Bought another car...

Morba · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:52

Is it red?

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:52

paradigm said:
EDIT: 2.5l?

It's a Pontiac Fiero.

We have a winner

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:53

(Dammit, I was hoping that'd be harder, haha... Must buy something more obscure next time.)

Howard · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:54

Yet again I'm fascinated by a car you buy! What's it like?

Also what's your methodology? Buy something on eBay you like the look of, or is it a bit more involved?

paradigm · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:54

Oh, I dunno, the 2.5 Fiero is pretty obscure. Is the engine actually any good?

Don't they have some rediculously low rev-limit as standard?

BigT · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:55

I just hope it hasn't been fitted with a dodgy Ferrari bodykit!

Firestar_3x · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:55

Interesting to read your review / report, I was under the impression the Fiero was less than great?

malfunkshun · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:58

Brave! which version?

p1RATE · 22 Oct 2012 at 13:58

Have you seen the US top gear with the Fiero based Ferrari?

malfunkshun · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:02

p1RATE said:
Have you seen the US top gear with the Fiero based Ferrari?

Really? that engine only makes about 100bhp doesnt it?

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:04

Howard said:
Yet again I'm fascinated by a car you buy! What's it like?

Also what's your methodology? Buy something on eBay you like the look of, or is it a bit more involved?

I'm actually quite taken with it. It needs a few minor things doing (few rogue bits of trim, loose door locks) but that's about it.

RE my methodology, I see something I think might be vaguely interesting to own or experience for a bit - and buy it. That's about the extent of it.

Obviously I try and buy a good example of the car in question, as it's boring otherwise, and I like to see around a 40% clear profit after taking into account all expenditures. It's not a necessity though, more of a preference.

paradigm said:
Oh, I dunno, the 2.5 Fiero is pretty obscure. Is the engine actually any good?

Don't they have some rediculously low rev-limit as standard?

I think the redline's 5,000RPM? It's the old Iron Duke motor, so very tough and flexible but not at all powerful. Not driven it properly yet though, so can't comment

BigT said:
I just hope it hasn't been fitted with a dodgy Ferrari bodykit!

No - the guy I bought it off did say to me "You aren't going to turn it into a Ferrari, are you?"

p1RATE · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:07

malfunkshun said:
Really? that engine only makes about 100bhp doesnt it?

yea it was a shoddy kit car for less than $1000 or something for one of the challenges

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:08

Firestar_3x said:
Interesting to read your review / report, I was under the impression the Fiero was less than great?

I'm not sure what to expect from it, road tests from the era seem quite positive about it though.

(Mine's not the V6 though)

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/1984-10best-cars-1984-pontiac-fiero-2m4-page-8

malfunkshun said:
Brave! which version?

Mine's one of the first (and best looking, to me) models - the 1984 "2M4".

p1RATE said:
Have you seen the US top gear with the Fiero based Ferrari?

No, I've seen some of the kits though!

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:18

Bet you didn't see the colour choice coming....

My first mid-engined car as well!

Howard · 22 Oct 2012 at 14:22

That's awesome.

How much and where did you find it, might I ask?

dwarf · 22 Oct 2012 at 15:09

Poor man's MR2

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 15:15

dwarf said:
Poor man's MR2

I initially described it to people in a similar fashion: "Like an MR2, but shi..."

naefeart · 22 Oct 2012 at 16:09

Reminds me of an overweight Fiat X1/9.

Not sure what to think of this purchase, normally I can see the appeal in your cars

Six6siX · 22 Oct 2012 at 16:20

Nice, there's one of these that turns up occasionally at the car park at work. Did a reg check and it comes up as a Pontiac Fiero GT Sport.

It's much smaller in real life than it looks in the pictures!

Lashout_UK · 22 Oct 2012 at 16:28

naefeart said:
Reminds me of an overweight Fiat X1/9.

Not sure what to think of this purchase, normally I can see the appeal in your cars

Neither am I really, I just thought it an interesting thing to have a closer look at. It'll hopefully make a relatively entertaining runabout for when the Firebird's off the road, or as something to take along to meets and events that are a little further afield.

I must say that I wasn't expecting it to be quite as well equipped as it is though, which is no bad thing. It's got air-con, cruise, central locking, electric windows, multiple map lights (woo), tinted glass, fairly decent speakers, an oil pressure gauge, a tilt steering wheel, remote rear hatch release, pop-up headlamps (yay) and a few other odds and sods. All the bodywork is plastic too so at least it should stay presentable.

I'm hoping it'll be quite engaging to drive as well. It's got a five-speed manual gearbox, no power assistance on the steering and no ABS. It's no firecracker (0-60mph in 11 seconds odd) but that's not why I bought it. Got a lovely toasty heater as well, ideal for winter

Looking forward to taking it for a proper drive once I've sorted some insurance and taxed it.

About the only thing I may do is drop it an inch and put some nice alloys on it - it's 5x100 PCD so there's loads of interesting wheels that should fit. I'd quite like a nice Grant steering wheel for it as well. Maybe an MSD ignition coil and a few other tweaks too...