I think that anyone who buys this car for $30K is paying a high price but it is the one year production 88. A rich car collector like Jay Leno might go for it. In comparison you can find low mile Corvette ZR1's and low miles Challenger Hemi's advertised for less. What car would you rather have for $30K?
------------------ " 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, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
I'm sure there are collectors who could pay it, but I don't get the impression Fieros have much of a following among people who play in that end of the pool. I'm guessing it will come down significantly before there's a buyer - but it only takes one person who wants it.
I think a completely undriven car like that is an awkward niche. After 30 years I'd feel guilty removing the plastic or adding miles to it, because that's what makes it special at this point. If you want to drive it then you might as well spend 1/3 as much and get a pristine low miles driver instead. The latter will probably have less mechanical issues then a car that has been 100% idle. The fuel system would be the biggest concern, but if it still has gasoline from 1988 in the tank, maybe it doesn't have any ethanol and was spared the worst. Best case would be if somebody had the foresight to fill it with racing or aviation fuel.
A car like that stops being an automobile and becomes a stationary trophy or conversation piece. As said above, if you drive it, you kill the reason it MIGHT be worth $30k (or $30k+ in the future).
To even drive it, you'd have to put more money into it to make it road worthy.
If I was a collector that had a warehouse full of trophy cars, it would be a cool addition. Frankly, if you have the kind of money to have a couple dozen collector cars, it probably doesn't matter to you if you pay $15k or $30k. The difference would be peanuts in the long run and in comparison to your other vehicle investments.
Never really understood why people do stuff like that? I can see having a low milage car, mine has less than 500kms on it this summer, but to buy a car and let it sit for decades just doesn't make any sense. Even if the guy were to get $30K, which he definitely won't, he would have been far better off investing his original purchase price over 30 years. But if he was going to buy a car and let it sit, I wonder why he wouldn't have picked up a used Ferrari 308, which could be had for not much more than a new Fiero back in 88? Nice examples of a 308 are now in the area of $100K. Even a Porsche 914 would have been a far better investment.
Anyway, I remember taking my beautifully cared for 84 2M4 to my first Fiero show back in 2002. I'm feeling pretty good about my car until some girl from Michigan rolls up her trailer and pulls off the identical car, only with about 200 miles on the odometer. Still in plastics, dealer stickers on the windows, etc. Kind of demoralizing as by that point I'd put in about 18 years of care, and this girl shows up with a car that she'd bought a few months previous and gets ALL the attention. So I hate those cars
Never really understood why people do stuff like that? I can see having a low milage car, mine has less than 500kms on it this summer, but to buy a car and let it sit for decades just doesn't make any sense. Even if the guy were to get $30K, which he definitely won't, he would have been far better off investing his original purchase price over 30 years. But if he was going to buy a car and let it sit, I wonder why he wouldn't have picked up a used Ferrari 308, which could be had for not much more than a new Fiero back in 88? Nice examples of a 308 are now in the area of $100K. Even a Porsche 914 would have been a far better investment.
Anyway, I remember taking my beautifully cared for 84 2M4 to my first Fiero show back in 2002. I'm feeling pretty good about my car until some girl from Michigan rolls up her trailer and pulls off the identical car, only with about 200 miles on the odometer. Still in plastics, dealer stickers on the windows, etc. Kind of demoralizing as by that point I'd put in about 18 years of care, and this girl shows up with a car that she'd bought a few months previous and gets ALL the attention. So I hate those cars
People did it because common "knowledge" in the early 90's was that the Fieros would become valuable collectors.
People did it because common "knowledge" in the early 90's was that the Fieros would become valuable collectors.
Who knows . . . maybe they still will.
I take it you are saying that sarcastically? Cars that are produced in the quantities that Fieros were produced never become valuable collectors cars. The 88 cars have become slightly collectable as that was the only year they were produced with the upgraded suspension, but even those were produced in huge numbers. Look back at the American made cars that have become valuable and you will find they all have one thing in common, low production numbers.
Some of them should trade their Fiero in on a Cavalier or Dodge Neon.
Jealous? Surely you are kidding What the heck is one going to do with a virtually new $30K Fiero except keep it as a trailer queen or as an exhibition piece.? If you drive it the value drops by more than half. Quite frankly if I cannot drive my cars and enjoy them, they are useless. I would say most of us here are Fiero drivers and that's the fun of owning one.
------------------ " 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, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
... Look back at the American made cars that have become valuable and you will find they all have one thing in common, low production numbers.
Late '60s - early '70s GTOs, Chevelles, and especially Cudas and Challengers are going for some huge coin. Especially in nice original condition. Even "tribute" cars (clones) are going for fairly big money, if they're nicely done. None of them were really low volume. Especially the cars that become "tributes". Chevy sold a bazillion '70-'72 Chevelles.
With that said, I don't care anything about collector cars. I also want something that I can drive around, and not worry about it getting wrecked.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-21-2018).]
Late '60s - early '70s GTOs, Chevelles, and especially Cudas and Challengers are going for some huge coin. Especially in nice original condition. Even "tribute" cars (clones) are going for fairly big money, if they're nicely done. None of them were really low volume. Especially the cars that become "tributes". Chevy sold a bazillion '70-'72 Chevelles.
With that said, I don't care anything about collector cars. I also want something that I can drive around, and not worry about it getting wrecked.
Exactly my point. Compare Cuda production numbers to that of the Fiero. In 1971 there were only 108 Hemi Cudas + 11 convertibles. Those cars were rare in 1971, and obviously uber rare in 2018.
[This message has been edited by andreww (edited 08-22-2018).]
I take it you are saying that sarcastically? Cars that are produced in the quantities that Fieros were produced never become valuable collectors cars. The 88 cars have become slightly collectable as that was the only year they were produced with the upgraded suspension, but even those were produced in huge numbers. Look back at the American made cars that have become valuable and you will find they all have one thing in common, low production numbers.
I was being sarcastic . . . but only in that we were wrong (to this point). Around my old stomping grounds (Northern VA), I heard on countless occasions in the early 90s how these cars were going to be worth serious money someday because of their uniqueness and because they were only made 5 years.
And the production numbers weren't THAT great. And certainly there aren't that many that have survived to this point. So, in the "supply and demand" calculation, your argument is faulty -- its not that the supply is high, its that the demand is still relatively low. That could change, but we'll have to wait and see.
Exactly my point. Compare Cuda production numbers to that of the Fiero. In 1971 there were only 108 Hemi Cudas + 11 convertibles. Those cars were rare in 1971, and obviously uber rare in 2018.
No... My point was that even the clone/tribute/resto-mod cars are going for decent money, in good condition. Never mind the low volume Hemi stuff. There's nothing really special about a Chevelle 2-door post (sedan) that's been made into an SS clone, with an LS engine, other than it is what it is. Even though there's nothing original about it, I don't think you could buy it for less than $30K, in decent shape. Just a SWAG. Maybe more, by now. I don't follow them that closely.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-26-2018).]