Crazy ring-dream (Page 1/1)
cvxjet SEP 15, 06:03 PM
I get very frustrated with people telling me either "Your Fiero is a fire-bomb...You're lucky it hasn't caught fire!" or "Those were the WORST car ever made! They are junk- nothing works on them" So......I have a dream.....

I would like to get someone (Car nut) who would be willing to bankroll a "Final Fiero".......LS4 engine, tweaked for maybe 400+ hp, Getrag Cryo treated and with a LSD, an 85-87 chassis with 88 rear suspension, upgraded brakes, light-weight wheels with the latest performance "Street" rubber, and a few aerodynamic tweaks- But still fully a Fiero...Then take it to the 'Ring and lay down a lap around 7:20.......This would basically be the Fiero's logical descendant.......

Maybe then people would stop sniggering up their sleeves at our cars....(I swear, after talking to some of these fools, I go out in the garage expecting to find a 3-legged dog with mange!)
Patrick SEP 15, 09:43 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

I get very frustrated with people telling me either "Your Fiero is a fire-bomb...You're lucky it hasn't caught fire!" or "Those were the WORST car ever made! They are junk- nothing works on them" So......I have a dream.....



It's been a long time since anybody's dissed my Fiero(s), not that mine are anything special... but when someone has said something derogatory about Fieros in general to me, I've just smiled, looked them in the eye, and told them they haven't got a clue what they're talking about. The conversation usually ends about then.

I enjoy daily-driving my Formula. That's all that matters to me. It's reliable, mechanically sound... and looks great from a distance of 20 feet.
David Hambleton SEP 15, 10:30 PM
You needn't feel obligated to educate those who aren't likely even interested in the truth. Let them revel in their ignorance. What does it matter?

I initiate lots of conversations at car shows by saying something like: "You know, it's not nice to laugh at the car when the owner is standing nearby..." .
That usually elicits a reply to the effect that they love the car; they or a friend or relative had one; great memories... etc.

Occaisonally someone mentions the fire issue, but when they hear that the percentage is lower than most other manufacturers and the reasons for the ones that did burn, etc., they're appreciative of the info.
Likewise regarding safety; that it was rated 2nd only to a Volvo at the time.

There are those that delight in pointing out the known faults of cars; they'll have negative things to say regardless of the car they're looking at. Few cars have stellar reputations so they've got lots to remember...
fieroguru SEP 15, 11:08 PM
I pretty much have what you describe as your "Final Fiero" is, just with all 88 hardware (and I wouldn't say I am done with the upgrades).

I put 8-10k miles on it every year and drive it all over the place. Rarely do I get any negativity, just lots of compliments based on the stance, sound, drivetrain, etc... A day rarely goes by without someone stopping me and asking about the car and letting me know what they like about it. It is far from a show car, but is a helluva fun driver!

If we want to change people's perception, we have to keep the cars visible and let more and more people know about them who didn't get fed a lot of mis-information. Here I am doing my part!
https://www.hotrod.com/arti...-hot-rod-power-tour/

In a few weeks I will take the car to Putnam Park for a HPDE event (at this point the car is more capable than the driver!).

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 09-15-2019).]

cvxjet SEP 16, 07:28 PM
I live in the East Bay (S.F. CA) and I catch a lot of H-E double-toothpicks over the Fiero- At a gas station I'll be talking to someone and invariably, someone else will be pumping gas and snickering......

I drove out to the Central Valley (Modesto) to get a part from a P&P- stopped to get gas and a guy walks up and tells me he likes my car, then a guy pumping walks over- same thing...and then a BUM(!) walks up and tells me "Beautiful >>Fiero<< man!" I almost couldn't breath- I am NEVER treated that way where I live....

Car & Drivel did everything they could to kill the car- their road tests (Massacres) were full of twisted BS......I read the 1985 MT and R&T tests of the V6 GT and you would get the impression it was a great little car...Then, by 1986, they all started hacking at the car- The last good (Positive) test was Peter Egan's test of a 87 GT in the R&T sports and GT special edition... When R&T and C&D (comparison) tested the 88 Fiero, they stated (Basically) "BIG improvement......but not a very good car- especially compared to...."

Most tests overseas were very positive- although one fool hated the fact that the parking brake lever "Forms an obstacle to getting in and out"........(Ultra-maroon!)
Easy8 SEP 16, 10:53 PM
So I drive an 86 with the 88 rear suspension with a LT1 in the back. Car has 20" rims with a set of Falken performance tires. It has corvette C4 brakes on all four corners to boot. It is a chop top with a high wing (required on chops) As far as aero goes, I am pretty sure what I have does nothing to help but hey it looks good. Now as far as running the ring.. 95% of the ring is the driver. Look at all those cool videos of 4 cylinder cars running down exotics on the track. You need a wrold class driver to get a good time. Now find some one who has done all that work on thier car and ask em if they will let some one drive the wheels off it in another country... No from me.

As far as comments on my car. I get two basic ones... First is from the under 40 crowd and that is the "what is that???" and the over 40 crowd says that is "a beautiful Fiero" . Now if the old guys talk long enough one or two will say something about fires. You are never going to get away from that one. Thank the press for selling papers. I have never had some one say they handle like crap or lacked power. The guys who had one loved them and most of those that did not wanted one when they were young. The 20 year olds have no clue about a fiero for the most part. Saturday at a car show two kids looked at it and said " look a lotus espirt" The wife told them it was a Fiero.. The kid walks around the car looking and the wife then tells him its a Pontiac Fiero.. The kid says"ohh I though Fiero was the manafacture of it"

Vicophine SEP 18, 12:24 PM
I usually treat it as a blessing, an opportunity to educate people on the car at car shows, especially the under 25 crowd (I'm 28 by the way).

A few times at car shows, I will actually let people give it a drive around the car lot or wherever it is at, that way they get the experience. Many times those people are impressed by the comfort, size, and feel of my old Fiero.

In return, they usually return the favor.

I liked driving this one very young man's Prelude SH VERY much!

[This message has been edited by Vicophine (edited 09-18-2019).]