Topic: Asking for help finding my dream car

[Cvillechopper]

Here's a random request.  If anyone sees an '88 Fiero GT 5 speed for sale (hopefully cheap) please let me know.  I'm not able to buy a collector quality one so am looking for a real project.  Why a Fiero you ask?

Growing up I started working with my dad steam cleaning carpets around 13 (no pay, that's just what you did).  Since I worked for years without pay he bought me a '79 sunbird just before I turned 16.  That thing had the good old GM iron duke 2.5L I4 and was pretty trashed (we got it for $250 so couldn't expect much).  I started working summers as maintenance crew at the local crappy golf course and saving my money up.  Once I had saved enough I started looking around for something a little nicer than the rusted out Nova I had migrated to after the Sunbird bit the dust and found myself test driving an '85 Fiero 2M4, 5 speed, sunroof, red, beautiful...  Added bonus is that it had the same ol iron duke I was familiar with other than the throttle body (super sporty compared to the Sunbird).

That car was amazing.  It could do things that most other cars could not without flipping, got great gas mileage, and fit me like a glove.  Eventually, my last year of college, it died without warning.  I tried for months to get her running again but couldn't afford to shell out the money to have a dealer fix her so ended up getting another hand-me-down from an aunt and donated my prize car to a local charity.  Since then I have done research and figured out that it was most likely just an ignition module...

Since I would love to have another Fiero and my dear wife misses her Infinity G35 so much (we traded it in for the Accord when we started working on having the little one) I figure a Fiero GT would satisfy us both.  She'll get her fast little sports car and I'll get a taste of the first thing of beauty I saved up for and bought with my hard earned money.  It's not a G35 but I'm betting the wife will enjoy it even so.

If you've read this far I am amazed and thank you for putting up with my rambling.  Any leads on a good deal, hopefully within several hours drive of Charlottesville, VA, would be appreciated.

Thanks
James

Here's a pic of my 2M4

[Bob Wessner]

I hope you find one. I had an '84, fun car. I'm 6'4" and felt like I was climbing in and out of a skateboard. Doubt the old body could handle it now. 

[333]

Oh James.  Do know that I have been, and will always be a GM man.  Since my first Chevy (72 El Camino in 76).  And that I tried unsuccessfully to become a car salesman at a Pontiac dealer In late 84, when the Fiero came out.  I truly liked the car, even though it would be a year before the V6 came out.  It was cool.  That Iron Duke was for sure tough.

The rest of the car was a POS.  Although, the body panel idea was neat.  Pontiac had a video showing a babe with a screwdriver change the color of one in three hours by switching out the plastic.  But the transaxle was actually a front wheel drive transaxle out of the Chevette/T1000 cars.  It was never designed to take the punishment that one usually gives a sporty car.  The CV joints ALWAYS fail approaching 100K, and fixin' that ain't easy.  And if you get a V6, swapping the plugs on the front bank is a #$%*.  I heard that a guy cut out the panel behind the seat and modified it so he could change the plugs easier.

Other than that, it's a great car!  I wish you the best of luck.  I suggest CraigsList.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Go for the V6, the 4's tend to catch a fire mon.

[Thane]

Nice 88 Fiero on Columbus Ohio Craigslist for 1500.00

[Nikkisixx]

There are a few on Craigslist these day, if you're willing to travel a bit:

http://www.google.com/search?q=88+Fiero+GT+site%3Acraigslist.org&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

[mgbgt89]

Oh James.  Do know that I have been, and will always be a GM man.  Since my first Chevy (72 El Camino in 76).  And that I tried unsuccessfully to become a car salesman at a Pontiac dealer In late 84, when the Fiero came out.  I truly liked the car, even though it would be a year before the V6 came out.  It was cool.  That Iron Duke was for sure tough.

The rest of the car was a POS.  Although, the body panel idea was neat.  Pontiac had a video showing a babe with a screwdriver change the color of one in three hours by switching out the plastic.  But the transaxle was actually a front wheel drive transaxle out of the Chevette/T1000 cars.  It was never designed to take the punishment that one usually gives a sporty car.  The CV joints ALWAYS fail approaching 100K, and fixin' that ain't easy.  And if you get a V6, swapping the plugs on the front bank is a #$%*.  I heard that a guy cut out the panel behind the seat and modified it so he could change the plugs easier.

Other than that, it's a great car!  I wish you the best of luck.  I suggest CraigsList.

Chevettes were RWD..

[tortelvis]

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/1770609309.html

There are a few here starting at $800 for a project.

[DammitDan]

I'll let you in on a little secret....

http://www.searchtempest.com/

Searches Craigslist and Ebay postings in cities far away as you want

[Cvillechopper]

I'll let you in on a little secret....

http://www.searchtempest.com/

Searches Craigslist and Ebay postings in cities far away as you want

I love that site and use it quite a bit.  What I've found is that most people who are posting to Craig's list are asking more than I can afford (except for one of the ones Nikki posted).  I'm kinda hoping someone might see one sitting in a neighbor's back yard that needs some work and ask them if they were interested in selling it or something like that.  With the new baby I will have to find one hell of a deal to sell it to the wife...

[Cvillechopper]

Actually found the EXACT one I'm looking for on e-bay and the wife said I could bid on it (I don't know how serious she was).  Of course she gave me a limit that probably doesn't reach the reserve but here's hoping...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120594053288&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#v4-40

[KeithTurk]

Great car.... lots of fun on the cheap...

[gmonkey]

Go for the V6, the 4's tend to catch a fire mon.

I always thought it was the V6's that caught fire because there wasn't enough room for the air to circulate properly with the bigger engine in place but I could be mistaken, I'm not into them myself.  Friend of mine had an older one with the iron duke that a family member let him have.  Very little in the way of fire but it did keep blowing head gaskets.  Once I was driving behind him when his belt blew:  puff of smoke and bits went flying, felt like I just shot him down in a dog-fight. 

[74cb750]

I always thought it was the V6's that caught fire because there wasn't enough room for the air to circulate properly with the bigger engine in place but I could be mistaken, I'm not into them myself.  Friend of mine had an older one with the iron duke that a family member let him have.  Very little in the way of fire but it did keep blowing head gaskets.  Once I was driving behind him when his belt blew:  puff of smoke and bits went flying, felt like I just shot him down in a dog-fight.  Smiley

I could be wrong, but I think it is illegal to shoot running cars. 

[cb650]

One of the guys I work with has one with a 4 banger that has been sitting for years.  He says only 6k on a engine rebuild. He hasnt said anything about selling it. But I could ask.

[Cvillechopper]

One of the guys I work with has one with a 4 banger that has been sitting for years.  He says only 6k on a engine rebuild. He hasnt said anything about selling it. But I could ask.

Since the wife is getting increasingly certain that we shouldn't spend the money I that a GT will cost me I might be interested if he was looking to unload it cheap.  If you don't mind asking that would be cool.

I heard back from the guy selling the "perfect" version in the e-bay ad I posted above.  His reserve is 60% higher than what the wife sorta said I could spend but it'll go for much more than that I'm sure. 

[cb650]

Ok I'll ask but dont get your hopes up.  I've never seen it and I'm sure it burried in the weeds.

[xfactor]

Heres an 87 when I did a local search, dont know if its what you want but figured I would try and help.

http://racine.craigslist.org/cto/1832082600.html

oh and this one

http://racine.craigslist.org/cto/1777249207.html

[Stev-o]

Did someone make a Ferrari body kit for this car?

[bill440cars]

Did someone make a Ferrari body kit for this car?

         Don't know if there was an actual kit, but I have seen pictures of what I think you are talking about AND it looked pretty cool. Also seen one that looked like a Lambo Contach (spelling?) as well.


        cville, I'll keep an eye out in Arkansas & Oklahoma as well and IF there is one that you might can get, I'll do what I can to help ya!   Lots of Luck buddy!

[Cvillechopper]

Did someone make a Ferrari body kit for this car?

There are Ferrari and Lambo kits as well as others.  Also, Pontiac had a company called Mera make a "factory" kit and sold them at the dealers.  They are the most rare of the Fieros and look pretty bad ass.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fiero.net/mera/88mera1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fiero.net/&h=480&w=640&sz=87&tbnid=HOG_jNX5UVUmwM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmera&hl=en&usg=__WQ5rycI3SQP5ebI_00wR7BwFZs4=&sa=X&ei=L1c8TK-tOcSAlAfOgt3lAg&ved=0CCUQ9QEwAw

[Stev-o]

Did someone make a Ferrari body kit for this car?

There are Ferrari and Lambo kits as well as others.  Also, Pontiac had a company called Mera make a "factory" kit and sold them at the dealers.  They are the most rare of the Fieros and look pretty bad ass.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fiero.net/mera/88mera1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fiero.net/&h=480&w=640&sz=87&tbnid=HOG_jNX5UVUmwM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmera&hl=en&usg=__WQ5rycI3SQP5ebI_00wR7BwFZs4=&sa=X&ei=L1c8TK-tOcSAlAfOgt3lAg&ved=0CCUQ9QEwAw

Yeah, that's it. The only downside would be the exhaust note. It would no way sound as sweet as that Italian V-8 or 12!!

[Cvillechopper]

Did someone make a Ferrari body kit for this car?

         Don't know if there was an actual kit, but I have seen pictures of what I think you are talking about AND it looked pretty cool. Also seen one that looked like a Lambo Contach (spelling?) as well.


        cville, I'll keep an eye out in Arkansas & Oklahoma as well and IF there is one that you might can get, I'll do what I can to help ya!   Lots of Luck buddy!

Thanks Bill.  I really appreciate it (and good to see you're still checking the forum with all of your projects right now).

[Stev-o]

Saw a mint black one on the highway today...not for sale though.

[77cafe750]

ok so while out looking for bike parts i came acros three in central il today but none of the owners were home can try again if you would like