'88 Fiero w/296miles

masraum · 07-31-2006, 01:32 PM

1988 Fiero GT with 296 miles, has never been titled.Seller says he bought it from a Pontiac dealer in Oct. 2002.

dd74 · 07-31-2006, 01:40 PM

Do you like it, or are you dissin' it? This one has has an automatic, which kills whatever speed the car might have.

They were okay cars IMO; sort of pedestrian. Pontiac skunkworks back in the late '80s had all sorts of plans for the Fiero - Fiero V8, twin turborcharged V6.

IIRC GM killed the car because it was in danger of showing up and doing serious sales damage to the Corvette.

The later body style is best.

legion · 07-31-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
IIRC GM killed the car because it was in danger of showing up and doing serious sales damage to the Corvette.

That's why I'm concerned about the Solstice.

GM, 15 years later, has given Pointiac a go at building a great sports car. (Keep in mind, the Corvette wasn't a great sports car when it came out either.)

dd74 · 07-31-2006, 01:48 PM

I can't get my arms around the Solstice yet. Much like the Fiero, it seems more like a quick answer to the Miata, than an original, groundbreaking thought like what the Z3 is starting to become, thanks in part to Bangle.

Meanwhile, have you seen the Miata's about to gain some very significant weight? I knew the pure driving motif wouldn't last...

pmajka · 07-31-2006, 01:53 PM

if i can find it, there are aftermarket companies that turbo, SC or just engine swap Fieros!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Neither was the 911. . . A decent sports car yes, but not "great" until refinements and later adjustments over years.

Does that Fiero come with the "factory standard" rusted-out floorpans that all 1980s American cars have?

masraum · 07-31-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Do you like it, or are you dissin' it? This one has has an automatic, which kills whatever speed the car might have.

They were okay cars IMO; sort of pedestrian. Pontiac skunkworks back in the late '80s had all sorts of plans for the Fiero - Fiero V8, twin turborcharged V6.

IIRC GM killed the car because it was in danger of showing up and doing serious sales damage to the Corvette.

The later body style is best.

Not really proclaiming like or dislike either way. Mostly just a weird automotive thing on ebay.

The Fiero was cool for it's day, and I still see one around occasionally. A manual trans is a definite must. I'd like to drive a GT or 2m6 with a manual trans in good shape to see what they were like.

I don't think the Solstice will end up like the Fiero. Wasn't part of the original Fiero problem due to them catching fire and the reputation going to crap?

It's got weird time capsule value if nothing else.

motion · 07-31-2006, 02:05 PM

I had an '88 white GT like this one back in '89. V6 and manual tranny. It was a great car!!! Total blast to drive, even though it didn't handle all that great. Very torquey and it looked very sporty back in the day. It wasn't too reliable, though. I remember being happy to get rid of it.

Jims5543 · 06:18 AM

Pontiac Solstice Mallett

The Corvette better start looking in it mirrors now. Because these little suckers are fast.

Jay H · 02:52 PM

My brother had a 1988 Fiero. Unfortunately, he had the I4 (Iron Duke), auto trans model (not by his choice...). Looked great and got great gas mileage (for the time), but didn't perform all that well in a straight line.

His car had about 33,000 miles on it when he finally sold it (dry weather car only). It handled well for what it was, however it sure seemed to have a very unsophisticated suspension.

We did go to a few national Fiero club events (this was before either one of us had our 911's). These people are nuts about these cars, just like we love our cars. They'd trailer in 1984 Indy Pace Car models with 1400 miles on them, talk all day about V8 swaps (it's pretty cool to see a 350 shoved in the back of a Fiero), etc. etc.

The 2.8 motors are nice motors. They'll spool up pretty good for an old school GM pushrod motor. Lots of torque. I've seen guys get rubber in 3 gears, so there is some grunt there.

It's a quirky little car and I'm sure there are plenty of followers out there yet... The Formula model seems to be the really rare model of the bunch. Those models got the handling and 2.8 without the heavier GT spoilers and such.

The '88's were pretty reliable from what I've read and my brother had zero problems with his car and he bought it used with 3000 miles on it. Pontiac finally got that car dialed in for that model year, but then was discontinued. I agree that the '88's were probably the best looking of the bunch and the early cars are somewhat awkward looking in the front end.

Not all that long ago, there was a black over black '84 for sale in my area (4 cylinder, 4 speed manual). It had something like 14,000 miles on it and they wanted $3995. It sold very quickly.

Jay
90 964
84 3.2

dd74 · 07-31-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Pontiac Solstice Hammer

The Corvette better start looking in it mirrors now. Because these little suckers are fast.

Yeah - I agree the Corvette better look in its mirrors. A well-driven CTS-V can take a standard Vette quite easily, I believe. And I've seen them in L.A. going for mid $30K as a trade in. Pretty good deal.

The Solstice Hammer - that probably will take a Vette. But then the new Z07 in Automobile magazine looks like it'll take a GT3 Porsche. Vette has, IIRC, 750 hp.

Enjoy the horsepower war while we can, boys.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

As far as the Fiero goes, fill the gas tank and double it's value...

klaucke · 08-01-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
A well-driven CTS-V can take a standard Vette quite easily, I believe.

I don't see how this can be the case. Doesn't the CTS-V have essentially the same powertrain as a Corvette (5.7l, 400hp, 6-speed), with more weight to boot? C&D listed it at 4000lbs in 2004. A Corvette is undoubtedly lighter, and with suspension tuned for performance. I don't see how a CTS-V could compete w/ a Vette, all else being equal.

masraum · 06:25 AM

Agreed, I'm not sure why the CTS-V would take a vette since it's basically a Vette with a bunch of extra creature comforts.

Sorry, it's the XLR that's just a Vette in different clothing. The CTS is the sedan/coupe, and the V is the CTS with the Corvette 400hp LS-6 (or the 6L LS2 in 2006). I'd still be pretty darn surprised if it would smoke a vette.

NICKG · 08-01-2006, 06:32 AM

that is a really rare car...factory t tops is extremely rare in fieros. they were nice cars in their era.

asphaltgambler · 08-01-2006, 07:57 AM

The Fiero until '88 had a chevette front end and the front subframe and suspension from a citation that mounted in the rear. I saw them before they ever hit the street at a GM training center.

At first I thought it was a real breath of fresh air for GM. Then I got a close look at the underneath.....nothing but recycled parts from current /previous rides they made.

I remember the one 'neatest' thing was each headrest had two speakers so each person got a full 'stereo' effect - pretty good sound in those days for an American car

dd74 · 08-01-2006, 09:46 AM

I said "well-driven CTS-V could take a Corvette," though anything well-driven could take anything else not well-driven, I imagine.

notfarnow · 08-01-2006, 12:05 PM

I got a drive in a V6/5 spd Fiero back when they were still relatively new. I remember it handled well, sounded good and even had a decent ride. Interior was pure K-Mart though... major turnoff.

nota · 08-01-2006, 03:33 PM

lots of swaped motor Fieros around
most GM FWD motors bolt in
everything from DOHC 4s to V8s
SuperDuty4s make 400 hp [GM race motor]
quad4 or ecotec4 swap with trans
3800v6 with supercharger is a bolt in
as are chevy 350 with a kit
or northstar or 4.9 caddys V8s
it addition to a bunch of 60 deg v6 inc DOHC motors

my toy has a northstarV8 DOHC 4valve bolted to a 5 speed
with custom tube A-arms, vett 13" brakes, coilovers
2500 lbs with 300 stock hp at a under 10k total cost
not bad for a car that can win at the drags and autoX
for less then a new econobox

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

There's a small town (3-4 blocks long!) in Northern Michigan where a retired architect is building a Fiero museum. I had driven by this place a few times over the years and noticed the Fieros piling up like chord wood. One day, a guy was out working on a car so I stopped to see what he was up to. He took me inside this non-descript building and it was filled with a few dozen more Fieros, many low-mile cars. He's also got tons of NOS stuff he bought from Pontiac. He told me about a prototype V8 Corvette-killer that got axed by GM. He's remodeling the place and making a museum to be called Fieros Forever!