The first car I was ever interested in (We were boat people) was my dentists Pantera...I wanted one bad....But by the time I could have bought a used one, I had found out how bad the usability/comfort/quality was.....And GM was building a well-designed mid-engine car...The Fiero!
All the road tests in 1984 and 1985 were very good- Read the Motor Trend or Road & Track 1985 GT test and you would think the car had descended from Heaven! I ordered an 85 SE V6 with nothing else except the WS6 suspension......And then the 1986 C&D test rained down crap on the Fiero image.....Then R&T compared the new 1988 Formula to a SC MR2 and stated that EVERYTHING was better on the MR2 and everything was bad-bad-bad on the Fiero......I remember reading these tests and seeing it as PROOF that these magazines were on the take.....Absolute proof came as soon as the Fiero was cancelled- Suddenly, the mags all started talking about how the MR2 was dangerous because of knife-edge DTO (I guess Toyota completely retuned the suspension in 1989!)...Toyota did not need to PAY for Magazine tests that were slanted since the competition (Fiero) was gone.....
All this leads up to; There are some people who see the Fiero and think it's the greatest thing in the auto world, and then there are others who believe all of those bad tests...and believe that their country (The USA ) CAN'T build a good car (I suppose they are talking from experience(Meaning they know THEY don't ever do a good job!)
I usually lead off talking to someone about my Fiero with "They are both better and worse than what you have heard"...This seems to pull people back towards the middle, where reality sits.....
Favorite thumbs up ever; I was driving from Redwood Road home while being followed by an early WRX STI....( Coming from Redwood road he was probably turnin' and burnin' just before I saw him) He followed me thru Castro Valley to Lake Chabot road (At the speed limit).....When I turned on it I started cranking on it, sideways just slightly turning onto Chabot, then thru 4 turns hard, drifting slightly....Pulled over finally (Actually wanted to ask them how it looked going thru the turns) but they continued on.....Both driver and passenger gave me a thumbs up.....
I own a 88 MR2 SC and a 85 Fiero SE V6. I thought the mags were not off on their opinions. Fiero in my eyes looks better and sounds better(V6). More room. And thanks to a taller final drive ration long trips are much easier in the Fiero. Only thing I didn't like was the heavy steering in the Fiero compared to the 2
------------------ 1999 Camaro Z28 B4C Heads Cam Intake Stall etc 1992 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 331 R block S trim Intercooled 1988 MR2 SC Cammed,Pulley etc 1988 Corvette Cammed stalled bolt ons 1985 Fiero SE V6-Transgo,stall,K&N
I own a 88 MR2 SC and a 85 Fiero SE V6. I thought the mags were not off on their opinions. Fiero in my eyes looks better and sounds better(V6). More room. And thanks to a taller final drive ration long trips are much easier in the Fiero. Only thing I didn't like was the heavy steering in the Fiero compared to the 2
I've never really understood those Road & Track reviews, specifically the one that compares an 88 Formula to and MR2 and a CRX. The Fiero outperformed both cars in nearly every performance category, yet it was still ranked third.
The first time I saw a Fiero was in my senior year in New York City and from the moment I saw it I said to myself: "This car has a lot of potential, I want one of those" It was my friend driving it and I chased him down the block and begged him for a ride. It was guttles but the handling and the size impressed me a lot. From that moment on I knew the Fiero was my favorite car of all time, its like when I met my wife; I knew she was the one!
The look of the Fiero doesn't belong on the street, it belongs on the track (that's what I think!). And that is why mine is a 85% track and 15% street use. I went to a huge Hyperfest track event in Charlotte, NC at the Speeway and every time I stagged the Fiero to go on track there were a lot of people clapping, whistling and giving me a lot of thumbs up. They took pictures of the car and a lot of young ones took pictures besides and inside of the car and a lot of people came to talk to me. There was a huge car show but I was not in it, people came to the "race car" side just to see the Fiero, the best feeling ever!
See, thats exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure why people don't love these cars for what they are. Sure they don't produce a huge amount of horsepower, but neither do 914s, Alfa Spiders, TR7s, etc. You don't see guys rushing to throw V8s in those cars. My take on my 84 is this, Its a fantastic car for cruising around. Yes its low on horsepower, but it does move quickly and when I punch it at Highway speed to pass, it responds. The beauty of this car is the 4 speed manual transmission. The short gears mean a lot of shifting, but when you are out cruising isn't that what you want? Admittedly that can be a problem in day to day driving but I've never really used the car for that. The low stance, wide tires and independent suspension make the car feel like its on rails, and with the limited power you never feel like its going to break loose. So to me, its perfect the way it is.
What, he couldn't get a shot of you coming by on the near side of track?
He took this picture too, I chased this Conquest and right when I was about to pass him the positive wire in the ignition module came loose and the car lost its power.
The last guy that tried the "Is that thing fast?" was my neighbor. He had a 2016 Dodge Challenger with a 5.7 Hemi. After he asked me I responded "I don't know but I'd like to find out, want to do a short drag? 0 to 60MPH? And he agreed. Big mistake, that day he learned that bigger is not always better but power to weight ratio is. He even made me race him from a rolling start with no effect. I pulled like 3 car lengths and kept that distance on the 4 tries. I could see his embarrassment when he came out of his Challenger and he was all red! LOL Now he got a 2017 Cadillac CTSV Twin Turbo with 500hp. He came to show it to me and I was waiting for him to challenge me again but this time he didn't. I think he got the point.
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That story made my day.
i'm putting the GT rocker panels on and i found them in Toronto. The guy started at $200 then lowered to $160, then finally asked only $100. As we were approaching Toronto, the guy texted me and said that they were lacking the clips and i could have them free if i still wanted them!!! However, i lacked the trim that mounts to the door. After looking for years, i found some in a local scrap yard. i was afraid that the guy would rip me, and i was praying that it would be less than $50. He only asked $25. Getting ready to paint them. White car, black rockers and grey rocker trim.
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Originally posted by andreww:
Can't speak for everyone else, but I can share my observations. Been and owner of my 84 since 1985. Since the very beginning people were interested in the car, and as there was no internet in those days, for the most part people were curious and positive about the cars. Then the recalls and bad press started, and people suddenly turned negative on the brand. As the Fiero only lasted 5 model years, Fiero clubs and the Fiero community started very quickly. The thing that I remember most about those early years is that people simply loved the cars for what they were. Very few were doing upgrades back then, and a show would mainly consist of stock cars and the odd kit. These days people don't seem to love the Fiero as a car anymore, but more as a platform to build something else. My car is all original, and I know there are a few others out there, but the majority of Fiero enthusiasts out there are modders or kids interested in them only because they can afford them. If you own a 2m4 you have to constantly put up with abuse from people telling you your engine is $hit, even guys with 2.8s get it these days. So for me there is very little love for the Fiero from car guys. Although, like the early days, the car gets a lot more attention from the general public, so thats a good thing
So you've almost owned yours as long as i have mine. i'm the original owner of an 84. You have told the story of the early days of the Fiero very well. People thot i had bought the latest Porsche! i am doing exactly what i planned to do back when i bought it. Drive it original for a while then begin to modify it. To me, its about driving excitment not preservation of some legend.
quote
Originally posted by andreww:
See, thats exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure why people don't love these cars for what they are. Sure they don't produce a huge amount of horsepower, but neither do 914s, Alfa Spiders, TR7s, etc. You don't see guys rushing to throw V8s in those cars. My take on my 84 is this, Its a fantastic car for cruising around. Yes its low on horsepower, but it does move quickly and when I punch it at Highway speed to pass, it responds. The beauty of this car is the 4 speed manual transmission. The short gears mean a lot of shifting, but when you are out cruising isn't that what you want? Admittedly that can be a problem in day to day driving but I've never really used the car for that. The low stance, wide tires and independent suspension make the car feel like its on rails, and with the limited power you never feel like its going to break loose. So to me, its perfect the way it is.
i have long wondered why people dont bust on 914s, Alfa Spiders, TR7s, MGBs, MR2s and the list goes on but the Fiero is a piece of **** to these people. You also see it all the time here , people think only about straight line speed - think 1/4 mile times - and refuse to consider how their muscle machine would do in a slalom or a skid pad, or (God forbid) an actual road course with CORNERS! Just ignore that part about turning, because its not important.
i love my Fiero and i take pride in its looks and keeping it running. The guy with the debt machine thinks that just because he put a different muffler on it that he is real bad. Lazy and debt ridden is more like it.
jon
------------------ I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun! 3800 SC swap to come!
I would like to point out another factor that really frustrates me; Everything I own, I repair, modify and maintain.....I have both a fiero that is substantially modified and a CVX-20 jet boat (Also modified).....I used to be on the Hot Boat Magazine website- and subscribe to the magazine....
Boating magazines follow a common line; They start out concentrating on small, affordable boats, but slowly convert to the more expensive boats....until the magazine is just a "dream rag" for people hoping to some day win the lottery.
Road & Track is beginning to follow this same path.....all Porsche issue, then all Ferrari issue, then all BMW issue, etc.....
On the Hot Boating side of this issue, is a hot boat (Similar to a hot rod) a boat some guy has worked on in his garage, or is it a $300,000 offshore boat that a Doctor or Lawyer has PAID to have built and maintained a Hot boat? Similarly, can you call a $200,000 Mercedes E63 a true hot rod?
Not in MY opinion! (But I have it on good authority that my opinion doesn't count!)
I think that regardless of the brand, price or who is behind the car being hot rodded, lawyer, doctor, etc; If it was altered to meet the owners expectations, in my book it is a hot rod. A hot rod is a personalized vehicle regardless of the brand, hp or cost. To each their own and I respect everyone's hot rod, Its like taking a robot and give it a personality. You don't have to look far to know the individual driving whatever hot rod, just look at the car and you'll find out everything you need to know about the owner.
On the Hot Boating side of this issue, is a hot boat (Similar to a hot rod) a boat some guy has worked on in his garage, or is it a $300,000 offshore boat that a Doctor or Lawyer has PAID to have built and maintained a Hot boat? Similarly, can you call a $200,000 Mercedes E63 a true hot rod?
I think you (and probably any member of this forum) would enjoy the Netflix series... Fastest Car. I've watched three episodes so far, and I'm quite enjoying the show. The guy with the expensive supercar in each episode is always made out to be the villain.
I think you (and probably any member of this forum) would enjoy the Netflix series... Fastest Car. I've watched three episodes so far, and I'm quite enjoying the show. The guy with the expensive supercar in each episode is always made out to be the villain.
My wife loved this show! My favorite character was the lawyer with the chromed lambo, he was so obnoxious that he became my favorite villain, I loved that guy, the perfert 80's "guido". His wife was nasty but supportive, and that is a plus! LOL
After owning my fiero (86 black gt) for 22 years that little 2.8 v6 i always knew was quick not fast but quick to get you into trouble and out of if need be. I will always love my stock car but, when i tried to race my dad's 02 ssei bonneville and lost past 1/8th mile i knew that yea my car is not very fast but it is still quick. But, now that i have that ssei engine in by other fiero the car is now quick and kinda fast. Now no dodge scat pack fast but fast to any "reasonably" priced stock car. I have a buddy with the scat package and yes they are fast but, he cant put the traction to the wheels and I make that traction to my advantage for the first 1000 or so feet then its almost all over when the thing catches up. But, When you go to a track situation it is a different story all together. I enjoy both my stock and 3800 cars they are not fast nor slow but quick and enjoy eating up the road like any red blooded american. They both have some of my blood, sweat, and tears on almost every nut and bolt. You learn to think differently working on one and you stand out in the crowd when you say i own a fiero and am proud of it. Because, they are like lays potato chips can't have just one and they enjoy the others company.
[This message has been edited by mmeyer86gt/gtp (edited 06-11-2018).]
My favorite character was the lawyer with the chromed lambo, he was so obnoxious that he became my favorite villain, I loved that guy, the perfert 80's "guido".
He's in the next episode coming up that I'll be watching. In the "preview", he looked like a real slime ball.
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Originally posted by mmeyer86gt/gtp:
...enjoy eating up the road like any red blooded american.
Hate to break this to you, but the enjoyment of driving fast is a kind of a universal thing.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-11-2018).]
You are absolutely right!
You have told the story of the early days of the Fiero very well. People thot i had bought the latest Porsche! i am doing exactly what i planned to do back when i bought it. Drive it original for a while then begin to modify it. To me, its about driving excitment not preservation of some legend. 
