So, the upside is the downside, and the downside is the upside?

What about the 1988 model with the redesigned suspension? Would that be the upside-down-side?

These came out when I was in elementary school and at the time as a kid I thought they were very cool. The issue the Fierro had was the same as many GM products of the time. What had started as a very promising program wound up being ruined by bean counting and cost cutting. The suspension and braking systems were awful seeing as how they just took the same parts used on much cheaper cars like the Chevette.

It's a shame because the plug was pulled only 4 years after introduction.

The 1988 Fiero was a much improved vehicle that didn't get a fair shot at survival.

Quality was getting better, as they refined the X-Car/T-bits that comprised the car, as they underpinned other cars that sold more units, and would move the needle for the company's reputation as a whole.

Moreover, the suspension kinematic improvements in particular made for a much nicer vehicle to drive. Suspension geometry is critical when you have a tail-heavy, mid-engine car, and the critics liked what the engineers did.

It's sad GM pulled the plug on this car when they finally got it right.

Too many MBAs in The Corptrate Anthill methinks ;)

If any Fiero's ever have good value as a true collector's car, it will be the 1988 six cylinder models, when Pontiac finally got everything (including the front suspension right). The earlier models had far too primitive a front suspension, and just did not handle as a sports car should. Not surprising, because early on the Fiero was planned to be a "commuter car", not a true sports car. However Pontiac decided to give it a decent sporty car treatment, and actually got it right in 1988, just before they killed off this fun little runabout.

I sold Pontiacs in that era, and believe me, the 88's were the best of the bunch. They weren't perfect, but they finally displayed handling worthy of their good looks.

I always liked those speakers in the headrests, as well.

Engine accessibility was another story, and do watch out for those "space frames" underneath the plastic bodies, as they do rust out.

Well, like a modern Ferrari, these did have a thing for catching on fire.

Have you ever driven a Ferrari? I was only 21 when I was allowed to have a go in the 348tb, which left a massive impression on me, and I also had the owner with me by the way :P.

But I can't imagine a Pontiac that was pretty much thrown together being similar in character to the bespoke Ferrari. I may be wrong, but I'm confused.

Thank you, I was trying to be diplomatic by calling the front suspension "primitive", but you are right on - the early models had Chevette front suspensions.

This is a case of making a silk purse out of a sow's ear - or more accurately, making a Ferrari out of a Fiero.

The 1984 4 cylinder models were prone to fire. Something with the fuel line. There was a recall that fixed the problem.

I have a 1985 SE; I put a rear sway bar on it and what a difference that made. Drives like a slot car.

Actually it was a batch of miscalibrated oil dip sticks. They would read fuller than they actually were, being at lower level and then leading to a connecting rod shooting out the side of the engine block, and the oil would pour onto the catalytic converter resulting in a fire. With a plastic body the entire car was engulfed in no time.