Originally posted by 2.5: I had those issues with the 4 speed stick but not the 5 speed. The 5 speed felt like my 90 Grand am 5 speed I had a while back. I think like most sticks you just have to get the feel of that particular car and pattern. I actually usually prefer stick shift cars even in reliability to autos because auto trannys seem to wear out no matter what maintinence ifs performed or driving habits. With a stick it seems like if I know how to use a clutch right it keeps on truckin. I've only had to work on clutch hydraulics on Fieros that were neglected and sat for years. But thats just my experience.
+1
Most all manual transmissions made in the last 30 years are basically maintenance free. Flush and fill the hydraulic system every couple of years, and replace the clutch if needed after 30 years and they will generally last. Never had any real problems finding gears on any of the manual cars I've driven, unless the clutch was slipping or air in the fluid. Even with the very soft clutch pedal and slipping clutch, combined with the very narrow shift gate in my del Sol, I don't have a problem finding gears in it. I see the guys with the F40 swaps have a little trouble finding first when leaving a show sometimes though, but I think that's just due to the reverse lockout being very easy to get by on the 4 speed shifter being used with the 6 speed.
I certainly look straight past Fieros for sale that are automatics. Ironically, when running through my mind with the possibility of getting a 2015 Corvette Z06, I keep leaning slightly more toward the 8 speed automatic.
Originally posted by johnyrottin: I kind of like the ease and simplicity of the auto...just wish it had a 4 speed auto instead of the 3 speed.
Don't buy a new Ferrari. 7 speeds and top gear is 1:1. Great for racing on a road course, but not so much for cruising on the highway for a 2-3 hour road trip.
I had those issues with the 4 speed stick but not the 5 speed. The 5 speed felt like my 90 Grand am 5 speed I had a while back. I think like most sticks you just have to get the feel of that particular car and pattern. I actually usually prefer stick shift cars even in reliability to autos because auto trannys seem to wear out no matter what maintinence ifs performed or driving habits. With a stick it seems like if I know how to use a clutch right it keeps on truckin. I've only had to work on clutch hydraulics on Fieros that were neglected and sat for years. But thats just my experience.
Yes you do have to get a feel for most cable shifted cars as they each have a feel of their own due to wear and adjustment.
As for reliability that is not really an issue as most automatics will last for much longer than most car will be on the road. Change the fluid and that is it. In a manual depending on the driver clutches are more often to fail and in this cars case is not something many people can or want to change at home.
I love driving a stick and on weekends it is my favorite deal. But in traffic I rather just stick it in gear and go for the daily drive to work and back.
This is one of those deals where there is no right or wrong just personal preference.
I remember tearing out the clutch in my old Chevelle. It just twisted it in half. I had to dog the car home as it would not release. I was lucky it did not let go all the way. But that one was an easy two hour change in the garage.
Currently 90% of vehicles are purchased with Auto trannys with 10% being manual. Just heard that tidbit a few days ago on the news somewhere. Not sure about Fieros being more desirable if they are manuals. I don't desire them more. I kind of like the ease and simplicity of the auto...just wish it had a 4 speed auto instead of the 3 speed.
Yes I saw similar numbers and they were down to 7% of cars sold in the story I read. The truth is so many people today can not even drive a manual. My wife has never driven one and when I took a Corvette out hammered it around a bit I took my young son who had never been in a manual car with me before wondered why I was shifting all the time.
While they are trying to hold on many MFG will stop production of a full manual box in the near future. Ferrari if what I read was true is down to one model that is a full standard manual not assisted in any way. Who would have ever thought that would happen? Others are making less and less.
The lack of people buying and the difficulty of meeting emission are really making it tough. Even the automatic cars like the Camaro SS are now as fast or faster with the Automatic in some cases.
I do agree I wish the Fiero auto was 4 speed. I often wondered how the 6 speed would feel with the 2.8 as I have two of these in a couple of other cars. It is smooth and seamless.
I paid $1300 for mine, 2 owner former Bowling Green Corvette employees, 96K on odometer, 40K on the recall engine, had been sitting for 17 years, only the paint and headliner show it.
[This message has been edited by mckaymotoworks (edited 11-04-2014).]
Be wary about low mileage cars. I thought it was fairly easy to roll back the odometer. Let condition be the determining factor on any purchase and don't get carried away about mileage you can't verify. My GT has more miles than I would like, but it is in great condition and was always garaged. Having had another one that was lower miles and nice but not tip top condition, I get the difference. When I look at pictures of low mileage cars I am skeptical. Or, I see that they have sat, and that they may as well have more miles on them because they have so many needs. Just get one that was well loved and for a fair price and you will be fine. There are An awful lot of unused cars showing up all of a sudden. Fieros are a little older now and people think they are worth $$$$ so they roll back miles..... Just my opinion, but many of these cars look used up for such "low miles."
In 2010 my gt purchased on eBay had 29,500 miles on it. I am the 4 owner and it was garage kept it's hole life.it now has 62,000 miles and runs great,idles like new and gets 30 mpg. The only car I own. If it went up in value my wife would been very Happy.
low mile cars, ho hum.. that tells me the owners didn't enjoy them. I can understand a 2 seater only having 60k.. as ,to many ,it was the fun car not the daily.. but the ones floating around with a few thousand miles,, or 10k.. what a waste.. it might look like new, but It'll need more work than most sold with 80-100k on them.
[This message has been edited by E.Furgal (edited 02-07-2015).]
low mile cars, ho hum.. that tells me the owners didn't enjoy them. I can understand a 2 seater only having 60k.. as ,to many ,it was the fun car not the daily.. but the ones floating around with a few thousand miles,, or 10k.. what a waste.. it might look like new, but It'll need more work than most sold with 80-100k on them.
You have a very narrow-minded view of "enjoyment". Just because someone enjoys their car in ways that you do not, doesnt make their vehicle a "waste". Seriously. open you mind to new and different things.
You have a very narrow-minded view of "enjoyment". Just because someone enjoys their car in ways that you do not, doesnt make their vehicle a "waste". Seriously. open you mind to new and different things.
Haha. Yeah. I'm sure a low mileage 250 GTO California that's now worth several tens of millions of dollars was a total waste for the original owners. :P
You have a very narrow-minded view of "enjoyment". Just because someone enjoys their car in ways that you do not, doesnt make their vehicle a "waste". Seriously. open you mind to new and different things.
It's a car, not art... ment to be driven, sure some like looking in a garage and see'n a car they like in it, then closing the garage door again,, I have an open mind, but I think it's a waste, rolling down the road, is more fun than staring at it through a window, daydreaming about driving it..
just because I have an opinion doesn't mean I don't have an open mind,, But after going with my dad to warehouses of people he's painted cars for, and see'n vehicles that haven't moved in years because the owner see's them as more of an investment than a vehicle to be driven, to feel it run through the gears, seen by others, not just garage art.. I watch B/J and see a line of vehicles that do nothing but go from one warehouse to another, not my cup of tea.. A fiero that's 30 years old with 1500 miles, 3000 miles etc.. wasn't used.. it's a car not a photo of one..
[This message has been edited by E.Furgal (edited 02-09-2015).]
Haha. Yeah. I'm sure a low mileage 250 GTO California that's now worth several tens of millions of dollars was a total waste for the original owners. :P
yup, it was, as an owner of a vehicle like that, money isn't a problem for them in the first place.. so the value(dollar worth) is meaningless to them.. and those that thought of it as nothing more than an investment and nothing more, don't see it as a vehicle/car it's just another item of value.. and that wasn't what enzo had invisioned when his company, designed and built it..
Beautiful car Ebay $8,000 starting bid Yellow 88 formula, automatic 2,000 original miles (if it had t-bars I wouldn't b posting it here I would b buying) but I already have 2 solid roof Fieros
But how can there be so many Fiero's for sale and low miles when people say there are none LOL!
This is why I say take your time and buy the best unrestored one with the lowest miles you can afford. In the long run it is cheaper for many. Parts and paint are not cheap and add up over time.
This is not just For Fiero's but for most collector cars,
I've only had to work on clutch hydraulics on Fieros that were neglected and sat for years. But thats just my experience.
