Do You Think a Fiero is Good For Me? (Page 1/2)
J-L FEB 11, 07:11 PM
Hey fellas, longtime lurker of this forum; decided to make an account. I have also posted in the Fiero subreddit.

I have been browsing and window-shopping for a very long time now for a Fiero. I already have like 7 Honda civics and love them thoroughly but I always wished I could have mid engine civic or something similar. I wonder if the Fiero could be my perfect project.

Im 22 years old. I drive mostly alone but often with my girlfriend, and sometimes with our dog. I don’t really max out the cargo space in my civic but there are times when I use it to carry larger body panels and other stuff (groceries, building materials, bicycles,etc.) On road trips I like to carry a full tool set alongside luggage for my girlfriend and I.

In terms of driving, I do a lot of highway miles. I work full time and commute 23-30km twice a day. Aside from that, I like to go on long road trips. The longest trip I’ve done so far was 2600km. I modify all my vehicles to achieve a real world mileage of 50 MPG at 100 km/h.

My 1996 civic hatchback is around 2000lbs. I enjoy the handling and capability. In contrast, my 2006 Civic is closer to 2700lbs. I find it’s more of a boat.


In summary, I like a car that is lightweight, economical, serviceable, safe, easy to modify, excellent handling, and fuel efficient. Civics fit the bill, but I think a Fiero is much more interesting and modifiable.

Let me know what you guys think. I’ve been on the fence for a long time.


Patrick FEB 11, 08:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by J-L:

Im 22 years old. I drive mostly alone but often with my girlfriend, and sometimes with our dog.



Welcome!

A Fiero will work fine for transporting you and your girlfriend.
A Fiero will work fine for transporting you and your dog.
A Fiero will not work well for transporting you along with both your girlfriend and your dog... unless it's a lapdog.

When I had my beautiful Siberian Husky years ago (pictured below), there was not enough room in my Fiero for both her and my girlfriend (so my girlfriend had to walk lol)... unless it was for a very short ride.

My advice would be to get a Fiero only if you also plan to retain the use of a more practical car... ie one with a back seat!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-11-2024).]

1985 Fiero GT FEB 11, 10:22 PM
I agree with Patrick, only get a Fiero if you have access to a more normal car, my parents had to drive their Fiero 1400km with a big standard poodle, in midsummer, and they didn't know the sunroof came off, it wasn't great. It will carry 2 people and all their luggage for 1 month away from home (2 carry-on suitcases, 2 backpacks, plenty of various small stuff jammed in the frunk, behind seats, etc.) modifying it to get 50mpg will be interesting, the transmissions are not geared for highway driving, and there often isn't enough power to make a highway geared trans fun to drive, stock. Easy to modify, work on, fiddle with, etc, although they weigh more then you might think, 3000 real world pounds is not unusual. Gas tank is small, only 300-400km stock on a tank, but with no AC, you can fit a 10l jerrycan in the frunk, that extends the range another 110km or so. For your MPG mods, the most aerodynamic Fiero is an Aero notchback with spoiler, 84 Indy, 85gt, 86-87se.
Whereabouts do you live, by the km I assume somewhere in Canada, in which case, hello, there are a few of us! Patrick if I'm not mistaken is also Canadian.
theogre FEB 12, 12:57 AM
Cargo Load for Cars built for North America Markets is Based On 1 Adult Male "Crash dummies" weighing apox 190lb each Per Seat + Around 100lb stuff. Fiero means 2 models + cargo. (Note that SAE may have change some spec to calc people + cargo because so many are Obese now so don't compare to recent vehicle models.)
GVWR on door sticker is Vehicle Curb Weight + total of the above.

So If have 2 people bigger that 190lb, worse that + cargo, then you have an overloaded car for design use & legally if you crash. Cop likely won't care but Insurance & others can use the overload against you because Stopping Distance in Owner book etc are set for that GVWR number.

Example: if you claim can't stop, "they" can look @ speed, distance, car condition (like brake work right or not) + add overloaded car then see "easy win" when suing you.

⚠️ Depending on dog(s) size, Fiero may not work or need other things done to get the dog in & be safe & be legal in some places.

Example: I have to Remove the P-side seat & put some padding to cover seat studs to take a large dog to vet etc.
You have to make space for dog to lay down + some US states & other places the animal must be restricted so can't get in driver's way, under feet, & so on.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

J-L FEB 12, 09:32 AM
Thank you all, these are good responses.

3000lb curb weight is….not quite what I want. My current car, a 1996 Civic hatchback, is around 2200lbs. I love it. My heaviest car, a 2006 Civic coupe, is around 2650lbs. I feel it’s overweight. If I do end up getting a Fiero, it would have to go on a pretty serious diet.

I didn’t know insurance could get you that way! To be frank, I avoid insurance claims every time. Had a guy run a red light one time and destroy a nice ‘97 civic I had. Insurance tried to blame me for not stopping on a green. Gave me demerits! Wrote my car off forever. Poor car. Anyways I won’t ramble too much into that.

I’m located in Manitoba, Canada. I’ve taken my cars from Alberta to Ontario, so far. Lots of miles. My 2006 Civic is my summer cruiser, and I can nail an average of 700-800km per tank. At a cost of maybe $60 to fill, I wouldn’t give that up. That is of course modified but the tank is still stock size.

Perhaps that’s it, then. The Fiero seems too heavy and with too small a reserve on fuel for what I want. I’ll think about what I want to do.

Thanks again, great forum. Even without having a Fiero there’s a lot of stuff to learn here.
cvxjet FEB 12, 12:29 PM
Stock Fieros weigh 2500 (base 4 cyl) to 2800 (Fully loaded 88 GT)...

I used my Fiero SE V6 for camping from 1985 to 1998.....Real tent, cots, 2 burner stove, and my GF...Could take either my 6" telescope or my Sevylor Kayak, but not both.

My 30 lb dog liked to ride in the passenger seat- had my GF ride with us once, but it was tight.

Also, go to lumber yard and pick up stuff..."Utility vehicle"
css9450 FEB 12, 12:55 PM
My 88GT automatic weighs 2865 lbs according to the scale at the drag strip. No, I didn't race it. I already know it's slow.
Dukesterpro FEB 12, 12:56 PM
I'm gonna be frank with you. As a daily driver of my 86GT (except for salty winter). If you don't WANT a Fiero. You don't want a Fiero.

Its a cantankerous, quirky, complicated despite its simplicity, inconvenient, often unreliable (most of them were not taken care of since they were so cheap), GM parts bin POS of a car.

To me its the best car in the world, but I treat I have to treat it like a pet to keep it running as good as it does. That means targeting problems before they occur, constant preventative maintenance (relative to your civics). If you want it as a just another fun car to drive around. Keep walking.

If you WANT a Fiero and nothing else, Its a wonderful experience.

[This message has been edited by Dukesterpro (edited 02-12-2024).]

fierofool FEB 12, 07:07 PM
I met a young man and his girlfriend at a Chick-fil-A that had a shephard size dog. They were in an 88GT. The dog hopped in and curled up in the floor. The lady seemed to have plenty of room.

My wife and I took a one week tent camping trip around the southeast. We each had a weeks clothing, cooking gear, coffee pot and 50 ft power cord, sleeping bag, pillows, bug light, and a 10 x 12 cabin tent and a small tool kit. I even kept the space saver tire in place. We had lots of room.

Since my wife has passed, I frequently do my grocery shopping in one of my Fieros. Trunk, Frunk, and passenger seat and floor. You can probably remove the space saver spare for more space. Should you have a flat your regular size tire probably won't fit into the trunk anyway.
Patrick FEB 12, 08:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by fierofool:

I met a young man and his girlfriend at a Chick-fil-A that had a shephard size dog. They were in an 88GT. The dog hopped in and curled up in the floor. The lady seemed to have plenty of room.



My husky (mentioned above) could do the same thing... for short trips. After any length of time, she'd get rather antsy if she was being forced to occupy a relatively tiny space. Keep in mind there's also a person's feet/legs in the way on the floor. It's definitely not the ideal way for a human passenger and dog to travel in a car.