Oddly, the forum search seems to bring up zero results for "ws6". So curiously, what specifically did that entail on the Formulas?

im almost positive the formulas got the same exact suspension and brake package as the GT's along with the same staggered wheels in 1988..

Essentialy the "WS6" package for 1988 was a completely new front and rear suspension with vented disc brakes at all four corners (what Pontiac's engineers had planned for the car to have from the beginning.)

The front suspension geometry was changed to decrease the scrub radius thus decreasing steering effort without adding a bulky power steering system. The camber curve was also much improved, the dampers are moved inside the coil springs, and new sealed bearing/hub units were used in 1988.

The rear suspension featured multi-link (two lateral links and one trailing arm) Chapman strut suspension, and the tie-rod related bump steer experienced with the earlier suspension design was fixed.

The brakes were also upgraded to 10.5 inches vented rotors on the front and rear with an improved slide caliper design having larger diameter slides.

The Fiero Formula (new for 1988) and Fiero GT models also received a rear anti-sway bar to compliment non-progressive rate springs.

[This message has been edited by gmctyphoon1992 (edited 07-15-2012).]

All 88's had vented brakes, redesigned front and tri-link rear suspensions. That has nothing to do with the WS6 option.
WS6 was standard on Formula and GT and added staggered size 15" wheels and tires and a rear sway bar. The 88 brochure also makes mention of different shocks, spring rates and bushing compounds, but after almot 25 years, that won't matter anymore since replacements will be the same for all 88 models.

Were the standard 14" wheels staggered offset on the base model 88's?

quote Originally posted by arte444: Were the standard 14" wheels staggered offset on the base model 88's?

No, the 14" wheels were the same all the way around, and yes, the fronts stuck out slightly, but it wasn't too noticeable on the narrower 14" wheel/tire combo.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: All 88's had vented brakes, redesigned front and tri-link rear suspensions. That has nothing to do with the WS6 option. WS6 was standard on Formula and GT and added staggered size 15" wheels and tires and a rear sway bar. The 88 brochure also makes mention of different shocks, spring rates and bushing compounds, but after almot 25 years, that won't matter anymore since replacements will be the same for all 88 models.

true but what I said was first WS6 designed (on the drawing board) than later adapted for all models in 1988.. What adapted was basically what you said.. the improved vented brakes and multi link rear suspension all due to the change in suspension design and brakes in late 87 for the next model year (along with many other improvements for 88)..more cost effective to carry one kind of design.. for all models of that year than make different molds of different parts and different machinery to make them

[This message has been edited by gmctyphoon1992 (edited 07-15-2012).]

So the short of it is that the only differences between my Formula, and everything else in '88 is the staggered wheels, and the rear swaybar? That's slightly disappointing to know I searched high and low for a suitable Formula specifically, only to get a sway bar and two different wheels, lol. Ok, not that disappointed..'88s in general were a bit difficult to find in clean condition, and that's what I was really looking for - '88 with V6 and auto trans (yeah, I know the manuals are a bit quicker, and get better MPGs, but my current DD has a manual trans..shifting gears started to get old..guess that's part of getting old myself, lol) ...getting a Formula was really just a bonus

Are we forgetting the engine?

Formula is the only 88 notchback V6.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 07-15-2012).]

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Are we forgetting the engine? Formula is the only 88 notchback V6.

Well, no. You could get the V6 in the GT too. I was more curious of what's specific to the WS6 package.

Formulas were marketed as an enthusiast's car when they were new.....so they usually are missing a lot of options, such as the trunk popper and electric mirrors and windows. The buyer could add options if he really wanted them, but the W66 code probably told the assemblers to leave things off as much as put them on. There are some interior trim color differences.

edit: WS6 was a performance upgrade....not the Formula option. It appears that Formula's got both.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 07-15-2012).]

FWIW- Read somewhere, can't remember exactly where (getting old bites), might have been the forum- that the GT / Formulas with the rear sway bar actually had softer rear spring rates than the 4 cyl coupe. As I recall, to offset the ride effect the sway bar adds. No way to back that up but its one of those things you remember.

BR's

Mark

------------------
86 SE V6 4 speed
86 SE V6 Auto
2008 G6 GT "Street" Coupe
2005 Buick 3.6 Rendezvous
2001 Olds Silhouette (AKA The Band Van)

[This message has been edited by MarkS (edited 07-15-2012).]

quote Originally posted by urbex: So the short of it is that the only differences between my Formula, and everything else in '88 is the staggered wheels, and the rear swaybar? That's slightly disappointing to know I searched high and low for a suitable Formula specifically, only to get a sway bar and two different wheels, lol. Ok, not that disappointed..'88s in general were a bit difficult to find in clean condition, and that's what I was really looking for - '88 with V6 and auto trans (yeah, I know the manuals are a bit quicker, and get better MPGs, but my current DD has a manual trans..shifting gears started to get old..guess that's part of getting old myself, lol) ...getting a Formula was really just a bonus

The topic was just about suspension, not the entire model. Formulas, like GT, also had the 120mph speedo, gauge pod on the radio tower and V6 engine and were the only way to get a V6 Fiero in 88.

quote Originally posted by urbex: So the short of it is that the only differences between my Formula, and everything else in '88 is the staggered wheels, and the rear swaybar? That's slightly disappointing to know I searched high and low for a suitable Formula specifically, only to get a sway bar and two different wheels,

The Formula is a performance notchback.
If you weren't specifiallcy looking for a notchback, a GT would have sufficed for you.
"Everything else" Included non WS6 cars, and 4 cylinder cars.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: The topic was just about suspension, not the entire model. Formulas, like GT, also had the 120mph speedo, gauge pod on the radio tower and V6 engine and were the only way to get a V6 Fiero in 88.

My bad...part of it was probably poor wording on my part, part was not understanding what I was asking, part due to the given topic morph, lol. I suppose it would have been more accurate to say "What's specific to the '88 Formula", as in what was _only_ available on the Formula in 1988?

[This message has been edited by urbex (edited 07-17-2012).]