I will be look for a daily driver to commute to work in the coming months and am thinking about getting another Fiero. It would be driven year round in the rain, snow, etc. I would prefer it to be a GT with a stick but am open to other models. Other options are the 93-97 Ford Probe GT, 98-00 Ford Contour SVT, or the 2001-2002 Dodge Stratus R/T. Obviously, the Probes and Fieros would be the cheapest of the bunch. Any opinions or suggestions are appreciated.

Personally, I'd much sooner trust the Fiero than the Probe. If you get hit in the Fiero, you'll be relatively safe in comparison to the Probe. The Contour wouldn't be too bad, but I've never had good luck with Fords, personally. And the Stratus won't get you any decent gas mileage. It's a FWD with a longitudinally mounted motor. Makes good power, but the power never really makes it to the wheels, so the engine's over-working just to get you to cruise the highway. No good for mileage. I have a '96 Monte Carlo LS for a daily driver, and it's fine. I get about 28 to the gallon on average with only an intake, exhaust, underdrive pulley, and some transmission work. Total cost for buying the car, and doing the mods? $3,200. Couldn't be a better $3,200 spent, unless on a Fiero. You could find a decent-condition Monte LS from '98-'99 for under $3,000 that won't disappoint you. At least in comparison to the Probe.

I used a Fiero as my daily driver for about 15 years. They all proved to be very reliable, although (as with any car) did require maintenance to keep thingsin tip-top working order. At this point though, Fieros are 20+ year old cars so you getv what you pay for. If you buy a $500 Fiero then expect to have a lot of "nickel & diming" since things will be more prone to breaking/failing. It comes down to pay more now for a better car or pay more later when things bust.

Personally, if I was in the market again and had about $3000 I would look for a nice '88 Formula 5-speed. You should be able to find a nice one in that range.

The Fiero gets a bad rap, but they are great cars and make great daily drivers.....just be prepared for routine maintenance and there won't be any surprises.


I now drive a 48 year old British sports car and while it does require a little more attention than most cars it is (and has been) very reliable for me......I drive this car everyday, rain or shine.

BTW......nice name. I think I had mine first though!

I'm assuming the Probe is almost the same car as the Mazda MX6, I may be wrong but that was my understanding.
My girlfriend has a 95 MX6, great little car but when she has had to have work done on it parts seem to be astronomical in comparison with the Fiero. I have even offered to do some of the work on her car myself because I thought the quotes she was getting on parts were rediculous, I found I could not get them any cheaper myself so she has let a longtime friend who owns a shop do most of the work. The gas tank started leaking, plastic tank, figured any used tank of the same age might be prone to the same problems even if I could find one. She ended up paying over $700 for a gas tank! Her's is the V6 model and she recently had to have a bank of injectors replaced, over $1000, I could go on but you get the picture. Mazda seems to be the only supplier of some of the parts and they like their parts so much they seem to discourage folks from buying them.
Just my opinion but I would think you could restore a Fiero to like new condition for the price of a few repairs to the MX6/Probe.

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Don't take life too seriously -- you'll never get out if it alive.

Is that an Austin 'frogeye' in your avatar ? Should be cold driving in winter
I have used my fiero(s) as a daily driver for years, once you get it tuned up its pretty reliable...keep an eye on the condition of electrics like alternator/battery/starter and ignition parts and keep them well maintained, that will help reliability in cold winters..

I should have mentioned this. I HAD a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT as daily for about a year but had the chance to buy a pristine original 50,000 mile Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (aka 3000GT VR 4), so I took it and sold the Fiero. I couldn't stand the automatic trans anymore anyway. It was too boring to drive. The Stealth is too nice to drive daily, so I am playing around with getting something for everyday use that would be fun, yet not cost a lot. It would have to sit outside and be exposed to Chicago weather though. I don't know if I could do that to a really nice Fiero, but I still want one. Yes, a Formula is an option, but they are hard to find in a condition that I wouldn't care to drive everyday. Many are either too far gone or too nice. I will be looking for something in between.

I drive my Formula 5spd, every day from Lake Geneva Wi. to Kenosha (27.5 miles each way). It has proven to be extremely reliable for me. Only over the past couple of weeks have I driven my Blazer ZR2. Not because the Formula wouldn't have made it, but I got it washed 2 weeks ago and really didn't want to get it dirty. LOL I have had many Fieros since 1985, driven them in the worst weather possible, and have many times been the only person to make it to work due to "snow" or other weather problems. Heck, back in the '70s I drove a '69 Triumph GT6+ year round and never got stuck. Something about more control with a stick shift. I would go with the Fiero, and if you are interested, mine will be going up for sale again soon. Do a search with my user name, and you should find my last "for sale" post.

PS: mine is "inbetween" LOL

[This message has been edited by railshot (edited 02-20-2007).]

quote Originally posted by Fie Ro: Is that an Austin 'frogeye' in your avatar ? Should be cold driving in winter I have used my fiero(s) as a daily driver for years, once you get it tuned up its pretty reliable...keep an eye on the condition of electrics like alternator/battery/starter and ignition parts and keep them well maintained, that will help reliability in cold winters..

I think they're referred to as "bugeye." First two seater I ever rode in was an Austin-Healey bugeye Sprite. I don't know if it was a modification or factory, but I remember the turn signal switch was located in the middle of the dash, and my Uncle MacKenzie would let me operate it for him when a turn was coming up...doesn't sound like a big deal, but to a car-crazy kid, I was definitely in his corner from then on. Nobody better say a bad word about my Uncle Mac.

If you are serious about buying then let me know. I know of a pristine 86 SE just south of you in Pekin Illinois that is virtually brand new. New engine, tires, brakes etc and you can pick it up for $2000 cash. He is moving in a few days so he is motivated. It was originally listed a few weeks ago at $4500 but since his move deadline is approaching he's wanting to sell quick.

Griz

Thanks for the suggestion, but it would have to wait until the summer once I graduate college and begin working, I cannot afford two cars at the moment, but I will be able to soon enough....

E-Mail sent

I see we also share a love for the 3s platform. Great cars but maintenance can be expensive, especially on the Twin Turbos...

quote Originally posted by Mr. Fiero: I will be look for a daily driver to commute to work in the coming months and am thinking about getting another Fiero. It would be driven year round in the rain, snow, etc. I would prefer it to be a GT with a stick but am open to other models. Other options are the 93-97 Ford Probe GT, 98-00 Ford Contour SVT, or the 2001-2002 Dodge Stratus R/T. Obviously, the Probes and Fieros would be the cheapest of the bunch. Any opinions or suggestions are appreciated.

well, i'll chime in. i have 2 of those above mentioned cars. i have an 87 GT 5-speed and a 99 Contour SVT. the fiero is my "play car" now, and the SVT is my daily driver. the fiero is great, and i trust it, but it has taken me a while to get to that point. little things on it here and there.

the SVT though, so far since i got it almost 2 years ago, i have replaced an O2 sensor... valve cover (my fault, i broke it), rear struts, and plugs and wires. i bought it with 114,000 miles and now i have 146,000. the car runs great. the car is a blast to drive, is quick, handles amazing, and is super conforitable. they are all 5 speeds as well . if you find one that hasnt been beaten on to death, they car be reliable, and very nice cars. check out http://www.contour.org/ to read up more on them.

if i had to buy 1 car for daily driving out of your list, it would be the SVT. i love my fiero, but i love it as a play/fun second car.

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quote Originally posted by Mr. Fiero: I see we also share a love for the 3s platform. Great cars but maintenance can be expensive, especially on the Twin Turbos...

I just found a beautiful 95 Stealth R/T in McHenry, guy is asking 7900 for it, LOL it is red..... and in the same block is a 3000 GT VR4. If I only had the $$$ and room I'd have my Formula, a Stealth, 3000 GT, and a Fiero GT. I will keep you in mind if I can't find someone will to trade me for a GT.

quote Originally posted by Mr. Fiero: It would have to sit outside and be exposed to Chicago weather though. I don't know if I could do that to a really nice Fiero, but I still want one.

You need a 74 Pinto

quote Originally posted by railshot: I just found a beautiful 95 Stealth R/T in McHenry, guy is asking 7900 for it, LOL it is red..... and in the same block is a 3000 GT VR4. If I only had the $$$ and room I'd have my Formula, a Stealth, 3000 GT, and a Fiero GT. I will keep you in mind if I can't find someone will to trade me for a GT.

Hmmm... could you send me the listing? $7900 seems steep for just an R/T. I paid $8,750 for my Twin Turbo with 50,780 on the odometer just five months ago from a 59 year old guy at church. It's good thing I kept going all those Sundays LOL!

quote Originally posted by Fie Ro: Is that an Austin 'frogeye' in your avatar ? Should be cold driving in winter

Yep.....it's a "Frogeye" to the Brits and "Bugeye" to us Yanks. It's a little breezy to drive when it's cold out, but not too bad. The biggest thing is traction, or rather the lack thereof. If there is any measureable amount of snow on the ground I'm not moving!