Alright, heres the situation, just looking for opinions. I've been looking for a fiero for a while now to replace my 88 coupe I sold lastyear. Of course I want an '88GT, like everyone. Earlier this week I saw an 85 C4 corvette for sale. so I inqured and took it for a drive. I was very impressed, made my old fiero look pretty lame in terms of performace. And of course the looks and the aftermarket are definately there. I know it isn't really a fair comparison as the 'vette wasn't really designed for the same market as the fiero, but I have noticed alot of forum members have both vettes and fiero's in their driveway. The real thing that suprised me was how cheaps C4's have gotten now. I had planned on getting an 88GT, doing a V8 swap, upgrade susp. and brakes. But for that cost I can get a very nice C4 already equiped with the engine, and brakes, hopefully get a 89+, with the 6-speed. What are peoples opinions on this. I'm just having trouble making up my mind and want convincing. The fiero is more rare, which adds some incentive. What to do??????

it is your choice of wat u wanna drive u are the one payin so go for wat u want all i can say nothing feels like a fiero
mine are both for sale but ill be back someday wen i can efford to

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fastbackboy
email:gtrfiero@hotmail.com

If I had the $$ I'd go for the Vette. I bought my Fiero for $200; I can afford that. Hopefully I'll be abe to get into a Vette in a few years.

The Vette is so much more than the Fiero. I suppose if you really want the "oh, cool" factor, the V8 Fiero could be more fun. The Vette already has the V8 and the 6 or 7 speed transmition (Doug Nash 4+3). I had a blue early C4 behind me yesterday, sure looked cool. I've driven several C4s; they're a blast.

I think you need to do what you really want to do. What car do you like more? Are you comfortable driving a custom vehicle such as a Fiero with a V8 dropped in? Or would you prefer a 'Vette that is closer to stock? Also, which one is more fun for you to drive? The Vette is a little bigger and heavier. Also, have you checked out insurance rates on the Vette? A lot of companies won't insure them, or if they will you get hosed. Some companies might be cool about it too due to age.

It really sounds to me like you enjoyed the 'Vette! I personally love Vette's and would love to get one. The initial cost with the cost of insurance is just a little more than I can realistically pay for a car I can only use 6 months a year. But I think they are lots of fun, have a good history, and look good.

It really depends on what is most important to you.

Well, I can tell you this, My 91 Corvette Convirtable has been nothing but a $$ Pit. I can't wait to get rid of it. If the new 2005 mustang wasn't comming out... I'd be ditching my C4 for a C5 yesterday.

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Christophel

I think an 88gt with a V-8 would be way cooler than a stock C4 corvette. Personally I think fiero GTs look better as well.

You can build yourself a car that would kill the vette in all around performance, the very reason the fiero was cancelled!

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85...well, better than pop's 84 by far, but dunno. When you drive a vette, you become a giant fiberglass bullseye that anyone and everyone will want to take a shot at. The big thing tho - its nothing to lose to a vette in a race, but if you beat one, the poor vette owner never hears the end of it...X__X. A Fiero, tho....is almost the exact opposite. No offense to our mid-engine friend, but an stock 85 vette would have more pick-up than a a stock fiero. Fieros are basically mini-corvettes (performance-wise, but Fieros look cooler.... ) IMO, BUY BOTH!!!!! ^__^

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Fiero: Get in, sit down, shut up, hold on!!

I know 84s are total crap. I dont know if they got rid of the cross fire injection for 85 for sure. My 86 was very reliable, didnt cost me much to drive for 2 years. My 88 has only needed brake rotors up front since I got it 6 months ago. Its my daily driver, drove it all winter. Everything else has just been cosmetic, leather repair, new conv top, ZR1 wheels, painted a GS stripe. It could use a set of tires, there about 50%. I like the C4 looks better than C5. Rears look like they got rear ended by a snow plow, lol. Im not one who likes all these swoopy and curvy lines. I like classic look with sharp body lines.

C4's and 5's are slow !!!

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0 to 75 Audio http://www.cartsys.com/fiero/cal-engine.wav

V8 Fieros are better. Took a drive in a C5, was so so.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I know 84s are total crap. I dont know if they got rid of the cross fire injection for 85 for sure. My 86 was very reliable, didnt cost me much to drive for 2 years. My 88 has only needed brake rotors up front since I got it 6 months ago. Its my daily driver, drove it all winter. Everything else has just been cosmetic, leather repair, new conv top, ZR1 wheels, painted a GS stripe. It could use a set of tires, there about 50%. I like the C4 looks better than C5. Rears look like they got rear ended by a snow plow, lol. Im not one who likes all these swoopy and curvy lines. I like classic look with sharp body lines.

85 was the 1st year for the Tuned Port Injection (TPI) made a wee bit more power, something like 35HP/Tq If I remember right. And 84s aren't total crap. I wouldn't consider any corvette really "TOTAL CRAP" Maybe from a performance stand point, well duh they would be! But, theres more than performance, my friend... You see, theres a certain prestiege that goes along with haveing a corvette. It sorta signifies money, and that you have an impecibale taste in cars. Sorta like...performance, for the common man who desires a semi - top shelf car at a fair price. But yeah, 84s...not the slowest vette out there. I read one article a while back that had all the HP figures for all the years, and the lowest was 77 California emissions standard corvette (dun quote me on the year) But, it did have a whopping 140HP to play with...YAAAAAAAY! ^_^ But yeah, I just woke up one day when I was about 12, looked in the driveway and there was a 84 vette sitting there. And my dad going "Yup - just bought it today!!!" My dads klepto like that...X__X

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, not really but it was a long time ago. I was looking at the same thing basically. There were about three vettes in the local paper for under 6K, I thought about it, Fiero $500 to $2500, Vette $5000 and up. Both cars were about the same age so I figured gee, if I get the Vette I will already have $6000 invested and then most likely have to go through all the maintenance and repair items that I would on the Fiero. I figured I could almost rebuild the Fiero susp, brakes, etc, plus drop a nice engine upgrade in for about the same initial price as the Vette. When your talking cars with that many years on them even if they are low milage there are a lot of things that just go out, keep the cost of maintenance, repairs, and upgrades in mind when making your decision and just make sure you don't end up with a car that you can't afford to drive. I would live to own a Vette, but dollar for dollar I think the Fiero is a better platform because of the initial investment.
Bottom line is what will make you happy and what is within reason financially, sometimes we have to compromise a little either way.
Just my .02

How much for the money pit?

quote Originally posted by Christophel: Well, I can tell you this, My 91 Corvette Convirtable has been nothing but a $$ Pit. I can't wait to get rid of it. If the new 2005 mustang wasn't comming out... I'd be ditching my C4 for a C5 yesterday.

I've got a C3 ragtop as well as my Fiero. Two totally different cars. I actually used the C3 as a daily driver for a few years. I have to say that the Fiero was a much better daily driver but it certainly cost me more to repair. For city driving, the Fiero has the edge being smaller and easier to zip in and out of traffic. For the open road at 75 MPH, the 'Vette wins hands-down. I think even the C4 is old enough not to be so much of a target as a C5. But still a bit of a target.

I sold my 86 Corvette (406 SBC & 4+3 maunal) 3 years ago to buy the shop next door to work on my Fiero projects.

I hade my 86 Vette for 5 years and 60,000 miles and drove it damb near every day. The C4's (excluding 84's) ride nice, have lots of power, stop like crazy, turn like crazy, get 26+ MPG on the highway, and all are open air cars (convertible or targa). The only drawbacks to the Vette are that they are a bit on the heavy side (3200+ W/O driver) and they are a dime a dozen... see them all the time.

The Fiero and the Vettes share many of the same features. 4 wheel disk brakes, 4 wheel independent suspension, plastic body panels, 2 seaters, and minimal truck space. The Vette handles very well in stock trim, but is about 400lbs heavier and does not feel as nimble as a fiero.

A stock C4 to a stock 88GT.... I would take the C4.
A SBC 88 GT to a C4... I would take the SBC 88 GT.

Like I said, the vette is all too common, but a SBC 88 GT will outperform a C4 any day of the week. Also the SBC 88 GT is a bit more on the crazy side and that is what I like about it!

Try to take a test drive in a 1992 or newer Corvette. there is a noticeable difference in performance in the LT1 motor, enough to make you think twice about an 84 - 91. You can find deals on 92 -96 if you look.

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Tim
Red 88 Formula Auto 2.8 100K+ Miles - Hypertech - No Cat - No EGR

Murphys Law - "Nothing is as easy as it looks, Everything takes longer than you expect, And if anything can go wrong - it will, At the worst possible moment!"

An 88 fiero is going to be lighter and feel much more nimble then a C4. You can also get into a nice fiero for a lot less then a nice vette. C4s are tons of fun, they just feel heavier.

An 89 C4 is going to be one of the better C4's for the L98 engine. A six speed is also a nice combo. 89 Z51 optioned C4 are some of the best handling C4's around. The L98 will have more torque feel off the line, but will run out of breath around 4500RPM unless you mod it. C4 seats are some of the most comfortable factory seats in the world. Maintenance on a vette can be expensive and finding a good car that has been maintianed and repairs kept up is impotant. Neglected C4's will be expensive to repair and maintain.

Both cars look great, and are fun; things will be quite a bit more expensive with the vette.

There's a 91 ZR-1 for sale in AutoTrader for under $20,000.

A friend of mine had a 95 Vette, LT1 6-speed. I didn't drive it, but riding in it I came away thinking my Fiero rode better, my Fiero had more room inside (the Vette feels very narrow inside to be such a big car), and the Fiero probably handled nearly as well. Granted this is just a "feeling" but the Vette, while it was tight and in great shape, just didn't seem to inspire confidence. It seemed a bit skittish in handling. Yeah, it had the LT1, so it was hands down faster than my 2.8 Formula, but if I could have an LT1 Fiero vs. and LT1 Vette, I'd take the LT1 Fiero hands down.

The Vette probably has more buildup potential. The suspension was designed to have larger rolling stock to begin with, and there's obviously a huge aftermarket. It won't be cheap though.

One thing you gotta keep in mind though, is impression. Its gonna be pretty hard to pick up women in a car most women out there can't even pronounce (Fira? Fireo? Pickles?) With a corvette, it not only screams $$$ (in a good way) but women'll be all over you! Here are two situations....

newfie: Hey....wanna go take a ride in my...Fiero? Oh yeah...its a Pontiac
Girl: ::SLAPS newfie IN THE FACE!::
newfie: Allright, check ya later!!!

Event 2...
newfie: Hey....wanna go take a ride in my...Corvette? Oh yeah...its a Chevy
Girl: A VETTE?!?!?! OMG, I'M GIVIN' YOU HEAD TONIGHT!!!!
newfie: Uhm...COOL!!!

I'm not sayin Fieros are bad. If anything, I love them more than corvettes. But man, I've tried time and time again to get women into the seat of my Fiero. Unless they were a friend that was a girl I was giving a ride home to, that never happend. But buy an 80s vette, take that targa top off, and you'll have to buy a broom to beat back all the women! Trust me....I'm ugly as hell and I take that top off, put on the leather jacket N shades, and the women come a runnin!

IMO C4's are ugly... if you want a vette get like a stingray or something or a C5

You mentioned that your Fiero was an 88 coupe.
4 cylinders.

If you haven't driven a V-6 Fiero, do yourself a favor and do it before you spring for a Vette.

My 88 automatic coupe was completely uninspiring, before I put the 3.4 in it.
My Formula (essentially the same car with a V-6. Still automatic.) was as different as night and day.

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Raydar
88 3.4 coupe...........

Coming soon...
88 Formula, presently under the knife.

Edit----Not really worth saying.

Back on subject, I personally like the looks of a Fiero better. Screams Ferrari, handles quite well, and with a properly placed SBC, or L67 will outrun a vette all day long. I think Calikid once said he was getting 20+MPG with his foot in the throttle. Really though it is your money.

[This message has been edited by ls3mach (edited 04-04-2004).]

Which car do you eyes settle on???

Hah! Not to many of those guys willing to race you I bet!

Get the Fiero and put a bright colored paint job on it. Mine is painted lime green with white wheels (looks like the Fast and The Furious). I've seen em painted bright orange, yellow, etc and any really bright color like that can make them turn some heads. Most people have NO IDEA my car is even a Fiero. Some think its a Ferrari. Point is, a fiero looks exotic (at least the GT's) and is more unique than a corvette.

As for the girl factor, well, I have had quite a few girls I knew beforehand want to ride in my fiero, but when I drive my 03 Orange CTS around, girls I don't know want to ride in it, so yes, a Corvette will probably get you laid more than a fiero would. It is funny the way girls will react to your car...

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88 GT 3.4L 5-speed, Lime Green
03 CTS, Orange

quote Originally posted by newfie: Of course I want an '88GT, like everyone.

I think those of us who drool for an Indy or a Formula or other model might disagree with that
I do agree with what others have said, as it is ultimately you who will have to live with the decision you make and the cost and upkeep of either, not any of us.
Wanting a Vette may also just be something you will have to get out of your system. If you buy the Fiero, you may still have this nagging little thought in the back of your head every so often about "what would it have been like to have actually gotten the Vette".
here's food for thought: Do you ever notice that usually right after you buy a vehicle, you then start seeing them everywhere all the time? The Fiero isn't like that. If you buy the Vette, you might quickly discover exactly how many Vettes are actually out there while cruising around in a short amount of time. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing for some people but you can see what I mean.

Good luck with your decision and hope everything works out for you either way you decide

Steve

quote Originally posted by California Kid: Which car do you eyes settle on???

I kind of like that yellow Ferrari yep, thats the one my eye is on ..and its the fastest too

[This message has been edited by Erik (edited 04-05-2004).]