ok. Most of you suckas out there might not like this, but I'm just gauging interest, and perhaps a little insight as to the feasibility of this car.

I need pics, but here's what it is:
1986 Fiero SE Sport (V6)
45,000 original miles
1 owner
clean, just needs new paint, IMO.
$1800

worth it or not?

I've always wanted to own a MR car (for performance/handling reasons), and this would be a step or ten better than the DD 95 del Sol I've been driving for nearly two years. But what about maintenance? It looks like a crazy hard car to work on, and me being the the non-wrencher, could it end being an expensive car to own down the line?

Any comments/questions are most welcome, bitches

8/24/2005 12:04:47 AM

It could.

8/24/2005 12:17:08 AM

A lot of them I looked at buying once upon a time had blown head gaskets. I'm not sure if that was common to any certain year or anything at this point, but I would imagine replacing that shit would suck.

As far as worth it, I dunno, and I don't feel like browsing ebay and autotrader to find out

8/24/2005 12:19:52 AM

the one thing positive about this car is that i know the guy that owned it... just passed away, actually. He kept the car up, and drove it occasionally. Engine area is remarkably clean for a 20 year old car. The widow and her daughter are planning on keeping his DD truck, and selling the Fiero. Besides the paint, it looks incredibly nice.

I want this car for bad, evil reasons. I can't justify it at all. Hell, I already own a two-seater that gets 36mpg. This one is faster and easily more fun to drive, gets around 28-30mpg, but I'd have no room for it in the driveway. I already have one kid, so more two-seaters does not a happy family make.

Why do I torture myself so?

8/24/2005 12:31:50 AM

do you have really small hands?

8/24/2005 12:34:08 AM

8/24/2005 12:38:06 AM

^^ why, no, actually...

^ exactly what does that pic imply? I'm an innocent

8/24/2005 12:56:27 AM

i NEVER
EVER
EVER EVER EVER
thought i'd see a shot from wicked in the garage

i ♥ elphaba

8/24/2005 1:00:07 AM

buy it and builds a kit car

8/24/2005 1:09:34 AM

might as well buy a lighter, gallon of gas, and a rag and get to work

cause it'll catch on fire sooner or later anyway

8/24/2005 2:16:43 AM

^ is that why they call it a Fiero?

oh, they also say they'll throw in a turbo kit that never got put on the car. Dunno how much that'd affect performance, but I've never owned a turbo before either.. lol

8/24/2005 8:50:31 AM

shoot, most turbo kits alone run over $1000. i dunno what kind that is, but it couldnt hurt to look into puttin it on.

8/24/2005 9:00:49 AM

Or if you're not up for messing with it just sell the turbo kit on ebay to recoup some of the cost.

-- Dave

8/24/2005 9:04:20 AM

I'd look for an MR2 if you are looking for a mid-engine car that should be reliable. The Fieros had a lot of problems, even before they were old, so I'd stay away from them.

8/24/2005 9:26:31 AM

you should research them a little more

they're VERY notorious for catching on fire

8/24/2005 9:32:39 AM

isnt that just the early ones with the wrong sized dipstick?

it would pop out and spray oil on the engine

8/24/2005 10:20:39 AM

^ this is what I've read as well. The 84's were the first year they were out, and had the problem you mentioned. There was a recall, they were all fixed last I read, and the subsequent designs were found to not display the problem with the "fiery" fiero.

shoot, what kind of perf upgrade would I see with a turbo kit on that engine? Lots? It's got 135hp on the V6 stock.

8/24/2005 11:08:33 AM

be afraid, be very afraid

8/24/2005 11:09:48 AM

^^135hp? Fuck that. Go buy a MKII NA MR2, lol.

8/24/2005 11:49:32 AM

basically if you are hestitating to buy it because of money then wait for something else later on, it's probably going to cost you more than you expect and doing any major mods to it (aka turbo) is only going to cost a fuck ton more. look at an MR2

8/24/2005 1:23:26 PM

for all you h8r's out there, I found this a little while back lol:

Some Interesting Fiero Stuff

Performance


- The V-6 Fiero hit .84-.86g on the skidpad (4-cyl was roughly .80-.82g)

Porsche 911 Carrera -> .85g (the Carrera 4 was at .83g)

Ferrari Testarossa -> .84g

Lotus Esprit Turbo -> .86g

Lamborghini Diablo VT -> .87g

Acura NSX -> .87g

Acura Integra GS-R -> .82g

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am/Formula ('93+) -> .82g-.85g

Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX -> .86g

- The Fiero ran the slalom at 63.4-63.9 mph (about 61.5 for 4-cyl. models).

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am -> 59.7 mph

Lotus Epsrit S4 -> 60.6 mph

Porsche 911 Carrera -> 61.9 mph

BMW M3 -> 62.8 mph

Corvette ZR-1 -> 63.6 mph

Ferrari 348 -> 62.8 mph

Acura NSX -> 62.3 mph

Dodge Viper -> 62.7 mph

Ford Mustang Cobra (1994) -> 61.1 mph

Nissan 300ZX Turbo -> 63.0 mph

- The V-6 Fiero consistantly accelerated from 0-30 in 2.2 seconds.

The Lamborghini Diablo manages 0-30 in 2.2 seconds.

- Best 1/4-mile time for a stock V-6 Fiero: 14.7 @ 92 mph
Worst: 17.0 @ 80 mph
Both Fieros were GT's with manual transmissions.

- Best top speed for a stock V-6 Fiero: 135 mph
Worst: 115 mph
Both Fieros were '85 GT's, the latter with an automatic transmission.


General

- Pontiac purchased Ferrari 308's for handling engineering and comparison
purposes.

- Many V-6 engines in Fieros dynoed at between 150 and 160 bhp.

- The Fiero turned in a profit every year it was sold (including 1988).

- Fiero prototypes were running in 1980.

- Most foreign auto magazines raved about the Fiero's superior handling,
its nimble response and excellent road feel.
Most American auto magazines criticized the Fiero's handling as being
numb, heavy and not responsive.

- The decisions to kill the Fiero was made on February 29, 1988.

- The Fiero had nearly 3 times as many sales as the MR2 during any given
year in its lifetime.

- Pontiac spent over $300,000,000 to produce the Fiero, yet cancelled the
car on a "hunch" they would lose a maximum of $20-million between 1988
and 1995.

- Several factory prototypes were made of a Fiero convertible.

- Two prototypes were made in 1986 of a Fiero with an aluminum frame. One
of the aluminum Fieros had a 190 bhp Quad-4.

- Car & Driver called the Fiero, "One of the best cars in America" and
gave the Fiero a slot in their top ten best category.

- The Los Angeles Auto Expo gave the Fiero their Design of the Year Award.

- The Fiero accounted for nearly 1/4 of all Pontiac sales in 1984.

- Spectators at the unvailing of the fastback Fiero mistook the GT version
as a new Corvette.

- GM was struggling with the problem of employees purchasing Fieros before
the public had an opportunity. Never before had this been a problem with
a GM car.

- Even though the highest sticker price for an '84 Fiero was about $10,000,
one Michigan buyer paid over $15,000 for an '84 SE.

- The Fiero was the first American car to win in IMSA GTU.

- In 1985, the Fiero won at Sears Point (one of 3 straight victories),
beating such successful competitors as Chevrolet's Corvette and
Ford's Mustang.

- A 4-cylinder Fiero belting out only 370 bhp took the NHRA's Competition
Eliminator title at the Keystone Nationals on September 15, 1985 with a
best 1/4-mile time of 9.72 seconds at 134.41 mph.

- The Fiero won well over 40 races in the 36 months it raced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

final drive ratio which improved 0-60 times from about 12.5 seconds to
around 11. Optional Indy edition featured white paint with red trim,
red on gray interior, performance final drive ratio, and "aero" body
work (nearly identical to an '85 GT's). Most common year for engine
fire problems. Causes were insufficient oil capacity, flawed connecting
rods shipped from the Saginaw factory, and improper placement of some
engine bay components. Recall issued, all '84 Fieros have been serviced
and corrected according to Pontiac Motor Division.

1985
4-cylinder renamed Tech-IV and received minor improvements. GT model
added featuring a revised body, WS6 suspension, and new trim options.
2.8-liter V-6 introduced as an option for the GT and SE models. 4-speed
manual or 3-speed automatic available for V-6 engine option, 5-speed
manual added for 4-cylinder engine only. V-6 engine features multi-port
fuel injection and tubular exhaust manifolds, produces over 50% more
power than the 4-cylinder. Suspension is revised to reduce bump
harshness and pitching behavior. Decklid hump replaces vented plate.

1986
GT model receives fastback bodywork. 5-speed manual transmission
introduced on some late '86 V-6 equipped cars, 4-speed still most
common. SE model receives '85 GT style bodywork. Gauges are revised
for V-6 cars, featuring vivid backlighting and wrap-around tachometer.
3rd brake light added. Headrest stereo speakers are deleted. 15-inch
wheels with offset tire sizes are found on the GT. Weave style wheel
introduced. Suspension is recalibrated, improving rough road behavior
further.

1987
5-speed manual standard on V-6 models. V-6 engine receives improvements
to combustion efficiency, counter-weighting, and lubrication. 4-cylinder
receives substantial improvements to lubrication system as well as the
addition of balance shafts and a small power increase (about 98 horsepower
vs 92 for the previous engine). Suspension is again slightly revised.
Speedometer limit for V-6 cars is increased to 120 mph. Improvements
are also found in the hydraulic clutch and braking systems. The headlight
motors were also upgraded to more reliable and quieter units (thankfully).

1988
Monochrome paint is an option. T-top option added. Vented discs
come standard. Suspension is revised to reduce scrub radius and rough
road behavior. Lotus actually had nothing to do with the suspension
improvement as most Fiero fans would like to claim, it was merely a
media rumor. The suspension is completely unique. V-6 engine is again
improved to increase longevity. Fiero cancelled.




Pontiac Fiero Model Specifications


Year Weight Axle Trans Engine BHP@rpm Torque@rpm 0-60 1/4-mile

1984C 2464 3.32 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 12.5 18.9@70
1984C 2464 4.10 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.86 17.7@75
1984SE 2480 4.10 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.9 18.1@74

1985C 2505 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.8 18.0@74
1985SE 2560 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.4 15.5@90
1985GT 2572 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.5 15.7@87

1986C 2504 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.8 18.0@74
1986SE 2575 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.4 15.6@89
1986GT 2696 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.5 15.9@85

1987C 2546 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 96@4800 135@3200 10.5 17.6@75
1987SE 2567 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.6 15.8@87
1987GT 2708 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.8 15.9@86

1988C 2547 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 98@4800 135@3200 10.5 17.6@75
1988FM 2580 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.4 15.5@89
1988GT 2735 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.8 16.0@85


C = Coupe SE = Special Edition GT = Grand Touring FM = Formula

8/24/2005 3:00:47 PM

as far as p0wR gainz from a turbo, theres a lotta factors involved. Including, but not limited to: size of the turbo, exhaust and intake setup, fuel flow, and cooling (intercooler). assuming you got it put on and set up optimally, you could be looking at some serious power. AND, turbo cars are just damn fun to drive.

8/24/2005 3:27:08 PM

i mean, im not afraid to own a GM, but damn owning a fiero you would just be asking for trouble

8/24/2005 7:07:17 PM

is it worth owning for casual driving? with no demands on reliability's sake? It wouldn't take the place of my DD, and the thought of turbo on this sucka is rather exciting.

How is it that I see so many pages out on the web from people beaming about how great the car has been for them reliability wise, and yet most people here are advising to stay away for reliability's sake?

I'm just getting more confused. I need to separate my want-craze from my left brain.

8/24/2005 7:39:01 PM

people who own unreliable cars are usually brainwashed into thinking they drive the greatest things on the road

just look at all the tww vw and bmw owners

8/24/2005 7:40:45 PM

^lol, but what about that Bonneville SSEi???

Fuck, and it's a Pontiac too!!

8/24/2005 7:42:59 PM

know a guy who owns none less, but SIX fieros including one with a SC 3.8L swap from GTP.

8/24/2005 8:11:35 PM

for owning the bonneville less than a month, ive already been to the dealer once, bought used parts online twice, and still havent fixed it. but i dont have a problem working on my cars.

8/24/2005 9:30:09 PM

Methinks it'd be a fun toy, as long as you weren't planning to replace your DD with it. Plus the rarity factor; it's hard to find the damn things anymore, let alone one in good shape.

8/24/2005 9:41:39 PM

nikob4jc come on...a lot of those performance specs are from the mid 80s..wich doesn't mean that much. When the Honda Prelude was redone in the mid 80s it could outhandle a Tesstarossa. Doesn't mean its better or faster around a race track.

A Mazda Miata can handle much better than most cars on the road today.

[Edited on August 24, 2005 at 10:58 PM. Reason : k]

8/24/2005 10:57:56 PM

its only $1800 just buy it
if it dies just buy another car

8/24/2005 11:16:54 PM

not bad. Offer $1200.

I own 2 fieros. 84 and 86 both not running. Had a blast though. Towards the end I had to work on them about every 3 days to keep them running. They are not so easy to work on. I had a mechanic I used to go to that really knew his fieros well but he died. I once had to drop the engine block just to change an alternator.

8/24/2005 11:39:46 PM

^^^ well, i wasn't actually expecting those numbers to mean much... I agree those "benchmarks" are easily misconstrued. I was actually more interested in pointing out some of the more historical trivia on the car, since it was getting tossed around a bit earlier in the thread.

I think I need to see this "turbo kit" they say they have. If it's a complete set, this would be a steal of a deal, IMO.

^ I think if I do end up with this car, I need to find a mechanic that doesn't mind these cars. They do look like a pain in the ass to do simple stuff to, e.g. that alternator you mentioned.

8/25/2005 8:52:07 AM

I have 3 Fieros with over 150k miles a piece ('84, '85, '86) and not one has caught on fire. The fire issue isn't what people make it out to be, there was a recall on the '84 model year for a couple of items that were fixed by later models.

This what I want to make mine look like.


The one I'm currently working on has the 100hp 4 cyl and its still a blast to drive. Working on it is no more difficult than any other car. If you want comparisons with other cars, I've replaced alternators in the fiero, a '95 grand am, and a '97 Sebring and the fiero was the easiest.

But, ANY car thats 20 years old will need work sooner or later, so doing your own work is a good idea.

I think you should go for it, Fieros are great fun to drive. Forget the turbo, any gm engine you can think of can be put in these cars. IE 350 small black, 3800 series II supercharged, etc.

Check out the forum at http://www.fiero.nl for more information. That is the best resource for fiero information around.

8/25/2005 10:08:24 AM

well the benefit of the turbo is that it would come with the car...

of course he could drop a 350 in and then turbo it

8/25/2005 10:17:41 AM

Ah, I missed that part, I was skimming and saw turbo and ebay. So I thought he was getting one off ebay. In that case a free turbo makes it a great deal.

8/25/2005 10:32:20 AM

I had a 87 fastback with V6 and auto transmission. I would never even consider owning one again. Yes they handle good, but the fit and finish on these things is horrible at best. The interior plastics crack and deform quite often. I had constant trouble with the engine: broken timing chain, overheating for no apparent reason, injector failure, and a few i cant even remember. The transmission would always mess up and shifted roughly, had it worked on twice. Oh yeah and forget about the headlight motors working right, i hated those things.
To sum it up, Fieros suck.

8/25/2005 11:00:08 AM

It sounds pretty cool, but wouldn't a small block completely fuck up the handling of the car? Thats a lot of extra weight over a 4 cyl.

8/25/2005 11:01:23 AM

get it and i want to see it when u add that turbo... if nothing else u can sell the turbo online... it is only 1800 dollars

8/25/2005 1:47:23 PM

so what would the turbo go for on ebay? I guess it depends on a few things...

and who would help me get that sucka on the car if I wanted to install it instead of selling it?

any takers??

8/25/2005 2:02:35 PM

mounting that turbo on the car isnt going to be easy, even if its a fiero-specific kit. find out more about the kit; it may end up to be worth more time/money to ebay it then use the $ to drop a big GM engine in. of course, that probably won't be easy either...

8/25/2005 2:14:29 PM

you can do an lt1 conversion...

http://www.fierolt1.com/

8/25/2005 2:54:05 PM