I am looking for opinions on why Fiero prices are so low. The car is popular and 40 years old. There is an ad in the mall for what looks to be a nice pace car for $3600.. I just can't figure out why they don't bring better money.
One answer is Fiero’s tend to get used and abused and don’t get proper care and love. Look at all the ads on Craigslist. Most need lots of tlc and few are in really great condition. Kit
elgemcdlf: There is an ad in the mall for what looks to be a nice pace car for $3600. I just can't figure out why they don't bring better money.
You're talking about "Indy Fiero Barn Find on FB Marketplace in Michigan" Yes, the car is in good condition with ~30k miles and only asking $3,600 BUT it is a 1984 Iron Duke with an automatic......the 'worst' of the Fiero family {in my opinion}.
Did you see "4,522 Indy for sale? Gauging interest..." in 'TheMall' too? It is a 1984 Iron Duke with a stick, excellent condition with ~4,500 mile on the clock However, the auction ended with the highest bid at $13,000 but the owner wanted more...
------------------ Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
Second top condition V6 cars and specific cars with options command more money than 4 cylinder cars.,
Condition matters if you want an original car as often it cost more to restore than they are worth. Parts can ve difficult yo find in good shape.
Finally most good condition V6 cars can be worth more than new. Few 80’s cars have done that. Few car do this let alone get hit great values. Many of the cars today that have are also 20-25 years older.
Just buy what you like. Then when it is not worth anything you have a car you love.
Second top condition V6 cars and specific cars with options command more money than 4 cylinder cars.,
Condition matters if you want an original car as often it cost more to restore than they are worth. Parts can ve difficult yo find in good shape.
Finally most good condition V6 cars can be worth more than new. Few 80’s cars have done that. Few car do this let alone get hit great values. Many of the cars today that have are also 20-25 years older.
Just buy what you like. Then when it is not worth anything you have a car you love.
My daughter is restoring her 1985 Fiero 2m4 SE 5-Speed... and we're doing about as close to a concourse restoration as we can, while upgrading a few things here and there... and with us doing ALL of the work, minus the transmission rebuild... it's looking like this will have ended up costing close to $25k.
And at the end of the day, it'll still be a 4 cyl... but it'll have Mr. Mikes seats, fully restored interior, and everything will look amazing, and of course, I view it as a learning experience. But 100% to your point.
I am looking for opinions on why Fiero prices are so low. The car is popular and 40 years old. There is an ad in the mall for what looks to be a nice pace car for $3600.. I just can't figure out why they don't bring better money.
I'd also mention though, I'm not sure they are that cheap. These cars are just starting to come into their own, and there are dozens of C4 Corvettes that are all priced around the same price. Most of the Fieros being sold on eBay are through classic car resellers (Gateway Classic Cars, Worldwide Vintage Autos, Streetside Classics, etc.)...
The average price seems to be above $10k... with many of them in the $20k range.
Cars are almost always absurdly cheaper on Facebook Marketplace. That's mostly because people just want to get rid of them quick, there's no obligation or commitment, and none of the stuff you deal with on Bring a Trailer or eBay, for example.
More than anything, the 1980s cars are starting to pick up significantly... but were at their lowest point just before the Pandemic. Next... 90s cars... start snapping them up, because they're going to be getting the next price hike.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: My daughter is restoring her 1985 Fiero 2m4 SE 5-Speed... and we're doing about as close to a concourse restoration as we can, while upgrading a few things here and there... and with us doing ALL of the work, minus the transmission rebuild... it's looking like this will have ended up costing close to $25k.
And at the end of the day, it'll still be a 4 cyl... but it'll have Mr. Mikes seats, fully restored interior, and everything will look amazing, and of course, I view it as a learning experience. But 100% to your point.
Yes it is not just the Fiero’s but even many GTO or other cars will cost more to restore vs buy one that is done. I know you did yours to learn and knew the costs. But many people buy a bargain project and spend more than they would for a clean low mile car.
I say if you are restoring you fathers car or your high school car just buy the best you can afford.
Yes it is not just the Fiero’s but even many GTO or other cars will cost more to restore vs buy one that is done. I know you did yours to learn and knew the costs. But many people buy a bargain project and spend more than they would for a clean low mile car.
I say if you are restoring you fathers car or your high school car just buy the best you can afford.
Just paint alone is a killer.
I have seen many lose a lot of money.
Worst example I have is... I bought a 1984 Porsche 944 5-Speed (barely running) which had a rebuilt 2.5 Porsche motor in it.
I bought it for $1,600 bucks.
Over the next year, I basically restored the entire thing... rebuilt the brakes, suspension, fuel system, replaced the entire interior, Blaupunkt stereo system and speakers, everything. I spent $7,000 just on parts (since I did all the labor).
My wife's pregnant, and I immediately sell off half my cars (not something she asked me to do, or we had to do... I just wanted to simplify my life so I could focus on what was important). Put the car on eBay... and sold it for $2,018. Haha. The guy loved it. I picked him up from the airport, and drove it all the way from Fort Lauderdale to Ohio. Said it was the best Porsche 944 he'd ever driven. Great... but I'd just lost like $5k. Haha... oh well.
I, at 65 years old, have come to the conclusion that buying cars is like playing the Stock Market. Some pay off better in the long run, some are better to sell early.
I look at old cars for sale and the prices often, and wish I still had what I sold long ago, or wrecked.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Worst example I have is... I bought a 1984 Porsche 944 5-Speed (barely running) which had a rebuilt 2.5 Porsche motor in it.
I bought it for $1,600 bucks.
Over the next year, I basically restored the entire thing... rebuilt the brakes, suspension, fuel system, replaced the entire interior, Blaupunkt stereo system and speakers, everything. I spent $7,000 just on parts (since I did all the labor).
My wife's pregnant, and I immediately sell off half my cars (not something she asked me to do, or we had to do... I just wanted to simplify my life so I could focus on what was important). Put the car on eBay... and sold it for $2,018. Haha. The guy loved it. I picked him up from the airport, and drove it all the way from Fort Lauderdale to Ohio. Said it was the best Porsche 944 he'd ever driven. Great... but I'd just lost like $5k. Haha... oh well.
Sadly this is the case too often. You need to look at this stuff long term and many fail.
I, at 65 years old, have come to the conclusion that buying cars is like playing the Stock Market. Some pay off better in the long run, some are better to sell early.
I look at old cars for sale and the prices often, and wish I still had what I sold long ago, or wrecked.
The truth is the market is more predictable. Most stocks are much higher and safer returns than a car.
Also most people who own these high priced cars today either paid a lot buy them or spent a lot restoring them. The money was made at smaller levels over time. I had my muscle cars and I made back double but I did not pay a lot for them.
Each trade added more value over 30 years to the muscle cars. Then the BJ auction prices have inflated expectations.
Cars are what you buy when you made money on the market or from investing in a business.
[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 10-15-2024).]
Sadly this is the case too often. You need to look at this stuff long term and many fail.
At the time I bought it, I didn't have any expectation that I would sell it. I just assumed I would keep it forever like my Fiero. All of that changed when my daughter was on the way... I was willing to just take the hit because it felt more responsible to cut my losses and get unnecessary complications out of the way. The wife said I should have kept the Porsche and sold the Fiero... haha... I told her hell no... the Fiero was my first car. But I do miss that Porsche 944...
We also kept the VW Bus, but I sold the Pontiac Solstice and bought a Ford Explorer, and she sold her VW Beetle Convertible and bought a Jeep Patriot SUV. :/
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: At the time I bought it, I didn't have any expectation that I would sell it. I just assumed I would keep it forever like my Fiero. All of that changed when my daughter was on the way... I was willing to just take the hit because it felt more responsible to cut my losses and get unnecessary complications out of the way. The wife said I should have kept the Porsche and sold the Fiero... haha... I told her hell no... the Fiero was my first car. But I do miss that Porsche 944...
We also kept the VW Bus, but I sold the Pontiac Solstice and bought a Ford Explorer, and she sold her VW Beetle Convertible and bought a Jeep Patriot SUV. :/
I learned early on to look big picture.
But I made one mistake. I had a Chevelle SS with a tunnel ram, a GMC 1972 Sprint SP big block. And a 1970 Monte Carlo. I sold all three and bought the Fiero. lol. How much the others are worth are crazy as all were of show quality. I did double my money and paid cash for the Fiero in 1985 new.
But the Fiero has got me in places I never would have gone. 100 plus mph at Indy. Displayed at a GM plant, displayed in Summit Racings headquarters store and won a number of best of show at large events against much more expensive cars and even several magazine stories.
So while I did not get rich I had a great time. When I bought my Vette the wife asked if I would sell the Fiero and I said NO!.
Originally posted by hyperv6: I learned early on to look big picture.
But I made one mistake. I had a Chevelle SS with a tunnel ram, a GMC 1972 Sprint SP big block. And a 1970 Monte Carlo. I sold all three and bought the Fiero. lol. How much the others are worth are crazy as all were of show quality. I did double my money and paid cash for the Fiero in 1985 new.
But the Fiero has got me in places I never would have gone. 100 plus mph at Indy. Displayed at a GM plant, displayed in Summit Racings headquarters store and won a number of best of show at large events against much more expensive cars and even several magazine stories.
So while I did not get rich I had a great time. When I bought my Vette the wife asked if I would sell the Fiero and I said NO!.
Hah! That's awesome. I'm glad to see too that people are really starting to look at the Fiero like a classic car and something valuable... rather than just a qwerky car owned by strange people that have a death wish because they supposedly blow up constantly, multiple times a day, on the same trip.
Hah! That's awesome. I'm glad to see too that people are really starting to look at the Fiero like a classic car and something valuable... rather than just a qwerky car owned by strange people that have a death wish because they supposedly blow up constantly, multiple times a day, on the same trip.
Look I lived the entire Fiero experience.
I was the celebrity when I bought it. It could have been a Ferrari.
Then I became the village idiot that bought the Fiero in the 90’s.
Once 2000 arrived it slowly started to return to better times.
Now it is back to that is cool, I had one, wish I had one, my mom or dad had one. Etc.
I know with mine as clean as it is and the mods it really attracts a lot of attention today. I often when I am getting gas they always take photos.
You add in the Indy scoop or other rare Fiero tings like T tops it even adds to the attention.
Most of the Fieros that remain for sale are not used but "used up". I purchased my 87GT about 25 years ago for $2300. It was in good shape and driveable with 63K miles. After going through two engine swaps 3.4L Turbo w modified JPT racing automatic (now in another GT) then going on to add the modified 3800SC/ 4T65eHD with a whole bunch of mods, I have probably spent close to $20,000 more and that's with original but decent paint as well. Point is that you may start out cheap and end up expensive!
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Originally posted by hyperv6: But I made one mistake. I had a Chevelle SS with a tunnel ram, a GMC 1972 Sprint SP big block. And a 1970 Monte Carlo. I sold all three and bought the Fiero. lol. How much the others are worth are crazy as all were of show quality. I did double my money and paid cash for the Fiero in 1985 new.
But the Fiero has got me in places I never would have gone. 100 plus mph at Indy. Displayed at a GM plant, displayed in Summit Racings headquarters store and won a number of best of show at large events against much more expensive cars and even several magazine stories.
So while I did not get rich I had a great time. When I bought my Vette the wife asked if I would sell the Fiero and I said NO!.
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