The frustrations of owning a Fiero in The Netherlands (Page 1/4)
Cliff Pennock JUN 17, 04:26 AM
Just venting here. 😁

But owning a Fiero in The Netherlands can be (and is) pretty frustrating. Not only are our gas prices amongst the highest in the world (@ $9.33 per US Gallon, only 6 countries in the world have higher gas prices), but keeping your Fiero running is a costly, time-consuming and again, frustrating experience.

Mind you, the Fiero was never officially sold in Europe. Every single one has been imported by enthousiasts (like me) wanting one. As we all know, technics-wise the Fiero is like no other car. Meaning most, if not all, garages here have no clue how to work on one. I've made the mistake a few times already bringing my car to a garage for relatively simple jobs like replacing calipers. It usually meant I would get the car back after a few weeks with non-functioning brakes, simply because they had no clue how to get them working. In short, it means that if something needs to be done, I'll need to do it myself. Which brings me to my second point. Space.

The Netherlands ranks amongst the most densely populated countries in the world. Even though with 1,064 people per square mile, we only take position #32 in the list of most densily populated countries in the world, consider that almost 20% of our surface is water. Also, the majority of people (like me) live in the west part of The Netherlands, called the "Randstad". There population density is well over 4,000 people per square mile, putting us in the top 6 of most densily populated areas in the world with only places like Hong Kong and Singapore having an even higher population density. This means we don't have space for car garages at our houses. Or large gardens. Or large driveways. In fact, this is where I live:



A typical dutch house. In fact, with 1,030 sqft of living area, it's considered quite big. And yes, that is my front yard you are seeing. My back yard is barely twice as big and can only be reached through a small passageway that won't even fit a Fiero on its side. 😀 This means that if I have to work on my car, this is the place I have to do it:



Needless to say that if I start working on my car in the morning, I have to be done by the end of the day since I can't leave the car in pieces in front of my house. But most jobs, like replacing brake calipers or a waterpump can indeed be done within a few hours. And yet, if something breaks, it usually takes me months before it is repaired. Why? Because of point number 3. Parts.

Parts are either completely unavailable in The Netherlands (or the whole of Europe for that matter) or incredibly hard to get. My car needs to get through inspection in August. I already know that's not going to happen because it needs a new exhaust and new brake pads. That I know of. The fiero exhaust is impossible to find here. And is only offered used sporadically. In the past 10 years or so, I have seen it offered only once on dutch classifieds sites. That was a few months ago. I told the guy I was interested but needed to arrange transportation first. By the time I did (about a week later) he had already sold it to someone else. So I was SOL. Buying an exhaust in the States and have it shipped to the Netherlands is obscenely expensive. Someone here on the forum checked it out and shipping costs were well over $1,000! Besides the fact that it's $1,000 I don't have or am even willing to spend on shippng, we have really strange import taxes here. We pay import taxes not only on the price of the product, but the shipping costs as well. It's 14% meaning that $1,000 rises to $1,140. And then we have to pay 21% VAT over the total. So in the end, that $1,000 has become $1,380. For shipping. Alone. So I'm not sure how to solve the exhaust problem yet.

"But wait... Brake pads? Surely brake pads aren't impossible to get over there?" Well... in fact, yes. I need rear brake pads and those are sold out in every single parts store in Europe. And have been for quite some time. No-one is stocking them anymore because the Fiero is the only car (in Europe) that uses these brake pads. And apparently, every single parts store in Europe is using the same parts database which, for some odd reason, states that the Fiero uses drum brakes at the rear...

Fortunately, brake pads aren't really expensive in the USA. But again... $12.50 brake pads on Rock Auto will cost me $50 by the time I have them in my hands because of shipping costs, import taxes and VAT...

So in short, what it boils down to is that my Fiero is getting in a worse shape by the day, simply because I'm unable to do the most simplest of repairs. And it sucks because I frickin' love that car. I've owned it for 26 years now and if it survives, I'll own it for the rest of my life.
johnyrottin JUN 17, 08:54 AM
Can we pack some care packages for you and send them over?
Quadfather JUN 17, 10:05 AM
Would it be possible for someone to BRING you parts from the U.S.? I have a childhood friend who lives in Beugen. I don’t know when he’s planning to visit Oklahoma again, but I’d be happy to ask him if he’d be willing to carry brake pads and other small parts back with him.

I have other Oklahoma friends who travel internationally for work.
RichLo1 JUN 17, 10:12 AM
Over here there are brand specific mechanics for imports like BMW, VW, Land Rover, Mercedes, etc. Are there any American car specific mechanics over there that you can bring it to?

Also, there are "Muffler shops" here that specialize in exhaust and light repairs like oil changes and tire repairs. Is there anything like that over there? Exhaust is pretty much the same for any vehicle on the road, import or domestic. Any muffler shop can bend pipe and weld it together.

You may need to travel a little farther for these specialized shops but it would be worth it if you know the work will be done right.
Sage JUN 17, 10:23 AM
Are there any shops near you that do "custom" exhaust? Does anybody build "hot-rods" there?

If you have a shop that has a bender, access to standard exhaust pipe and an experienced "bender"....anything needed can be fabricated.....for a price.

So I don't know if there's nothing of the sort anywhere close to where you are, or if there is, if you've done the cost comparison and it's just not cost effective.

In other words, I really don't have a workable solution to your problem, just curious if the "custom" route is even an option.

We have numerous such operations in the USA. I remember going to a MIDAS shop waaaay back in 1968 and having "custom" pipes bent to route the exhaust from the collectors of the fender well exit headers on my 57' Chevy back under the car to the mufflers, so I could drive it on the street. Maybe that wouldn't even be legal today.....really don't know.

Recently, (last 8 years or so) I had a guy do the exhaust on an 81' Vette that had no mufflers. I watched him custom bend the pipes from the crossover back to the mufflers, because the local parts houses, (including the dealership) no longer carried the pipes in question.

So....sorry I don't have a concrete option/solution for you, but it was just a thought....and I figured, there MUST be somebody over there fairly close that builds hot-rods! Where is Fio-Ro ? Even in same country? Asking....I have no clue.

Ok....end of my rambling session.


HAGO!
Cliff Pennock JUN 17, 10:37 AM

quote
Originally posted by johnyrottin:

Can we pack some care packages for you and send them over?



That's a very generous offer, but that's not necessary. The problem will still be that a $10 item will cost $50 once it gets here. I have quite a bit of new spare parts, "just in case". I actually have rear brake pads but for some odd reason I have one set of carbomets, and one set of "normal" brake pads. So I can't use those (to prevent uneven breaking).

And in the end, the problem remains that whenever I need a part, it's going to cost a fortune (and a lot of time) to get it here.
Cliff Pennock JUN 17, 10:43 AM
Yes, there are shops that make custom exhausts. None will make one that's not made of stainless steel. In other words, none will make one that's even close to being affordable. For me at least. I don't want to spend over a €1,000 just for an exhaust.
Cliff Pennock JUN 17, 10:46 AM

quote
Originally posted by RichLo1:

Are there any American car specific mechanics over there that you can bring it to?



There are a few shops here specialized in American cars. None carry parts for the Fiero. Some will work on them but will charge you an arm and a leg for the most basic repairs.
Dennis LaGrua JUN 17, 11:19 AM
Parts for European cars are readily available here in the USA but in Europe it seems that US parts are harder to find Mail order seems expensive to your country. I just wonder why this is so but the option of purchasing lower cost replacement parts shipped from China to the Netherlands may be available. I would imagine many members here could box up and mail you parts. If you have friends here willing to bring them over then put the word out on what you need and people will respond with P&D . Many members here have surplus parts and the cost could be very low.
Getting back to your Fiero; its sounds like you own a very rare collector car in the Netherlands. You may be that one in a million collector and that sounds prestigious to me.

------------------
" 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 "

RichLo1 JUN 17, 11:28 AM
What is the consequence of not passing inspection or just not getting it inspected? I assume you cant drive it if you fail, or is it just a fine or something?

Sounds like you stuck between a rock and a hard place... or an inspection and a fortune.