The Pontiac Fiero Was GM's Mid-Engine 1980s Sports Car
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Date: 2019-10-25
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Comments and reviews: 10
TheDarkSideofWill
Doug, did you do ANY research before you made this video? Lots of GM cars had lug nut covers in the '80's; later in the video you said you're familiar with '80's cars. not so much apparently. The window under the flying buttress apes the Ferrari 308 grille positioned similarlyOnly a fraction of Fieros were built with fixed roofs. The majority had large manually removable glass moonroofs. The glass panel stowed in the front compartment. Like the lug nuts and covers, the switch gear is also common across GM's lineup. The trunk switch is GM parts bin unit. The logo is a PEGASUS. The 12V socket/cigarette lighter if offset because the OBDI diagnostic port is behind that little black plastic cover. The AJAR light also lights if the front or rear compartment lids are not latched. Loud is a common feature that boosts low bass and high treble (frequencies for which the human ear is less sensitive) when listening at low volumesThe tach is configured the way it is so that at redline RPM, the needle is vertical. This is a because racecar feature that you completely missed. The car was available with tilt column, which should have been standard on an '87 GT and significantly eased any self-induced difficulties you may have had getting your knee under the wheel. See if someone will let your drive/review an '88, especially with Koni dampers. That will eliminate any criticism you have of the suspension
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Doug, did you do ANY research before you made this video? Lots of GM cars had lug nut covers in the '80's; later in the video you said you're familiar with '80's cars. not so much apparently. The window under the flying buttress apes the Ferrari 308 grille positioned similarlyOnly a fraction of Fieros were built with fixed roofs. The majority had large manually removable glass moonroofs. The glass panel stowed in the front compartment. Like the lug nuts and covers, the switch gear is also common across GM's lineup. The trunk switch is GM parts bin unit. The logo is a PEGASUS. The 12V socket/cigarette lighter if offset because the OBDI diagnostic port is behind that little black plastic cover. The AJAR light also lights if the front or rear compartment lids are not latched. Loud is a common feature that boosts low bass and high treble (frequencies for which the human ear is less sensitive) when listening at low volumesThe tach is configured the way it is so that at redline RPM, the needle is vertical. This is a because racecar feature that you completely missed. The car was available with tilt column, which should have been standard on an '87 GT and significantly eased any self-induced difficulties you may have had getting your knee under the wheel. See if someone will let your drive/review an '88, especially with Koni dampers. That will eliminate any criticism you have of the suspension
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T Chord
I had one - 86 GT. Mine had a factory subwoofer which was a 6. 5 speaker in an ABS box, with a long port external to the box. The sub box was where the glove box would be. The control had a little slider on the console on the roof (Where the lights were. It was not too bad for that era. The 84-87 used citation and chevette suspension parts which is why it handled lousy and had a poor turning radius. The 1988 was quite a bit better. Mine was a 4-speed isuzu (yes, Isuzu) manual transmission. The reason the console is so high is because that was the gas tank. It feels quite nice at that height, but the shifter was quite high. The 2. 5L Iron Duke 4 cylinder had engine fires for many reasons. Saginaw was supposedly shipping low quality rods to Pontiac. But, as a result of it being mid-engined, they had to modify the oil pan, so the factory fill was three (3) quarts. Typical idiot maintenance meant it became dangerously low and kaboom, rod out the block. Also, there were problems with leaves falling through the rear engine vents on hot engine exhaust pipes. The 4 cylinder version had a different engine vent. On the V6, both were removable - one side had the engine air filter and I think the other side might have been the battery, but I can't remember. Overall, a simply awesome car. I really wish I would have kept mine. If you took care of the car, it took good care of you.
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I had one - 86 GT. Mine had a factory subwoofer which was a 6. 5 speaker in an ABS box, with a long port external to the box. The sub box was where the glove box would be. The control had a little slider on the console on the roof (Where the lights were. It was not too bad for that era. The 84-87 used citation and chevette suspension parts which is why it handled lousy and had a poor turning radius. The 1988 was quite a bit better. Mine was a 4-speed isuzu (yes, Isuzu) manual transmission. The reason the console is so high is because that was the gas tank. It feels quite nice at that height, but the shifter was quite high. The 2. 5L Iron Duke 4 cylinder had engine fires for many reasons. Saginaw was supposedly shipping low quality rods to Pontiac. But, as a result of it being mid-engined, they had to modify the oil pan, so the factory fill was three (3) quarts. Typical idiot maintenance meant it became dangerously low and kaboom, rod out the block. Also, there were problems with leaves falling through the rear engine vents on hot engine exhaust pipes. The 4 cylinder version had a different engine vent. On the V6, both were removable - one side had the engine air filter and I think the other side might have been the battery, but I can't remember. Overall, a simply awesome car. I really wish I would have kept mine. If you took care of the car, it took good care of you.
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Jim R
The fires in some early Fieros was caused by a design feature of the 4 cylinder car. The engine block was a part of the structure of the car, like the Indy cars and Formula one cars. The problem arose because the Iron Duke 4 cylinder had part of the structure bolted to the block in a section of the block where the casting was particularly thin. Over the year, the block would crack there and eventually a chunk would break out, and motor oil would spray out. The car would burn to the ground which would take care of the problems with the 1984 models. Pontiac and GM recalled the ones that were left for a new Block or beefier support, I don't remember which. The next year was permanently fixed with a stronger block. thicker where it was bolted. The Fiero was redesigned in 1988 with a new front and rear suspension and other modifications which fixed all of the previous shortcomings, but they couldn't overcome the reputation. The 1988 GT was a great car. It came about the time when everyone wanted a 4 Door, 4 Passenger box.
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The fires in some early Fieros was caused by a design feature of the 4 cylinder car. The engine block was a part of the structure of the car, like the Indy cars and Formula one cars. The problem arose because the Iron Duke 4 cylinder had part of the structure bolted to the block in a section of the block where the casting was particularly thin. Over the year, the block would crack there and eventually a chunk would break out, and motor oil would spray out. The car would burn to the ground which would take care of the problems with the 1984 models. Pontiac and GM recalled the ones that were left for a new Block or beefier support, I don't remember which. The next year was permanently fixed with a stronger block. thicker where it was bolted. The Fiero was redesigned in 1988 with a new front and rear suspension and other modifications which fixed all of the previous shortcomings, but they couldn't overcome the reputation. The 1988 GT was a great car. It came about the time when everyone wanted a 4 Door, 4 Passenger box.
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GnarDope__ Radington
Good lord what a beautiful example. That thing looks like it rolled off the factory line only a few months ago. I love seeing these 80s and early 90s models cars in such beautiful shape. I had bought a white 1989 Toyota Cressida, with the full plush royal blue interior a few years back and it was a one owner, old lady, who used it to drive to the school she taught at (not even half a mile) and home. Thing only had 67k miles on it and i bought it for 900. I regret getting rid of it every time i see a gorgeous example of an old 80s car. The owner's manual/booklets/leather case/first aid kit/road side kit/and the OEM tool kit, was still all brand never opened, still wrapped and sealed inside of its respective packaging. She even had the original window sticker folded up inside of the leather manual pouch
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Good lord what a beautiful example. That thing looks like it rolled off the factory line only a few months ago. I love seeing these 80s and early 90s models cars in such beautiful shape. I had bought a white 1989 Toyota Cressida, with the full plush royal blue interior a few years back and it was a one owner, old lady, who used it to drive to the school she taught at (not even half a mile) and home. Thing only had 67k miles on it and i bought it for 900. I regret getting rid of it every time i see a gorgeous example of an old 80s car. The owner's manual/booklets/leather case/first aid kit/road side kit/and the OEM tool kit, was still all brand never opened, still wrapped and sealed inside of its respective packaging. She even had the original window sticker folded up inside of the leather manual pouch
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Ken Davis
Thanks, this was an excellent review, including some good retrieval of GM and auto industry historical context from the 80s. In its day, this was a car that had a cool factor about it, which never quite caught on well enough to keep the model alive, or short lived. which for those of us that remember it, makes Fiero an even more interesting car to look back on. Almost like an American evolution on a Triumph TR 7, but with the mid engine. I do remember when the Toyota MR2 came out, it seemed to be targeting the same small sports car niche, and captured the market more successfully. Then the Miata came later and was hugely successful. but this car will always be very interesting for the early mid-engine effort by GM. Anyway, great video, I enjoyed it a lot. well done
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Thanks, this was an excellent review, including some good retrieval of GM and auto industry historical context from the 80s. In its day, this was a car that had a cool factor about it, which never quite caught on well enough to keep the model alive, or short lived. which for those of us that remember it, makes Fiero an even more interesting car to look back on. Almost like an American evolution on a Triumph TR 7, but with the mid engine. I do remember when the Toyota MR2 came out, it seemed to be targeting the same small sports car niche, and captured the market more successfully. Then the Miata came later and was hugely successful. but this car will always be very interesting for the early mid-engine effort by GM. Anyway, great video, I enjoyed it a lot. well done
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Yannick Proulx
Some correction about the roof and what you told about not having any open roof until 1988. A big chunk of Fieros produced was equipped with a sunroof The sunroof was a big piece of glass that you can easely remove and put in a special vinyl protective bag and put it on the specialy dampered made support inside the front trunk compartment. Since the sunroof openig was almost as wide as the roof and goes from a couple of inchs from the windshield up to the a couple of inch from the back glass, the car feel like a targa style car when the sunroof glass was removed. Also Starting in 1986 until 1988, the T Top option was available.
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Some correction about the roof and what you told about not having any open roof until 1988. A big chunk of Fieros produced was equipped with a sunroof The sunroof was a big piece of glass that you can easely remove and put in a special vinyl protective bag and put it on the specialy dampered made support inside the front trunk compartment. Since the sunroof openig was almost as wide as the roof and goes from a couple of inchs from the windshield up to the a couple of inch from the back glass, the car feel like a targa style car when the sunroof glass was removed. Also Starting in 1986 until 1988, the T Top option was available.
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KENNETH HARGENRADER
You talked about quirks such as the black lines thru the tail lights-letting out less light. youre full of shit The Pontiac badging on the headlight isnt a quirk Why the hell would you put it on both headlights? The Fiero was an amazing car As a past owner, it was one of my favorite vehicles. The way you talked about the open air feel of the 88 was very misleading. You ceased to mention that it was T-tops & epic 80s Also, the Fiero logo isnt a Phoenix rising- its a pegasus dumbassYou talked about the stereo, but never mentioned the speakers in the seatsLastly, what is wrong with a guy who likes the Fiero? Dick
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You talked about quirks such as the black lines thru the tail lights-letting out less light. youre full of shit The Pontiac badging on the headlight isnt a quirk Why the hell would you put it on both headlights? The Fiero was an amazing car As a past owner, it was one of my favorite vehicles. The way you talked about the open air feel of the 88 was very misleading. You ceased to mention that it was T-tops & epic 80s Also, the Fiero logo isnt a Phoenix rising- its a pegasus dumbassYou talked about the stereo, but never mentioned the speakers in the seatsLastly, what is wrong with a guy who likes the Fiero? Dick
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Andy MacDonald
Funny that he doesn't mention the X1/9 that the Fiero was based on, goes on to say it was out before the MR2 and the Miata like they were the only similar cars. The Fiat was around 2000# with a relatively gutless 75-85 HP 4 cyl, but it handled well (better than the ponton for sure. Reliability was similar (not much worse than abysmal, but the Fiat was more expensive to fix due to parts costs. Having played with both cars, I would take the Fiero, just on the ubiquity of the parts supply alone but either would be a fun ride - even 40 years later.
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Funny that he doesn't mention the X1/9 that the Fiero was based on, goes on to say it was out before the MR2 and the Miata like they were the only similar cars. The Fiat was around 2000# with a relatively gutless 75-85 HP 4 cyl, but it handled well (better than the ponton for sure. Reliability was similar (not much worse than abysmal, but the Fiat was more expensive to fix due to parts costs. Having played with both cars, I would take the Fiero, just on the ubiquity of the parts supply alone but either would be a fun ride - even 40 years later.
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Jakob
EQ hz impressive- 15: 17 was actually very close to purchase this car here in Denmark back in 1998 at 19 years of age. it was the same V6 (vers2) model and two tone black and grey. it costed used what was equal to around 21. 000 USD abck then (with huge mileage I remember)Dont put much value to the price back then 1998 and around 21. 000 USD (DKK 128. 000) the prices here is ofte way higher and we pay for 3 when we buy one. due to taxes. I reckon in homeland US it would likely had costed 5 to 8k in the same used status back then in 1998.
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EQ hz impressive- 15: 17 was actually very close to purchase this car here in Denmark back in 1998 at 19 years of age. it was the same V6 (vers2) model and two tone black and grey. it costed used what was equal to around 21. 000 USD abck then (with huge mileage I remember)Dont put much value to the price back then 1998 and around 21. 000 USD (DKK 128. 000) the prices here is ofte way higher and we pay for 3 when we buy one. due to taxes. I reckon in homeland US it would likely had costed 5 to 8k in the same used status back then in 1998.
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bing46 Sébastien
This car needs a makeover think I'd start by covering the seats In leather then I'd get that dumb ass looking wing off the back let's then repaint the thing either bright red or black either would be fine just make sure it's a solid color the gray on the bottom looks dumb finally let's put some better wheels and tires on it then it would be way better oh and re tint the windows that faded purple film is gross so now the car is way more appealing I'd rather have a Toyota mr2
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This car needs a makeover think I'd start by covering the seats In leather then I'd get that dumb ass looking wing off the back let's then repaint the thing either bright red or black either would be fine just make sure it's a solid color the gray on the bottom looks dumb finally let's put some better wheels and tires on it then it would be way better oh and re tint the windows that faded purple film is gross so now the car is way more appealing I'd rather have a Toyota mr2
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