The first thing to go was the O2 sensor. The mechanics had to drop the motor to change it, so I was told.
The next thing that when was a gas modulating sensor, linking to the newly replaced O2 sensor, thus blowing that one too. Another expensive repair.
Then the starter went, got a friend to do it, shouldn't have. He left some wires too close to the exhaust manifold, thus they welded to it.
This led to the next issue, the wiring all had to be redone in the rear. That was 6h or shop time. By now I'd say I was $3000 in the hole.
Also took it in to get the rear rotors machined. The car had apparently sat a while with the previous owner. I had no idea. The front rotors still need to be machined.
Next I was driving along and saw a nice cloud of white smoke coming from my car. It got so bad it obscured the view for other drivers as I was driving it the garage. The head was cracked. After trying three other heads from wrecked 84 Fiero and finding they too were all cracked in many places, I had it rebuilt. That was about $1500. Pontiac did not claim any responsibility for improperly machining the head, they only said they didn't expect this car to still be on the road anyway.
Finally, I had a stereo installed and those who did it drilled the amp right into a rad pipe. The garage patched it, and I can still smell antifreeze every time I use the car. The pipe may still have to be repaired one day depending on how well a weld hold on a pipe that is under pressure...
Finally, I had headlight motors installed not knowing one of them didn't work. I would think that would be checked before installation. You have to spell these things out to some garages. In doing this, the wiring in the front got shorted out, blowing the rad fan. I found out the only replacement was factor direct for $400 US, for a fan! They used one from some other car and made it fit. Still cost $2000 all together that time.
Well I am a person who really enjoys small cars that are low to the ground so I can corner fast. It is a fun car to drive and I have to admit I have fallen in love with it. How else can I rationalize wasting a bunch of my student loan money to fix it?
I don't like the blind spots though as I am pretty short and the bucket seats are really low, which doesn't help me to shoulder check. Otherwise, it is pretty much what I expected it to be (minus all the repairs).
I will never purchase another one of these again and wouldn't recommend anyone else do it either.
Yeah, I own an 85 2M4 and these cars can't tolerate too much neglect. Idealy I should get a more reliable car, but I've fallen in love with mine too.
I own a 1984 2M4 as well, and it's given me some problems. I just got it with 70,000 miles, and the person that drove it before me was probably the one that caused the problems. It seems like he was tough on it, and it was a hard clutch to learn on. All I needed to do was replace the clutch, and other than that a new battery, new starter, and a new radiator. All in all, I've spent about $2000 (including the price of the car). Now I'm pimp.
Woah, I recently changed my O2 sensor myself for 10 bucks and five minutes of time. Your people ripped you off or they seriously need a different line of work. Like Sales! I've replaced my rotors (15.00 each), rear calipers (70.00 each), Master cylinder (35.00 but did not have to..oopps), that's about it I guess I've been lucky.
Wow. You were ripped off. Most of those repairs could have been done for less than 100 bucks. If there is one constant about the Fiero it's that they break (they are 20 year old cars). Fortunately they are cheap to fix. I don't think I have paid over $150 for any single repair... except maybe when I ran it into a light poll... but that was pretty extensive. You need a new mechanic or just do the work yourself - it's fun!
Agreed, those mechanics either had no clue or just ripped you off with a big story to simply get you to pay a lot more money. All of those repairs should have cost you only a fraction of what you actually paid, plus you have to really take in to account some of your problems are not the cars fault. Some of the poor quality service you got from some like those drilling into your pipes for example should have known better or at least been more carefull. They also should have been fully responsible to repair your Fiero back to it's proper condition, not just poorly patching it up like they did.
The Fiero is actually a very reliable car and still one of the highest rated in accident safety on the road today. Just keep in mind that it didn't just roll off the assembly line a few years ago, as even the second year models are getting to be 20 years old now. Normal wear and tear items will start to show their age if they haven't already as they would have course on any car of that age. I would highly recommend a Fiero to anyone without any reservations, just make sure that those who do any work on it know a Fiero from a VW if you know what I mean.
So another repair I will add to the ones in the review I wrote was the actual computer for the car. I got that damn garage to do the back breaks for me and the day after the computer fried. They told me they couldn't work on it for a week and then when I asked them to push it out back so I could get my things from it, they removed my ten inch sub so I wouldn't get it towed anywhere else. Also they'd already removed any fried wires and stuck another computer in the car without informing me they'd begun repairs. Then after getting a $500 bill for that job, the car overdheats. Apparently the alternator belt was 'missing' most likely because these morons forgot to put it back on. I have gotten a lawyer and will be taking them to small claims court for these last two repairs totalling $650. I should have done this a long time ago and am considering getting another garage to look at all the repairs done by Subway Automotive and if some look sketchy maybe I will be asking for more money back.
Did I mention they charged me $700 to do the front brakes and put on a drivers side mirror? Yeah, I got screwed.
Good lord, you've been horribly ripped off. Get in touch the nearest Better Business Bureau and file a complaint immediately!!! Crooks like those should not be fixing anything for anyone. If you've documented all the 'repairs' these dumbasses have done to you, and have receipts, you may try and sue for the entire amount that they've ripped you off for.
You have been sorely sorely taken advantage of, you should never pay that much, I just bought a 84 2m4 for 450$ with 160,000 on it and all that's bad is the brakes and struts, and headlight motor, but try doing repairs yourself they are not that complicated.
It seems to be a general consensus that most of the problems come from human error, not the car's design. It would seem unfair, though, for me to say you should find some more reliable mechanics, because it is simply too hard anymore. Even certified car dealers anymore will often neglect the car. I am lucky enough to have found the mechanic I use now. My only complaint was when I went to get a starter motor replaced and what they had on hand was a factory refurbished one that had a 1/10 chance of getting hung up. Long story short, I was the tenth datum, and the refurbished motor burnt up only a few fays later. However, the mechanics were not totally to blame, as this was the only motor they had available, apart from special order, which took time. They replaced it free of charge, so I can't say they aren't reasonable.
It is quite wrong to title your review as to indicate the Fiero is a money pit, when in reality you have been the victim of a series of human errors. It is not the car's fault that you keep hiring incompetent mechanics. It is true that the car needs care, but it is old and a performance vehicle and deserves far more credit than you give.
I have three Fieros,84 4cyl, 87 4cyl, and 86 6cyl. I do almost all of my own work on them and have found them not particularly hard to work on. Most of the parts are off the shelf GM parts. It seems to me that most problems come from sitting, not being driven for long periods. Even the four cylinder cars are pretty peppy and even with automatics. The six cylinder is a blast with a stick. If a mechanic charged you a lot to change your O2 sensor he ripped you off and if he said he had to pull the motor to do it he LIED. It is a very easy job and the part is cheap. I don't know what gas modulator he was talking about. Most of the things the student mentioned appear to be the "mechanics" fault or mistakes etc. Also from my experience Dealers hate to work on these cars. They want to work on new cars. Many mechanics label them as junk Because they don't like to work on them and that is mostly because they don"t know anything about them.
Dunno why you people buy the first year of a new model car...
Its the stupidest idea ever, why not wait till they iron out all the problems and make a really good car. For instance, a 1988 Fiero GT, awesome car.
I personally think if your going to have a old car you should fix it your self or have family help you fix it. Secondly if you do plan on going to a garage, I sud jest asking the company what they are certified to do and if they aren't certified then don't go there. Also check when they were certified. They have to update there certification every year or so. Good luck with everything. Aaron Field owner of a 1984 Fiero 2m4.
I have owned 4 of these wonderful little cars and have had to do some major repairs on two of them, but I did them myself and saved literally thousands. The very few times I have taken my car somewhere to be worked on I have always had to make sure they did not jack the car up using the coolant tubes as I did with my first one, and do your best to make sure that they know what they are doing. I only take it somewhere when I'm feeling lazy and have the money. Also a few places, that shall remain nameless, have had their mechanics come to me with their shop manuals showing that the engine was in the front compartment which we all know is not the case, so be sure to check that. Another thing I have noticed is that most shops either won't work on a fiero or they charge a ridiculous price to get you to leave and avoid the assumed "headaches" involved with working on these cars. BEST thing to do is to lookup and join the nearest fiero club and pay someone from there to work on your car. Look up http://www.fiero.nl or search yahoo groups.
I would also like to let everyone know just how safe these little “plastic” (snicker snicker). I fell asleep while driving my 1985 SE 2M6 at ~90MPH and flipped it nine times on a very sharp curve and was out of the car within seconds of it coming to a final rest upside down. I came out with a few small scratches to my right shoulder and elbow.
Well have fun Fiero-ing!
Zefyr - Las Vegas
'86 GT 5spd
'85 SE R.I.P.
'84 SE