From: damong@hongkong.WPI.EDU (Damon Francis Gentile)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Pontiac Fiero problems?
Date: 6 Oct 1992 02:04:44 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: hongkong.wpi.edu
Keywords: Fiero, problems

In article <1992Oct6.002535.20935@netcom.com> esprit@netcom.com (Alan F. Perry) writes:
>damong@wpi.WPI.EDU (Damon Francis Gentile) writes:
>>Yep.... The Fiero is a cheap (but more expensive) take off on the Fiat/
>>Bertone X1/9. Not to mention that the X1/9 will outcorner and outdrive
>>any Fiero.... They are both similar in body style, but the X1/9 is a
>>targa that gets 34 mpg. I have a 1974 1/2 and it is beautiful... I 
>>make a hobby out of toasting Fieros.
>
>I am probably making a mistake by responding, but I haven't been flamed in
>a while . . .
>
>The Fiero is NOT a take-off on the X1/9.  The X1/9 was introduced LONG

---Just same shape and drive configuration.

>before the Fiero and was not a big seller when the Fiero was conceived or
>sold.  The Fiero was sold to GM execs as a cute commuter car and was
>designed outside the typical GM design scheme at the time.  Compared to
>other GM projects, it was produced at a very low cost, primarily by sticking
>to using parts from the corporate parts bin.  When the car was designed,
>there was no market for sports cars and GM would not approve the product

---The X1/9 is also very fuel-efficient in the city, and with such a
   short body, maneuvering is a breeze.

>if that were the niche that designers went for.  The problem occurred when
>they hit the market and people thought they were sports cars.  After the

---They shouldn't have styled them after the X1/9 if they couldn't 
   handle the challenge....

>introduction of the Fiero, the sports car market started to open back up.
>The designers went back to work to try to make the car match its sporty looks
>and did reasonably well, but there is only so much one can do with Chevette
>and Citation front suspensions.  The 88 GTs are definitely the best of the
>bunch.

---Well then, why make a "sporty-like" car that can't handle ?

>I think the 86+ Fiero GTs (sans spoiler) are the much better looking that
>the X1/9.  I got around 32 mph (highway) with the 2.8L V6.  There is much

---When Bertone made a new proposal for Fiat, they came up with the X1/10.
   Fiat sent it to Lancia and they produced it as the MonteCarlo, called
   Scorpion here in the US. If you have ever seen a Scoprion (they were
   only imported to the US in '76 and '77, and only 177 were imported in
   '76.) If you have ever seen a Scorpion/MonteCarlo, you will notice an
   incredible coincidence that it looks stunningly similar to the '92
   Fiero....

>more storage space in a Fiero and it is easier to work on a Fiero.  (An

---I find no problem with the use of the hood and trunk for storage,
   with 17 cubic feet for anything and the spare stows in a hidden
   compartment behind the passenger's seat. (I'm unsure about the 
   location in a Fiero.)

---I dont have any problem working on my X1/9. I just back it onto ramps
   and slide under. Everything is fully accesable (less distributor on
   pre-79 X1/9s). Even then it only entails simple maniputation from 
   underneath.

>old officemate had an X1/9 and we would compare cars.)  I also trust
>GM electric over Italian electrics.

---The electric system is my Fiat is incredibly simple....

>There is more room to improve a Fiero.  The "mill-and-drill" procedure (where
>the body panels mounting points are all drilled at once, so the body panels
>are all aligned) makes the Fiero the ultimate kit car.  You can buy kits to
>make Fieros look like most anything in the Fiero's general shape.  A number

---Why make a car that is just a revamped "commuter car" into a pseudo-
   Ferrari 308  ? 

>of sources offer suspension kits for giving the car better handling.  The 

---Can't you get anti-sway bars, adjustable struts and plus one tires for
   just about anything ?

>engine bay can accomodate larger motors.

---A larger motor is not necessary for better performance. An acquaintence 
   of mine with a '88 Bertone X1/9 1498 cc had his modified with an 
   aluminum flywheel, adjustable cam drive gear, reground camshaft,
   and dual 40mm Weber carbs, but on the other hand......

---Gee, I replaced my 4 speed transmission with a 5 speed when I changed
   engines. I replaced the factory 1290cc with a 1995 cc engine with a
   stroker kit, raising displacement to 2195 cc with an 12:1 compression
   ratio. This required no modification to the car either.......

>Of course, as much as I liked my Fiero, I gladly gave it up for my Lotuses.

---Don't know about that... I might hesitate to be as creative with 
   with a lotus... Half of the fun is restoring my car to the standards
   of a 1988 DeLorean at 88 miles per hour standards.......

Damon

questions? email: damong@wpi.wpi.edu

Newsgroups: rec.autos