Cool story. Cooler boss.
It's official. I'm finally old. The dream car of my youth has finally been shown on this channel.
Same. 32 and this was my teenage dream car. Still is.
That Pontiac trans am in my opinion is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, it's what a classic sporty car should look like, it has really beautiful lines to it, it reminds me of the old speed racer car the Mark 5, I had the pleasure of owning a beautiful 2001 firebird V6 with a manual transmission, and it ran like a top, bronze with black interior It was very comfortable fast and got great mileage, I regret selling it , thank you Jay for another wonderful video
Still one of my all time favorite (and attainable) sports cars. Thanks for sharing Jay. 👌👍
Jay is one our nation's greatest treasures, what class act.
Mister Roger's of Cars , they way he talks about his collection. Lol
Let's check the engine bay: "I keep this pretty clean." I don't believe I've ever seen a Leno-owned engine bay that was anything but pristine. Yeah, Jay, we _know_ it's gonna be clean.
I could have eaten a meal off that axle without a plate
@@redram5150 Gotta be a tiny meal, I`d rather eat of th hood tbh, but then I`d have to clean it after xD
One of my favorite Trans Ams ever made. And what a beautiful color.
I bought this exact car brand new in 2002. I have loved every single mile with this car. Planning for a complete restoration soon. Best American car on the road ever.
This car is still my dream car, I was a senior in high school when the last model year was made I always wanted one of these. Mr. Leno thank you for presenting a pristine example of this Pontiac
Same here man.
same - had this on the cover of one my binders
There's really no difference between the 98-02 WS6, besides wheel design, color of the leather interior and some other minor things, they all make around the same HP. The 1999 30th Anniversary Edition WS6 will probably go down as the most valuable, not the 2002.
There are plenty of beautiful ones in Oakland
Guy down the street from me has one that 16,500 would prolly take it home but its colored in "Arrest Me Red" so I passed on it.
I like Jay because he loves cars, not just the exotics. I really admire his appreciation for the American stuff. Definitely not a car snob.
Didn't want the car because he hated the color. If he had it wrapped or painted it wouldn't be original.
The absolute growl on this car with a stock exhaust makes me smile, after market exhaust, I can hear this beauty miles away😎
Have the same car at 17, super fun car, daily driver with 120k miles and runs strong after 21 years!💪
This just made my day. I own that exact 2002 blue WS6 Trans AM. And just like anything that you know or own. You don't realize how good it is until you don't have it any more or someone else points out the greatness of it. Time to take out my bird for a spin and appreciate it more. Thanks Jay! :)
Lmk when you want to sell lol
@@darrengarcia4937 He meant on forza
Man me too, I own a 1998 ws6 was originally white but my friends and I just repainted it to this color. But I added my own twist it, I added extra metallic and a silver Pearl to it. Now it’s like a Chamaeleon color. When the sun hits the paint it looks dark blue just like you see in this video, but as you look down the body lines you’ll see a dark purple. It really is so beautiful we did a great job and used a high end clear coat. She’s a diamond in the rough now!! took her for a spin earlier and love the sound of the cracking/popping exhaust pontiac all day!!
@@7771ham if you wanna sell it man let me know! Im lookin for one of these cars again hahap
@@robertg.durant8489 smells like someone's jealous 😂
This man is a real "petrol head ,a national treasure " is there more that I can say ,err , not very much .I just love this man .Good health ,long life and a privilege to be able to see you here every Monday 1745 hrs here in the UK, old chap.
❤
We think he's a giant, unfunny tool over here. And he doesn't know as much about some of his cars as he thinks at times too. The WS6 code explanation as one example on this one. Secondly, that nose was never "controversial." Last, the "giant chicken" wasn't an option on that hood. Again, uninformed tool. You Brits can have him.
@@QS-si3cq bitter much 😂
@@QS-si3cq ....he also victim trolled Monica Lewinsky. Big man indeed.
@@QS-si3cq You think that. Stop including others in your uninformed hated of other humans.
Jay Leno, you're one in a million. Love your channel and your passion for cars.
The modern day Johnny Carson show, tuned down, production perfect, you know Robert Baskerville, of Speedway Indiana? Fast 💨 machines, precision’s instruments 🎹 notes , in time. Dash lights, sound travels stuck like, glue.
I love how he loves all makes and models. He would be like hanging out with your grandpa. Which is always a good time lol
Not with these arms and this chin that's for sure 😂😂😂😂😂
Self-deprecating and humorous as ever!
Priceless!!
Who remembers Chinnzilla?
@@jamesreeves4600 at the trunk
@@jamesreeves4600 at 9:02
You are not alone Mr Leno, there are 3 millions of us riding shotgun, hanging out with you, and enjoying the ride.
This was the only car assembled in Quebec, Canada before the factory in Boisbriand closed. To me, that car represent the end of car manufacturing in my province.
Love the car...true American classic. Love how you talk about it and that you actually drive it
‘Not perfect underneath, in fact never been in a rain’ :D It looks like it was sitting on the showroom floor for the past 18 years. Amazing car
"Gimme the 6 piece suspension meal". LOL, I'll have what Jay's having.
Oh wide size that too, please!
My favorite muscle car of all time. Still ahead of it's time to this day. Just so tough looking.
Always loved this car... Had a 95 Firebird 'Formula' that was fantastic. Extra power, handling and then some...
Honestly, if covid means that we get content this personal about cars available to us from Jay, then I'll stay. This was awesome. Thank you
Get outside bro
I’ve felt the same way.
Were doomed..
Reminds me of the type of videos he used to do before the show existed!
#scamdemic
“I like to put it up on the lift and wipe it down.” Yes I believe Jay would do that. Drove the pace car, said “pay me in product” and got this car. And loved it for almost 20 years. Jay is a World Treasure. Ultimate car guy. Thank you Jay!
I have to assume he's gotten paid in product a LOT based on that garage. This is ag reat one.
A timeless classic. I love the front bird like design. It is still a head turner after all these years. Some guy a few blocks away from me had the red and white racing striped model. That thing was a beauty and I've wanted one ever since. I'm working on it 😁 Hopefully soon.
Thanks Jay. I am original owner of a 2000 T/A WS6 bought in 2000. I haven't driven it in a bunch of years, but I'm now breaking it out of retirement and taking it to a garage to get it in prime working condition. The only mod I had done on it is that I added a Flowmaster cat back exhaust. I love the deep throttle body sound. The car still looks awesome. Thanks again Jay for appreciating a classic American muscle car.
Drive it! got my 2002 WS-6 with H/C/I etc super fun and super fast now. Suspension and better brakes go a LOOOONG way.
This was gold. Just a genuine car lover telling us about his cool car.
"I don't think you're gonna see me doing chin-ups any time soon. Not with these arms and this chin, anyway." I think you hit that nail on the head, Jay.
@@jamesreeves4600 9:00. Jay was talking about the swaybar when he cracked this joke.
Jay Leno is kind of like the Doug DeMuro of the classic car world :)
I have the Silver one. It came home 20 years and 1 month ago today! 3.5 miles on it. Currently has 25,100 miles on it, and well, I have modified mine a little.....425 RWHP now with 3:73 Moser rear end...however it looks 100% stock! I love how much Jay digs a great ol Pontiac!
I got mine....every time I walk away from it I always look back and admire it....THAT is how you know you love the car.
Shania Twain said "you kiss your car goodnight. You're joking, right?" Nooooooo!!!!!!!!! 😂😂
I have always loved the Pontiac TA line. In Oct 2002 I bought a WS6 from a dealer who said he hated the car because it was ugly and had been sitting for so long. After some haggling I, bought the car and still have it today. Thank you, Jay, for covering an overlooked classic.
Fantastic classic sexy looking car! I liked the front snout.
Not overlooked my friend. I miss driving one. God speed
Awesome that you still have it. Hopefully they’re not overlooked anymore. Just like the 03/04 Cobras. I have a black 03 Cobra, really want a black 02 Ws6 to go with it. Best two v8 cars made in that era
I noticed Jay's driving a stick. Rare these days.
Same. I was a huge Pontiac fan
Jays “dirty” cars are cleaner than my show car lol
Classic episode. Passion and pride of ownership really comes through. Awesome 🤘
I always thought they were ugly as sin but my buddy had a black one and we kinda camped out in it at a super rainy music festival (our tents were ruined haha) and I really came around on it. Fun car and very comfortable interior