i like it, most of it. not sure bout the dual headlights but i think that the evolution of the car would have looked like the Trans Am but smaller (besides where do you think the looks came from for the Trans Am) the Fiero was here first.. i think that the Fiero would have been a Sport Compact killer today.. after the death of the Vette and Pontiac as ruler of GM oh where would have the Fiero gone?? Look at the Vette now it plays with cars that cost over twice as much and what if the Fiero would have had a chance to grow into something like that for half the price of the Vette...
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03:04 AM
Fierokid87 Member
Posts: 4954 From: N. Ridgeville, Ohio, USA Registered: Jan 2001
I love it as a car butI find I don't like it much as a Fiero. If I had a second Fiero I might try some of the design elements but because we now have the Trans Am to compare it to I would not buy it. If GM had not use the design to build the Trans Am then I think more of us would find less about it we didn't like. As it is if you really like it then just go out and buy the Firebird.
In some places it too trans am for me. The quarter windows I didnt care for. I didn't like the extended body either. The new fascia and plastic/vinyl interior on the inside is a huge improvement though. So Yes and No. But if you wanted one answer, I'd say no.
I have mixed feelings on it. I was so happy seeing it and it almost made me tear up thinking of what could have been BUT i like the original style better. The 90 is bigger for one thing and i personally like a small car. I like the small car feel and the quick darty behavior on the road. When the car's bigger it becomes bulkier and heavier and loses that quality. They would have more then likely used the Alcan aluminum frames by 90 and actually lost weight even with the bigger car but the feel of a small car is what i like. Not sure if i'm making sense there but i hope someone gets what i'm trying to say and will maybe be able to explain it better. The design itself is interesting but i like the original better still. Interesting note is that this design predated the second gen MR2 which had the dual opening decklid. Did everyone steal from the 90 design? I also have to question whether the new design would have that timeless quality the original design has?
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Activities Director N.I.F.E.
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11:43 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
I like certain elements of it. The newer style dash, upgraded powertrain, and the nose. I disliked the headlight placement, the rear bumper, the rear overhang, the dual decklids, the cheap-looking black plastic sail piece, and the overall length of the car.
Overall, my vote is no. Time has passed it by, too many other cars have borrowed it's styling. I much prefer the 86-88 fastback styling, it has withstood the test of time better. It's interesting to see where GM might have taken the car, and it's great they brought it to the show.
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I think the only reason folks like it is because it's NOT available, something never built
indypbody has is right, IMO. If the 90 had been made in large numbers, and not taking into account powertrain, would you rather have a 90, or an earlier style?
I wasn't as sold on the look until I saw it in person. It has more design cues from the successful Fiero prototype IMSA racers of that era than the '84-'88 Fieros.
There is also some hints of similar ideas along the lines of the Acura NSX.
But when one remembers that GT in it's traditional iteration means a "Grand Touring" car ment to cover large amounts of road quickly in style and comfort (as oppossed to an all out sports car) the bigger trunk and longer style makes sense.
Remember that there would also have been coupe and Formula models also, which judging by the pictures of them, would have retained more of the size of the '84-'88 Fieros with their shorter body styles and smaller trunks. Most likely a performance "sports car" buyer would have been steered towards the Formula rather than the bigger heavier GT.
Ken S.
[This message has been edited by kslish (edited 07-31-2003).]
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02:01 PM
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
I would have definately owned one if it where built. I fell in love with the appearance of the 84 Fiero; so as I watched the Fiero evolve, the 90 would have been as dramatic as the GT fastback was from the original coupe design.
I had a chance to talk with Wes Zaydel about the car last week and he said that this car appears exactly as it would have been produced. The only issues that were not resolved at the time were the badging, and interior trim colors and of course the powerplant. I am sure that the seats and steering wheel would have been different. Wes claims his first choice was to be the 195 HP version of the Quad Four. The debate was over if the consumers would accept a four cylinder in a car with an exterior appearence that the car had. The car was ahead of it's time for a 1990 release.
I also feel that the car is much more impressive live than in the pictures. My short ride in the car revealed that the spring rate was definately stiffer, and that the steering ratio was quicker due to the power steering. The thing that I found odd was that the power steering pump was quieter than the noise that the fuel pump was making. I do not know if they had to use a bigger pump to supply that experimental DOHC engine or not. I am also told that the 3.2L DOHC came along much later than the car.
The only major downside I see in the car is that the rear hatch that served as the air intake is made of lexan. We all know what our GT quarter window have done. Wes said that he was working to develop the piece out of a polycarbonate material; but budget ran out and the car was cancelled before anything could be resolved.
For me, it was an absolute thrill to be able to be so close to this car that has eluded us enthusiests for so long.
------------------ Fred Bartemeyer Chairman Heartland Fieros http://www.heartlandfieros.com 86 GT 4spd 26k miles 87 GT 5spd. Blue 37k miles 88 Silver T-Top Formula 275,000 miles 87 GT 5 spd Annette's Sunshine Driver 88 GT 5 spd Annette's Daily Driver
I don't like it. Too me it looks like a esign study for the trans am more than a fiero. Remember the 90's trans ams are all plastic except the quarter panels. When you place the 90's Fiero beside a 90's MR2 the MR2 looks way smaller and lighter and sleeker in my opinion.
I don't like it. It lost the 'Fiero' charm that I like. I liked the previous generation Celica, but I don't like the latest incarnation. Same deal. Lost charm. Same with '67-'69 Camaros and later generations...
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09:16 PM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Different angle on the same subject. The other topic asked "who DOESN'T like the 90", this one asks "yes or no vote".
People might have posted 'I like it' or 'I don't like it' more on this thread but for the posts that like parts of it (like the rear or headlights) answers are the same. The second person on the other thread stated they liked it and by the time you posted several said they liked it.
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09:24 PM
Aug 1st, 2003
Shadow_Wolf Member
Posts: 759 From: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2003
I like certain things and dislike others. I like how the fenders are wider, and cover some serious (for the time, anyway) wheels and tires. I like the front facia and ground effects. I like the tail lights and rear bumper. I *don't* like the rear roof section. Don't care too much for the shape of the wheelwells.
Regarding the Quad 4... As problematic as the early Quad 4 was, in terms of eating head gaskets, I wonder if that would have further hurt the Fiero's reputation if the car hadn't been cancelled when it was. Just a thought.
------------------ Raydar
88 3.4 coupe. 17s, cut springs 'n all.
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04:30 AM
PFF
System Bot
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
People might have posted 'I like it' or 'I don't like it' more on this thread but for the posts that like parts of it (like the rear or headlights) answers are the same. The second person on the other thread stated they liked it and by the time you posted several said they liked it.
I was hoping for a more simple "yes" or "no" vote thread, but threads take on a life of their own. Thread hijacking not intended.
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09:58 AM
Paul Prince Member
Posts: 2935 From: Kansas City, MO Registered: Dec 2002
I like certain things and dislike others. I like how the fenders are wider, and cover some serious (for the time, anyway) wheels and tires. I like the front facia and ground effects. I like the tail lights and rear bumper. I *don't* like the rear roof section. Don't care too much for the shape of the wheelwells.
Regarding the Quad 4... As problematic as the early Quad 4 was, in terms of eating head gaskets, I wonder if that would have further hurt the Fiero's reputation if the car hadn't been cancelled when it was. Just a thought.
Raydar is right about the Quad4, that would have meant certain death......Paul
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10:58 AM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40910 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Hate it. I don't like the longer body or the styling cues. I've never liked the transAm look.
I suspect though that if the Fiero had been kept in production other GM divisions would have used it as a platform with noticably different body styling. I probably would have bought one of those.
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09:34 PM
banditbalz Member
Posts: 2070 From: Barrie Ontario Canada Registered: May 2000