Ok here is what I heard about the Fiero and why they have a bad rap for catching on fire. Buisnessmen would take these cars on their buisness trips and throw their suits in the little trunk and their coat would get caught in the engine compartment. And it would sit in their and bake with the motor and eventually catch on fire. Just what I heard, If your letting us decide for you what car to get, Your here for the wrong reason. Like others say If you wanna "fit" in with the crowd you better go look for a honda then. Good luck on your search.
------------------ 86 Fiero 2M6 SE Very Wild 2.8 coming soon Run What You Brung And Hope You Brung Enough!
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12:10 PM
SplineZ Member
Posts: 952 From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Registered: Nov 2002
"MR2: -Speed (if supercharged) -Build Quality (AFAIK, they are reliable) -Gas Mileage (28MPG N/A)..."
The MR2 is clunky looking, little, and distressingly angular in appearance.
My '85 SE gets better mileage to boot.
If you work on your own Fiero, parts are cheaper, more available, even getting total parts cars are cheap.
...which is why I said the Fiero wins in the part cheapness, availability, and ease of installation areas
Anyway, I like 'em both. I'd like to have one of each, in fact. It's all up to you- drive 'em both, see what you think. I bought the fiero because nobody has them, they're cheap, they don't rust, and they are really unique (2 M 6). I couldn't be happier with my 86GT right now... with the 5spd, driving is truly exciting.
(I can't imagine what 300HP in a fiero would feel like, though )
OK how many of you, have ever had both cars?... I thought so, I had a 86gt back in 88, and had it until 92, I also had a 85 MR2 from 86 to 93, both of them not my main means of transportation, (can you tell I'm a Mid engine nut?) There is nothing wrong with asking opinions, after all you can't really tell a car from another when you have driven one more than the other. Both cars have advantages, and disavantages, from my perspective let me give you my opinion, from both sides.
First, the Fiero: cheap parts, better styling, a little heavier, nice torque, more options on engine swaps, interior quaity could have been better, v6 introduction was a nice improvement, more cars produced than the MR2. The Fiero is obviously cheaper on parts, due to the fact they are built here (no brainer) just ask any Alfa Romeo, Porsche owner about parts and repairs, imports are always going to be expensive, but if you are not mechanically incline, and have somebody else do work for you, it is always going to be more expensive.
On the MR2: better suspension, less heavier, more expensive due to low production numbers, ( for every MR2 in the junkyard, I can find 5 fieros ) they are not any harder to work on than the Fiero, again it depends how much you know about the car, normally aspirated engines can be found for $300.00, fewer options for engine swaps, but you can fit a 3SGTE turbo engine from a second generation with as much fuss as a 3800SC install, the 3STGE is rated at 200 hp stock, with upgrades you can easiy bump it to 350-450hp, 3SGTE will cost you about $2,000 with everything you need, and it won't affect the weight ratio hardly any, again if you do this yourself you save a lot of money. Supercharged MR2s are rare, only about 4,500 imported into the States, but they are lots of fun, just like the Fiero. About rust, don't kid yourself, the Fiero's got metal underneath, it all depends on how the owner takes car of the car, both cars are old, and they both will require a considerable amount of work for them to be reliable, both my Fiero, and Mr2 never gave me problems, but I was fanatical about their care. Now I have been bitten by the bug again, I just came across a nice 88 Supercharged MR2 for $700.00, I bought it, the previouos owner didn't know what he had, the car is excellent, but I'm still dropping the engine for a full once over, before I can autocross the car, I'm also looking for a 88 Fiero Formula, but I'm looking for the right deal, and again, as soon as buy one, I will do the same, rebuild brake calipers, engine overhaul, change fluids, replace worn out parts etc, this will give me peace of mind, and will make me proud to bring these beauties to their original glory, I plan on autocrossing the Fiero also, but I will not make comparasions between the two, because they are both unique, so I sugest to befriend people on both boards, ask to drive the cars, and decide, who knows you might end up owning both cars down the road.
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02:27 AM
tjfennel Member
Posts: 585 From: Honolulu, HI, USA Registered: May 2003
I think based on that article I would still go for a Fiero. I like the GT style better, but like many have said, there's just something about a Fiero. But that's just preference.
Looking at the specs-to-price comparison on the article, I would still choose the Fiero. "paying a quite a bit less for a lot less is no bargain," he says... The Fiero isn't all THAT less... sheesh! And I'm sure that with $4500 worth of upgrades the Fiero would *surpass* the MR2 greatly.
(Fiero! Fiero! Fiero! Fiero! Fiero! Fiero!)
Oh one other thing... what sounds better when you say it?
"I drive a Pontiac Fiero"
or
"I drive a Toyota MR2"?
I like "Pontiac Fiero." It sounds fierce.
Serious question: What's MR2 mean anyway? I'm guessing the 2 is for 2 seater... but why MR?
Japanese comic character named Mr.2 from One Piece. A friend of mine loves this comic and I remembered some of the characters who's names began with "Mr." Oddly enough, a search pulled up that guy as being Mr.2. All the Mr.s looked pretty bad-ass except for this guy.
[This message has been edited by tjfennel (edited 06-10-2003).]
[This message has been edited by tjfennel (edited 06-10-2003).]
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07:24 AM
Xxdefxt0nesxX Member
Posts: 99 From: Lawton, OK, 73507 Registered: Jun 2003
hmm.. I wanna whine too.. don't listen to other people.. trust me.. the mkI's do look like.. yeah.. uncomparable to the fiero.. and if you want to spend as much money for the mk2.. just saying for the price difference.. fiero is worth it.. and it shouldn't matter what people think of the car.. trust me.. a stock fiero.. may not be the best "attention getter".. as rare as a fiero is.. expecially around here.. I think we have like 5 in town.. but anyways.. no I agree with what stimpy said above.. I don't know how many months ago that was.. but if you do care what people think.. get a honda.. lol.. better yet get a civic or an accord. but like everyone else said.. which one do you like better.. and you shouldn't be thinking about racing a fiero.. atleast not without a new engine/ engine rebuild.. it could be just me.. but I know my fiero has enough miles.. that I would blow my engine if I even thought about racing..
------------------ Project : 1984 Fiero SE
-Justin
AOL/AIM : Xxdefxt0nesxX Yahoo : lpm5kl
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08:13 AM
phreakboy4 Member
Posts: 644 From: Coatesville,PA,USA Registered: Oct 2000
Well just for the record hlugo I have owned both, but I got rid of the fiero. Although currently I am looking for one again, but I do love both of my MR2s. When I drove the fiero, it was great the handling was awesome but it just lacked something, when I went up a road in my buddies MR2 doing 105, whereas the fiero could only take it at about 90-95, It just sold me on MR2. But to each his own and the only way to decide is to drive'em like you stole'em.
And to answer your question tjfennel, MR2 stands for Midship, rearwheel drive, 2 seater
[This message has been edited by phreakboy4 (edited 06-10-2003).]
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08:48 AM
Tonker Member
Posts: 612 From: Ottawa, ON, Canada Registered: Jun 2001
Well, I had the same dilema until compared the prices. The MKII MR2 Turbo was my pic and the price here was +8k and wasnt the best maintained car. Then I saw the Fiero and was for 4k so I grab it. I was looking for something that can handle the top dogs and easy/ inexpensive to modify. The Fiero was the winner. Now Im finishing my 3.4DOHC swap and will look form some MR2's to see what happens.
Here is how it will look like. Thats why I pick a Fiero.
Achually motorweek did a segment compairing the MR2 to the Fiero. There was a copy of it on the internet awhile back. The MR2 was faster in 0-60 but it was also noiser. Motorweek ended up saying that theyd perfer the Fiero better.
Strange, my stock 2.8 with a bad connecting rod pulled off the line quicker than the supercharged MR2 that was running around the same town I was living in. I admit, the MR2 was quick, but a 5spd Fiero stands a pretty good chance. Now a 4spd with a 4.10 ratio would have killed that MR2.
[This message has been edited by Shadow_Wolf (edited 06-10-2003).]
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12:23 PM
PFF
System Bot
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Yeah, I d/l'ed that MotorWeek vid. They said the MR2 was slightly faster 0-60, and handled slighty better (turned in quicker lap times). They then mentioned that it was much harder to drive at the limit than the Fiero, and that if they had to choose one to live with, they'd take the Fiero.
Don't know about used prices, but they also mentioned the cheapest supercharged MR2 was about as much as the most expensive 88 Fiero GT you could buy. In this test, they were comparing an '88 Formula Fiero and an 88 MR2 Supercharged. The MR2 was about $4000 more than the Fiero!
Yeah, I'll take the Fiero. A MkII Turbo MR2 would be nice, but I'd also imagine they are big bucks, not to mention they've probably had the crap driven out of them, so they may need more repairs.
You guys crack me up... I can understand you like your car, I like them too, but you guys keep on mentioning the cost factor, these cars are old, they are cheap, and I'm talking about the MK1 and the fiero, the Turbo Mr2 is a totally differnt animal, look here http://www.board.mr2faq.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=88
I can buy MR2s at under a grand all day long, and throw in a 3SGTE and you have a rocket for about 3K.
I'm still looking for a 88 Fiero, and I have been out of the Fiero "scence" for a while, so will I be able to swap a 3800sc engine for 3k including the price of the car?
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05:37 PM
30+mpg Member
Posts: 4061 From: Russellville, AR Registered: Feb 2002
People here are going to tell you to get a Fiero. People on an MR2 board will tell you the Fiero is a POS and to get an MR2. What did you expect? Us to tell you to buy a Ford?
You seem to have the numbers all worked out on the MR2. That suggests to me you want an MR2. So, go get an MR2.
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10:41 PM
IronDuke Member
Posts: 227 From: 10 Miles from the Pontiac, MI Fiero Factory Registered: Jan 2003
I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but MotorWeek MotorWeek has a 30 minute collection of Fiero reviews and tests taken from televised MotorWeek shows that aired during the Fiero production years. The last segement compares '88 Fiero vs. MR2. (The Fiero won the competition).
Incidentally, I'm the original owner of an '86 4-cylinder with 133K trouble-free miles. I also considered getting the MR2 back then, but I'm glad I got the Fiero instead.
------------------ 1986 Fiero 2M4 1994 Probe GT (winter beater) 2002 Trans Am WS6
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10:52 PM
fierosound Member
Posts: 15220 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
First, Let me say that the evaluation done by Road and Track was Toyota biased.
I agreaa! Road & Track has that habit. The Toyota Matrix got high marks when reviewed by them. The Pontiac Vibe did not score quite as high. That's funny when you consider they essentially ARE the SAME CAR!
------------------ 1987 GT www.fierosound.com 2002/2003 World of Wheels Winner & Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
Color is nice tho! 
)
I've seen some other really nice kits for the mr.
