I found a Formula T-top and have been wanting a T-Top car, but not sure I can justify an Auto. Might have to switch it to a 5spd....car has 62k on it and it's a CJB car. T-tops are said to be in good condition with no leaks. The headliner needs replaced and the Formula Decals are worn off. Kind of weird for that mileage, but guy seems pretty honest. Paint seems a little rough as far as the clear goes, but I'm sure it's just from the sun fade, etc. Is $3,000 a good deal on something like this? Obviously the cheaper the better, but I'm not up to date on what T-tops bring. If it was a 5spd car, I'd be much more interested, but doesn't mean I can't change it to a 5spd down the road. Pics below. Thoughts?

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Seems like a very good price and a good overall car, but I would check the carfax to verify the mileage and check it out in more detail. If the miles are correct and it is in proper shape for a car with those miles, then 3K is probably a steal.

Can someone look up this carfax please?

1G2PE1192JP221907


Thank you.

I think it's a very good deal, but I am partial to Formulas. Factory T-top Formulas are extremely rare, and for that reason I would clean up the car as much as I could and keep the Auto transmission.

Nice looking and having 2 red Formulas would be pretty sweet huh! But I think that 3k is a little bit high, at least more than I would spend. Can’t tell if it has AC or not but from what I can see it looks like it has zero options other than the T-Tops. I suppose if it does have AC, its running and driving and no rust then I would think 2500 would be a good prince. Tell them that paint will cost over a grand so if they’ll split the cost by knocking off $500 then it’s a deal. Just my $.02

That's not a bad price if it doesn't have any rust, and doesn't need any major work.
If you can get it for less, even better.

(I would never buy a car without A/C. But I live in GA.)

Edit - 62K? Jump on it.

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Raydar
88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550

Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 12-27-2012).]

If it's rust free, I'd be on it like white on rice.....

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: If it's rust free, I'd be on it like white on rice.....

I agree, and I think 3K is a fair price for a T-top Formula in excellent/good condition with low miles. I would also leave the auto in it.

Have to play Devil's advocate here. I bought a '88 GT w/ T-Tops with 84k miles for $1,800 in July of '09. Now, it had been sitting in this guy's garage without being started for 3 years, so that's why I got it for that price. After reading how much of a perfectionist you are, I'm going to give some reasons why you may want to rethink this.

1) New seals for the T-Tops are non existent. I bought a new NOS incomplete set, and paid over $750 total if I remember correctly, and I believe I got the last of at least one of them. If the ones on this car leak (which they commonly do), then you're SOL. In other words, you'll need to wait for sunny days, or it's going to be in the garage or under a waterproof cover.

2) These things rattle and make a decent amount of noise. If you're particular about how your car sounds, this will drive you NUTS!

3) You have to treat the glass T-Tops as if they're priceless. While you can find replacements, for now, you'll be paranoid about anything causing a panel to break.

4) If you do a swap into this car, you'll have to be careful of how much power you shoot for, as the support isn't there to resist the torsion applied on the car.


I honestly wish I would have found a non T-Top, non sunroof car instead. Less issues, and would have been less expensive. However like many things, my taste in cars does not follow the "take the easy road" approach. Good luck either way man, it's a nice looking car.

[This message has been edited by mptighe (edited 12-27-2012).]

mptighe

You will notice that the OP already owns the Fiero you are describing. This would be toy #2....(or more?)

This one is easy. If you don't want an automatic, don't buy it. For the cost and effort of changing it you could easily do something else to a car that is already a stick.

I don't understand the aversion to an auto anyway. Sure you want at least one toy to be a stick for the driving experience but it's not like you have to learn how to drive an auto. You just put it in D and go.

quote Originally posted by mptighe: Have to play Devil's advocate here. I bought a '88 GT w/ T-Tops with 84k miles for $1,800 in July of '09. Now, it had been sitting in this guy's garage without being started for 3 years, so that's why I got it for that price. After reading how much of a perfectionist you are, I'm going to give some reasons why you may want to rethink this. 1) New seals for the T-Tops are non existent. I bought a new NOS incomplete set, and paid over $750 total if I remember correctly, and I believe I got the last of at least one of them. If the ones on this car leak (which they commonly do), then you're SOL. In other words, you'll need to wait for sunny days, or it's going to be in the garage or under a waterproof cover. 2) These things rattle and make a decent amount of noise. If you're particular about how your car sounds, this will drive you NUTS! 3) You have to treat the glass T-Tops as if they're priceless. While you can find replacements, for now, you'll be paranoid about anything causing a panel to break. 4) If you do a swap into this car, you'll have to be careful of how much power you shoot for, as the support isn't there to resist the torsion applied on the car. I honestly wish I would have found a non T-Top, non sunroof car instead. Less issues, and would have been less expensive. However like many things, my taste in cars does not follow the "take the easy road" approach. Good luck either way man, it's a nice looking car.

Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated. I needed a little more insight on this honestly. I love T-Tops and sometimes wish I could have them off and have that cool feeling come spring and summer, but there are also many many drawbacks. On the T-Top seals, the one thing I have never understood is why a company can't make these or at least re-make them if someone was willing to modify and make some new ones work. With how much we modify these cars, I would think T-Top seals would be a great seller for people not only Fieros. But maybe I don't understand the entire process enough. As far as being picky, well that will always happen with me. My Formula is never good enough or perfect enough. Just the personality and how I treat things I own. I keep my remote controls in a particular order and place, so you can imagine how the cars are. You are right on keeping it Auto. Can the auto be re-built anymore? Do they even make a rebuild kit for them? I will see what I think of the car as it's not too far away from me and I guess you never know.

Thanks for the advice!

quote Originally posted by Rare87GT: Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated. I needed a little more insight on this honestly. I love T-Tops and sometimes wish I could have them off and have that cool feeling come spring and summer, but there are also many many drawbacks. On the T-Top seals, the one thing I have never understood is why a company can't make these or at least re-make them if someone was willing to modify and make some new ones work. With how much we modify these cars, I would think T-Top seals would be a great seller for people not only Fieros. But maybe I don't understand the entire process enough. As far as being picky, well that will always happen with me. My Formula is never good enough or perfect enough. Just the personality and how I treat things I own. I keep my remote controls in a particular order and place, so you can imagine how the cars are. You are right on keeping it Auto. Can the auto be re-built anymore? Do they even make a rebuild kit for them? I will see what I think of the car as it's not too far away from me and I guess you never know. Thanks for the advice!

I've seen someone who had remade them for his car, though there arn't enough Ttop fieros out there I believe to justify being recreated.

Are the seals that hard to make? There must be another that is close and can be shortened / bent. Worst case scenario (emphasis worst) seal them up permanent. When my GA sunroof leaks I'll do it.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: mptighe You will notice that the OP already owns the Fiero you are describing. This would be toy #2....(or more?)

Last time I checked his other car isn't a T-Top. He's talking about getting a T-Top car, and this is what I was posting about.

If I had a t-top car, I would probably do this mod:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/104028.html

quote Originally posted by mptighe: If you're going to end up sealing them shut, might as well just get one without the T-Tops in my opinion.

I love my sunroof, but never EVER open it. I want a glass tinted roof. I'd love a t-top Fiero for the same reason. Maybe I'm crazy but t tops in Firebirds and a Fiero if I had one are great for looks and visibility.

Edit - the above link looks promising. Cutting down seals from a firebird may actually work

As far as making them I didn't mean producing them. I meant digging through steelrubber.com and similar sources for generic parts a and seeing if something works. I don't have one to test but have seen it done for other vehicles door seals. T tops will be harder to get right however as it needs to seal and allow run off at the same time.

[This message has been edited by mkiker2089 (edited 12-27-2012).]

An idea, if you just want to seal your stuff (winter, or perm) take something like black Plasti-dip (Or other rubber sealant paint) and spray the cracks/seals. Should hold a nice seal and is easily removable but last a long time. I would do this for my sunroof but I like to open it/take it out.

I own a T-top. I drive the sunroof car more. Eventually it will leak, and they creak a LOT. Having to drive a car only on dry days sucks.. That being said, T-tops are cool.. They are fun to drive without the tops, and in this case, they look really nice removed, and I think the price is great- especially given the mileage and appearance. There is something cool about T-tops and under $3,000 for a good car (to me) is very fair. I know "x" bought his car for $500 and "y" "bought his for $1500 with a V8 and is abe to leap across a pond" but most of us don't find those deals. Fieros are getting far older, and many more have hit the dump piles. A sharp, low miles Fiero for $3,000 is a steal to me- especially with T-tops.

Reproducing the seals would be difficult. The CJB seals have a lot of countours and like a flap arund them. In the meantine, you can fix them (to an extent). With either the plastidip, liquid electrical tape, or silicone. You can cover one section with saran wrap to use as a release. Next, carefully, coat the opposite side with the silicone or plastidip. Mate the T-top to the car (with the saran wrap in place) and let it cure for at least a few days.. In theory, once it cures you should be fairly leak free with a clean mating. I read about this on a forum talking about leaking Firebird T-tops and the guy posted pics of this procedure. I did this on my Formula. I did it recently, and with it being winter, i haven't leak tested yet.

$3K gets you a view like this...

[This message has been edited by smartaxel (edited 12-28-2012).]