21st Dec 2009, 22:13
I am commenting on all comments that dogged the Fiero. Yes 84 through 88 SE, Formula and GT's were fun to drive, and you had to be a Fiero lover to enjoy them. The 84 through 87 did have some under powering and handling problems because of using parts of other pre-developed setups, but till you drive an 88 model, the car took on its own suspension and some power plant changes that made the car perfect, but early 88 GM quit making the car because of the sales percentage dropped and didn't want to take the lose. GM fixed the bump steer and pushing problem in its cornering with the suspense changes, and the HO 2.8 liter V6 was more than enough power to hang with the big dogs. I am a 1988 Fiero GT owner, and would not take any other mid engine car over it.
18th Aug 2010, 22:09
I have a 1987 Fiero GT that had 144,000 miles on it. We took the 2.8 out and overbored it. 060 over and stuck a 3.4 cam in it. We ground out the heads and we rebuilt the engine from there. We now have it in the car but I am having trouble trying to find the front exhaust manifold (nearest the firewall and front of the car.) Does anyone know of where I can get one?
And just a side question, how difficult is it to transfer for a GM 3.8 supercharged for the car? Should I look at a caddy 4.6 if I am going to switch out the engine or what would be the best for the work?
25th Aug 2010, 03:32
My 86 1/2 GT, bought from the factory by me. It has been running great till this day. I think it's fun to drive, and someone even offered me a little under 20k for it, but I just couldn't part way with it. Ha, my GT could beat your truck buddy.
5th Oct 2010, 18:26
Some one offered you 20 grand, and you couldn't part with it?
I love my 86 GT, but for 20 grand, I could have a mint 88 to restore and collect, and still enough to build up a Corvette powered, fully done up GT to drive.
I'm struggling to believe that story.
Excellent platform. I have had mine 10 years, no troubles.
Am about to revamp the entire suspension (bump steer kit, Koni's, solid mount cradle, sway bars, poly bushings), and will love it even more.
10th Apr 2011, 18:40
First of all, the car is not light at 2750 kgs. That's a dinosaur. The steering is absolutely horrible. The turning radius is larger then my Mustang Convertible. If the car is at a standstill, it's nearly impossible to turn the wheel, and there's no weight up there.
Then in 88, they did a really cheap fix, and the back tires are different from the front ones, in order to improve its horrible oversteer.
They couldn't have built in any cheaper, and Bob Lutz is to be commended for discontinuing that piece of junk.
And yes, I too fell for the good looks, but the love affair died, not unlike many other people who were taken by this pretender. A 3 dressed up as a 9.
17th Jul 2012, 13:28
The above comment is erroneous. Fieros are great cars and weigh just 2750 POUNDS, not kilos, which is not much for such cars, seeing as they are quite strong, and in fact were the second best crash test vehicle behind Volvo's 850 wagon in the 1980s.
The turning radius is wide because of the tight suspension geometry of the car sitting so low, but this helps to give it superior cornering and road holding, comparable to other far more expensive, high-end exotic cars of that era.
I don't know how anyone could have experienced oversteer in a Fiero (unless driving recklessly), as they were known as steady under-steering cars.
All these years after inception, and Pontiac's Fieros are still going strong and are still inexpensive to buy. In fact, due to numerous engine swap choices and modifications like turbo and supercharging, combined with brake and suspension upgrades, they can be seen all over YouTube, beating many, more modern, more powerful and far more expensive cars at the drag strip, and they still look good doing it!
1st Oct 2009, 15:52
I've owned an 1986 GT since '91 and drove several years on the original Eagle GT tires.
The car is a compromise, as all are. Removed the steering dampener and added after market rear sway bar and discovered the "handler" I wanted.
The V-6 with (4) speed is torquey enough to place the car in turns with application of throttle only at low or high speeds. Very entertaining drive with the worn out tires (not in rain, please).
Time has passed, and with added GM vented brakes, urethane bushings, and fresh shocks/struts things are better than new.
If interested in this modern might be classic, purchase the lowest mileage car available and budget to make it to your liking. They can be very reliable daily drivers. With time, it might become an investment. As long as after market suppliers are available, I'll not sell my 52K mile '86.
NCTriad.