1987 Pontiac Fiero GT from North America - Comments

Exhaust manifold leaks at tube-to-flange welds at 20,000 miles. Fixed by dealer under warranty.

Totally plugged catalytic converter had to be replaced @ 51,000 at my expense. (The symptom is a rattling sound like a bag full of coat hangers.)

Shift cable needed replacing @ 54,000. (The symptom is tennis elbow-like pain in right arm.)

Cracked diaphragm in clutch pressure plate at 62,000 miles resulted in damage to flywheel bolts (!) and required replacement of bolts and new clutch. (The mechanic is a friend and showed me the damaged bolts. Unbelievable.)

How can a mid-engine sports car with four-wheel disk brakes, fully independent suspension and rack and pinion steering be this disappointing?

Simple:

The antique solid-rotor disk brakes are lousy.

The A-arm front suspension is cobbled together from junk Chevette parts.

The McPherson strut rear suspension from the Citation can't keep the back wheels pointed in a consistent direction. A slight change in pressure on the gas produces direction changes that are way out of proportion. (Poly Urethane bushings could help a bunch here.)

With fast steering, sloppy suspension and a short wheelbase, this car corners like it's on rails, but where those rails are is anybody's guess. Finessing the steering wheel to maintain your line in a hard, fast corner is impossible since the car has no road feel whatsoever. Try driving this thing on a truly fast stretch of winding road and you could get dead in a hurry.

The rear spoiler blocks out the headlights of following cars. Be VERY careful changing lanes at night.

The massive center console (it hides the gas tank) always gave me an intimidating crushed-up-against-the-door feeling.

Quick evasive maneuvers were hindered by elbows hitting the door and console.

I understand that your feelings on this car were quite disappointing to an extent. on the contrary, why would you have purchased it KNOWING that you didn't like a whole lot of aspects of the car. I find the car that I have (1987 Fiero) to be a godsend. I don't really know if there is a durastic difference in mine and yours other than some cosmetics. my fiero is also only a four banger. in a car of such minuteness, 4 cylinders is far enough power for my liking. Standard transmission is also an entertaining experience in my fiero. the spoiler does block out headlights, but sidemirrors make up for that. I put a Ocecat exhaust system in it for some extra horses... it helps. steering is quite a problem I agree. aside from shifting and steering at the same time, I feel it to be dangerous. but aren't all cars when it comes to steering. You can only push a cars steering so far until it cracks. it gives owners a feeling of a sportscar at nearly 1/10th the price of a super sportscar such as a lamborghini. its also american. I'm am very proud of my vehicle and drive it with pride... you should too. farewell.

Original author responds to above comment:

I DID NOT buy the car knowing of it's short-comings. I bought it new, lived with it quite a while, then tried to figure out why it was so unsatisfying. (I had been hoping to recapture the magical relationship I had had years ago with a 1965 Corvair Corsa: lowered, quick steering arms, 4-speed: an absolute blast). The Fiero came up way short in the grin-on-your-face department, and had other weird downsides that were totally unanticipated. (Like not being able to comfortably stick your elbow out the window because the glass doesn't go down all the way. What were they thinking ?) It's not without it's good points, but others on this site have covered those. I just thought that potential owners needed to know some of the negatives before making a buying decision.

I hope you enjoy your '87. If you haven't already, try removing the steering dampener. This will vastly improve low speed steering effort and road feel.

I drove a friend's 4-cylinder '88 and it was kinda puny power-wise, but my 2.8 V6 wasn't much better. If you're considering an engine transplant, I'd go with the 3.4 4-cam motor myself, but think long and hard before you start: probably 50% of any engine transplants never actually get running. Good luck.

Hi, I live near Lawrence kansas. I own a 88 GT, 5 speed with the 2.8 L. I love the car. The only problem in the car that I have encountered is that my clutch slips, and it needs replaced. I think the 2.8L provides far enough power, for the car is very light. They have been dynoed between 150-160 horse, way more than needed for a light car. It runs fine with 140,000 miles (I plan to rebuild the engine at 145,000). The car is in perfect condition, except for the bit of faded plastic on the spoiler, and I will hang on to it, upgrade it for as long as I possibly can. Thank you for the insights on the problems, I will check them out.

I just got a Pontiac Fiero GT. It is silver with 115,000 miles on it. I am financing the car for $3,750. I really love the car, it gets me place to place in style, and quickly. I am just glad I had the chance to purchase one. My friends say it is a death trap, but others can think what they want, but I am really happy with what I got. Fiero's are sweet looking cars and that is what I like.

Thank you for a very objective review. I've had two of these cars used and I like them a lot. Your right it's old tech, cheap left over parts, that looks better than it actually is... welcome to GM! You pointed out a few of this cars weaknesses there are more believe me. I drive Japanese because I can't afford European. The way the Fiero started out, what it became, what it was trying to be and how it ended. For what it was for the price you can't knock it. You get what you pay for in life, the brakes and suspension are easily upgraded inexpensively with grand prix, barretta, grand am etc... parts larger vented brakes are available. If you beat it it will break these cars are not know for bulletproof reliability, but the 2.8 multi port was a good motor and the 5 speed Muncie Getrag was an old Porsche design. Take off the catalytic converter these cars have a beautiful sound to them, but not much in the balls department. Buy one used do a V8 conversion and for under ten thousand you've got a pretty quick ride.

I just bought a 1987 poontiac fiero I ll replace header gasket hope everything works out.

I owned one for 3 days. Buy a truck; they are safer, faster and hold the road better. That car spun like a top around corners and almost killed me. No way in hell is that a sports car.

Junk fresh of the showroom floor. Buy an American truck; that's what Americans build best.

So, you owned a Fiero for 3 days? I've owned mine for over 13 years. My Fiero has never "spun like a top around corners" in all that time.

I had to laugh at your truck comments, "safer, faster and hold the road better". Trucks and SUVs aren't even required to meet the same safety standards as cars. In fact, the Ford Explorer is so prone to roll over, U-Haul won't even rent trailers to people that own them:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E0DB1F31F93AA35752C0A9629C8B63

As far as "road holding" ability, here's a truck holding the road:

http://www.co.washington.or.us/sheriff/media/photos/rollov.jpg

By the way, the Fiero crash tested much better than full sized cars like the Ford Crown Victoria or the Chevy Caprice:

http://www.fiercegt.com/safety.html

Honestly, it sounds like you wanted a truck and not a sports car. Nothing wrong with that. Tell you one thing though, they will be selling ice cream in the Warm Place the day a truck out-corners my Fiero GT.

I just bought a 1987 Fiero 6 weeks ago, and I still have my full-size truck for comparison. They are very different rides (duh...) and I use them for very different things. When I need to haul something, I use the truck, when I want to actually drive somewhere, I use the Fiero.

All of the previous comments about the Fiero ring true - it is underpowered (mine has 4 cylinders and 92 horsepower, a stick shift), cheaply built (not necessarily a bad thing as it is very accessible as a result - I paid a little over $1000), and very much fun to drive.

I could believe the claim that a truck could out-perform my Fiero. I was accelerating down a curved freeway on-ramp enjoying the impressive road handling characteristics and realized I was being tailgated by a pickup truck... it passed me and I realized that the truck was carrying an upright refrigerator. So it is possible that a modern Japanese truck might out-corner an antique American Fiero - it's also possible that, due to my unfamiliarity with the mid-engine handling characteristics, that I was driving too conservatively. But I was having fun, and I would much prefer to drive the Fiero anytime I can.

The conspiracy theory running through Fiero circles is that the Fiero was killed off by GM's failure to fully develop the Fiero to its potential. Even though it was tested in development with a small-block V8 engine installed, ultimately the decision was made to market it as an economy car instead of a performance car, allegedly because of the threat that it had the potential to out-perform the Corvette at a much cheaper price. Thus the dumbed-down suspension components. Many Fiero owners are replacing the engine with bigger, better, more modern engines to rectify this, as there is room to do it. I suspect that with a larger engine and better suspension the Fiero could have been more competitive with exotic cars such as Lotus, Lamborghini, Ferrari... I don't think it is the same market as with Corvette; I guess we will never really know.

My experience so far with the car is that even with the lack of amenities such as power steering, the car is a blast to drive even now. It is VERY small inside - without even a proper glove box and with the only storage small and difficult to reach (behind the driver's right shoulder) I have a challenge finding a place to put anything in the car while I drive, even my wallet or cellphone. Although the trunk is larger than you would think (and yes, a golf bag will fit), you need to carefully check what you are planning to carry, and maybe even measure it in advance. No way will you be able to put a large suitcase back there, for instance, and probably no more than one small suitcase. This is not a car for hauling stuff around in.

I am 6'-3" and a little overweight, getting in and out is tough, although I am getting better with experience. Once I am in, however, it is fun to drive (have I mentioned that yet?) And no matter how badly I flog it, I am getting around 30 mpg. My best so far has been 34 mpg, without really trying hard. I don't know what the top speed is - whatever it is it would probably take quite a while to get there, but that's okay. This car reminds me of my earlier days, when I was driving Triumph Spitfires and Fiats and other underpowered European "sports" cars - fun and cheap to drive on windy roads, easily passed by anything American on the straightaways.

It's not fair to compare this car with anything modern. The Fiero could have been great (it still is in many ways), but it was abandoned by GM in 1988: it may even have been abandoned earlier than that.

Here's hoping that Detroit can refocus on what matters in a car - efficient and fun to drive: what the Fiero could have been.

In reference to the spinning out comment. My son bought one a year ago and I warned him that rear engine cars will come around on you, especially when wet. I learned this from experience because I owned one of the first Porsche's with a turbo. The turbo lag was so bad that it would sometimes spool up while you in a corner and put you in a 360 before you knew it.

My son and I put the 3800sc engine in it. Upgraded to better brakes and suspension and now it will corner, accelerate and brake predictably.

I have been driving my Fiero GT for about 4 years now. Yes, the mid-engine takes just a bit of getting used to. Fine, whatever. But to say that a pickup can in any way handle better than my little Fiero is simply laughable. If nothing else folks, any vehicle whose lower door frame is eye level with me when I am sitting in a Fiero is way to high to corner with any real authority.

Passed by a truck hauling a refrigerator? Yes, you were driving conservatively and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that it's unfair to blame the car for it. Of course it's true that a mid or rear engine car will handle differently. If you are good at it though, you can account for how a mid/rear engine car handles and can then use it to your advantage. But there is no turbo lag on a stock Fiero because well... no turbo.

Here's some interesting comparisons:

The V-6 Fiero hit.84-.86g on the skidpad (4-cyl was roughly.80-.82g)

Porsche 911 Carrera ->.85g (the Carrera 4 was at.83g)

Ferrari Testarossa ->.84g

Lotus Esprit Turbo ->.86g

Lamborghini Diablo VT ->.87g

Acura NSX ->.87g

Acura Integra GS-R ->.82g

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am/Formula ('93+) ->.82g-.85g

Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX ->.86g.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus? The little Fiero was running right up there with the big boys, not bad at all. But the main thing is... just have fun with them.

I had an 85 four cylinder for one and a half years, and some of the comments ring true.

However one must take into consideration its limitations and origins.

Yes the handling is great... up to a point. One can get over their heads easily if you don't know the specifics of a mid-engined cars peculiarities.

The interior is light years better than a Corvette. The Corvette always seemed cramped & claustrophobic.

With the car now achieving cult-car status, there is much that can be done to the Fiero to bring about its full potential. Myself, I will soon start a business dedicated to a specific engine swap. All to guarantee the magnificent Fiero lives on.

Rick...

I have had my 85 Fiero GT for about 6 months. It has a nice body kit on it with aftermarket spoiler and rims.

Anyway, about the cornering. I understand about what the guy with the truck said. I had the same problems. Then I went and got some Goodyear triple treads. I can no longer make it "slide". The tires hold ANYTHING I want to throw at it. And I mean anything. I feel completely safe, regardless of the weather.

As far as power goes, it could use some help if it is still stock. I put a Hypertech power chip, k&n air filter, MSD coil, accel wire, Bosch platinum four plugs in it, and it made a huge difference. It is faster. Sounds better. And it only cost about $275.00.

As far as fun goes, I love it! Would not trade it for anything. Best car I ever had. I love to show it off. I am very proud of it.

I've owned an 1986 GT since '91 and drove several years on the original Eagle GT tires.

The car is a compromise, as all are. Removed the steering dampener and added after market rear sway bar and discovered the "handler" I wanted.

The V-6 with (4) speed is torquey enough to place the car in turns with application of throttle only at low or high speeds. Very entertaining drive with the worn out tires (not in rain, please).

Time has passed, and with added GM vented brakes, urethane bushings, and fresh shocks/struts things are better than new.

If interested in this modern might be classic, purchase the lowest mileage car available and budget to make it to your liking. They can be very reliable daily drivers. With time, it might become an investment. As long as after market suppliers are available, I'll not sell my 52K mile '86.

NCTriad.