So, according to auto insurance ratings for "classic cars", and NIFE's Fiero pricing guide, a 1988 GT with 5 speed, if in EXCELLENT condition, is around $11-$12K. That means, everything working, in driving condition, low mileage, well maintained, etc. My buddy sees these Fiero's listed on the internet, with ASKING prices of $14K or higher. Just because they are asking that, doesn't mean they are getting that. He has a 1988 Fiero GT, 5 speed, low mileage, that has been stored (untouched) in a garage for over 20 years. No battery, no keys, 4 flat (original) tires, no locking lug nut socket, etc. He thinks HIS is worth at least $14K. I told him it would take at least a couple thousand just to get it up and running again (battery, tires, fluids, possibly fuel pump). What do you all think?
NIFE's "Guide" is BS too and worse now after years push by morons. Likely was based on NADA and/or Kelley's (KBB) books that's full of fake numbers use by Most Used Car dealers.
KBB Owned By Cox Auto no longer list any vehicle > 25 years old so doesn't list any Fiero. NADA "Guides" Owned by J.D. Power and Associates, yes the same that give fake awards to any w/ big money to burn, list any since the '60s but their "Values" Means little to nothing too. Is why many "Dealers" sell any old cars and say "Blue Book" list is 2000 to 5000 $ even for worse crap on the lot.
Most Car parked for years has a lot of things wrong. Brakes, water pump, and more will go bad just park in a garage. You might get it to run but likely very soon have to replace many parts. WP and other shaft seals love to leak/die after sitting parked for months to years then run.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Hey, Ogre. Always enjoy your input. The appraised value my insurance company put on my 85 Fiero was pretty close to what NIFE's had. Normal insurance coverage would have given me about $500 if my car was a total loss. Now, I would get $6500. Of course, I could go to someplace like Hagerty's and claim my car was worth $20,000, and they would insure it for that (for a price). My point about the internet is that just because someone is asking $15K doesn't mean that it finally sells for that. I saw a Fiero listed last year that was asking $18K, but sold for $13K. Another example was an 88 GT that was asking $6500 last May, but is now listed for $3500, and still not sold. I'm just trying to explain to my buddy that his car isn't worth as much unless it is cleaned up and driving, AND what it would take to get it that way.
Hey, Ogre. Always enjoy your input. The appraised value my insurance company put on my 85 Fiero was pretty close to what NIFE's had. Normal insurance coverage would have given me about $500 if my car was a total loss. Now, I would get $6500. Of course, I could go to someplace like Hagerty's and claim my car was worth $20,000, and they would insure it for that (for a price). My point about the internet is that just because someone is asking $15K doesn't mean that it finally sells for that. I saw a Fiero listed last year that was asking $18K, but sold for $13K. Another example was an 88 GT that was asking $6500 last May, but is now listed for $3500, and still not sold. I'm just trying to explain to my buddy that his car isn't worth as much unless it is cleaned up and driving, AND what it would take to get it that way.
I have the Kid insured for 20k through Hagerty. When I called them up we reviewed all the modifications and the guy thought 20 was a fair assessment in terms of replacement cost. Realistically I think the sell value would probably be lower.
Of course with a car like ours the market is quite fickle, you're looking for someone interested in a mid 80s GM product (with all the baggage that brings) with a shrinking parts market as a second car. Original cars ARE easier to sell though... Not to get cheeky but it's worth what someone is willing to pay
It's not a '66 911 though, keeping it in barn find condition does not help the value. if he wants north of 12k it's got to look new and run.
I really think that value is dictated primarily by the socio/economic "class" of people that tend to be interested in a particular type of car. For a long time Fieros were often driven (I am generalizing...) by people who wanted the look of a sports car, but could not afford one. So they were popular, but due to their abundance and low price, many people who wanted a status symbol or viewed themselves as car collectors would shun them.
I think that this is starting to change due to the relative rarity of the car now, and the fact that the design is still attractive after 30+ years- A unique looking and driving car. And most people have no idea what kind of car it is, so the negative connotation linked to the Fiero in the 80's and 90's is mostly gone.
My feeling is that clean, rust free and well preserved examples willl hold their value and possibly even rise, particularly 88 models. Not sure about Indy, since GM put a lawn tractor motor into it, so it is really just an 84 with some cool stickers and graphics on it.. Would have been much nicer with the 1.8 or 2.0 Turbo engine that ended up going into the Sunbird..
Long story short, I think valuation is based mostly on the wallet size of the average buyer. The cars are too old to be a practical daily driver for most, so "poor" people, or young people getting their first car will not consider a Fiero. What's left? People who are collectors and hobby guys who have more disposable income, who will pay more money for a clean example since it is "play" money. Just my 2 cents
Just some examples I've seen on the internet car sites (all 1988's) : An 88 GT with only 300 miles - a couple years ago was ASKING $40K. Last I saw, it had been lowered to $30K. I think this one was in Seattle. Another GT with only 20,000 miles was ASKING $14,500. Salesman said it sold for $13,500. I think this was in Georgia Saw a GT in New York, with only 8,000 miles on it (daughter selling after dad died) was ASKING $14K. I was told it was sold, but not for how much. Was a yellow GT in Montana, that had only 1,700 miles on it. Was ASKING $18K. I was making bids, then seller told me he had sold it. Wouldn't tell me how much.
So, ASKING prices are all over the board.
What's amazing to me is how the price plummets when it is an automatic. There are lots of REALLY low mileage 88's out there, that are much lower in price, just because they are automatics. Many have been listed for a long time, so interest is not there.
A clean 23K mile white t-top 88 GT 5-speed just sold on Bring a Trailer for $9300 US. It was being sold locally for $15880 Cdn but was stagnating... likely why it ended up on BaT.
A clean 23K mile white t-top 88 GT 5-speed just sold on Bring a Trailer for $9300 US. It was being sold locally for $15880 Cdn but was stagnating... likely why it ended up on BaT.
I offered them 11k cad for that car in July or August.
No dice.
He said the owner of the dealer had refused several offers higher than mine at the time.
[This message has been edited by FieroMontreal (edited 11-13-2019).]
A clean 23K mile white t-top 88 GT 5-speed just sold on Bring a Trailer for $9300 US. It was being sold locally for $15880 Cdn but was stagnating... likely why it ended up on BaT.
Would you care to post a link to said vehicle?
I searched for quite awhile on Bring a Trailer and the only white T-Top '88 GT did not compare in any aspect to what you claim.
A friend of mine just sold his 1988 Formula and it was in pristine condition, with perfect paint, rebuilt suspension a custom leather interior,all new rubber, and some engine modifications. It was as clean as a Fiero could be and needed nothing. It was beautiful, a perfect 1 car. Sold for $6,000 to a collector in Wyoming.
------------------ " 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 "
A clean 23K mile white t-top 88 GT 5-speed just sold on Bring a Trailer for $9300 US. It was being sold locally for $15880 Cdn but was stagnating... likely why it ended up on BaT.
The way I understand it the Bring a Trailer numbers are all in US funds therefore that GT brought about $13,000.00 Canadian. Not too far off from the asking price.
Decent car for the money. Undercarriage shows signs of it being stored on a humidity laden concrete floor though. Still a good buy though.
I believe the answer to value of a Fiero is mileage then condition, condition, condition and year/model. You can still buy a decent 84-87 Fiero for $1500 -$2,000 but it won't be a show car. If you want a GT especially the 88 model year then prices rise accordingly. If you want a near new Fiero with say 200 miles on the OD I would say that car is going to sell for what it did when it was new. The Haggarty 1-5 ratings also play into the equation but thier prices are way off.
------------------ " 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 "
Most, if not all the previous discussion has been using US dollar figures, so $9300 US dollars is probably a little below what this beautiful car is probably worth. This just may be the current market in that area.
But, as stated above, many people today have never heard of a Fiero, so the demand for them isn't as high as maybe a GTO or a Trans AM, those cars being more recognizable. Most of the demand is probably from former and/or current Fiero owners seeking another.
QUOTE]Originally posted by Thunderstruck GT:
The way I understand it the Bring a Trailer numbers are all in US funds therefore that GT brought about $13,000.00 Canadian. Not too far off from the asking price.
Decent car for the money. Undercarriage shows signs of it being stored on a humidity laden concrete floor though. Still a good buy though.
A friend of mine just sold his 1988 Formula and it was in pristine condition, with perfect paint, rebuilt suspension a custom leather interior,all new rubber, and some engine modifications. It was as clean as a Fiero could be and needed nothing. It was beautiful, a perfect 1 car. Sold for $6,000 to a collector in Wyoming.
i was shopping for a new fiero this summer after deciding my 'project' was not worth saving after sitting for the better part of 15years. what i found, was that the market seems very divided here. you can get 'restored' fieros in good shape, but they are asking a lot for them. the other half are 'untouched' ones that are pretty used up, and while the prices are very reasonable for the most part, they seem like they are not in driving condition. trying to find a daily driver in decent shape of any mileage is actually very difficult right now.
i was lucky enough to find a recently restored 88gt with 100k kms for $7500 CDN. the story i was told was that the owner bought it from the guy who did the restoration (a retired enthusiast who does 1 or 2 fieros a year) for his son to drive. his son, being somebody born after 2000, was not at all interested in a 'sports' car from the 80's. He claimed to have paid around 12,000 CDN for it. according to records, he'd had it for almost a year, and put less than 3000kms on it. it's by no means a number matching, ultra low mile, museum collector piece. but compared to the fieros i grew up with, it's so clean i feel guilty about all the things i want to change.
i guess, the market for mint examples is growing. i still don't personally think a stock fiero is very fun to drive, it needs some 'touches' to really bring it up to today's standards. nevertheless, it appears enough people want to collect them to drive up the prices. maybe there's a lot of ppl like me who once loved the fiero because you could buy them so cheaply, and now we're established, it doesn't seem crazy to spend 10k on a 'just for fun' car, and i still have a lot of fond memories of driving a fiero as a teen. if the car was in a condition where it could be driven reliably, then maybe. but as soon as it's something that needs work, i think the price drops very fast.
An 88 GT with only 18K miles, 2nd owner since 5,000 miles (red exterior, beechwood interior, 5 speed, loaded, gold lace wheels, leather seats, driven every week) just sold near Atlanta. He was asking $16K, but it sold for $14.5K. It sold to the first guy who called, who was only 5 miles away. I was the 2nd guy, who is 1,000 miles away, so, missed out. The seller honored the first caller. I just wanted to show another example of asking and selling prices.
I just wanted to show another example of asking and selling prices.
And it is a good example... demonstrating why your buddy (mentioned in the opening post) is dreaming!
quote
Originally posted by sledcaddie:
1988 Fiero GT, 5 speed, low mileage, that has been stored (untouched) in a garage for over 20 years. No battery, no keys, 4 flat (original) tires, no locking lug nut socket, etc. He thinks HIS is worth at least $14K.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-20-2019).]
Prior to 2006 buying muscle cars, or expensive bikes, expensive homes, expensive toys ruled the day. Is it happening again prior to what came to haunt in 2007-2009? I guess a pristine super low mileage Fiero might sell for that, but remember all those black and silver Pace Car Corvettes bunches of people bought and never used which never realized their investment on?
I think the difference is (speaking of pace car corvettes, etc) is that there was really nothing special about some of these cars except some stickers and change in interior color. For example, 84 Indy Fiero, 15th anniversary Trans Am, 78 Pace Car Corvette, 87 Cutlass 442, Monte Carlo SS.... These cars were plain production cars with crap performance, but GM tried to make them "special" by adding some stickers to the air filter covers, change up some interior colors, and voila... collectible? I think not
Factory yellow Chevettes may be rare, but that does not make them valuable. Rarity alone does not make a car collectible or valuable in my opinion if it is barely different from a large volume production model. I think the smart buyers looked beyond the skin, and bought cars that actually had more than window dressing... SD 455 Trans Am, L88 Corvette, 89 Turbo Trans AM, Buick GN GNX, SVO Mustangs, Yenko Camaros, etc.
I believe the price of cars that actually performed better than their regular production cousins are the ones that most collectors are willing to pay a premium for. Alternatively, cars that ARE rare, such as Delorean, Puma, or even Porsche 914 that have a cult following may be good investments. Just my 2 cents... Opinions, not facts.
[This message has been edited by cam-a-lot (edited 11-21-2019).]
"parking break instructions, original limited warranty from Good Year, maintenance schedule, Delco 2000 Series music system manual, sun roof case, and original remote lock/unlock keys....."
They were doing so well, alas the original remote lock/unlock keys.. guess he has an uber rare 88
I don't know that any of that argument describes an 88 Fiero so much since the ultimate value of one doesn't elevate it to any lofty levels or mass desirability? You find them for a few hundred dollars. It seems comparable to the 6500 Pace Car Special Edition Corvettes that didn't realize a real collectibility.
But within your argument we have The Judge decal package which wasn't anything special compared to what you could get in a standard GTO, but the perceived value today is pretty dramatic. Everything you could get on a Judge was available to the GTO, except stickers. I think the package was 300 bucks or something. All The Judge guaranteed was stickers, a glove box emblem, a 3 speed manual trans and D port heads. Round port HO heads are the good ones, and were an option for both trim levels.
Originally posted by Easy8: Yeah, I noticed that too. Remote door locks were rare on all Fiero's.
"parking break instructions, original limited warranty from Good Year, maintenance schedule, Delco 2000 Series music system manual, sun roof case, and original remote lock/unlock keys....."
They were doing so well, alas the original remote lock/unlock keys.. guess he has an uber rare 88
Something I've noticed between 88 Formula's and GT's--it seems like the Formula's rarely have power windows or mirrors. Was the Formula marketed as an "economy" model?
Yesterday, a red 88 GT with T-top roof, 5 speed, 49K miles, sold on Ebay (no reserve) for about $12,000. Looked pretty nice, but the seller said the engine had "a slight miss". Still, a fair price.
I believe a more real world estimate of what Pontiac Fieros are selling for can be found on Facebook. Must admit though that the 88's in excellent shape seem to be climbing in value.
------------------ " 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 restore a few here and there.. over the years selling online was no longer an option. Selling locally from my shop parking lot, my front yard or a friends really has worked the best for me. Much higher sales prices, a lot less stress from keyboard tire kickers.
The community of Fiero owners themselves seem to drive prices down amongst each other in my opinion.
