What to look for when in the market for a Fiero? (Page 1/1)
p-car APR 20, 06:56 AM
Hello:
I do not own a Fiero ATM. I figure it be better to join and ask questions first.
I will be looking at a driver/cruiser and not a project, and stock running gear is just fine.
I like the look of the fastback body style and would like a stick shift.
What should I be looking for , in as much of issues.
I've read over the years that the last year is the best handling of them all, but, Also has many one year only parts, Are those wear parts hard to find?
Where, It be more of a cruiser/driver will I even notice the improvements over the model years with the longer parts run?
When did they start putting overdrive in them ?
Seen a few with T-tops, I've had other cars with them and they always leaked, how are they in this body style.
How do you check for rust, do these cars hide it like a 3rd generation corvettes bird cage does?
Thanks for any replies on this topic.
wftb APR 20, 08:19 AM
The 88's do have some 1 year only parts but a lot of parts for all Fiero's are no longer available.

88's, being the newest tend to be lower miles and because they were the last made with lower production #s people did treat them as collectable cars more than the other years. And they have better suspension and brakes.

Look for the lowest mileage car you can find that is still being driven as a summer car. A low miler that has not even been turned on for 10 years is usually full of problems, something I have noticed in a lot of threads on here recently.

When you go to look at a car, take a set of ramps so you can crawl underneath the car and look for rust on the rear cradle, front suspension and cross braces and peel back the carpet in the trunk corners and check for rust there too.Look for squashed coolant pipes near the rockers.

Sun roofs leak. T tops leak. I would not buy either. A clutch that chatters when it engages is on it's last legs. A car that you have to force in to gear with the engine running has hydraulic problems. All Fiero's will develop clutch hydraulic problems unless they have had everything replaced already with quality parts like Rodney Dickman's slave cylinder and a stainless steel line. If it doesn't have headlight problems, a Fiero will develop them.

Welcome to the forum, happy hunting.

Do not buy a Fiero for an only car. Unless you live in a city with great public transportation.

------------------
86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo
rear SLA suspension
QA1 coilovers on tube arms

p-car APR 20, 08:38 AM

quote
Originally posted by wftb:

The 88's do have some 1 year only parts but a lot of parts for all Fiero's are no longer available.

88's, being the newest tend to be lower miles and because they were the last made with lower production #s people did treat them as collectable cars more than the other years. And they have better suspension and brakes.

Look for the lowest mileage car you can find that is still being driven as a summer car. A low miler that has not even been turned on for 10 years is usually full of problems, something I have noticed in a lot of threads on here recently.

When you go to look at a car, take a set of ramps so you can crawl underneath the car and look for rust on the rear cradle, front suspension and cross braces and peel back the carpet in the trunk corners and check for rust there too.Look for squashed coolant pipes near the rockers.

Sun roofs leak. T tops leak. I would not buy either. A clutch that chatters when it engages is on it's last legs. A car that you have to force in to gear with the engine running has hydraulic problems. All Fiero's will develop clutch hydraulic problems unless they have had everything replaced already with quality parts like Rodney Dickman's slave cylinder and a stainless steel line. If it doesn't have headlight problems, a Fiero will develop them.

Welcome to the forum, happy hunting.

Do not buy a Fiero for an only car. Unless you live in a city with great public transportation.



Thank you.
No this will not be a daily driver/only vehicle. But may see daily use not every day mind you, but ,in the good weather. But will have the normal boring daily as the main vehicle.
G-Man APR 21, 06:14 PM
Pull the carpet back in the trunk. Fieros tend to rust in the corner areas especially if they were daily driven in the Winter wherever the roads get salted.

ETA: I need to read better.

Gary

[This message has been edited by G-Man (edited 04-21-2020).]

cam-a-lot APR 21, 06:46 PM
Probably not a great idea to have a 32-36 year old car as a daily driver.... up to you.
David Hambleton APR 21, 09:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by p-car:

Thank you.
No this will not be a daily driver/only vehicle. But may see daily use not every day mind you, but ,in the good weather. But will have the normal boring daily as the main vehicle.



I've been daily driving a stock 84 SE 2.5L 4 speed since new, now with over 384,000 kilometres (238,600 miles) on it. I don't take it out of the barn when the roads are salty. (Other cars are used then.)
I have an alternate daily driver; an 86 coupe 2.5L 5 speed that I got in 2011 in case the 84 went down for prolonged repair (since I seem to be slow...) It has 144,000 kilometres (89,500 miles) on it.
Each has been out of service while I attended to issues, so I still had a Fiero to DD.
I got a stock 88 Formula 2.8L 5 speed in 2008 with 5,200 kilometres (3,230 miles) because it was in showroom condition and who wouldn't like that? It's for shows and occasional drives.

IMHO for normal driving, the 84 SE with the WS6 sport suspension corners as well as the 88 Formula with the revised suspension. Other opinions vary; particularly track drivers. Tires are a factor there too.
The 86 coupe feels softer, but it's still fun and corners well enough.

Here's the fleet:

[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 04-21-2020).]

p-car APR 22, 12:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by cam-a-lot:

Probably not a great idea to have a 32-36 year old car as a daily driver.... up to you.


Never stated it was going to be a daily, just that in the good weather season spring till fall, I'll get driven almost daily. or at least a few times a week. I'll still have my boring daily, and a AAA club tow membership
wftb APR 22, 08:50 AM
AAA (CAA in Canada) is great to have for any car that is out of warranty.