1987 Pontiac Fiero 2m 4cyl?

Question

Im looking at an 87 pontiac fiero on craigslist. The car is 300 dollers, which is why it caught my eye. But, the car has a few things wrong with it, which is why its 300. It needs an ignition switch (which i priced at about $20), and timed to run. The front pass. side fender and door need to be realigned.It has a new battery, but needs to be charged. The engine has a new gaskets and a seal kit installed in '08. The guy lost the engine compartment key, and has no title, but has the paper work to obtain one.

What i want, is to know wheather or not this car is a wise investment or a complete no-no. Preferably from a mechanic or someone who knows cars inside and out. This would be my first car, and im willing to put some money into it, but not a lot. Like i said, the reason it caught my eye is because its only 300. So any advise on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you to anyone who helps in advance!

Answer 1

Like others have said, a lot in that 1st answer is wrong. I have owned the same Fiero for 16 years and drive it every day, it's never left me stranded. I think their pretty roomy for a small car and are fun to drive. The Fiero got one of the highest safety ratings when it was crash tested. The only thing that worries me is, can you do your own repairs? Many mechanics charge way too much just to do simple repairs on a Fiero. That might be a "deal breaker" for you. I do all the repairs on my Fiero and think they are easy to work on and the parts are pretty cheap. Unless you or someone you know is a mechanic, you might consider looking around for a Fiero that's in better condition. Sounds like the one you are looking at can't even be test driven and that leaves too many unanswered questions for me. You should be able to find a nicer one that runs, with title for just a couple hundred dollars more. Take your time, look around a little more and see if you can't find a better one at a comparable price. If you do buy a Fiero, come on over to the forum at http://www.fiero.nl . Lots of nice, knowledgeable people there willing to help.

Answer 2

The Fiero is an excellent car if you're looking for a "domestic tuner." There are many parts that can be swapped out from other GM vehicles, and the Fiero has a huge fan base that keeps growing as the car ages. There's even a popular website that re-manufactures hard to find Fiero parts (www.fierostore.com). Don't believe the naysay about it being unsafe/prone to catch fire.



If you are willing to get your hands dirty, it may well be the most entertaining car you will ever purchase. Just be prepared to turn some wrenches, and it would be wise to invest some time in the "Fiero community." One of the most popular forums is www.fieroforum.com. It's probably the best place to get advice should you decide to get a Fiero.



With any $300 car, there are risks involved. Check the car out, and don't buy it until you're sure you can get it running within your budget. Even if you do buy it and can't fix it within your price range, there's a good chance you can make most/all/more of your money back parting it out to the Fiero community.

Answer 3

The 1st answer is completley wrong. They are a pain to work on but that more or less pertains to the V6 model which is not what your looking at. Fire's were only a problem in 84 due to a faulty engine design. You will not explode if rear ended due to the gas tank is in the very middle of the car. They were one of the safest sports cars of there time. Smart car is using the same frame idea as in the fiero. They did not have targa tops they had hard tops removable sunroofs and T-tops. They never had power steering except for the zimmer quicksilver which 1 is ugly as sin 2 very hard to find and 3 custom applacation.



You will not be dissapointed if you get one. there a fun car and you can learn a lot from them. I have 3 GT's and have loved every min of driving them. When you go to check it out though pull up the truck carpet and check for rust in the corner's and also rust on the frame. rust is a fiero killer.

Good luck on your endevor for the fiero and hopefuly well see you on www.fiero.nl



Go to www.fiero.nl we'll answer all your questions there with real and knolageable answers.

Answer 4

If you want a car to learn to work on, it's a good choice. It looks like you need to check for damage and while you're looking, look for rust. The trunk and rear cradle is the first places to look. It is almost a 30 year old car and it will need work.



Lostinbatcountry's comments can easily found to be false. With the gas tank in the middle of the car, how can the car explode when hit in the rear? The Fiero was as safe as a Volvo in the 80s. They never had power steering or targa top and t-tops were a rare option.

Answer 5

Stay away from it. I had a Fiero for a year, and got tired of working on it. Most that I have seen are beat up and wore out, not to mention they are an absolute pain to work on. What do you plan on doing with the car? If you plan on driving it on weekends, they are incredibly fun to drive.. especially with the T-Tops or Targa Top off. Unless you plan on having a project car that will constantly require minor things fixed, leave it alone. The fact that it doesn't have a title should be a huge turn off, especially when it needs a new ignition switch or lock cylinder. There is a reason you no longer see them on the road...



Keep in mind that they are the most unsafe car Pontiac ever designed, and have a tendency to catch on fire/explode upon rear impact. They are uncomfortable, the top will leak, windows/lights are common issues, chassis parts can be pricey, and look forward to power steering leaks.

Answer 6

the first answer is crap. They are great cars that will turn heads when they are done. The duke engine is a great motor and are EASY to work on. They are also very safe. As said before they tied with volvo and received a 5 star crash test rating. They also get great gas mileage, even by today's standards. I got my fiero when I was 16 (18 now) and have no regrets. They are also cheap to insure.

Answer 7

If the car is in very good shape it should be worth the $1500 asking price. If the interior is worn or there is body damage offer less. If the Title is clear and it smogs in CA you are in great shape. The benefits of a great Fiero are that they are turning 25 years old this year, going Classic and increasing in value. If you find a good Fiero in good shape and take care of it, then it will be a collectors item in the future. We do have 160 members in our Fiero club in California who own typically more than one Fiero who are very happy with their purchase. It is up to you, it is a major decision. You have to love the car and like to work on cars to want to buy a Fiero. Since it is an older vehicle it will take more care and consideration than a newer car. If you don't like working on cars then purchase a new car that doesn't take any mechanical work.