i have owned my car Fiero now for almost 35 years, and like many years in the today in my 84 2m4 with aero gear like an 85 GT, i always get drivers of other cars trying to show off their cars by engine revving and blatant acceleration. Why does the Fiero draw such strong emotions in people? What is it about this revolutionary (?) car that makes drivers of Porsches, Firebirds, Camaros and Mustangs (among others) so angry? And of course with my Duke, i am unable to compete with them in linear acceleration, or the sound of the engine. Why do people react like this? i thot that these reactions would have subsided by now, but today, like too many times in the past 35 years, other drivers insist on competing with my car. What gives? jon
------------------ I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun! 3800 SC swap to come!
Hey Jon, like Patrick says, " don't worry about it". Matter of fact, be amused about it. At least you have a car that gets noticed and draws attention. I doubt that happens to somebody in a boring Civic.. If you notice the advertising and whats shown on many car commercials now a days, performance is back. Horsepower is once again a big selling factor. Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and all the foreign performance vehicles are getting more powerful all the time. Even the sedans ! Cars are shown zippin' down open roads and driftin' round wild turns. You happen to own a car that portrays a sporty image. ( I'm my opinion, Fieros are downright cool ). So a lot of these gearheads like to show off their stuff. It comes with the territory. So maybe just do what I do. Just sit back, totally enjoy your ride, and let them run. You have a totally unique automobile. And if I'm not mistaken, give it a few more years. I'm seeing more and more internet posts about how the Fiero is "re-becoming" a car of interest.
And if all else fails, you can also try this. I also own a Mustang GT. If I do want to flex some muscle, I just go home and get that.... : ) : ) : )
It's the old " mine's bigger than yours". The Fiero, and I still have my 85 GT after having 5 is a fun, inexpensive sport car. These " money guys" just don't get it..it's all about perspective..big bucks do not always give you peace, serenity and joy as a Fiero does.
I mostly get thumbs up in mine. The WRX's with the fart cans try to get me to race. It is fun to watch them floor it at a light while I cruise out of the stop. I did have a cop follow me turn by turn for about 12 blocks last week.
I try to take it as a compliment. My 90hp 85 SE isn't exactly burning rubber.
It's the old " mine's bigger than yours". The Fiero, and I still have my 85 GT after having 5 is a fun, inexpensive sport car. These " money guys" just don't get it..it's all about perspective..big bucks do not always give you peace, serenity and joy as a Fiero does.
I got this a few times when I got my Fiero, and of course my Fiero just had the "looks Fast" and nothing to back it up. With my 3800 Series III swap, it's a bit of a different story It's nice to have the looks AND the guts now I'm to old for street racing, and being unsafe, but it sure is nice at times to be able to take off from a light quick and get up to the speed limit faster than most other cars
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 05-20-2018).]
I get a lot of compliments from my Fiero, mainly about the exhaust note, wheels or brakes. About every other day I get someone asking me what's in that thing or is that a V8, which the answer is yes... a 382 whp LS4. Then they normally ask to see it, so I pop the decklid and have a 5 minute conversation.
Its part of having a unique car that people don't see everyday.
Even with a Lambo body on one of mine I get challenged but not very often. Even though it has a turbo LS4 I know that there are Hondas out there that are faster.
My GT got a from a driver the other day when I was sitting in traffic. A car pulled up beside me, he looked over my car and I see . He was driving an Aston Martin Vantage.
I don't get challenged at all. Maybe because they see this. (or they look over and "old guy - he won't race...")
"Supercharged V6" emblem from a Holden Commodore (Australian 3800 S/C).
Well, i'm an old guy too, white hair and all. No one will mistake me for twenty something i also get a lot of attention from young females (hey, who doesn't like that?) and young kids who never have seen one - "Wow! Look at that". i just don't understand the aggression of the middle aged males who spent bucks (and probably debt as well) to get their ride, when i have had to work to keep my car running and looking good (good is relative - i'm sure that many here have nicer looking Fieros). i'm going to Toronto in two weeks to pick up some rocker panels to finish off my conversion from a 2m4 to an aero package. Next i plan on building a working scoop for the engine intake, Did those Mustang guys buy a working scoop? rotflmao . Then comes the 3800sc swap. We have fun with our cars, and not just driving them. Anybody can get a car with debt. We put real thot into our rides. i get stopped every now and then and someone wants to talk Fieros - they used to have one, the wanted to have one, do i have any rust on it? (NO! A Quebec car with no rust - who ever heard of such a thing?) We have a 30 to 35 year old car that gets a lot of attention. Doesn't it make you proud?
------------------ I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun! 3800 SC swap to come!
I call that the "T.I.D.S." syndrome..........Two Inch D*** Syndrome.....Like a Harley rider at a light with full open exhaust constantly revving his engine and looking around, while in his head he is thinking "Yeah! Everybody is looking at me because they think I'm Co-OO-ol!.....Yeah!"
Even worse are the "O.I.D.S." sufferers......Those are the loud Harley riders that ALSO have a loud stereo that fights for attention with their exhaust revving......Usually, I just tell them that "Viagra is cheaper!" I am trying to be helpful......but that suggestion tends to NOT go over well........
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
So few cars today look "Different". They are eggs with a few vents, creases, or slight angles tossed in...almost all black, white, or silver. Fieros look FAST. or at least look like they want to race...
Fieros are decidedly unique. You can make the argument that their design and styling was ahead of its time. Especially for GM. This is probably what stirs up such passions.
Park a nice Fiero next to an equally nice 80's Camaro at a show, the Fiero will likely draw more attention, even tho the Camaro owner may have 2 to 4 times as much invested in his or her 'ride'.
As for me personally, I had my share of nice cars in my younger years. A few Dusters, a V8 T-Top Cutlass, a nearly new Monte Carlo. All were 'cool' in their own right. Test drove and nearly bought some even cooler ones and legit muscle cars (1st Gen big block Monte, '68 Camaro, Buick Regal GS Stage 1, '68 Charger, '73 Roadrunner).
But for some reason, before family life set in and I was reduced to a long succession of mini-vans and daily drivers I always wanted a Fiero. I imagine quite a few 40+ year old Fiero guys have similar stories to tell!
The first car I was ever interested in (We were boat people) was my dentists Pantera...I wanted one bad....But by the time I could have bought a used one, I had found out how bad the usability/comfort/quality was.....And GM was building a well-designed mid-engine car...The Fiero!
All the road tests in 1984 and 1985 were very good- Read the Motor Trend or Road & Track 1985 GT test and you would think the car had descended from Heaven! I ordered an 85 SE V6 with nothing else except the WS6 suspension......And then the 1986 C&D test rained down crap on the Fiero image.....Then R&T compared the new 1988 Formula to a SC MR2 and stated that EVERYTHING was better on the MR2 and everything was bad-bad-bad on the Fiero......I remember reading these tests and seeing it as PROOF that these magazines were on the take.....Absolute proof came as soon as the Fiero was cancelled- Suddenly, the mags all started talking about how the MR2 was dangerous because of knife-edge DTO (I guess Toyota completely retuned the suspension in 1989!)...Toyota did not need to PAY for Magazine tests that were slanted since the competition (Fiero) was gone.....
All this leads up to; There are some people who see the Fiero and think it's the greatest thing in the auto world, and then there are others who believe all of those bad tests...and believe that their country (The USA ) CAN'T build a good car (I suppose they are talking from experience(Meaning they know THEY don't ever do a good job!)
I usually lead off talking to someone about my Fiero with "They are both better and worse than what you have heard"...This seems to pull people back towards the middle, where reality sits.....
Favorite thumbs up ever; I was driving from Redwood Road home while being followed by an early WRX STI....( Coming from Redwood road he was probably turnin' and burnin' just before I saw him) He followed me thru Castro Valley to Lake Chabot road (At the speed limit).....When I turned on it I started cranking on it, sideways just slightly turning onto Chabot, then thru 4 turns hard, drifting slightly....Pulled over finally (Actually wanted to ask them how it looked going thru the turns) but they continued on.....Both driver and passenger gave me a thumbs up.....
That is in the works. My plan has been to first fix the design problems - BBQ grill on the 84 with a Mustang fake scoop (made to work on my Fiero), and a matching but smaller vent for the radiator, relocate the battery to the front, and add the 85-88 side vents - done. Then fix the ugly bumper pads to the aero style and add a wing - done. Then make it handle as good as it can - Rebuild the suspension with all poly, new shocks, SS brake lines, rebuild steering column and rack n pinion steering - done. Then increase the power with first with a 4.9 then Ecotec and now i have decided that the 3800sc is the best way to go, - money, time, and difficulty for the power gained. Can't beat it imho. i am gathering parts for the swap and looking for a suitable donor car. While i wait for the donor car, i plan to build an intake scoop to replace the stock 2m4 intake - something along the lines of the widebody kit, but a lot cheaper and less extensive a mod.
------------------ I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun! 3800 SC swap to come!
The last guy that tried the "Is that thing fast?" was my neighbor. He had a 2016 Dodge Challenger with a 5.7 Hemi. After he asked me I responded "I don't know but I'd like to find out, want to do a short drag? 0 to 60MPH? And he agreed. Big mistake, that day he learned that bigger is not always better but power to weight ratio is. He even made me race him from a rolling start with no effect. I pulled like 3 car lengths and kept that distance on the 4 tries. I could see his embarrassment when he came out of his Challenger and he was all red! LOL Now he got a 2017 Cadillac CTSV Twin Turbo with 500hp. He came to show it to me and I was waiting for him to challenge me again but this time he didn't. I think he got the point.
Fieros are decidedly unique. You can make the argument that their design and styling was ahead of its time. Especially for GM. This is probably what stirs up such passions.
Park a nice Fiero next to an equally nice 80's Camaro at a show, the Fiero will likely draw more attention, even tho the Camaro owner may have 2 to 4 times as much invested in his or her 'ride'.
As for me personally, I had my share of nice cars in my younger years. A few Dusters, a V8 T-Top Cutlass, a nearly new Monte Carlo. All were 'cool' in their own right. Test drove and nearly bought some even cooler ones and legit muscle cars (1st Gen big block Monte, '68 Camaro, Buick Regal GS Stage 1, '68 Charger, '73 Roadrunner).
But for some reason, before family life set in and I was reduced to a long succession of mini-vans and daily drivers I always wanted a Fiero. I imagine quite a few 40+ year old Fiero guys have similar stories to tell!
...basically true....however, I finally got a very nice '87 GT..Red, with all the trimmings..to keep my Pontiac Solstice company
The last guy that tried the "Is that thing fast?" was my neighbor. He had a 2016 Dodge Challenger with a 5.7 Hemi. After he asked me I responded "I don't know but I'd like to find out, want to do a short drag? 0 to 60MPH? And he agreed. Big mistake, that day he learned that bigger is not always better but power to weight ratio is. He even made me race him from a rolling start with no effect. I pulled like 3 car lengths and kept that distance on the 4 tries. I could see his embarrassment when he came out of his Challenger and he was all red! LOL Now he got a 2017 Cadillac CTSV Twin Turbo with 500hp. He came to show it to me and I was waiting for him to challenge me again but this time he didn't. I think he got the point.
Originally posted by mousemeat: True...but another reason was they were unique for the era...mid engine, plastic body panels and more..
For sure, another reason I love them. Still are totally unique. Still the only mass produced mid engine American car. But in the details of the original post he seemed to be asking why people rev their engine at him, many of those people don't have a clue what a Fiero really is.
Can't speak for everyone else, but I can share my observations. Been and owner of my 84 since 1985. Since the very beginning people were interested in the car, and as there was no internet in those days, for the most part people were curious and positive about the cars. Then the recalls and bad press started, and people suddenly turned negative on the brand. As the Fiero only lasted 5 model years, Fiero clubs and the Fiero community started very quickly. The thing that I remember most about those early years is that people simply loved the cars for what they were. Very few were doing upgrades back then, and a show would mainly consist of stock cars and the odd kit. These days people don't seem to love the Fiero as a car anymore, but more as a platform to build something else. My car is all original, and I know there are a few others out there, but the majority of Fiero enthusiasts out there are modders or kids interested in them only because they can afford them. If you own a 2m4 you have to constantly put up with abuse from people telling you your engine is $hit, even guys with 2.8s get it these days. So for me there is very little love for the Fiero from car guys. Although, like the early days, the car gets a lot more attention from the general public, so thats a good thing
These days people don't seem to love the Fiero as a car anymore, but more as a platform to build something else. My car is all original, and I know there are a few others out there, but the majority of Fiero enthusiasts out there are modders or kids interested in them only because they can afford them. If you own a 2m4 you have to constantly put up with abuse from people telling you your engine is $hit, even guys with 2.8s get it these days.
The first time I saw a Fiero was in my senior year in New York City and from the moment I saw it I said to myself: "This car has a lot of potential, I want one of those" It was my friend driving it and I chased him down the block and begged him for a ride. It was guttles but the handling and the size impressed me a lot. From that moment on I knew the Fiero was my favorite car of all time, its like when I met my wife; I knew she was the one!
The look of the Fiero doesn't belong on the street, it belongs on the track (that's what I think!). And that is why mine is a 85% track and 15% street use. I went to a huge Hyperfest track event in Charlotte, NC at the Speeway and every time I stagged the Fiero to go on track there were a lot of people clapping, whistling and giving me a lot of thumbs up. They took pictures of the car and a lot of young ones took pictures besides and inside of the car and a lot of people came to talk to me. There was a huge car show but I was not in it, people came to the "race car" side just to see the Fiero, the best feeling ever!
Did I mention his car had a six speed?! But sincerely, I was not expecting to beat him. All I knew was that my car accelerated VERY fast from 3000 to 7000rpm and add to that the 4 Speed 4:10 gear ratio. When he told me his car had 400hp (with some upgrades he did to it) and weighed over 4000lbs with him in it I knew I had a chance!
Speaking of Strong emotions, my wife won't even ride in mine. Anyone else's spouse hate their fiero?
Same here. She hates it. But it is lowered about 1-1.5" with Eibach springs and an all poly suspension - so it can be difficult to get in/out of, and you can feel every bump. Of course, that's one of the things I love about it.
My wife hated mine until she started to do crafts, cross stitching, quilts and things like that. She wanted a table for her craft room that cost $450 at IKEA. She went to see her family for the weekend and I surprised her with the table in her room. When she found out I got the money to buy the table from my "Fiero fund" she completely changed her attitude with my Fiero. She can't wait for a ride at the track!
My wife hated mine until she started to do crafts, cross stitching, quilts and things like that. She wanted a table for her craft room that cost $450 at IKEA. She went to see her family for the weekend and I surprised her with the table in her room. When she found out I got the money to buy the table from my "Fiero fund" she completely changed her attitude with my Fiero. She can't wait for a ride at the track!
Slightly off the topic but my wife likes going with me to the big Carlisle PA show where MAFOA with their show in 2 weeks. As far as my hobbies go, she knows I do what I want, spend what I want whenever I want. Likewise she is never bothered with her interests and allowed the same freedom. There is never an argument. As for Fieros evoking a strong reaction; they look fast and with the right engine swap, they sound fast and are fast.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
You're supposed to know that "do what you think is right" is woman-speak for "Don't you dare spend any money on that!"
I do actually know better but I think it was worth it. I have really enjoyed bringing my 85 SE back to life. I get a lot of , "I remember those. That is really beautiful car" As far as I know, there are only 4 in my city of 500,000 people. I just went to a car show downtown with over 100 cars and not one fiero. I think most around here use them as daily drivers.
It's nice to have the looks AND the guts now 
from a driver the other day when I was sitting in traffic.
