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87_FieroGT
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OCT 21, 02:21 PM
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Not exactly glowing memories from the C&D staff of the 84 Fiero, but they do acknowledge the 88 was pretty good. Interesting read anyways.
C&D Remember the Fiero
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1988 Pontiac Fiero GT, Black w/Beechwood interior
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI S[This message has been edited by 87_FieroGT (edited 10-21-2019).]
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MarkS
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OCT 21, 08:27 PM
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I remember that last road test of the 88 against the CRX & MR2. It was a Formula if I'm not mistaken. The Formula was quicker and handled every bit as good as the others. Complaints- let's see...oh the instrument pod pointed at your belly and it was not as sexy as the others or some damn thing like that (it was a Formula which resembled the original 84 too closely?). Typical bias of the time. The fact that the car even existed to begin with was a miracle, pressure from GM (Chebby), the press...SOB's.. ------------------
65 Tempest 400 CID
2018 Chevy Colorado Z71 3.6
2015 BMW 535iX M Sport
2008 G6 GT "Street" Coupe
2005 Buick 3.6 Rendezvous
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OntarioKev
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OCT 22, 09:34 AM
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wftb
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OCT 22, 10:41 AM
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Not really comparing apples to oranges there because the MR had the supercharged engine. And a 300 lb weight advantage. I do agree that the MR was the better car in terms of technology and handling. But Car and Driver got an 86 GT 4 speed v6 to do 0-60 in 7.5seconds and the 1/4 in 15.9@85 mph. The R@T guys were never known for their drag strip prowess and the Formula had 50 lbs less weight than the GT so take those test #s with a grain of salt.
I like the MR2, especially the most recent version. But it was only sold in the US. And most of the older ones that come up for sale around here are rusted out hulks. I havent looked for one lately though, maybe there is something worthwhile out there who knows?------------------
86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo
rear SLA suspension
QA1 coilovers on tube arms
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olejoedad
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OCT 22, 10:47 AM
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I read the C&D article a few days ago, had to laugh at their reminiscing about the original article.
Reinforces my decision to drop my subscription many decades ago.
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cvxjet
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OCT 22, 12:30 PM
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First off- Car & Drivel did everything they could to kill the Fiero- every road test after the 84 was dripping with scorn- I have that C&D with the 3 way test- The Fiero is "MUCH improved" they wrote...The only problems now being that the steering is heavy and the instruments point at you navel.....And then they raved about the mr2 and the CRX!!!!!!! "Body of Daryl Hannah" and an engine from heaven(That only has Power above 6000 rpm)......Luckily, they didn't mind that with the CRXs seating position you could not get comfortable....(Instruments super important but comfort not so much)
I wonder just how much Toyota was paying C&D for those "Road Tests" (More massacres) Their hatred of anything American was really obvious.
How about a counterpoint; Road & Track's Peter Egan test of an 87 GT for the R&T Sports & GT special;
"There may still be a few of the small details to be refined, but Pontiac has done it's job on the important things. What more can you ask of a real sports car than you get from the Fiero GT? It looks racy and exotic, sticks to the road like glue, sounds good and gets you from one side of the mountain to the other quicker than all but a few cars on Earth- for $13,489."
Point of fact; They always compared the Fiero to the MR2, but the Fiero V6 was BETTER than the Non-Turbo RX7 and 300ZX of the 80s....Performed as good or better and cost substantially less.[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 10-22-2019).]
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MarkS
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OCT 22, 08:21 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by cvxjet:
How about a counterpoint; Road & Track's Peter Egan test of an 87 GT for the R&T Sports & GT special;
"There may still be a few of the small details to be refined, but Pontiac has done it's job on the important things. What more can you ask of a real sports car than you get from the Fiero GT? It looks racy and exotic, sticks to the road like glue, sounds good and gets you from one side of the mountain to the other quicker than all but a few cars on Earth- for $13,489."
Point of fact; They always compared the Fiero to the MR2, but the Fiero V6 was BETTER than the Non-Turbo RX7 and 300ZX of the 80s....Performed as good or better and cost substantially less.
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Peter Egan was / is always a favorite of mine. He's the one guy that kept me reading R&T, great writing style. He is a first rate mechanic / restorer never afraid to get his hands dirty. His love of those damn British sports cars I could personally relate to owning a Triumph GT6 & working on other Triumphs & Lotuses.
My 85 GT 4 spd used to rip MR2's, CRX's & 300ZX's. First hand experience....their faces expressing.."but but Ceppos (or whoever) said this is a better car" as they had their a**es handed to them. Sorry, but this is a sore point with me as the owner of one of the first 85 GT's off the line. The guy in the 300ZX on I95 coming out of Philly won't forget it anytime soon as he threw up his hands in frustration. There was a shorter R&T article ~ winter 85 of the V6 that was pretty positive towards the Fiero. One of the reasons I went out & bought one.
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65 Tempest 400 CID
2018 Chevy Colorado Z71 3.6
2015 BMW 535iX M Sport
2008 G6 GT "Street" Coupe
2005 Buick 3.6 Rendezvous[This message has been edited by MarkS (edited 10-22-2019).]
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cvxjet
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OCT 22, 10:58 PM
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Peter Egan.....1) The article that got me hooked; I can't remember when or what car, but he wrote about the "head bashing under the car situation" (Lift up, bump bottom of car, jerk back, hit the cement, jerk back up, hit the car...cycle doesn't stop until A) Knock yourself out, or, b) pull yourself out from under the car....So funny and on-the-mark that it just killed me (I've done it a few times)
2) I had to go back to VA for a fuel testing class for the Coast Guard and drove back (Had my Dog with me) Stopped a couple of places mid-country, And saw an Older gray-haired guy riding a crotch-rocket bike- latest model.....Hmmmmm......So I asked him if he was Peter Egan and he said no....But I think it was him.....
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andreww
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OCT 23, 03:23 PM
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Lets also remember that the MR2 was a lot more expensive. And if I recall correctly, didn't they use a supercharged MR2 for that comparison?
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andreww
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OCT 23, 03:29 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by 87_FieroGT:
Not exactly glowing memories from the C&D staff of the 84 Fiero, but they do acknowledge the 88 was pretty good. Interesting read anyways.
C&D Remember the Fiero
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All those guys raved about the 84. I've still got the magazines. Yes, they said it could use more power, but they also said it was quite peppy for what it was. As for handling, I believe the quote was it rides like its on rails.
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