PFF - Pennock's Fiero Forum, PDA Edition

What's this Red Convertible? (Page 2/2)

82-T/A [At Work]

JAN 25, 03:27 PM

quote

Originally posted by blackrams:

Yeah, three is a problem for either car.

Actually, I've owned 21 different Fieros, all were 88s notchbacks, most were Formulas. Sold my 3800SC, five speed car late last Spring. It simply wasn't getting driven much. Had I ever been able to get a Convertible Fiero, it would have never been sold. Went about four months with an open spot in the garage, bought another Valkyrie (this one a trike) to ride thinking the wife might ride with me on that. She's a bit scared on two wheels. That wasn't her cup of tea either so, when I found that Solstice I made the deal. She loves riding in it with the top down and I've vowed to never put the top up. It has less miles, is easier to get into and out of with my bad knees and I don't have to duck my head to get in, so it came home with me.

It's not my 3800SC performance wise but, it's another adventure just waiting to go................

Rams

It truly is a fantastic car. The 2.2 EcoTec, and if you replace the exhaust manifold with a shorty header, and the catalytic converter with a larger CFM one, the car will REALLY, I mean REALLY wake up. It was fast... I mean really quick. I could easily outrun a BMW 330 or a Lexus LX460.

When we got ours, the car was really new... it was cheap too... I think I paid $21k for it, but I got it with almost no options. Just AC, power windows / door locks, MP3 player, ABS, and limited slip differential. I had a lot of fun with it. The 5-Speed is from a Hummer H3, but even still, it shifts really nicely, and never had any issues with it.

The back-end was getting a bit squirrely by the time I got rid of it, but I think there was a recall for that.

I too would drive it every chance I got with the top down. It was awesome having it here in South Florida when it was always sunny and warm.

I never owned a convertible Fiero, but I'd seen several down here at car shows, and ALMOST bought one that I saw for sale. The Fiero was never really built properly to support a convertible, but when done well (with the "X" frame you could buy from ACE or whatever it was), the car really stiffened up.

I never drove one, but I sat in several of them, and loved it.

Never had an 88, but been in a few of them.

Still, one day, I would love to have an 87 Coupe or 88 Coupe and put in the 5-Speed Getrag (newer one) and an LD9 TwinCam. I don't want anything crazy... I just really like that motor... not even the Quad-4... just the smoother running TwinCam. You could get 37mpg all day long with that, and it was good for low 15s in the quarter in a car that size. Perfect for just having fun.

blackrams

JAN 25, 03:43 PM

quote

Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
It truly is a fantastic car. The 2.2 EcoTec, and if you replace the exhaust manifold with a shorty header, and the catalytic converter with a larger CFM one, the car will REALLY, I mean REALLY wake up. It was fast... I mean really quick. I could easily outrun a BMW 330 or a Lexus LX460.

Snip

Still, one day, I would love to have an 87 Coupe or 88 Coupe and put in the 5-Speed Getrag (newer one) and an LD9 TwinCam. I don't want anything crazy... I just really like that motor... not even the Quad-4... just the smoother running TwinCam. You could get 37mpg all day long with that, and it was good for low 15s in the quarter in a car that size. Perfect for just having fun.

My Solstice has the 2.4 EcoTech with a 5 speed manual. I promised myself (and my wife) that I wouldn't be doing any performance upgrades and I'm trying to not go there. Have already been offered a turbo upgrade and another is offering an LS upgrade. While those options sound wonderful, they aren't cheap and I'm not intending to go back to the auto cross track or race. We are simply enjoying cruising with the top down here in Southern Mississippi. The only change I'm making is adding a trailer hitch so I can haul my bike or trike behind to the different Valkyrie events my wife wants to go with me. If she doesn't go, I'll ride either the two or three wheeled Valkyrie.

One of the drive train conversions we did on one Formula was to swap a 3.4 TDC into it. I previously had a 3.4 pushrod engine in another Fiero and it was alright but, left much to be desired when compared to the other cars. I say we because I always had someone with more expertise than myself do more than I could ever do on my own but, the 3.4 TDC was a blast to drive. Can't say what the fuel mileage was, I honestly don't remember. But, I kind of doubt it would have ever hit 37 mpg.
I always regretted selling that 3.4 TDC, it wasn't quite as fast as the 3800SC or the 4.9 but, the way it rev'd made it a really fun car.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-25-2022).]

Raydar

JAN 25, 04:06 PM

quote

Originally posted by blackrams:

My Solstice has the 2.4 EcoTech with a 5 speed manual. I promised myself (and my wife) that I wouldn't be doing any performance upgrades and I'm trying to not go there. Have already been offered a turbo upgrade and another is offering an LS upgrade. While those options sound wonderful, they aren't cheap and I'm not intending to go back to the auto cross track or race. We are simply enjoying cruising with the top down here in Southern Mississippi. The only change I'm making is adding a trailer hitch so I can haul my bike or trike behind to the different Valkyrie events my wife wants to go with me. If she doesn't go, I'll ride either the two or three wheeled Valkyrie.

One of the drive train conversions we did on one Formula was to swap a 3.4 TDC into it. I previously had a 3.4 pushrod engine in another Fiero and it was alright but, left much to be desired when compared to the other cars. I say we because I always had someone with more expertise than myself do more than I could ever do on my own but, the 3.4 TDC was a blast to drive. Can't say what the fuel mileage was, I honestly don't remember. But, I kind of doubt it would have ever hit 37 mpg.
I always regretted selling that 3.4 TDC, it wasn't quite as fast as the 3800SC or the 4.9 but, the way it rev'd made it a really fun car.

Rams

The cool thing about the 2.4 is that it's also the powerplant for the Polaris Slingshot. Although apparently not mentioned a great deal in "car" circles, there seems to be a decent aftermarket for the Polaris iteration. Headers, manifolds, etc. Probably some decent bolt-on stuff.

I'm happy to hear your comments about the 3.4 DOHC. I have one on a cart that's eventually going in my coupe. I'm looking forward to seeing what it will do. (The 3.4 pushrod that I built up was almost as quick as my 4.9, and much more fun to drive. The engine was a torque beast, but 4T60Es with a Cadillac tune don't do anything quickly.)

blackrams

JAN 25, 04:14 PM

quote

Originally posted by Raydar:

The cool thing about the 2.4 is that it's also the powerplant for the Polaris Slingshot. Although apparently not mentioned a great deal in "car" circles, there seems to be a decent aftermarket for the Polaris iteration. Headers, manifolds, etc. Probably some decent bolt-on stuff.

I'm happy to hear your comments about the 3.4 DOHC. I have one on a cart that's eventually going in my coupe. I'm looking forward to seeing what it will do. (The 3.4 pushrod that I built up was almost as quick as my 4.9, and much more fun to drive. The engine was a torque beast, but 4T60Es with a Cadillac tune don't do anything quickly.)

Reference the EcoTech, I've already been introduced to DDMWorks in SC and Performance Auto Works in IL who sell upgrades for both Slingshot and the Solstice/Sky. I'm tempted but, have to keep my word to the wife. Have a wedding to pay for soon and that ain't cheap.

Engine selection is totally something each owner/driver needs to consider what and how they intend to drive. I really like that 3.4 TDC. But, I highly recommend going with a manual, you can thank me later. I'll leave it at that.
There are folks much more qualified than myself to help make that determination. Fieroguru being one of the best.
Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-25-2022).]

Raydar

JAN 25, 08:34 PM

quote

Originally posted by blackrams:

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/OWb...-featuring-ken-jeong

Tried to do a screen shot, sorry I'm apparently not up to the task.
Have seen this commercial several times and I'm trying to figure out what the heck it is.

It's very similar to the car I bought for my wife but, the nose and tail are different. Wondering if it isn't a Hollywood modification.

Rams

The latest version of Miata is very similar to the Jag F-Type. From lots of different angles.

There is also an Fiat 124 that is based upon the Miata (Fiata?) - with the obligatory Fiat engine, of course.
It's not as pretty, but costs a good bit more money, last I heard.

We've got a 2016 Miata Club roadster. Looks just like the one in the top pic. It's a great car. My wife absolutely loves it.
But I preferred our '97. It's steering was much more precise, on-center. And it seemed to have more room in the front passenger seat.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 01-25-2022).]

Raydar

JAN 26, 08:40 AM

quote

Originally posted by blackrams:
...
I really like that 3.4 TDC. But, I highly recommend going with a manual, you can thank me later.

Oh yeah. No question.
I've got an F23, out in the garage. It should get along nicely with the 3.4.
That engine is just wasted on an automatic.

82-T/A [At Work]

JAN 26, 10:23 AM

quote

Man, I'm sorry... I meant the 2.4. It's been over a decade since I reluctantly sold that car. I sold it in 2008 when my daughter was born. Totally get wanting to keep it stock. If it makes a difference, the real reason why I upgraded it was to get it to perform more smoothly. The shorty header reduced under-hood temperatures, and significantly improved the feel / operation of the engine. It also made a huge improvement in the fuel economy as well. This is the one I had, if you ever negotiate it! haha...

Sorry for the bad picture, took it in like 2007, and my camera wasn't that great back then.

It was from "Clear Image Performance."

When I sold the Solstice, I took it off and sold it separately for what I had paid, and put the old manifold back on.

quote

Originally posted by Raydar:

There is also an Fiat 124 that is based upon the Miata (Fiata?) - with the obligatory Fiat engine, of course.
It's not as pretty, but costs a good bit more money, last I heard.

I am a HUUUUGE fan of this car. My favorite of course was the 1979 124 Spyder, because it had the 2,000cc engine, and if I'm not mistaken, also carbureted, or maybe it was the first year of the electronic injection? I can't remember... but 79 had the best combination of both parts... whichever it was, I cannot remember.

But I really like this new remake of that car. I also didn't know that it actually had a FIAT engine in it too... I just thought it was a rebodied Mazda, with everything else being the same. That's pretty cool to know. I'd love to get one for my wife and then drive it myself now and then, hahah!

blackrams

JAN 26, 10:37 AM

Honestly, although upgrades are a lot of fun, they are expensive and I've got a wedding to pay for this summer so, that's another reason this Solstice won't be getting any upgrades. I was tempted and did consider the addition of a turbo or supercharger and appropriate exhaust for the EcoTech but, then that wedding thing was announced. And there's also that little problem of when is it good, fast enough for me, there's always another upgrade to feed the addiction. I assure you, I was addicted with Fiero upgrades. So..................

Edited: An apology to my Fiero friends, I didn't mean to start a Solstice thread here. Initially I was just trying to figure out what the first convertible was.
As I already stated, if I could have gotten a convertible Fiero, it would be sitting in my garage right now. Some things are simply not meant to be.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-26-2022).]