My Fiero has informally become a no wife zone. She does not hate it but she does not like it either. Life is easier for both of us if she only occasionally has to look at it.

Man, you guys are scaring me! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones whose wife loves cars. I'm sure it helped that I already had a car collection started when we met (10 years ago) and on the first date I told her that the cars stayed, no matter what. She understands the car thing having come from a car family. Her grandfather has a good sized collection in his basement (yes, he gutted the basement of his house to store cars under it... way cool!) and her father has a fondness for cars as well, although having just one MGB at the moment as a toy. As for the Fiero, it did take her a little while to warm to it but it wasn't in terribly good shape when I bought it. Several years of neglect by the P/O didn't do the car any favours but now it looks and drives well and she's starting to see why I think it's cool.

Hmm, I think she deserves some flowers today!

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Still plays with cars!

1986 Pontiac Fiero GT
1969 Porsche 912

Alright!!!! Already a two pager and one of those hot topic flame thingies...

This is cool. Keep it up.

My wife hates the fact that I am willing to spend money on my car, but then...

she bought it for me...,

then she paid for the -

seat covers
floor mats
tint for the back window
steering wheel cover
amp and sub
headlight upgrade(84 to 86)
driving/fog lights...

the list goes on and on, and on and on and on.... well you get the idea.

Now the other day she told me,

"I don't really want to spend a whole lot of money on a car I paid $500 for, but if you plan on taking it to shows and stuff like that you may as well be proud of it."

So all in all, she has become more fond of the car and less stringant with the money... still a fight sometimes tho.

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84 SE 2M4 (Daily Driver)
93 Sundance (13K Original miles)
95 Caravan (175K and still running strong)
85 Sport Coupe (RIP)
88 Formula (Sold to Soaper)
**Coming Soon**
85 SE 2.8L (Project/Experimental Car)

lol... i lost my fiance this way. I spent more on the car than her and she got mad cus i wanted to sleep with the car more... lol. Well I guess we all know who wins when it comes down to cutting one out. I even wanted to build a new engine in the kitchen... that didnt go over too well.

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Avid Fiero Enthusiast
Daniel Caddell

"Remember, life will never come to you. You have to chase it and beat it with a stick.
Working on Firebird Interior
If you think i am doing a good job, Give me a positive

Tell her to do the math.

I bought my Formula for $2400, and so far I've added:
Mr. Mikes: $450
KYB's: $200
Monsoon UP3: $200
Darrell Morse Ported Exhaust Manifolds: $160
Darrell Morse STB: $120

To that let's add future mods:

Paintjob: $2500
V8 Archie: $10,000

Grand Total: $16,030

Now, by the time my 99 Grand Am daily driver is paid for, it will cost over $19,000, and then it'll be a 5 year old car with about 90,000 miles worth about $5000. By comparison, the Fiero will have cost less, be more fun, and more reliable since it will have a brand new engine. If you leave the stock engine in it, I've only spent about $6,000 and it's STILL more fun than the $19,000 Grand Am.

1999 Grand Am SE 3400 V6: $19,000
1988 Fiero Formula V8 (400HP): $16,000

So according to the math, the Grand Am was the biggest waste of money.

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My wife never ever ever complains about the car. As it should be.

quote Originally posted by Automoda: My wife never ever ever complains about the car. As it should be.

If I had your car my wife wouldn't complain either...lol

quote Originally posted by Rob Ernst: To Quote Pyithian Man, I think I'll start a thread on that... My wife just can't seem to understand putting Mr. Mike's Seat covers (about 500 with speaker holes and the console saddle) in a car that I paid $650 for. What she doesn't understand, is how much FUN I get out of just driving this car, not to mention the fact that I've put 40,000+ miles on it in two years including a trip to the 20th (from Cincinnati) and also to Atlanta. Anybody else?

You just have to understand women.
Rule number one. If she makes money she has to spend it all on her.
Rule number Two. If you make any money you have to spend it on her.

Anything you spend on yourself is something she cant understand.

Back when I bought the car, my fiance cringed every time I brought up something I wanted to buy for it. It used to be just a fun cruiser, but I couldn't really do anything with it.

Ever since the trip to the 20th anniversary, she has been fully supportive of fixing the fiero right and customizing it to my likes. She even protested AGAINST me selling the car for a college commuter!

I love my lady.

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My wife does not understand my intrest in the car. She really wishes i would sell it, so she does not have to see or hear about it.

I have a feeling she will change her mind when i get it fixed up like i want.

just got to weather the nagging in the meantime. Sh** is really gonna hit the fan when she finds out i am gonna pick up a GT aat some pont also lol.

God forbid if you say something like, didn't you buy you a 200.00 pair of shoes and a 150.00 handbag to match last week, when you have enough shoes to outfit all the people in China. Even though they know the statement is pretty much true they still complain.

For all the guy's here with complaints, you have my sympathey.

My wife, God bless her soul. She bends over backwards and will take the shirt off her back to help me with the "Fiero's"!
When I say "Honey i really need this part", her response is "Okay, lets get it".
When I say "I really dont need it, or we could wait till later", she gets it for me when im not with her!

Prime example, yesterday while yard sale hopping. I found a brand new never used Ryobi (MS) saws-all for $70.......
I told Cindy I could use it, but would rather wait.
She went back today (without telling me)and got it for me.

Heck in the last 3 years she has purchased more Fiero items than I have!
Thats why I bought her, her very own Fiero!

[This message has been edited by FieroHarry (edited 05-02-2004).]

Heck, I'm the one with the fiero. I work too. So, if I want stuff for my car I buy it. He has enough toys of his own to play with!

I don't understand some women. They want the jewelry, fancy clothes etc. I'd rather wrap myself in my Fiero and go for a drive then put a ring on my finger or a necklace around my neck. It's much more fun, driving around in the Fiero then it is showing off a new ring! IMHO.

Good luck guys!

As you can see this is my first post. I actually did this JUST to answer to this topic. My Husband is "ONE OF YOU".....And I have a message for your wives who don't encourage your man's Fiero Hobby....WAKE UP GIRLS....... All men have hobbies, fortunately for you your husband isn't off drinking away his money, or maybe stuffing it in a G-String in a Go-Go bar, or maybe he could have a girlfriend on the side. This hobby is safe, wholesome and CAN INCLUDE YOU..

I help my husband with his Fiero, and I couldn't be happier. I don't always go with him because I think everyone needs some time with their friends, so he goes to club meetings alone and on some trips like Run For The Hills, and he does it with my blessing. But then there are times when we make it a family outing or project too. My daughter and I go to car show's, and now she can't wait for her first Fiero. I help Harry detail the car before every show, we laugh and have a great time doing it. We have made some of our best friends through the Fiero Community.

This hobby can be whatever you want it to be, and I chose to make it a great time for all. As for the money spent look at it this way, it's cheaper than a new car payment and at the same time it provides our husbands with a harmless hobby. And, although I know some of you may think this is too expensive it doesn't have to be. You "play" within your means. Not everyone has to send his vehicle off to V-8 Archie to have fun with it (even if that is a dream for alot of guy's). Also, properly maintained that car is going to maintain or increase in value. Each year Fiero's are going to become harder and harder to find and will appreciate in value.

I have taken such an interest in his Fiero that last year my husband bought me my own ,so now I have my own project (even though he will have to do most of the work). As long as my husband has a Fiero I will continue to buy him what we can afford and be glad he has his hobby.

My husband is FieroHarry if you don't already know, and I am proud of him and every thing he does to our Fiero's!!!!!!!

Universally, women need to be the center of attention and your Fiero is competing for that attention and winning. They maintain this 'attention' from men by controlling sex. "you can sleep on your side or the sofa". Don't forget 'her' birthday, anniversary, Christmas , Easter, Valentines Day, etc.. Most men have trouble remembering their own birthday. It's not important to us.. There's an old saying that women marry 'hoping he'll change', men marry 'hoping she won't'. That's why neither party is generally 'happy'. When she moves in, all of 'your' stuff will eventually be replaced by 'our' (picked by her) stuff, discarded or moved to the basement or garage. Most of your 'friends' will also be replaced and just forget any other women. Her money is 'her money' but your money is 'our' money. Your situation may vary, but just some observations over 58 years. A divorce rate of 66% would seem to agree though.

Men ARE from Mars and women from Venus!
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Notchbacks RULE

"It's cool to have a car you just have to look back at."

[This message has been edited by Fierobruiser (edited 05-02-2004).]

I showed her this topic. She thinks all of us are nuts now (not just me). I TRIED to get her to go to the 20th with me. She said, "Wow, look another Fiero".

She's not bad about spending money on herself though (as some people have suggested).

She WILL spend it on my daughter or the house but not on herself. She is awesome except for this one defect so I guess
it COULD be worse...

Next time (yea right) I'll marry a car chick.

Rob

I don't understand how some women will use examples against us to prove their point but as soon as we show them even a few examples of where we are coming from they just think the examples are silly or that they all wacko as well
Seven letter word that can usually fix problems if it gets too bad: divorce
Though in doing that it could then effect you a bit financially, but I guess we are always having to make sacrifices somewhere

MrsWaggs makes some great points.
Women need to understand that we are going to be miserable if we don't get to do some of the things that we enjoy and that help keep us happy. Why would you want to make the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with miserable? Doesn't make sense.

Try describing the color 'red' to a blind person. Tell the blind person how the color red reflects as a primary color or that it is part of one color in a rainbow. Now, try to decribe to your wife what it is to own a Fiero! If you can do the former, you can do the latter.

Sincerely,

Kevin J. Sullivan

Back in early '86 my wife wanted a new car because she was tired of calling for a harbor pilot every time she wanted to park the '78 Thunderbird. (You merchant mariners will get that joke.) Got her a notchie Fiero. Sold it just four years ago. Huge mistake. Just fixed it recently by picking up an '88 GT. Got it as her 25th anniversary present. She doesn't begrudge a nickle I put into it. It's her second favorite thing in the world. (The cat and I eye each other speculatively over which of us is her first favorite thing.)

sometimes it just comes down to a battle of wills. after 5 or six fieros in front of my house, she threw in the towel......
...however...i have a feeling that if another Fiero even passes by my house i will be driving a wagon train of fieros to a motel

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-Monkey

9 Fieros....help

Hopefully this isnt a no wife zone ...Im gonna agree with lurker...in the big scheme, there are a lot worse thing you could be doing. I've learned to appreciate them more since I got my own.....and when we build MY 355 I'm sure I'll like them even better!

*looks around for Songman*

uh....OUR 355...hehe...I meant OURS.

*runs*

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Victorian Valhalla

I thought I would give a womans perspective on this thread. My fience (mosh_man) loves to work on his fieros but it used to aggrevate me that he spent a lot of time and money on his cars because we are in the middle of building a house. Well about 1.5 years ago he told me that it was better to spend just about $5000 on a car he really likes then to buy a new one and spend $30,000 on a car (or truck in my case) like I did. He also told me that he uses the money from selling parts to get the big stuff ( 3.4 engine etc...) and he trades a lot too. Heck the 85GT is getting painted for free because we traded our paint guy a furnace for it. Now he has gotten me into the fieros too so we now have a way to spend time together. Plus I want the 85GT that way we can have his & hers fieros

Well, she's always sayin' how impractical the thing is too.. She wants her $40,000 Expedition but doesn't think that I should spend 3-5k on putting a 3800 S/C into "that piece of CR*P".

Probably the fact that I bought it without talking to her first (at least not specifically) didn't help much.

Lilke somebody's signature on here says, "Its a Fiero thing, you wouldn't understand".

Rob

Wow. Im in my second marriage as a Fiero owner. The first wife bought one for herself. That was fine...then it had babies , twin red ones. Those were mine. We got a divorce and she got them! She never complained about me working on them.....but wouldnt give me any money to buy parts.
Now I have 5 more and remarried. At first the "we dont need another Fiero" line was used....until she saw the price of replacement costs.You cant argue that, when you can buy an entire parts car for $300 or less.
I told her in the beginning that I have a passion for Fieros......there will be wife time and then there is Fiero time....if she wants to spend time with me....during Fiero time .....Im in the garage and could always use a helping hand
I just got her her first Fiero.... and told her to design it exactely as she wants and that I would make it that way.....so now I have to airbrush a dolphin on the hood and waves all over the car.....hmmmmmm....o.k.
She finally convinced me that old Fiero Mags werent good living room hangings., but they look great in the garage... So, I remodeled the garage to look like a living room and hung them on the wall! They DO TOO look good on the living room wall !!!!
I especially like the rolling of the eyes...when the mail man comes with yet another box of Fiero goodies....."Fiero stuff?........" she asks........."yup" I reply.

quote Originally posted by Rob Ernst: To Quote Pyithian Man, I think I'll start a thread on that... My wife just can't seem to understand putting Mr. Mike's Seat covers (about 500 with speaker holes and the console saddle) in a car that I paid $650 for. What she doesn't understand, is how much FUN I get out of just driving this car, not to mention the fact that I've put 40,000+ miles on it in two years including a trip to the 20th (from Cincinnati) and also to Atlanta. Anybody else?

I'm lucky, my wife is very understanding, knows it's a good, clean hobby, and let me put her in a Fiero as a daily driver. She also enjoys our club events.

It is entirely possible your wife will *never* understand you and your car thing. Maybe you could find a way to get her to understand that you enjoy it, and it makes you happy. Most women are capable of that.

Has she ever driven the car? If not, toss her the keys and send her on a long drive a family or friend's house. If she still doesn't understand after driving it, then work on the "it makes me happy" angle. If that doesn't work, trade her in.

lol
what a good topic. My ex liked my car. "When you gonna take me for a ride," I was like um, ok. You know its for pickin up chicks with.
-Matt

quote Originally posted by 88_Fiero_2M4: You just have to understand women. Rule number one. If she makes money she has to spend it all on her. Rule number Two. If you make any money you have to spend it on her. Anything you spend on yourself is something she cant understand.

You must have forgotten about all the women here on the forum that spend plenty on their Fiero’s and you must not know very much about women because if you did you would know that they are not all the same just as men all not all the same. I have spent over 25,000 on my Fiero and my family and friends including my boyfriend probably just think I am crazy but they keep it to them selves and let me have my fun. See you the MHF meetings 88_Fiero_2m4.

Christine

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quote Originally posted by fiero67: ......there will be wife time and then there is Fiero time....if she wants to spend time with me....during Fiero time .....Im in the garage and could always use a helping hand

heheheheheh, did anybody else get that? or am I just really immature? ohh well....

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*~ Out In The West Coast Shownin' Off My Bad Habits ~*

quote Originally posted by fierobear: Has she ever driven the car? If not, toss her the keys and send her on a long drive a family or friend's house. If she still doesn't understand after driving it, then work on the "it makes me happy" angle. If that doesn't work, trade her in.

Tried that. First of all, she can't drive a stick shift. Secondly, she thinks its a death trap....

Rob

Gettin married in a year.. you guys scare the S)^*T out of me....
I had a fiero when we met. I have 2 now...... as well as my friends parts car here... so I guess She's dealing ok so far. Maybe I need to buy 5 or 10 more to test the waters...
hehehe

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thanks to XXX for the image ;)

What ever you do, get all of your goodies (cars) first and make sure she has here own car toy plus some monies in the bank for the SUV or minivan for the unexpected little ones.

I made it easy for her, my deal was every time she gripes about my hobby, I add to the collection, so far I've owned 10 different Fieros, the ones on my sig line are the ones she said something really bad about. They're staying!. She quit griping about them two years ago. It worked!

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Ron
88 Formula, 4.9, auto, daily driver
88 Formula, 3800 SCII/4T65E.
88 Formula, 5 Spd, 3.4 TDC.
88 Formula, Stock, 5 Spd, T Top.
88 Coupe, Pantero Rebody, just started.
02 Dodge Ram Diesel with 32 foot Gooseneck Fiero Transport.

I owned a Fiero before I met my wife (85 coupe) and when I decided to trade it for a 86 GT she went ballistic....UNTIL we went out one night in it and she fell in love. We have an agreement...She can buy her Oriental Vase's and nick-nacks but I get to spend the same amount on my Fiero. She went on a splurge and got a 5 foot vase and I got my new seats and floor mats. Our little boy also loves it to death at 3 years old and I already told him this is what he's going to drive in highschool. I'm not the type to break promises......

When my half of the bills end up not getting paid, or when she starts paying for the insurance and gas for my car, I'll let her have input on what I spend on my car.

Until then, she's got no say on what I do with it or what I spend on it.

quote Originally posted by FieroMonkey: sometimes it just comes down to a battle of wills. after 5 or six fieros in front of my house, she threw in the towel.

If you only have five of six then your wife is lucky. I have seen 27 or so pass by our door. I think I got interested around car # 20. I realized that they are really fun to drive (matt finally let me drive one ) and I like the looks I get from other drivers. Around here guys are really into street racing so its funny when a car pulls up and trys to race light to light When I beat them they look over and see I'm a girl and they have this look like Man I lost to a girl!

Oh and my Dodge dakota has become an offical Fiero parts car tower with a 360 V8 you don't even know the Fieros back there. I think I'm real forgiving with the parts cars because all the towing can be hard on my truck.

So guys try letting your woman drive it and if she doesn't know how teach her, she may begin to love it just like I did!

My g/f drives the GT at the autocross with me, so she is actually HAPPY when i spend money on performance uprgades, because she'll get more fun out of it! I'm so happy!

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VOTE FOR THE FIERO!

Black '87 GT Auto - Daily Driver & Autocrosser
Eibach springs, Koni shocks, Kosei K1s, Kumho Ecsta V700s, poly bushings, rear swaybar, MSD ignition, shift-kit, custom intake scoop