I do have to agree with Patrick, it is cheaper in the long run to start with a good shape car, that you only need to keep up on preventative maintenance on. I got my Fiero as a middle of the road example, and I don't regret anything, because I've had so much more time driving it than if I had saved up for a pristine example, but my Fiero was perfectly drivable from the start, and I've still spent enough to buy a really really nice one, and maybe still do some of the mods I've done. If you have to pour money into a non running vehicle, and you only really get to enjoy and drive it after you've paid enough for a cheap running car (if you really budget and do everything very meticulously) then you might as well start by saving up and getting a cheap running Fiero, or if you don't budget as well, or get stuck or caught up on things, then you'll be putting a lot more money into it that could have gone towards a better one.
A big thing that ends up costing a lot is when you don't have the right part or something "goes wrong" and you try to make do with what you can get your hands on. 5 trips to the hardware store to get a bolt here, a bolt there, replace this piece, try and find another piece, it adds up a lot faster than it would seem, my beater car, a 2001 Chrysler Sebring kept losing its alignment because the subframe was rotten, I ended up spending as much money on temporary repairs, new bushings, then sheet metal and trying to box in the rotten parts, and all the bolts that broke when removing things multiple times for the repairs and eventual replacement, I spent as much money on "junk" that didn't work as I eventually spent to just buy the subframe and have it done right. Your vehicle seems to have a lot of those issues, it may seem easy to fix up for $2000, but unless you buy a running "parts" car for $2000 (you have to travel for the best deals sometimes), and combine the best of the 2, and are completely satisfied with the end result, you likely will be spending a LOT more than $2000 on this. A lot of parts can be found cheap, but if you need a lot of parts, it's no longer cheap.
I got my Fiero at 17, 2.5 years ago, I took it to a garage twice the first summer, for shocks and struts and front bushings, that cost over $1000. Everything else I've done, the first thing I did, not even a week into ownership, was changing the spark plugs, one of the front bank broke off in the hole. I got it out, but if I had even one or two more things like that happen without a good balance of driving to water down the hardships, I don't think I'd still have a Fiero. I've engine swapped it in a car tent on gravel with 1 jack and 2 Jack stands, I've had an engine blow only 100kms after install, this car has given me some real headaches, but the important thing is that I've been able to drive it nearly any time I want, downtime is minimal. I've driven an average of around 50kms every day there isn't snow and salt, 25,000kms in 2.5 years, mid April to early November. I've learned a lot on this car, and it has led me for now to a full time job at a garage with no other schooling, it's because there's been an awesome balance of work with play. Before you get to deep in this and spend enough to be sure that this is "your" Fiero, have a look around Facebook marketplace, look 200, 500, etc. miles away, if you see anything running for how much you expect to put into this to get it running, then that's what I'd do. Whatever you do, we're here to help, although one cumulative thread with a generic title that you update with new questions would be better.
that car will be a lot of work. even the guy I got it from said that's why he was getting rid of it. He couldn't figure anything out because its a mess and has missing parts. He said he gave me everything he got. My guess is the daughter of the first owner didn't grab everything when giving it away so that's why it's missing parts. I am quite lucky though to have mechanics in the family. They have helped a bit but cant do much till I buy parts of course. On Saturday we gotta fix where the engine sits. It doesn't line up with the engine mount so it needs moved a bit.
I do have to agree with Patrick, it is cheaper in the long run to start with a good shape car, that you only need to keep up on preventative maintenance on. I got my Fiero as a middle of the road example, and I don't regret anything, because I've had so much more time driving it than if I had saved up for a pristine example, but my Fiero was perfectly drivable from the start, and I've still spent enough to buy a really really nice one, and maybe still do some of the mods I've done. If you have to pour money into a non running vehicle, and you only really get to enjoy and drive it after you've paid enough for a cheap running car (if you really budget and do everything very meticulously) then you might as well start by saving up and getting a cheap running Fiero, or if you don't budget as well, or get stuck or caught up on things, then you'll be putting a lot more money into it that could have gone towards a better one.
A big thing that ends up costing a lot is when you don't have the right part or something "goes wrong" and you try to make do with what you can get your hands on. 5 trips to the hardware store to get a bolt here, a bolt there, replace this piece, try and find another piece, it adds up a lot faster than it would seem, my beater car, a 2001 Chrysler Sebring kept losing its alignment because the subframe was rotten, I ended up spending as much money on temporary repairs, new bushings, then sheet metal and trying to box in the rotten parts, and all the bolts that broke when removing things multiple times for the repairs and eventual replacement, I spent as much money on "junk" that didn't work as I eventually spent to just buy the subframe and have it done right. Your vehicle seems to have a lot of those issues, it may seem easy to fix up for $2000, but unless you buy a running "parts" car for $2000 (you have to travel for the best deals sometimes), and combine the best of the 2, and are completely satisfied with the end result, you likely will be spending a LOT more than $2000 on this. A lot of parts can be found cheap, but if you need a lot of parts, it's no longer cheap.
I got my Fiero at 17, 2.5 years ago, I took it to a garage twice the first summer, for shocks and struts and front bushings, that cost over $1000. Everything else I've done, the first thing I did, not even a week into ownership, was changing the spark plugs, one of the front bank broke off in the hole. I got it out, but if I had even one or two more things like that happen without a good balance of driving to water down the hardships, I don't think I'd still have a Fiero. I've engine swapped it in a car tent on gravel with 1 jack and 2 Jack stands, I've had an engine blow only 100kms after install, this car has given me some real headaches, but the important thing is that I've been able to drive it nearly any time I want, downtime is minimal. I've driven an average of around 50kms every day there isn't snow and salt, 25,000kms in 2.5 years, mid April to early November. I've learned a lot on this car, and it has led me for now to a full time job at a garage with no other schooling, it's because there's been an awesome balance of work with play. Before you get to deep in this and spend enough to be sure that this is "your" Fiero, have a look around Facebook marketplace, look 200, 500, etc. miles away, if you see anything running for how much you expect to put into this to get it running, then that's what I'd do. Whatever you do, we're here to help, although one cumulative thread with a generic title that you update with new questions would be better.
I don't know how to delete posts but it made a duplicate by accident. the real post is up. Btw ima stop messaging on this thread its getting to long
[This message has been edited by Carlin (edited 09-11-2025).]
