I have a 86 GT with a 3speed auto. It's peppy, don't expect to spin the tires. Mine has 93k miles on it and drives great. As for speed. Well I don't really take it over 70mph because it rev's so high. Red line begins at what, 5500rpms and at 80mph you are right just below 5k rpms. There is also the thing with the torque converter lock sensor. You have to make sure it's working correctly. That will bring the rpm's down about another 400-500 rpms when cruising. Overall, don't let that keep you from buying it. They are great cars with a Auto. I've never been a AUTO fan but this one is very peppy and strong and still fun to drive.
If I had the choice I would still drive a stick just for the performance side of shifting, but I like my Auto. I'm still not sure when I convert to a 3800 SC if i will convert to stick or keep the automatic 4 speed w/overdrive from the Grand Prix. Both would be fun but we'll see.
My decision was the deal I got on the car, not whether it was a Auto or a Stick. Here's mine I traded my BROKEN Zero turn mower for it. LOL!
------------------ 86 Fiero 2M4 Silver, and 86 GT
[This message has been edited by jwrape (edited 08-13-2011).]
My son's car is a 3-speed auto and it revs no where near 5k at 70 MPH. I am not for sure the exact RPM but I can check for you. Car has tons of pep. I think his is hovering jsut below 3K if I remember right.
It already has a full stainless exhaust, apart from that, probably just a K&N filter for now as I'm in the UK, and shipping for anything worthwhile will be costly.
May contact Pontiac Jeep UK, in the future to price up a 3.4 or 3.8 and 4 speed auto conversion.
[This message has been edited by Finale-gt (edited 08-13-2011).]
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09:00 AM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13798 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
When the Fieros were built the US national speed limit was 55 mph. The T125 runs well at 55 mph, but gets thirsty at higher rpm. I have a four speed auto in my 88 GT and at 70 mph, it runs at 2500 rpm. When they ran Fiero autos, top speed was about 110 mph,at least that is what I remember that was obtained in Quick Silver Zimmer.
The Fiero came from the factory with stainless steel exhaust.
jwrape, your RPM is way too high at 70 mph, is your TCC operational? What size tires are you running on the rear? What year Fiero (87 - 88 had lower final drive)?
To the OP - don't let the auto trans push you away from the car if everything else is to your liking - the trans can be changed to a manual or upgraded to a more modern design at a later date.
Look for rust in the rear corners, evidence of collision damage, etc when making your purchase decision.
3 speed auto is not a bad tranny contrary to the guys that say you should burn all fieros without a stick shift. I have driven stick cars for 30 years, I don't want a stick anymore. I will not buy another stick car unless it is a race car for track racing.
At 75mph I am turning 3800rpm on the highway, yes the drone of the higher RPM's is there but with the sunroof out and the windows open the only way you know it is by looking at the dashboard. At highway speeds I utterly own every stick shift driver as I am already in passing gear. You punch it to get around a truck and it just goes. no downshift, no hesitation, it just goes. This is where the 3 speed automatic is highly superior to any stickshift transmission or any automatic overdrive tranny made. I am already in the heart of the power band for the engine I have near peak torque for passing instantly available, not 1 to 2 seconds later like a stickshift.
Gas mileage... it stinks driving a lot of highway on the 3 speed. I get about 21mpg which is very low gas mileage for a car today.
As for disappointing performance, that's not the transmission. Thats' that 2.8L engine behind you. that is what you have to replace to get rid of the "disappointment" but again this car was not designed to be a corvette. it is a 2 seat commuter car, and with that in mind it drives incredibly well for that.
Thanks all for your responses. These figures sound a lot better to me now. I'm not planning on thrashing it everywhere anyway but, the national speed limit in England is 70mph and in reality means that everyone travels at about 80mph.
Just didn't want to be holding it at 5k rpm, just to keep up with traffic driving normally. 5K rpm for occasional fun now that's different!!!
Thanks again. Now I just need to buy it, and work out how to get pictures up on here to show it.
There seems to be a lot of performance variations with the 2.8 auto. I had an 85 SE with that combination that went in excess of 100 mph twice and never redlined. (Once verified by a friend behind me in the 67 Camaro) And it was still climbing when I backed off. This same car when going on an 850 mile trip would get get an average of 27 mpg running the speed limits. If I babied it it would go over 30. My wife's 85 GT with the same set up wouldn't get over 25 mpg. Never tried it for top end.
Originally posted by timgray: 3 speed auto is not a bad tranny contrary to the guys that say you should burn all fieros without a stick shift. I have driven stick cars for 30 years, I don't want a stick anymore. I will not buy another stick car unless it is a race car for track racing.
At 75mph I am turning 3800rpm on the highway, yes the drone of the higher RPM's is there but with the sunroof out and the windows open the only way you know it is by looking at the dashboard. At highway speeds I utterly own every stick shift driver as I am already in passing gear. You punch it to get around a truck and it just goes. no downshift, no hesitation, it just goes. This is where the 3 speed automatic is highly superior to any stickshift transmission or any automatic overdrive tranny made. I am already in the heart of the power band for the engine I have near peak torque for passing instantly available, not 1 to 2 seconds later like a stickshift.
Gas mileage... it stinks driving a lot of highway on the 3 speed. I get about 21mpg which is very low gas mileage for a car today.
As for disappointing performance, that's not the transmission. Thats' that 2.8L engine behind you. that is what you have to replace to get rid of the "disappointment" but again this car was not designed to be a corvette. it is a 2 seat commuter car, and with that in mind it drives incredibly well for that.
With a stick, you anticipate the need to downshift, and you're in the gear when you need to be. The automatic isn't any faster on the highway than the manual. Enjoy being in the wrong gear...
As far as disappointing performance, there's a world of difference between a 2.8 manual or automatic. The automatic is sluggish, the manual is decently peppy. The penalty for the automatic is probably on the order of a second in the quarter mile.
With similar tires, I would not be in the least bit surprised if a 2.8 manual Fiero would beat your Mondeo to 60 MPH.
[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 08-13-2011).]
Originally posted by jwrape: ...at 80mph you are right just below 5k rpms.
quote
Originally posted by Finale-gt: 80mph you are right just below 5k rpms!!!
What is the top speed on these then? Can't be much more than that.
The erroneous conclusion you drew, Finale-gt, is quite understandable, given the erroneous input you were provided.
I've owned since it was new, an `86 GT with an automatic.
It doesn't even come close to revving at "just below 5000 RPM at 80 MPH."
The short story is the silly assertion that at "80mph you are right just below 5k rpms!!!" is --- to put it overly charitably --- mathematically absurd.
Don't let it fret you my friend. It only "sounds" like it's coming apart due in part to the proximity of the driver to the engine and exhaust. I have an 86 SE 2.8/TH125 and it performs much as the more reasoned voices here have stated. "Modern" cars have more sound/noise control designed into them so you don't get to hear all of the death and destruction as in the older technologies when it comes to smaller vehicles.
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11:11 PM
Aug 14th, 2011
masospaghetti Member
Posts: 2477 From: Charlotte, NC USA Registered: Dec 2009
The 3-speed auto is not the best for high speed cruising. However, it works well at more moderate highway speeds (65 mph) and is extremely well built and reliable. I personally really liked the response and feel of the 3-speed when I had a couple old Berettas, one with the 2.8, another with the 3.1. The 3.1 had almost 200k miles and still shifted perfect.
My Fiero has the 4-speed manual and pulls about 3000 rpm at 65 mph, so not much different than the auto. I still get in the high 20's for MPG though.
