Ok this is probably a dream, and yet just a pointless idea that wont' succeed but doesn't hurt try. You know how they brought back the GTO?? Do you think, since the Fiero has been gone for 20 years, bring it back? I mean, just like in the 80's it will appeal to a lot of people. Sports car, exotic look, and the power to match it and relatively affordable. Im wondering if a petition or something could be brought up maybe, who knows.. Just my 2 cents...
Soltice.....is well Idk....Im not a fan of it. Plus good point, we dont' want them bring back the Fiero just for them tor them to cut it off cause it's more liked & competing with something in they're own stall *Corvette cough cough* like before. So good point.
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08:55 AM
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
The difference is that they were proud of the GTO - it was a high-image muscle car.
Over the years, it seems like most people at GM who weren't directly involved with the Fiero's design/construction/etc. think it's an embarassment.
I think the Solstice will be the best shot at a 'new Fiero' that we'll be seeing. But to me, unless the engine's behind the seats, it ain't 'mid-engine'.
------------------ Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com 1988 Red Fiero Formula Convertible
Well I bet a lot of people here with good hands could draw or use a pc program to do some "2005" Fieros. Different models & etc. And we could all propose them to GM. Just a shot.
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03:58 AM
cccharlie Member
Posts: 2006 From: North Smithfield, RI Registered: Jan 2003
Originally posted by Fiero Finale: Soltice.....is well Idk....Im not a fan of it. Plus good point, we dont' want them bring back the Fiero just for them tor them to cut it off cause it's more liked & competing with something in they're own stall *Corvette cough cough* like before. So good point.
I'm not sure I buy the arguement that the Fiero was cancelled because of the Corvette.
I blame Saturn. I think it would have been difficult to sell "a different kind of car. a different kind of company." when the Pontiac dealer across the street was selling an ever MORE different kind of car. And 91 Saturns certainly outsold 88 Fieros.
GM won't sell a mid-engine car unless they see a profitable market. Unfortunately, they are correct in believing that the market is very limited.
I'm just hoping for a good-looking, affordable hardtop version of the Solstice.
------------------ 88 4cyl auto Fiero, AC, sunroof, tilt steering, rear swaybar "And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!" - The Tick
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04:35 AM
tednelson83 Member
Posts: 1993 From: Santa Clarita, California, USA Registered: Jul 2002
Well it don't hurt to try...lol. I think if it was made limted the better, making it more "exotic". Someone can draw a "base model" but you can guess what "2005" model I will draw *glances at member name* lol. I mean depending how serious of details of pictures & estimated pictures & engines this would be a great proposal.
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04:44 AM
naskie18 Member
Posts: 6258 From: Commerce Twp, MI, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Why not get an Elise? Mid-engine.... How about a MR2? (which they aren't going to make anymore, I believe)
Let's face it, who will plop down $30K for a new Fiero? $40K? Who can compete with the Z4, S2000, MR2, Miata? That is what it would take in today's market for a low volume car. The Solstice is nice, but it will not sell well after a few years. Like the fiero, it is a limited market car. GM will then say there isn't a market for such a car (we all know it is because they take forever to get it to the marketplace!)
I agree with finale, this post wasn't about what you think about the possibility, or whether GM would actually accept the proposal. This was about getting some designs and ideas going as to a 05 fiero. It'll be fun.
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12:23 PM
Fformula88 Member
Posts: 7891 From: Buffalo, NY Registered: Mar 2000
File the return of the Fiero unde "Not gonna happen"
You want a small sports car for decent money? GM will tell you to see your choice of Kappa based cars. The Solstice, the impending Saturn roadster (rumored to look like the VX Lightning Concept). Mid engine? No. Does that mean they will be bad? Absolutely not!
I see good things coming for these Kappa sports cars. 170 HP base engine in the Solstice, some sort of boosted engine in the future. Great handling, good interior room, solid structure. Whats not to like?
As for the Fiero being cancelled... a few different things played a role. Sort of the perfect storm to kill it. Sales were on the decline, forcing prices to rise, which hurt sales more. There were no versions of the platform to pick up the slack at the plant to fill in for the lower volume, meaning an idle plant eating huge overhead costs. Insurance rates were skyrocketing and public perception of the car plumeting due to engine fires, and Chevy was against it. Any one factor may not have killed it. But if your GM, you have a product the public is afraid will burn down, thinks is too expensive, cannot get insurance on, and you have bean counters telling you its not going to remain profitable in the future and other divisions are working behind the scenes to kill it... its basically doomed.
[This message has been edited by Fformula88 (edited 10-22-2004).]
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12:30 PM
matchmade Member
Posts: 435 From: Nashville,TN USA Registered: Sep 2004
They (GM) at one time talked about bringing over the Opel Roadster and rebadging it as a new fiero. But since I believe the Opel Roadster and it's cousin the Vauxhall VX220 are both being redesigned on the "Kappa" architecture which is responsible for the Solstice.
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12:30 PM
Fformula88 Member
Posts: 7891 From: Buffalo, NY Registered: Mar 2000
They (GM) at one time talked about bringing over the Opel Roadster and rebadging it as a new fiero. But since I believe the Opel Roadster and it's cousin the Vauxhall VX220 are both being redesigned on the "Kappa" architecture which is responsible for the Solstice.
Partly right. A lot of people talked about bringing overl the opel Speedster, which is based on the Lotus Elise platform. However, GM has said from the start that it did not have the production capacity (only 2000 units a year) to make it worthwhile to have the vehicle federalized for sale in the US. Also, it might be replaced by a Kappa based roadster, but it certainly is not being redesigned on Kappa. Kappa is a much larger and heavier front engine rear drive platform. The Elise based Speedster is of course smaller, lighter, and mid engine. It would have been awesome to get the Speedster, but at least you can get your hands on the Elise anyway (at a cool $40K).
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12:33 PM
matchmade Member
Posts: 435 From: Nashville,TN USA Registered: Sep 2004
Speedster, that's right. Sorry I work from 10pm to 7am and haven't went to bed yet. I saw the concept for the Vauxhall replacement, and just assumed since the Vauxhall VX220 and the Speedster were essentially the same car the Speedster would go that route as well. I'll have to find it but I think it was Road and Track that had the info on the new Vauxhall and they did mention that it was indeed going Front engine Rear drive.
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02:25 PM
Fformula88 Member
Posts: 7891 From: Buffalo, NY Registered: Mar 2000
That is the Vauxhaul VX Lightning concept that GM had in Europe last year and at the Detroit Auto Show in Jan 2004. It is based on the Kappa (Solstice) platform. Its a very sharp looking design, and is rumored to be close to what the Saturn roadster will look like. If this is what th Saturn will look like, there will be a lot of roadster shoppers who will have a tough choice to make between this and the Solstice. Saturn did have a 2+2 coupe built on the Kappa platform called the Saturn Curve at the NAIAS last January as well, but they are not going to build it, at least at this time.
I agree with finale, this post wasn't about what you think about the possibility, or whether GM would actually accept the proposal. This was about getting some designs and ideas going as to a 05 fiero. It'll be fun.
I like how he thinks...lol. But i'll start up drawing a 2005 Fiero "Finale" yes it will be using a lot of achies design, basically the same. I will even draw a "base model" when I get a chance. Just a fun idea.
Also Matchmade, you live in St Louis, what kinda fiero you have man I may have seen it before.
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02:42 PM
Unsafe At Any Speed Member
Posts: 2299 From: Cheyenne, WY Registered: Feb 2003
Yeah that's the Vauxhall I was referring to. The Saturn curve is pretty cool too.
Hey it wasn't really intended to even remotely be a fiero but I do have a mid/rear'ish engine looking car as a background filler piece on final project for my 3d modeling class. It doesn't have any real details to it because as I said it's background filler and I don't want the final piece to take that long to render.( The whole thing took less than an hour to make, I felt I needed to qualify the fact that it is not meant to be a centerpiece so the "flames" don't start roaring on this.)
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04:16 PM
naskie18 Member
Posts: 6258 From: Commerce Twp, MI, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Ok this is probably a dream, and yet just a pointless idea that wont' succeed but doesn't hurt try. You know how they brought back the GTO?? Do you think, since the Fiero has been gone for 20 years, bring it back? I mean, just like in the 80's it will appeal to a lot of people. Sports car, exotic look, and the power to match it and relatively affordable. Im wondering if a petition or something could be brought up maybe, who knows.. Just my 2 cents...
If your related to the GM gods then you may have a chance if you and Alex drive this one for viewing and don't mention ANYTHING ABOUT A FIERO.
Once they've been hooked, still don't tell them its a Fiero. Be indenial tell the very end. Hehehehe.
But I figure if we make a base model, fastback, notchback, and a couple other styles (finale lol) and present them different pictures of these proposed new Fieros(we wont tell them Fiero like Madcurl said till the end lol) and the available engine types. Also I think the production should be like 1/4 of the total fieros made for the first year, isn't that like 100,000?(think 400k was the total) to make it even more exotic, and to just incase sales aren't so high its not like a million of htem are being made. Maybe if we do enough hardwork & depending on how much detail we go into we could propose to have it made for 2008, 20 years after the Fiero "died" and it will rise again. Who knows....*dreams*
Ah, this has been on my mind since I got a Fiero! I got so excited about the mere thought of a new Fiero that I sent Pontiac an e-mail through their web site requesting exactly that; I even mentioned the GTO for support.
It does seem like an awesome idea, and it is easy for us to wonder why they wouldn't want a new Fiero! It is only when you wade through the politics of GM that you realize why this is pretty unlikely.
But what the hell! I love the idea of getting some drawings and ideas made up. And look at it this way: the Fiero community is full of builders and designers and fabricators and entrepreneurs... craftsmen, welders, electronics wizards, body experts, dreamers, restorers, and craploads of motorheads! =P There are people here who were with GM working on the Fiero when it was new! If we want a new freaking Fiero, the place to make it happen is right here. This forum is comprised of all the necessary experts in all the right categories (and dumb worthless people like me on top of that to, umm... lol... to rally the troops?).
Look at the design skills of people like AusFiero and Fiero Finale. Look at the excellent and original work of Archie. Try to count the endless mods conceived and built - some on a large scale - by our own fellow PFF members. I think this forum, together, has the ability to create a new car from scratch. No, not on a mass scale... and I'm sure it couldn't legally be called a Fiero - but... well, bring on the designs.
By the way, for what it's worth, here's the response I got back from Pontiac:
Dear Mr. Degner,
Thank you for contacting the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center. We appreciate your suggestions that Pontiac bring back the Fiero. We also appreciate your complimentary remarks about the GTO.
We are interested in your suggestions and appreciate it when customers like you take the time to write to us about them. We value the opinions of our customers and we always take them into consideration as we plan for future models.
Again, we thank you for your e-mail and your interest in Pontiac. If you should need to contact us in the future, simply reply to this message or call our Pontiac Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-762-2737. Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Sincerely,
Charlie Williams Customer Relationship Manager Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
For more information regarding the maintenance and care of your vehicle, please visit www.pontiac.com/owners. This free online service offers vehicle and ownership-related information and tools tailored to your specific Pontiac.
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10:24 PM
Shadow_Wolf Member
Posts: 759 From: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2003
Not sure if any of you read Hot Rod magazine. But in a issue, GM authorized a large group of "Chevelle fanatics" the right to use the Chevelle name to make a 2005 Chevelle. They are going to make 40 for 2005. Then depending on they're own choice, not GM, on how they wanna go after that. Just a idea to shoot, basically I bet what we're compiling here is what those Chevelle fanatics did. They probably did lots of designing, lots of different "models" and variations. Engine types & all the things stated before. Proposed all this information that problably took them a couple months to compile or more, lots of pictures of this proposed car & etc. Maybe a other things to show, and GM gave them the word. It's just a matter of how determined we are and serious about a project like this. Just my 2 cents. again.
Not sure if any of you read Hot Rod magazine. But in a issue, GM authorized a large group of "Chevelle fanatics" the right to use the Chevelle name to make a 2005 Chevelle. They are going to make 40 for 2005. Then depending on they're own choice, not GM, on how they wanna go after that. Just a idea to shoot, basically I bet what we're compiling here is what those Chevelle fanatics did. They probably did lots of designing, lots of different "models" and variations. Engine types & all the things stated before. Proposed all this information that problably took them a couple months to compile or more, lots of pictures of this proposed car & etc. Maybe a other things to show, and GM gave them the word. It's just a matter of how determined we are and serious about a project like this. Just my 2 cents. again.
That is pretty cool about the Chevelle crowd! I mean, really cool.
Well i'm pretty determined lol. If you guys don't want to I will single handily just propose the Fiero "Finale" model to them cuz I'm not going to do all the models by myself!!!!!!!
Like I said, a determined group of Chevelle owners got they're dream come true. If accepted, I say the first year of the return of the Fiero be 2008, 20 years of a "hiatus" and GM doesnt' like spontaneous things, so depending on how hard we work are butts off, they'll have 3 years to review & w/e the stuff. That's not bad, and more logical thinking if someone complains & says thats to far away from now. When I get some time, I will give my own personal version of the base model & other things & the "finale" model. Depending on # of people who will decide to devote their time to this project we will pick a general understanding of so & so models looks & specs.
If accepted, I say the first year of the return of the Fiero be 2008, 20 years of a "hiatus" and GM doesnt' like spontaneous things, so depending on how hard we work are butts off, they'll have 3 years to review & w/e the stuff. That's not bad, and more logical thinking if someone complains & says thats to far away from now...
2008 is not at all too far away! Three years means more time for a better design.
If I could help in any way, I would, but... I have no automotive expertise. Hopefully some of the big names in the Fiero community will see this and jump on it.
Yeah, I mean those who are not that well at desiging mechanical & structural design can just do drawings of the look of the car. Also bump!! don't let this die.
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01:04 AM
I Annoy Member
Posts: 263 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Mar 2004
I really wish people would stop trying to bring back the Fiero. As a GM model it failed. Probably 75% of North Americans still associate the Fiero as a crap car that caught on fire. Why on earth would GM won't to bring it back. Get real people. If the Fiero ever did come back, it would mean our cars are old crappy version. Look at the Beetle. It lost a lot of it's value and prestige once they brought back the new one.
No one will disagree that the Fiero was probably ahead of it's time, but take that into account as well as the fact that it was only made for a brief 5 years and has a bit of a cult following and that is where most of the appeal for the Fiero is. One of the main reasons I drive a Fiero is that I am one of the few.
Let it go people.
------------------ The rebirth of 72vinman
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01:28 AM
88gtNewb Member
Posts: 922 From: Surrey, BC, Canada Registered: Aug 2004
I would love to see GM sell another low priced mid-engine sports car, something to give the C6 a run for it's money for half the cost, but I see no reason to call it a Fiero. I'd like our cars to stay unique, plus the Fiero reputation is less than stellar anyways
------------------
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01:41 AM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I seen a episode on the Simpson inwhich Homer's rich brother asks him to design a car. Less than 30 minutes later, the rich brother's company went broke. The only way inwhich GM will even take a look at it...is if another auto maker starts coping the Fiero design frame-by-frame and using the name.
Altered pipe dream: maybe if the Fiero was featured in a commerical or in a real cop-car-chase and the owner had a V8 or something and it out ran a interstate cop car (Camero).
I could see the headlines,"cop chasing a Fiero going 165mph"!
Well like that fanatic Chevelle group, they are building they're own Chevelle themself. Well what if we just took like lets say 10 to 50ish Fieros and make them "new" if you know what I mean. They would still be a 1986 or 84 or whatever Fiero but "new" and restored if you know what I mean. Eh??
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02:08 AM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6090 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
Well the only way you are going to get a new Fiero is if you quite dreaming and build it yourself!
As long as you hear negitive Fiero comments by the general public GM will never build it. Think Corvair, it was a goiod car at the end but because of earliy problems the whole line has had a bad rep unjustly given.
As for the Vette killed the Fiero it is true! It was stated by the heads of the Fiero program and design staff in Pontiac MI in the earliy 90's. I did not believe it myself till I heard it from the GM Fiero people them selfs. The poor management and lack of developement of the Fiero gave the Chevy guys who were fighting to save their own car the ammo to get GM to pull the plug. They knew where Pontiac was going with their car and it was going to rob Vette sales that would have doomed their car. The Vett was almost canceled a few times in the 80's and 90's. Chevy had to share their platform with Caddy to save the C6. Not something they wanted to do.
The said " Chevy sells more cars than Pontiac so Chevy get more say so then Pontiac."
If everyone likes the Lightning VX, you will be able to buy one in the near future as it will become the new Saturn! If you look in the new Saturn dealer books it is in their styling studio now and is planed for release in 2008. The Curve was dumped for the open roadster.