Most of the Fieros were built and sold in 1984. After that, the cars got better and sales decreased rapidly.

Why? Was it really that people were afraid of fires, or was it that the Mustang GT came of age? What is your theory?

Magazines talked them up to be $10,000 Ferrari's and what they got was far from that (iron puke with farm tractor 4 speed). After the "cool" factor wore off and the word got out that they weren't $10,000 Ferrari's, the sales declined each year. Quite sad, one can only imagine what the outcome would have been if they would have started the Fiero with the '88 model year...

When the Fiero was introduced (even before that) it was the darling of the press. It was billed as the best thing to roll out of Deroit in ages. EVERYONE wanted a Fiero! Dealers could not get them in fast enough and many were charging a premium for those willing to pay extra to get one of the first ones.

Over 136,000 Fieros were sold that first year and unfortunately for the Fiero it did not live up to the expectations of the motoring public. Sales dramatically dropped of in 1985 (almost in half!).....only 76,371 Fieros rolled off the assembly line.

Sales krept up a little in '86, but the damage was done. Most people, when asked about the Fiero, pictured the '84 model and all of it's shortcomings (recalls, engine fires, etc.). Even though the '85-'88 models were greatly improved, people couldn't get past the problems that plagued the '84.

The press also turned on the Fiero. Instead of the praises it garnished before, the Fiero was now being bashed for these problems.

It gets complicated, but basically the '84 Fiero was not the car many people believed it should have been. Subsequently everyone jumped ship and sales nose dived. It's sort of a catch-22.......to get the Fiero concept past the corporate bean counters it had to be a commuter car. This meant a 4 cyl. engine and lots of "off the shelf" parts to make it economically viable. That got the ball rolling and then they added the V-6 and fancy body (fastback) as well as the original suspension/brake design ('88).

If GM could have introduced the Fiero as it was initially conceived then it may have lived a longer life and sold more units in later years.

FYI......GM expected to build 100,000 Fieros per year. They only reached that goal in the first year. Since the Fiero factory was only able to produce the Fiero selling less than 100,000 units was not economical. Most other factories produce 1 or 2 other models (i.e. Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable or Chevy Beretta/Corsica or Pontiac Sunbird/Chevy Cavalier). The Fiero was unable to spread out operating costs over several different models, making it expensive to produce (relatively speaking).

An interesting sidenote is that GM recovered its entire investment into the Fiero in the very first year. The Fiero actually made GM money! Unfortunately when sales dwindled to just 26,000 in '88 they pulled the plug.

Sorry about being so long winded, but that's my reasoning as to why the '84 Fiero outsold subsequent years.

The Fiero factory was owned by the employees. (Another first for Fiero's) The contract with GM corporate was they had to sell 30,000 cars per year to keep the plant open. In June of 1987 GM cut the Fiero advertising account by 70% The new upgrades that were done on the 1988 model line was not widely known at first. This caused sales to slide and the sales projection was that they would barely sell 20,000. So GM announced the ending of the Fiero.
(Note: the major portion of the 88 sales were AFTER the GM announcement and after Car and Driver magazine listed all the improvements.)

I knew I forgot something! It's true.....they drastically cut the advertising budget for the Fiero, then complained when no one lined up to buy the improved '88s. Another catch-22!

How can you sell a "new & improved" product if nobody knows about it?

I didn't know about the employee ownership thing......very interesting. Thanks Oreif!

Man, that is SO typical GM to roll out a piece of junk in the first model year, have tons of problems with it, then gradually fix all the problems by THE END of the production cycle but at a point where no one cares anymore.

Well, I don't know if I'd call the 84 Fiero a piece of junk, but they did have more than their share of electrical problems.

I think sales dropped off dramatically because most people who wanted (and could afford) a new Fiero had one! You can only sell so many sports cars - the market is pretty small. I think Mazda is smart -- they don't sell many Miatas per year (20-25K), but after 12 years, demand is steady.

There were a lot of '84 Fieros sold but you need to remember that the '84 was was in production for more than a year and a half. The first '84's were sold in late Spring 1983 as an 1984 model. Production of '84's didn't give way to the '85's until the Fall of '84.

So the large number of '84's relates more to 18+ months of production than any other one factor.

Archie

After reading Archie's message above, I just thought, Isn't that what they have done to some cars since? I mean isn't that how they got the PT cruiser craze going? They have been selling the PT since spring of 2000 calling it a 2001 model. I can remember other vehicles over the past 10 or so years that were early sellers too.

Two words...

No cupholders

The secret is out, shhhh...

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T-T-F-N, Ta Ta For Now!

Ive heard from various sources including some car books like "American Sports Cars A thru Z", (and I also believe) that Chevrolet had finally had it w/ Pontiac in 88. They wanted NO in-house competition for the Corvette. They let it slide earlier, due to the fact (mentioned above) that Fiero got the a-ok because it was to be a commuter car.
Then the V6 came out, fast
back, upgraded 88 suspension ect, and Chevy finally said "no".
This also happened to the 89 Buick GTX...fastest thing made in America (production that is, the Vector dosnt count) and once again Chevy said "nope, no in house comp against the Vette". They had a story about that on Car and Driver Television a couple of weeks ago...........
Jeez Chevy, share the wealth alittle huh!

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[This message has been edited by My7Fieros (edited 02-28-2001).]

Interesting fact Archie... The original Mustangs came out in the spring of '64 but were called '64 1/2 and I believe titled as a '64, not a '65. So technically a lot of '84 Fieros were really '83 or '83 1/2 models, but they chose to call them an '84... I know others have done this since then but was this another first for Fiero?

I am finding this post very interesting.

My car is an '84 sport coupe, but it was purchased in 1985.

The VIN number is 1G2AM37R8EP335668. I have been told the the first VIN for each model year ended with 200001. So, my car was the 135,667th 1984 Fiero produced. If 136,000 Fieros were built and sold in 83-84, then I must have one of the last ones made.

Can anyone tell from my VIN if I have the roller cam engine? Some say that '84s had them, and others say that the roller cams were not used until '85.

Thanks ChadMan. I didn't really mean JUNK, I was really saying compared to later models they have finally really cleared up the problems. That is what is so frustrating. For example, the new Impala. Other than my personal dislike for the goofy rear end, I think it is a really nice car. But remember the thread about the guy that had TONS of problems with the electronics and was trying to get GM to do something about it? THAT is what I mean.

84s may have a bad reputation, but they have some advantages over other years:

1. 2 speed electric fan
2. glass sail windows
3. magnesium decklid vent (better engine ventilation)
4. three spoke steering wheel
5. no ugly third brake light
6. 4-cylinder models loaded with options
7. the indy pace car replica
8. lots and lots of parts cars out there
9. metal badge on front bumper
10. they're the cheapest to buy

Now for the disadvantages:
1. bad reputation
2. no V6
3. bad aerodynamics with 2m4 nose
4. duke without roller lifter camshaft
5. engine wiring in wrong place for V6 swap
6. shortest travel front suspension
7. they're the oldest Fieros
8. lowest resale value
9. electrical problems more likely

My opinion: the '84 sport coupe is the best looking Pontiac ever made. The iron duke is the right engine for a Fiero, it just fits beautifully in the engine compartment. But, it needs lots of tuning to make sufficient power. The "bare" decklid without wing or luggage rack makes the car look lower, longer, and less cluttered. White is the best color as it gives the car a "storm-trouper" look and it holds up well over time.

Every car is a comromise. I am sure each of us feels the Fiero we drive is the best of all years and models.

I think the Fiero is like a factory built kit car, each one is different from all of the others. The best thing about a Fiero is that there are so many modifications you can make. Second best is that you can get started for so little money.

My biggest fear? That I will have to let go of the car someday. It is more than a vehicle to me. It is a monument to the 80s, my adolescence, and my dreams.

Flawed or not, no car drives like a Fiero. All other cars are boring. The cornering power of a Fiero with tires >205s is unbelievable. The low moment of inertia and an automatic tranny makes the twistiest roads easy requiring nothing more tha a "point and shoot" method. The tighter the turn, the more I want to be in a Fiero 2m4.

For the V6 and V8 owners, I envy the acceleration you have at your disposal. However, the handling of my 4 cylinder car (88 Formula wheels, 205/60 15 tires) is just too good to compromise with a bigger engine.

I guess it is "to each his own" but for a Fiero owner, that phrase takes on a whole new meaning!

It's all because of the headrest speakers.
As soon as they weren't an option anymore, sales dropped.

Is the camaro and trans-am getting the axe also sometime soon?

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quote Originally posted by Racer 1: Is the camaro and trans-am getting the axe also sometime soon?

I think I heard 2002 is last for camaro/firebird.

Im very happy with the handleing on my kit. 86SE, Bilstien struts, shocks. 205/60 frnt 225/60 rear on 8 1/2 rims. stock height, stock springs, no front or rear swaybar. The only times ive gotten loose was @65 in a 20mph curve, and that was because some other idiot slew some loose dirt and gravel on the side. Why mess with something that aint broke

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Lucky,

According to the Fiero spotter guide, there were 136,840 Fieros built in '84, so that would definitely put yours towards the end of the production cycle (1172 from the end).

Can't help you with the roller cam question.