Well just before hitting 82k miles, the T Bone special started getting a creaky and hard to press clutch. I lubricated the adjuster on the neutral safety switch and it broke free and for two days, my fiero was shifting so nice. So nice.
Then I sell my winter beater at CarMax and the same day come back home to move the fiero back in the driveway. I push the clutch down and it starts screaming at me. Soon enough there is a bit of smoke and I smell clutch disc burning up.
I tried bleeding three times, but I can get it in gear fine. Something is just rubbing in there, and it only happens when I press the clutch pedal down. I'm no expert but I'm thinking it's the throw out bearing/clutch disc. I bypassed the neutral safety switch so I could start it without depressing the clutch pedal. No noise or smoke.
I called some reputable mechanics because this is beyond my experience not to mention i have nowhere to do it nor the necessary tools. Nobody gets back to me, even when I call back.
I guess what I'm saying is I'm hanging it up. I have owned 3 fieros in the last 25 years, this one since 2010. I love it. I love this car. I put Mr mikes in and all the Rodney parts I could. Custom wheels. I took great joy in knowing and loving this car for the last 15 years and fieris for the last quarter of a century.
My relationship with this car eclipsed my 14 years of being together with my ex wife. I've never had a dog live this long. With the exception of a few surviving family members and 3 friends, it is the longest lasting thing I've ever been a part of.
But it's time to move on. I can't afford to restore it, and I need something that doesn't develop a new problem every month. Which will probably happen anyway.
Tuesday I'm going to buy a newer, and hopefully more reliable car. I won't say better because this has been the vehicle I have owned the longest and got the most enjoyment out of in my life.
Fellas, I'm getting old. I don't get excited about wrenching anymore, and if I was going to be a mechanic it would have happened a long time ago.
Somebody can make her shine. With a clutch rebuild, a paint job, and a seat cover stitch up it would be a sharp and rust free starter so.eoen who can get the job done might want But I'm not that guy, so I'm letting her go.
For now? I'm tapping out on the coolest cars I've ever owned. If anyone is interested I'll make a mall post about it when the depression goes away. As far as fieros go she's nothing special, except to me. I just can't meet her needs anymore. It was a good run, but we won't be crossing the finish line together like i thought.
Shoot. *Kicks a rock* They're right, the only constant is change.
For now? I'm tapping out on the coolest cars I've ever owned. If anyone is interested I'll make a mall post about it when the depression goes away. As far as fieros go she's nothing special, except to me. I just can't meet her needs anymore. It was a good run, but we won't be crossing the finish line together like i thought.
Shoot. *Kicks a rock* They're right, the only constant is change.
Hey man... welcome back. Look, it's totally cool, and I totally understand. I do love these cars, but they are just cars. My daughter is restoring hers, and she says she wants to keep it forever (like me with my original Fiero from high school). But I tell her, remember... it's just a car. At the end of the day... there's an emotional attachment, but sometimes it's better to just let go and let someone else enjoy it.
... speaking of, did you ever finish that book you were writing?
Still writing but making progress. It has 7 different stories, none are finished but all are working. I'm also making AI art for the characters and music videos using them on Instagram. It helps me see the people I'm writing about.
Good hearing from you again, Todd. Yeah I'll be around. It would be weird if I came back from car shopping this week with another Pontiac. 🤔
Still writing but making progress. It has 7 different stories, none are finished but all are working. I'm also making AI art for the characters and music videos using them on Instagram. It helps me see the people I'm writing about.
Good hearing from you again, Todd. Yeah I'll be around. It would be weird if I came back from car shopping this week with another Pontiac. 🤔
I liked the excerpt I remember you sharing with us before, so I'd definitely be interested when it's done!
Newest Pontiac is now 15 years old.
My daughter and I are always on the lookout for Pontiacs. The sad thing is, I almost never see them anymore. I see the occasional G6, maybe a Vibe. I actually see more Solstices than any other Pontiac, which is weird because they made so few of them, honestly... but I guess they're unique enough that people keep them around. But I did see a Pontiac G8 GT in The Villages when I was visiting the other day!
Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.
------------------ " 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 "
Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.
------------------ " 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 "
Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.
i used my 88 as a daily for a year after replacing most of the worn out downright dangerous parts, the gotcha was the cooling system like most fieros it seems (still stock and got fixed but took awhile) as for our thread poster? well if he wasn't getting up there in age/had the time and space i know he would fix it. i did my clutch the morning of having to drive an hour to work, truthfully i wish i was closer to either offer storage or a hand.....no one should have to give up a dream
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: I liked the excerpt I remember you sharing with us before, so I'd definitely be interested when it's done!
Newest Pontiac is now 15 years old.
My daughter and I are always on the lookout for Pontiacs. The sad thing is, I almost never see them anymore. I see the occasional G6, maybe a Vibe. I actually see more Solstices than any other Pontiac, which is weird because they made so few of them, honestly... but I guess they're unique enough that people keep them around. But I did see a Pontiac G8 GT in The Villages when I was visiting the other day!
My 65 gets a lot of attention but let's face it, it's 60 years old and in 65, the whole Pontiac line won car of the year. If I had an open garage bay, I would pick up another Fiero in a heartbeat; maybe my future retirement home will have one
hey i looked for my fiero for a long time. i looked for exactly what i wanted and got it just like the rest of my vehicles and I'd hate someone who put all that work into a fiero to have to just let it go before they are really ready. i know hes not quite ready to let her go just yet just like i cant look at mine and give up
Something tells me you may be a lot happier when the new whip is in your driveway and when the Fiero is sold to someone who can appreciate it and keep it running. There's a season for everything in life! I'm sure my time will come.
Just an FYI. A newer car can be just as problematic.
Best of luck, best wishes.
quote
But it's time to move on. I can't afford to restore it, and I need something that doesn't develop a new problem every month. Which will probably happen anyway
Yup 😆
Yeah, fully expecting a whole new set of problems..but I'm hoping someone can give her a new shot at life. I'll make a mall post maybe tomorrow if I can remember how to post pictures that don't take up the whole screen. It's been...quite a while.
And without further ado, here is my choice of "new" vehicle. A 2007 Pontiac Solstice. 🤔 I really do have a "type" I think.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 07-15-2025).]
Yeah, fully expecting a whole new set of problems..but I'm hoping someone can give her a new shot at life. I'll make a mall post maybe tomorrow if I can remember how to post pictures that don't take up the whole screen. It's been...quite a while.
And without further ado, here is my choice of "new" vehicle. A 2007 Pontiac Solstice. 🤔 I really do have a "type" I think.
Hey T-Bone, just re-iterating my response to you in another thread... thought I was actually responding here, but responded to the other one:
The airbag malfunction message... it might actually be coming from the Passenger Side Presence sensor. In 2017, GM issued a recall. You'll get a brand new passenger seat cushion and sensor... that may be all that is needed to fix it. Check this site: https://experience.gm.com/ownercenter/recalls ... I'd be willing to bet it hasn't been done and it'll be free to you.
There's a lot of parts available online right now... but keep in mind they made only a fraction of the number of Solstices compared to Fieros. They made over 380k Fieros... but they only made like ~65k Solstices. The cars are at their lowest point right now. Sometimes, I see cars being parted out that are in a nicer condition than my own car (we're at that point). So if you see something you need / want... it's best to get it sooner than later. The "drop-off" for support will likely happen much more quickly to Solstices than it did for Fieros.
Another thing worth mentioning... I assume you have the non-turbo version. It was a very restricted motor when it was sold. I had a 2006 originally that I bought new in 2005. I sold it in 2009, but I'd upgraded a few things and the performance difference was night and day. Stock, your Solstice is more or less the same as a well-optioned Fiero GT in terms of 0-60. But replacing the exhaust manifold with a shorty header, the catalytic converter with a high-flow one, and a cold air intake... it adds a SUBSTANTIAL amount of power. Like... I cannot even emphasize. The shorty header is made by Clear Image Performance: https://clearimageautomotiv...lstice-shorty-header ($425)
There are dozens of cold air intakes for ~$100... you can just get a used one and then get a new filter. And for the catalytic converter... you'll want to get one that offers higher CFM.
It'll shave a whole second off your quarter mile from the mid-15 seconds you have right now. I was blowing away BMW 330s and 350Zs.
Also, be gentle with the manual transmission. It's a really good 5-Speed made by Aisin, but they don't sell parts for it anymore. If it needs to be rebuilt, they have to find a used replacement.
EDIT: I'd regrettably state too that the worst stock Solstice still handles better than the best stock Fiero. But it shows... the Solstice was a niche car that used a lot of off the shelf parts, but they didn't skimp where it mattered. The chassis is hydroformed using the same technology and process as the Corvette (C6 at the time), and uses the same suspension technology that was available only for the Corvette and Cadillac CTS. It has things like aluminum control arms, etc. It even uses the same Bilstein shocks that were offered for the Corvette (though slightly different compression ratio so different part number). But they designed a very good handling car.
