For 900.00 I would buy it in a flash! Even if it is a 4 Cyl. And then when you find a 6 cyl that you like, buy that one too and then you'll have one of each!

quote Originally posted by ert342: Thanks for all the help guys. Anyone care to share their opinions on this particular car. I have a brother that lives right by here and could probably give it a good test drive for me and pick it up. (He test drives for GM so I trust him :D ) EDIT: whoops forgot link http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/1533182946.html

Hey ert342: I saw a different ad for this car a couple of weeks ago where he was asking $1150. I was going to make him an offer when he confirmed to me that it had A/C, but he never got back to me. You go ahead and see what you want to do. If it doesn't work out, maybe I can hire your brother to look at it for me??? Thanks. Bob (I just joined this board a few days ago and, like you, am looking for my first, high MPG Fiero.)

I just wanted to post a status update here. I contacted the guy selling this fiero and found out a great deal of helpful information he was very helpful! First off I asked If it could pull off a drive from MI to NJ and he said he honestly had no idea as he has had the car a year and 6 months of that was it sitting in his garage with him working on it every now and then. He said the only problem he ever had with it was the ignition coil/system once which has since been replaced. I also asked him why he replaced the wheel bearings on such a low mile car and he said there seemed to be a lot of play in the front right one and that was the only one he replaced. Accidents was another topic I brought up to which he responded that he had never been in any with this car and the previous owner said the same thing but he said that he things the previous owner must have hit something with the front because of the aero nose (which is not stock)(correct me if i'm wrong) but that the body was still straight and must have been nothing major. The interior sounds like it needs some work its missing the door on the compartment between the two seats and a few other small things here and there but nothing major. Seats are ripped (surprise surprise). And he also informed me that the previous owner had taken it to a pontiac dealer and had the clutch replaced but he didn't put that in his listing because he had no official proof. This guy was very honest and good to talk to, don't be surprised if I post some pics of this car in my driveway soon

EDIT: It also has aftermarket not-flippy headlights (probably a good thing because of the motors) and it seems like it was repainted to a grey and the paintjob kinda sucks.

[This message has been edited by ert342 (edited 01-07-2010).]

quote Originally posted by ert342: Accidents was another topic I brought up to which he responded that he had never been in any with this car and the previous owner said the same thing but he said that he things the previous owner must have hit something with the front because of the aero nose (which is not stock)(correct me if i'm wrong) but that the body was still straight and must have been nothing major.

One part of the Craigslist ad for this car also says, "This is a southern car from the Knoxville, Tennessee area that was shipped here about 2.5 years ago so the structure of the car is rust free."

They're definitely not infallible, ert342, but a Carfax Vehicle History Report might help you in determining if the car had ever been in a reportable accident, or if it was ever registered in Tennessee, which supposedly is where this "southern car" came from, allegedly rendering it "rust free."

For example, a few years ago, I was interested in a low mileage Fiero that was on a used car dealer' s lot only about 15 miles away from me. The car looked great, but I decided to obtain a Carfax report on it. That report brought up a bundle of red flags about the car's history, starting with its unusually low mileage, so I decided not to pursue the purchase of that car.

Only one week later, the used car dealer had packed up everything and left. All the cars he had on display disappeared as well, and the only thing left on his lot was the asphalt.

By the way, you stated:

quote Originally posted by ert342: This guy was very honest and good to talk to....

I initially thought the same about the guy I dealt with.

Caveat emptor, because remember, "It's not `paranoia' if they're really out to get you!"

You do have a very good point when my brother goes and checks it out I'll just have him get me the VIN so I can do a carfax on it.

quote Originally posted by ert342: Ok well I got the VIN from the owner and ran a carfax. The results are confusing... There are no reported accidents but there is a "total loss" reported which is defined as the claim being worth 75% of the vehicles value. But if there were no accidents how was there a total loss? Anybody?

Stolen, Fire....etc That will probably be a rebuilt title then. Ask the guy what the title says. CARFAX has been wrong on a few occasions

Could've been stolen at some point. A total loss could be anything.

It may not have been involved in a vehicle accident, but the driver may have run off the road and had to replace something "big" in order to get it legal again. If he bought the car for $600 and his insurance knew what he paid for it... Something as 'small' as replacing the exhaust could run 75% of the total insurable value.

You never know.

quote Originally posted by 2farnorth: Stolen, Fire....etc That will probably be a rebuilt title then. Ask the guy what the title says. CARFAX has been wrong on a few occasions

Carfax says it doesn't have a rebuilt title. Maybe it is wrong?

Trust me i had a duke in high school and it was great, people used to pick on it because they were ignorant, but all my friends and girl friends loved it. and plus a v6 will get you in trouble. It is just too tempting especially when it is built up a little and you can drift it at slower speeds. And if you play with a v6 automatic you are going to be looking at about 14mpg.

quote Originally posted by ckrummy: And if you play with a v6 automatic you are going to be looking at about 14mpg.

It's not that bad... With a cold running engine, I get around 18 combined. During this past summer, I was averaging 21.

------------------
Notchback GT

"Flatly, my dear... I don't Riverdance."

quote Originally posted by ert342: Ok well I got the VIN from the owner and ran a carfax. The results are confusing... There are no reported accidents but there is a "total loss" reported....

quote Originally posted by ert342: Carfax says it doesn't have a rebuilt title. Maybe it is wrong?

Maybe.

I suggest focusing on potential red flags and using your judgment because as I alluded to earlier, using Carfax isn't infallible. However, be aware that there is an unsavory practice known as “title washing,” in which a salvage title is cleansed of salvage status by retitling the car in another state. A prospective buyer then would not have from that state a title warning that the car had been declared a total loss previously. That's just a potential red flag to consider.

I see that the ad is listed in the Toledo, OH Craiglist, but that the car is listed in the ad as actually being located in "Temperance, MI Bedford."

I wonder what the deal with that is?

quote Originally posted by ert342: Accidents was another topic I brought up to which he responded that he had never been in any with this car and the previous owner said the same thing but he said that he things the previous owner must have hit something with the front because of the aero nose (which is not stock)(correct me if i'm wrong) but that the body was still straight and must have been nothing major..... EDIT: It also has aftermarket not-flippy headlights (probably a good thing because of the motors) and it seems like it was repainted to a grey and the paintjob kinda sucks.

I don't think the body being straight proves the accident wasn't major. Body panels can be repainted after first being replaced.

Regarding the "aero nose" you mentioned, it came stock on the `86 Fiero SE Coupes (all of which had a "notchback" roof, and also on the `86 GTs, but the GTs all had the "fastback" roof).

The would-be seller didn't state in his ad which model of Fiero he has, but that, along with the year and the original engine, can be ascertained from the VIN. More specifically...

• If the 10th digit of the VIN is "G," the Fiero is an `86.
  
• If the 5th digit of the VIN is "F," the Fiero is an SE.
  
• If the 8th digit is "R," the Fiero originally had a 4-cylinder ("Duke") engine.

Incidentally, if there is no possible outcome of any research you're doing that could change your mind about this particular car, then I suggest not doing the research.

I have no issues with my duke in my 84 other than the excessive amount of oil it burns, and how slow it is, HOWEVER, its lightyears faster then my old celebrity which had a 2.5, which would only do 83.

I see that the ad is listed in the Toledo, OH Craiglist, but that the car is listed in the ad as actually being located in "Temperance, MI Bedford."

Toledo is the closest major city. The location is just a little north of Toledo.

Actually there is a CL closer to there then Toledo. They have one for Monroe, Mi. There is almost no posts o Monroe though, so it is better to use Toledo and Detroit metro. Temperance is just a few miles down the road from me.

quote Originally posted by project34: Regarding the "aero nose" you mentioned, it came stock on the `86 Fiero SE Coupes (all of which had a "notchback" roof, and also on the `86 GTs, but the GTs all had the "fastback" roof). The would-be seller didn't state in his ad which model of Fiero he has, but that, along with the year and the original engine, can be ascertained from the VIN. More specifically... If the 10th digit of the VIN is "G," the Fiero is an `86. If the 5th digit of the VIN is "F," the Fiero is an SE. If the 8th digit is "R," the Fiero originally had a 4-cylinder ("Duke") engine. Incidentally, if there is no possible outcome of any research you're doing that could change your mind about this particular car, then I suggest not doing the research.

The VIN checks out to be a 86 iron duke no SE. This entire thing is starting to look a little fishy as it was registered in Virginia not Tennessee and the front left wheel bearing and caliper were replaced as well as the front fascia so it seems like there could've been an accident. Another Fiero i'm looking at is this one http://philadelphia.craigsl.../cto/1541584879.html any thoughts?

i suggest the duke to start off. Unless you get a V6 fastback, I would devilishly go with the fastback. But if both are notchbacks i suggest the Iron Duke. I bought an 84 with the timing out of whack idling crazy high, now it purrs when you hit the gas and idle sounds like the car is off. My iron duke does not even burn oil. Iron Dukes for life.... untill you swap it for a modern engine.

quote Originally posted by ert342: Another Fiero i'm looking at is this one http://philadelphia.craigsl.../cto/1541584879.html any thoughts?

I've very little to say about the black `85 GT in that Craigslist link because neither does the seller.

He states the car's year, make and model, for example, but he says nothing in writing about the condition the car is in. In fact, he doesn't even say if his black car has air conditioning, for example, let alone whether or not it has air conditioning that actually works well.

Yea I'm trying to get in contact about all of the details.

EDIT: Called the guy. Says it hasn't been run since may because of a clutch problem. He says he thinks its the clutch master cylinder. The interior is ok but missing the headliner. He's going to get back to me on the VIN. Now its decision time...

EDIT 2: I've ruled out the black 85 from PA due to the clutch. Now I'm still debating the 86 from MI. Either Carfax was wrong with the Total Loss, or the car was stolen. The fact that the front bumper was replaced along with the left front wheel bearing and caliper lead me to believe it could've been hit pretty bad in the front but I'm not completely sure. I really want to hear your guys' opinions on this as you all much more experience than I do.

[This message has been edited by ert342 (edited 01-08-2010).]

yeah, the duke. good mileage (if the engines in good condition) mine was not and got about 18mpg if i was lucky, but mine was auto plus the duke sounds better because the cylinder/piston size is bigger than the v6. giving it a deeper sound. throw a cherry bomb muffler on it and the average person sittin next to you would think its a v6. or you could always put in a 3800 and get power and mpg's. oh, and when lookin for a duke, try to get one with power locks/windows/ and a decklid release, believe me its worth it. the window hand cranks suck. and if it its power locks you can go to o'riellys and get a $35 remote lock system. also worth it.

I just bought a 86 V6 GT. I don't have any personal experience with the duke but I heard they are notoriously hungry for timing gears and that timing gears are difficult to replace. Any comments on this?

While I still have work to do on mine, the engine seems solid. I would agree with the majority of others here and just find a car that's been taken care of. I was lucky on mine - its pretty much ALL ORIGINAL at 193,000 miles and no rust. By all original, I mean that the door panels had never been removed, the shocks, struts, balljoints front and rear had never been changed, (probably) original O2 sensor, alternator, a/c compressor - they all were genuine AC Delco / Harrison units, not rebuilt - which I think speaks at least somewhat to the car's original reliability. Can't complain about an alternator going almost 200k miles. It had a little bit of bearing noise, but still worked just fine.

The V6 does have some vices, the EPA fuel economy with the 4-speed is 17/24 (under the new, harsher 2008 system) which is pretty low. And the 5-speed is 16/25 - basically no better. I haven't driven mine long enough to know how accurate those ratings are. The EGR tube will crack almost inevitably which is an easy fix but the exhaust manifolds crack commonly, which is a terrible job. The V6 also has a reputation of eating ignition modules but my theory of this is that many replaced EGR tubes, without the heat blanket, cause the module to get too hot and burn out. Also, the aftermarket modules are not as well made as the OEM ones.

Forgot to add, I love the way the V6 sounds, both at idle and at higher revs. Sounds and feels worlds more refined than my 3800 V6 Camaro, which sounds really raw and has a lot of vibration. I think this more due to the car and not the engine type but I was immediately impressed with the sound and feel of the V6.

...The 88 duke is the best Fiero, had good acceleration,,stock handling A1!! I made the mistake of loaning mine to a friend,, the duke is less expensive to maintain and drive dayly,,NO CONTEST
The duke will not take the type of driving a 15 to 22 year old prefer You have to be a mature young man to concider the duke
...I have an 86 V6 GT now..the V6 is a pos because of the EGR system what a piece of crap,,hunt down the G.M.engineer!! there are a lot of things under the V6 hood that require attention The average V 6 is a gas hog because you have to get it right,,it sucks gas on short trips!! seems a dripping Rag would do better gas milage..
..The 88 Fiero is a quantum leap,, the first time I went around a corner to fast ,,OH JOY a Grand Prix contender compared to the earlier model I had owned,,and the brakes are great,, the right pads and few cars will stop better GREAT Brakes ,,GREAT suspension The 88 is more expensive because it is worth twice what an earlier model is worth because you do not have to improve the brakes or supension,,an a 87,88 duke has a lot more power to stay with traffic .
the duke is easier to work on ,,MUCH EASIER
The automatic transmission in the Fiero is a 9 the manual transmissions are a 2,, there has to be a car with a worse manual shift system than the Fiero but I have never heard of one, and I am almost 70 years old,,I Like a manual shift ,but the Fiero is troublesome,, a complete pos because of clutch hydraulic system,finding good shift cables,bla,bla ..After $1000,oo I have a nice shifting clutch & transmission(Igotoffcheap),, The 3 speed T125 automatic is one of the most reliable G.M. ever built,,but not an economy transmission..
FIND the most reliable Fiero you can reliability is 100 time more important than appearence RELIABILITY,,,BUY a great running car,, not a fixer upper,, be smart !! unlike,myself

I posted earlier in this thread my vote for the Duke. Guess what? I finally got comfortable with the car and thinking it was going to be strong and reliable. Now the Isuzu 5-speed tranny is falling apart. Out goes the Duke, in goes my 2.8 because I already have one.

So there is another big factor to conscider: which transmission do you prefer? If you like an auto, you can still go either way on the engine. If you're after a 5-speed, the Getrag tranny that comes with the V6 is stronger than the Isuzu that comes with the Duke. As long as you have thoughts of swapping engines at some point in the future, you may want to buy the car that has the transmission type as you'd like to have with your future powerplant.

I'm doing my swap all by myself in a home garage with just a humble selection of tools. I can tell you honestly that if I had to change tranny types, I wouldn't be doing it at all.

By the way, I bought my '87 Duke on eBay for $1275 and the seller cut off $250 when I went to get it because of slave cylinder problems. I was shopping for body options (notchie, Formula nose, round body moldings, no ground effects, no luggage rack) and interior color and condition. I wanted a tan interior and it is cheaper and easier to find a car with those type of options than changing them later. You'll always have to do mechanical stuff so if you can get a nice interior, it is something you won't have to mess with much.

Jonathan

quote Originally posted by ert342: Well I'm kind of new to all this. I was trying to keep it under $900, is that reasonable??

I bought my first Iron Duke Fiero for $700, running and everything I was also in high school back then

quote Originally posted by masospaghetti: I just bought a 86 V6 GT. I don't have any personal experience with the duke but I heard they are notoriously hungry for timing gears and that timing gears are difficult to replace. Any comments on this?

You have 193k miles on an original engine. I got 190k out of my '87 Duke before the timing gear bit the dust. I would have to say the timing gear is pretty reliable. And I changed mine out in a parking lot in one day by myself. Not difficult when you have the right tools. There are a couple threads showing just how to do it.

quote ert342:Yea I'm trying to get in contact about all of the details. ...

Sooo, are you a Fiero owner now?

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Sooo, are you a Fiero owner now?

sadly no.