New here, to consider Fiero (Page 1/3)
Lostpuppy1962 MAY 03, 08:45 AM
So, I had an 85 IROC. Being more mature (62yr old) I have been considering a Pontiac Firebird (84-90) FORMULA. An occasional Fiero shows. I prefer the 84, 85 for what they are. I understand the 3rd gen Camaro/firebirds. I have no clue about the Fiero. Being here in SW Michigan/Rust Belt I am concerned. I want something I can drive for the summer and then work on during the coming winter. I plan to pay about $6,000 cash, understand there will be work involved.
Any opinions are welcome, and I will be reading, unless a FORMULA Firebird jumps out in front of me.
1985 Fiero GT MAY 03, 09:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by Lostpuppy1962:

So, I had an 85 IROC. Being more mature (62yr old) I have been considering a Pontiac Firebird (84-90) FORMULA. An occasional Fiero shows. I prefer the 84, 85 for what they are. I understand the 3rd gen Camaro/firebirds. I have no clue about the Fiero. Being here in SW Michigan/Rust Belt I am concerned. I want something I can drive for the summer and then work on during the coming winter. I plan to pay about $6,000 cash, understand there will be work involved.
Any opinions are welcome, and I will be reading, unless a FORMULA Firebird jumps out in front of me.



It may be somewhat hard to find a Fiero without rust issues, but I live up in New Brunswick Canada, and bought my Fiero from father North in Quebec, and Quebec puts down a lot of salt, I paid $5500 Canadian, and got a basically rust free Fiero, some light surface stuff in places, but the rear upper frame rails are still shiny black.

The places to look for rust in the Fiero is behind the trunk carpet on the front sides, carpet just pulls out easily, behind the plastic wheel wells on the top rear, the upper rear frame rails are there and they rust out easily.

Most desirable/expensive is anything v6/manual/1988, earlier years are good, but the suspension and brakes were perfected in 1988, which makes parts more expensive to. Automatics are bad (3 speed, heavy) 4 cyls are quite slow, but fairly light, 4 speed manual from v6 car is the strongest for a potential engine swap down the road, followed very closely by the 5 speed manual. Quickest cars are 85gt and 88 formula, 86+gt are "fastback" which weigh a bit more, 5 speed slows down acceleration a bit with the extra shift, but gives better highway mpg then the 4 speed, 84/85 have headrest speakers (which are super great) 86+have b pillar speakers and a subwoofer option. Probably more but I ran out of time haha.
TheDigitalAlchemist MAY 03, 10:49 AM
Like any "vintage" automobile. It will cost money to keep it running. Fandom stuff you may encounter within the first 3-5 years of ownership: replace rubber hoses, belts, suspension, tires.radiator, radiator fan. repair Headlight motors. AC probably won't work.
Working on the engine is "tricky" due to where it is located. Cataylic converter may be clogged (at least they are relatively cheap). There WILL be leaks. Gas and oil sending units. gauges. sensors.5,000-10,000. Distributor and ignition coil and issues with lifters/valves, etc.

If I could, I would get a mint 88, and do an engine swap with a corvette engine (Ls1?)

I LOVE Fieros, and have had 4 during the past 24 years, but they all had issues. lots of issues, some of them rather expensive. but they are just way too much fun to drive, and just stare at, and hug.

I have "wrenched" on them a little, but the last decade has taken a lot out of me.

Having this forum has been an essential reason why I stuck with it. I was able to troubleshoot and get advice and such. Fieros are awesome, but they are over 30 years old, and like the human body, they sure do have issues due to age. it is important to get a really good one, rather then one that seems "rough", because the Fiero is wonderful at looking pretty but is hiding issues underneath.

Don't want to scare ya, its just sometimes an expensive hobby. but its oh so enjoyable during the "good times".

be well.
BingB MAY 03, 10:50 AM
How good are your knees? Make sure you can get in and out easily.

I am not mocking you. I turn 62 in November.
TheDigitalAlchemist MAY 03, 11:53 AM

quote
Originally posted by BingB:

How good are your knees? Make sure you can get in and out easily.

I am not mocking you. I turn 62 in November.



In 2002, this was not a concern. But 2024? It's a different experience entering and exiting the Fiero...

[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 05-03-2024).]

Lostpuppy1962 MAY 03, 01:28 PM
All good and reasonable responses. I understand maintaining an older vehicle. The last vehicle I purchased is a 1999 Jeep XJ, my daily driver. If I am getting anything, I'm stuck on 80's cars, for better or worse. Whatever I get may turn out to be my last toy, on wheels. I know Camaros and as such the Firebirds, yet I would hate to overlook something.
Patrick MAY 03, 03:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by Lostpuppy1962:

Being here in SW Michigan/Rust Belt I am concerned.



Have a look at This recent thread, and make sure to click on the link I supplied in my post there.
82-T/A [At Work] MAY 04, 01:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by Lostpuppy1962:

So, I had an 85 IROC. Being more mature (62yr old) I have been considering a Pontiac Firebird (84-90) FORMULA. An occasional Fiero shows. I prefer the 84, 85 for what they are. I understand the 3rd gen Camaro/firebirds. I have no clue about the Fiero. Being here in SW Michigan/Rust Belt I am concerned. I want something I can drive for the summer and then work on during the coming winter. I plan to pay about $6,000 cash, understand there will be work involved.
Any opinions are welcome, and I will be reading, unless a FORMULA Firebird jumps out in front of me.




You can tell from my user name that I've obviously had my share of 3rd gens. I love the 3rd gen, and I honestly wish I still had one. Ultimately, I think it's really about what you want to get out of it. The 3rd Gen really has a totally different feel to it in so far as handling and performance (stock for stock). The Firebirds with V8s (TransAms, Firebird Formula, V8s, etc.) just have more grunt and attention grabbing... but they obviously don't handle as well as a Fiero. A Fiero V6 will have decent power (if not maybe a little quicker than most 3rd gens except the GTA, 350 powered ones, or the L69 305), but the Fiero will handle far better.

As far as "look and feel" inside... the Firebird of course is a lot more roomier, but it has all the same kind of accoutrements... like both of them can be had with "Performance Sound" (though the Firebird has much bigger dual subwoofers in the B-pillars if you get that option), but the general look and feel inside the car is kind of the same... I mean, it depends if you're getting an early 3rd gen versus a mid-80s 3rd gen (PMD seats versus like the newer corporate GM seats).

All and all, it really just depends on whether or not you want a sports car, or a larger sports coupe.

I will say, if it's something you want to work on in the winter, the Fiero is smaller so it fits a lot better in a garage than a 3rd gen does. But I definitely won't criticize you for whatever decision you make. I still haunt ThirdGen.ORG now and then... and still hope to get another one, one day.

I want another 1982, but I plan to put a simple LS1 in it with a 4L80E or something like that in it. I don't really want it to be insane fast... I'd be happy with mid-13s and a 0-60 in ~6 seconds. But I'd want the 1982 to be totally stock looking outside and in the interior.




Who knows... I may even try to do some kind of crazy Cross-Fire Injection intake set-up on an LS, haha.


When you say you want an 84-85... what is it exactly you're looking for? 84 only has the L4, but 85 has the V6.
Lostpuppy1962 MAY 04, 03:59 PM
I like the look of the fiero when they came out. If it had the luggage rack on deck I would be happy. The newer front end/cover and GT and Fastback are just not for me. If I had an 85 with V-6 I would probably keep it as is. An 84 I would likely be looking for a Quad-4 or V-6 to install.
For the 3rd Gen cars I have seen a couple in the $8-10,000 range. I saw a Grand Rapids Michigan for sale Fiero 85 or 86? for $5,500. The problem is it sold before I could see it in person and at that price I would be concerned about rust. Yes, a Fiero would take up less space and I think it would be a fun car to drive.
Lostpuppy1962 MAY 12, 09:53 AM
Question about the Iron Duke motor.
-Good looking Black 1985 2m4, 140,000 miles, $4,500, Manual. Owner describes as: runs rough, when warm it will stall when you take your foot off the gas, after 3hr drive home it runs worse.
-1986 blue 2m6, $4,000, 160,000 miles, automatic. Owner describes: no rust that I've seen. Sounds to me like he was told about the rust but has not looked himself.
Both seem to me to regret purchase they just made?

-Red 1985 Trans Am TPI, $5,500, 88,000 miles. Smokes a little when first started. This sound like valve seal/guides, not to scary?

All three were fairly nice looking. Not knowing anything about the Iron Duke issues I would lean toward the Trans Am, yet I do like that Fiero.

Any words of wisdom?