The Pontiac Fiero Was GM's Mid-Engine 1980s Sports Car
2024 ж. 14 Мам.
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The Pontiac Fiero was the 1980s mid-engine sports car from General Motors. It's an unusual car, and today I'm reviewing a Fiero GT to show you what the Fiero was like. Then I'm going to get it out on the road and drive the Pontiac Fiero to explain how it feels today.
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i don't care how boxy it is, that's got to be one of the cleanest, easiest on the eyes interiors I've seen
Agreed!....seen the interior of the C8 mid-engine Corvette?...what a cluster-fuck of a design. The interiors of the current sports-cars has adopted the same "surface entertainment" idea as their exteriors...the idea being that every square centimeter must "entertain" ....as such, it all looks busy, busy for no reason...
Everything is to sleek nowadays. I want the retro style to return with modern cars. At least for a couple years.
The car has immaculate styling inside and out. It is a shame that the car is unreliable and actually qualith was meh.
@@HeelPower200 Unreliable? I had an 85 5spd, 2.5L, commuted with it for 2 1/2 years...only issue was the steering column...many car and truck owners mistakenly use the steering-wheel as a handhold to get in & out...wearing out the tilt-function. Corvettes, Fieros and a bunch of pickup trucks, the trucks specifically, on a lifted truck that's the first thing you grab to get you inside.
As soon as he got in I was like...dam I like it. Kinda reminds me of the 89 tbird I had in high school
Ahhh yes,Finally the C8 Corvette everyone was waiting for
😂
Lol what is Doug thinking 😂😂 like where the hell is the c8
YouStanceBro maybe he doesn’t have access to review one or maybe he wants to wait till it goes for sale
Hahaha!
@@marcelobetanco609 I highly highly doubt he can access one he does million dollar cars I bet dealerships are asking him to and he's not lol and that car channel Dounut already reviewed it
"Now I'm gonna floor it...not terrible actually" *gives Acceleration a 1*
Based on the Doug score, yes. In real life, not terrible
1 sounds pretty terrible! 😄 Has he ever given a .25?
It's the freaking 3 speed auto, the 5 speed was way quicker
He mentions in some previous videos that anything that cant do 0-60 in under 7 seconds usually gets a 1. The Fiero gt is roughly around 8 seconds I believe.
@@motaboat5187 It just seems wrong, 1 should mean like the slowest thing ever, most hot hatches accelerate at that speed Also he reviewed one of the slowest ones lol
I owned a 1986 Fiero GT many years ago. I loved it. It was faster than the HP would have you think. It could handle with most any car I have ever driven, and it just looked awesome. It definitely turned heads back in the day. I loved the pop up headlights, the sitting position, the way the front hood opened, and for that time the interior just looked so sweet. I still remember the lights in the backed lit up with PONTIAC and the PONT burned out. I had several people ask me what a TIAC was :). Speed wise an MR2 and RX7 would see my TIAC in bright letters when they challenged me. My biggest complaint was the tiny 10 gal gas tank that would run out at 9 gal, and I rarely got over 18MPG. To date one of my favorite cars I have ever owned.
My '86 GT got 25mpg around town and 30-32mpg with the stock 2.8 V6, on the highway, depending on how I drove. I now have a 3800sc that gets about the same mileage. If the engine is tuned right and driven with reason, anyone can get good mileage out of them. Running synthetic Mobile-1 or equal, will always increase hp too, no matter how many miles are on it. Proper tunning is a must...!
No chance against a 5 liter back then.
I owned one too and the thing that surprised me was the speakers in the headrests. Also that it had a monocoque chassis, so the body panels were just bolted on. You could buy kits that made it look like a Testarossa, Countach or other exotic car.
@@anthonyamato6367 fiero was never a straight line car, it was for cornering
I had this exact car. My dad worked at the factory. He took me in and I followed my Fiero as it went down the line during assembly. Fun car to drive. A lot of memories with this car. Thanks for showing it
That's badass
8 gallon gas tank
@@chrissullivan4496 WRONG....10 gallons and the 88...12 gallons. My two 86's, with the 4 cyl engine routinely got 40 mpg....so, an easy 325+ mile range. My 88 has a 12 gallon tank, the V6 eats more gas, but still has an easy 250 mile range. Since 1988, a Fiero has been my primary transportation...besides my motorcycle....and, I recently turned 81.
@@blackholeentry3489 I had the GT I swear it only had 8 gallon tank
@@chrissullivan4496 I have shop manuals......10 gal on 87 and older, 12 gallon on 88 GT. One Fiero or another has been my primary 'driver' for 32 years, and am on my 3rd one now. Also, have a 58 GMC 3/4 ton for my aux transportation. My wife and I have lived 210 miles apart for 13 years (met her while on a motorcycle trip) and I tend to let the tank get low prior to refueling, have filled it many times taking 10 gallons to fill it and it was still running....although I sometimes carry an extra container of gas in the trunk just in case. On another front....NEVER bought a new car in my 81 year old life.....as my ex wife's uncle used to say, "Let someone else take the beating!" Have a clean 86 4cyl /5 speed Fiero sitting in my back yard in case you're interested.....and will also be selling the GMC after I use it to move. BHE
doug the type of guy to wear two shirts and complain about lugnuts on lugnuts
Stop saying bullshit "type of guy" nonsense.
Gotta hide the man boobs somehow
@@edibfeyzuahbeygi2045 the type of guy who won't be putting up with any "type of guy" nonsense.
All GMs had the covers to protect the actual lug nuts from corrosion. Surprised he didn't clue into that.
@@doktormcnasty the type of guy who puts the type of guy that dont put up with type of guy nonesense in his place respect and salute
The " loud" button on the stereo is a setting that increases the low end frequencies of tone at lower volume levels. Kind of like a bass boost.
Short for "Loudness Compensation" or "Fletcher-Munson Equal Loudness Curve". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour
Doug... I've had my '86 Fiero for 13-years. I'm now 79 years old, and I love my Fiero. I drove it stock the first four years, then I did a 3.4 swap, and I could finally pass people when I wanted, and not have to drive in the trucker's lane when climbing a mountain pass...lol. I would have added a turbo charger kit for another 140hp, but it had piston slap, which got to loud and embarrassing, and I found I could actually swap in a 3800sc cheaper than overhauling my little 3.4 V6. I've been driving it with my 3800sc (pushing 300hp) for four years now, and I call it my little quasi-super-car, which it is. You really need to drive one like this. There are allot of really nice 3800sc customs in CA you can find, and maybe drive and review it...??? I know you would really be impressed. If you had tilted the steering wheel up and slid the seat back, you would have had an easy time getting into it. I do that every time I get in or out. There are 1m dollar sports cars that you have to do the same thing with...back in, sit down and swing your legs in last...! Your Doug score on that '87 would have been much higher, if you would have given it the fair appearance score she deserved, like about a six or better. The car your reviewed had never been buffed or even given a wax job, or lowered. mine is lowered just 1 1/2" which makes all the difference in the world. But even without that, that little car is the best, simple, smooth sexy lines and curves, that American cars have ever produced. Except maybe the C-1 Corvettes, and the '55 Chevy. If you had been more objective, and not started out, trying to make fun of the car, I think you would have viewed it in a much different light. You were all prepared to give it a bad score for interior, roominess, and handling, until you got into it and realized that you were actually in a well designed, fun, good handling little sports car, and I have to hand it to you, you actually admitted that your prejudice was not correct. I love the interior! It's exactly what one would expect in an 80's sports car...clean, simple, with everything you need without a bunch of over designed gobbledygook. The boxy interior has nice rounded corners, again simple and clean. The instrument cluster is very attractive, again simple and clean. I think the quality of the interior design is better than the same era Corvette or Porsche...! And I think they still are...!
Yes, sir! Agreed, 100%. Back in the 90's, I had an 86 GT in red/grey with an HO Quad 4 conversion. The v6 and 4speed was replaced with a ripping little 4 banger. Once the accessories were taken off the cam and timing chain (weird design) and some upgrades, that motor screamed and made power up to 8,000revs. I loved that car. Unfortunately, my father had lent my car to his friend who promptly totaled it. I always wanted another, but life kept getting in the way... I hope yours is still enjoyed and treasured. Thank you for your post. It brought back many memories. If you ever want to re-home your little monster, she would be taken to shows!
Yea, it's a fun car, especially for the 80s. The interior isn't even bad at all. It's just a lot of plastic like literally everything else in the 80s. I don't know why he was so hard on this car. Also, the i second 0-60 is pretty slow in today's standards, but it's decent compared to other cars of the same generation.
@@j.thomas7128 I bought my first Fiero in '89....an '86 four cylinder with 5 speed. Since then I have owned a Fiero as my sole driver, and am on my 3rd one....an 88 V6 with 5 speed tranny I bought almost 10 years ago with 19K on it. It originally belonged to a Pontiac dealership whose owner had kept it in Florida and drove it only when he was on vacation. It now has almost 70K and two weeks ago drove it 1500 miles round trip to visit my favorite casino in Laughlin, NV, to take advantage of a Three Night's free stay. This V6 5 speed doesn't get the 40 mpg my 4 cylinder ones did, but if driven conservatibly will get an honest 30 mpg....but WHO wants to do that?....and, although I'm now fast closing in on 84 and have no plans of changing cars.....but recently did give my last motorcycle to my youngest son. My wife finds the Fiero too cramped for long distance driving, so whenever we go any distance, we employ her Saturn wagon. BHE
I've always loved the fiero, even when it wasn't popular to do so. You have a special one with a 3800sc in it, that's more like what it should have been from the factory. GM ruined it by not giving it the power it needed. I almost bought one with a 3800 conversion a few years ago, and have seen some amazing customs with nice engine swaps. The competitor to this was another car I like the styling of, the fiat x1/9, and they made the same mistake in not giving it enough power but it was still a fun to drive car even without a lot of power.
“Incredibly annoying real people chevy ads” -Doug Demuro
those ads suck, but I have never been one to buy car from the advertisements anyway.
_Mahk wants to know your location_
interstate366 ?
@@RockmanDash mahk is a character from a KZhead channel that makes fun of the Chevy real people ads. It's pretty funny
I prefer 1999 Suzuki’s
Failed to mention the speakers in the headrests, that he was so excited over in a current car he reviewed.
Miata I think
Only the 84 and 85 had the speakers in the headrest. by 87 they had moved to the B pillars
When I was a kid in 1983, waiting for it to come out, I thought speakers in the headrests were the coolest thing imaginable. Then I owned a couple of Fieros... and realized it's a complete piece of garbage
Speakers in the headrest were, and will always be garbage. If you can't hear your front speakers, then you need more power, not crappy speakers in a crappy location. Besides, as much as Doug knows about cars, he seems to know, (or care) very little about audio systems.
@@spacemanrick2014 I'd have to disagree, the Bang & Olufsen in my 2018 Audi R8 Spyder sound fantastic :)
Those lug cover are functional; they protect the threads from the elements. Anyone who has had to change a flat on the side of the road appreciate lugs that aren't rusted in place. I guess GM could have made them look like pretty flowers, but I liked the subtle hidden look.
In older house stereos there was a loudness button, which at low volumes added bass to the sound making it more dynamic. Some car stereos had the same option. The buttons were many times just labelled loud.
"In keeping with GM tradition of refining cars and making them better until the end and then just canceling them" lol
Vahlir sounds about GM
Yeah the last year it was produced it had an reworked suspension. They finally got it right, then corporate killed it.
Sounds like Sega in the 80s and 90s.
Then I ask for a bailout
RIP Pontiac
20:51 "It turned Pontiac into GM's exciting brand". The GTO: am I a joke to you?
Right lol
He's a little off, historically...
Was it Pontiac that had the "We build excitement" slogan 🤔
@@snarkylive No one cares about the G8.
danger450 Whattt???? Have u seen the GXP with the LS and 400hp?
Pretty cool review, one quirk you didn't mention was zero cup holders! Also all Fiero's could be ordered with a "vista roof" which was a giant sunroof almost the size of the roof!!! T tops were done after assembly by a company called corporate concepts until 1988 when they could be ordered factory. This car has a ton of potential with the gm parts bin at your disposal. Ls4 v8 with f40 6 speed is a newer popular swap. I have modernized my Fiero with heated leather interior, back up camera, bluetooth, auto dim mirror, led headlights, and a few other things to make a fun retro daily!
That’s cool bro. Much respect for keeping up a GM classic. Cheers.
You’re wrong about the roof, I used to own an 86 GT with a removable sunroof, which made it close to being a convertible when removed. The glass would store in the front above the spare tire. I loved that car! I swapped in a larger V6, it was so much fun to drive!
Yes, beginning with the '85 GT, most all were ordered with the sun roof. People just wanted it that way. You will play hard trying to find them without that option...!
"but i would walk 500 miles and i would walk 500 more"
More people should get this reference.
Da Da Da!
Looks like this owner has the same obsessive no food or drinks rule.
Do you think this one will make it to 200K miles?
It would have been great if that started to sound when he showed the stereo
I’m surprised there’s some left that haven’t been turned into Ferrari Kit Cars.
I'm suprised there are any left at all.
I'm not. The kit cars always look heinous.
@@callumdonington2227 why? It's made of plastic, not like it's going to rust lol
@@aklip gotta agree on that. Factory fresh looks better on Fieros
I could never turn mine into a Ferrari kit car.
These are insanely underappreciated. Unique and beautiful design, especially considering how the majority of 80s American cars looked. LS1 swap into a GT roller and you have a sleek, cost-effective (and dangerous) beast.
an ls in a fiero would be hell for maintenance
Yeah and it's a ton of weight for it, just go with the sc 3800 for a sleek and powerful design
I’d put a HT 4.1v8. 😰😃
Agree
They’re shite
My best friend bought a 2 year old '85 Fiero SE with the V6. We both owned '73 Formula Firebirds with the 400 cid V8, which were reasonably fast cars, but we were both still impressed with the Fiero. True, with the original parts bin suspension, the handling lacked refinement, but the sticky Goodyears made it seem like we were driving a slot car, and the 2.8L V6 felt faster than its 140 hp would suggest. It happened on more than one occasion that we would look down and realize that we had been cruising on the freeway in 3rd gear (of a 4 speed transmission), so clearly the car was geared tall, but it never felt 'doggy' off the line or through the gears. And the Fiero's exhaust really made that V6 sound like a European exotic. The interior was very typical GM 'plasticky' and the graphics on the gauges looked cartoonish, but it had plenty of legroom and my buddy's particular car never caught fire or left us stranded. In the mid 80's, if you were a 20-something guy looking for a fun car that looked good and performed well and had a car payment that was compatible with our modest wages, the Fiero was on a short list of choices. They actually sold really well for the first 4 years (averaging over 85k/yr in sales), but somehow GM managed to both improve the car in its 5th and final year (to what it should have been all along), while only selling 26k in its final year. It's too bad that you evaluated the 3 speed auto - the manual trans cars were a more fun to drive. The Fiero was definitely a better car than most people thought, and it deserved a better fate.
“The unlatching of the front compartment is also unusual” proceeds to open latch under dash like EVERY OTHER CAR!
Again his frame of reference is so based on how cars are made now; like it never occurred to him that some things in the past were actually different than they are currently
@@howebrad4601 and it’s not even that uncommon for modern cars to have under the dash hood levers. My daily (2008 Elantra) and my dads pickup (2005 1500) have levers in the EXACT same spots
Pop up headlights are not a quirk, they are AMAZING!!! Also yes the lines in the tail lights did look good
I think they were going for the 355 Berlinetta look. There was ann aftermarket body kit for that, if I am not mistaken.
I liked the Vettes with popup lights as well.
Loved them on my 1987 Supra, totally agree Brandon they were "Amazing"
T-tops are the same way. But I agree with you, pop-up headlights especially look great.
Brandon Candelario pop up and down headlights...pop pop pop up and down headlights!!!!!!!!!
Love these videos you show a era of time that we take for granted as car enthusiast
7:15 All Fiero's had an opening in the roof superstructure to accommodate a sunroof, which was a factory option. So the composite roof panel would come solid or could come with a manual pop up and removable sunroof. The front cargo compartment even had pads for the top to rest on with other pads on the inside of the hood to secure it above the spare tire and GM provided a vinyl bag to protect the top. in 1988 T-tops became an option and those are fairly rare.
Koenigsegg Agera: "It has the insignia everywhere. That's really cool." Pontiac Fiero: "It has the insignia everywhere. That's really gaudy."
Michael his review on the Hummer H2 got a similar treatment.
That's because when you show up in a ultraexpensive car, you really want to point out what car you're driving, you know.
@@VicioTHEdriver If you're driving that kind of car, then you don't need the insignia all over the place to tell people. Also, the insignia are all inside, so is it that you need to remind yourself what kind of car you own because you forget all the time?
Honestly the fiero logo is cooler too
It's actually a pretty cool logo. No interest in having one, but they did do that right.
This was my first car. I blew two motors and it caught on fire once. It was then known to all my friends as the "Fire-o." It was the laughing stock of high school since it caught on fire in my school parking lot.
Fire-o 😬😂😂😂😂
Also, i didn't mention this: it had a OEM fire extinguisher in back of the drivers seat. It was a 1984 4 banger. Yeah... hindsight that should have been a red flag.
We Try Motorsports I had the v6 the 4 was a dog
Love it, bet that car had some stories to tell.
the fire-o xD
Going from the Iron Duke was quite an upgrade, these are genuinely fun to drive, when you can find one that hasn't been abused.
Doug will never be labeled as the Fiero loving guy, but as always, your zeal and love for automobiles shines through. Your Doug score gave GM's Pontiac Division their just due! 42/100 As a teenager in the late 70,s I could remember me and my brother helping some poor guy push his dream car down the street back to the dealership where he just purchased it. It was brand spanking new with the plastic still on the seats, but it looked sporty.
I find that kind of video far more appealing than reviews of the latest modern releases. I hope you keep posting content like that.
MrCasquenoir Classics are far more interesting than modern cars. Totally agree. Tbh I like these kind of cars more than a new hypercar. Just look at my profile picture.
Yeah, and he STILL screwed it up, as it tells what LOUDNESS on the radio means in the owners manual. Doug is a complete idiot.
勇気きみこ how does that mean he screwed up? It was a funny remark, don't take it to the heart.
勇気きみこ Doug is a sarcastic guy. He’s also the type of guy to become a type of guy meme because of how sarcastic he is.
Well, the older generation can relate to this car. But the newer generation doesn’t. He has to do all types of cars to have a wider audience.
There. You have reviewed all of my 3 favorite cars. -Pontiac Fiero -DeLorean DMC 12 -Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 2
Bold choices
Interesting choices and rare to heat those cars
Funny how all your favourite cars somehow got reviewed in the past year whens dougs been making videos for like 10 years
Wow no accounting for taste. Whatever turns ur crank.
Doug is keeping you hostage and forcing you to say this?
Nice! Pontiac had some really cool cars. I had an 83 firebird with the 2.8 carb. Not a lot of power but handled very well and very stylish.
I love how fun this car is. Could see it being a fun little weekend cruiser or a commuter car. Looks very comfortable too.
I remember when this came out and I was in high school. I begged my dad to buy one. I told him... "THEY MADE AN AFFORDABLE FERRARI!!! YOU HAVE TO BUY IT!!"
I was in elementary school when my dad’s bachelor buddy bought one. I thought it was no different than the Ferrari magnum pi drove.
Ron Urizar kind of how the new mid engine corvette is
@@dawsongranger4940 True but the corvette has power, suspension... Now I want to buy one if you can find one at MSRP. I think an updated Fiero would do VERY well in todays market. Small, two seater, suspension, fuel injected V6. It has to offer MANUAL. No Auto BS. I know Pontiac doesn't exist anymore but could someone release it? Think of the marketing. The NEW 2021Fiero!!! I would buy one.
@@ronurizar8961 , that almost exact formula didn't really do the Toyota/Subaru 86 any good.
@@flaviotaue4706 I almost bought one but when I looked at the horsepower I stopped. I do not want a tuners car? I am older. I want it ready to go. I used to own an Audi S4 with a twin turbo V6. I am now looking at other "ready" manual transmission sport cars.
You missed my favorite quirk... That enormous center hump between the seats. It's a mid-rear engine... so there's no drivetrain components there. THAT'S THE GAS TANK! No joke
you're absolutely right!!
Same for the MR2
Gas tank. In the passenger compartment. In a car that had a reputation for catching fire. Yup, it's the 80s.
@@1337penguinman The reputation for catching fire was due to poor battery cable routing and abrasion proofing. They would rub until they sparked, catching the insulation on fire, and spreading it to the engine. The gas tank was surprisingly well firewalled. (I've taken apart a LOT of Fieros)
@@1337penguinman Many older pickups had the gas tank standing vertically between the bench seat and the back of the cab. My 1993 Mercedes 300E sedan also has the gas tank behind the back seat, *_above_* the floor of the trunk. It is hidden from view behind a carpeted panel at the front of the trunk.
My dad bought a 1986 & 1/2 Fiero GT off the lot, mid-year release of the original "Fastback". 5-speed manual, 140hp on a car that was just less than 2800lbs. At 16-18 I had the fortunate of driving it on occasions and to this day it might be my favorite car of all time. There is nothing like a mid-engine car and with this one the handling, the sound of the dual exhaust, the beautiful red topped V-6 and the off-the-line performance...I wish I could find one today. Unfortunately the car came to an end in a rather violent accident. Sitting at a stop light, my dad was T-boned by a driver a high rate of speed that was racing someone who clipped them. Sent the car right into the drivers side door. He spent about a month in the hospital and made a full recovery but the car was totaled just after it's 10 year anniversary. Fortunately it was the design of the Fiero door that saved my dad's life. It had 3 cross-beams welded across for structure, basically a prototype for modern side-impact beams. If I ever come across one for a good price in decent condition, I'm buying it instantly...as long as it's a stick-shift.
Hay...they are out there my friend! Keep your eye on Craig's List, and the Fiero forums on Face Book. Good ones pop up all of the time. But be patient and don't settle for anything but what you want, with less than 100k miles on it. Make sure it runs good, with little or no blow-by or valve suction. You can try to get an '88, but I'd look for an '87 GT with no rust or very little surface rust. Parts are much more available, and you can up-grade the suspension for not much money! For trouble free driving, replace all the sensors, control modules, relays, and the distributor if it's old and rusty. Recommend a Cardone distributor. BTW, glad your dad is okay! You should be able to find one in the price range of $3500 to $10k, depending on the condition. Mine has been pretty much trouble free for 15-years and I drive it allot! You might even run across one that has had a 3800sc swap for around $10k +/-. Good luck...!
I currently daily a 87 GT in the same color way and it is amazing how well it drives/handles. Absolutely love it.
Come on Doug, they were right about the black lines, that shit was cool af back then. Do I have to remind you that even Ferrari had it on the Testarossa?
Still cool to this day
back then there weren't many cars that looked good from behind, whoever thought of that pontiac rear end knew what they were doing!
Back in that era, my friends and I put pin stripe vinyl stickers on our rear tail lights.
Easily the most beautiful part of the car.
dixib they look like little louvers
I loved my Pontiac Fiero. I bought a used one in 1994. Installed a little cd player radio system and was thumping to Ace Of Base, thought I was the shit. :D
I bought my first 86 Fiero in 89. I have driven one ever since and now am on my third, an 88 GT. Put a total of 400K on three different ones. I met my second wife eleven years ago. We have retained both of our original homes, 'live' 210 miles apart and we both make the trip regularly. (I'm 79 and she's 82)
sounds like you were 👍
You where the shit !
My mom Tonya bought a 1987 Pontiac Fiero brand new in Anaheim, California from the car dealership and sold it for $15,000 or $20,000. It was a silver and a stick shift mid-engined sports car that she owned it since she was 19 years old with Dan. She used it for her husband Daniel DeThouars and comfort to relieve her stress, so she wants to have her car a lot of fucking fun. And my mom before she became a mom was having fun at the apartment in Placentia, taking him to the restaurants while my mom was behind the wheel before I was born in 1998. That 1987 Pontiac fiero belonged to my mom still got it, still got a 5 speed manual transmission on it. And sadly, it never starts for like a long time now since i moved to Chattanooga with my family before New Year’s Day of 2001. Long trip from Corona, Riverside, California to Tennessee. I was only 2 years old. I was a cute little young boy. It was December 30, 2000. Before my family house was built and it was then under construction soon to be finished by February 4, 2001. We moved in right away with the rest of the house was perfectly built and finished; perfect for our residence! I lived with my family ever since then I was nearly a 3 year old boy when this house I lived was brand new. My mom purchased our home for $95,000 from Ronnie Dean, and having fun. A bargain for a new house! Good price! It’s now been nearly 20 years here. Long time. Sorry about the ‘87 Pontiac fiero. My moms car. Rip Pontiac Fiero, 1987-2003. Can’t run again. They have to tow it anyway. Or it must run again after auto repair after all these years sitting in the backyard. Kyle in 2020:🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 my dream car instead of my mother’s broken down 1987 Pontiac fiero in the backyard is my 2008 green Dodge Viper SRT-10 from Florida! Another manual transmission sports car. HGregLux. *bring bACC V10!*
I had a 84 Fiero in 1990. I was 18 and loved playing Motley Crue, Metallica and Def Leppard. My then girlfriend thought i was rich lol
I bought a duplicate of that car in 1987, brand new, off the lot, and would have to say that Doug gave it a dead-on accurate assessment. I loved mine, dearly, and had a ton of fun with it. Sadly, mine seemed to be a magnet for bad luck, so I only had it for a few years. Very quirky, fun to drive, with a lot of charm, when it was new.
Had the Fiero lasted another year or two, Pontiac was looking at putting the new Quad 4 DOHC engine into it, with up to 180hp. Those plastic body panels were a big selling feature in the Northeast since they wouldn't rust.
If only they had the balls to put Buick's 3.8l turbo into this.
True
Even better, the Oldsmobile Quad 4. Would have been just as light as the Iron Duke 4 cylinder Fiero, but with 180 HP. Problem would have been, it probably would have been faster than the Trans-Am/Z-28 and Corvette of the day, and outhandled all of them. Buick Turbo V6 would have left the other cars like they were parked. V8 Archie makes/made kits to get Northstar V8s, Chevy smallblocks, and Northstar V8s into Fieros.
Haha. I wish. It took a LOT to get the 3.8 turbo into the 89 GTA. Back in the 80s there was fierce rivalry between GM divisions plus GM has a policy of not allowing anything to (officially) beat the flagship Corvette yet this has happened several times in actuality even though it wasn't so in the official reported GM stats. For instance the *rated* 250 hp of the 89 TTA which was just below the 255hp Corvette L98. Yeah right. The low production Buick GNX and later TTA handidly beat the other GM cars of the day (and most production cars in general). They were probably ultimately pushed through because they were low volume cars. The Pontiac sporty car market manager shared some experiences on this some years ago. I have since forgotton his name. A 3.8 turbo in the little Fiero would have been fantastic. Lots of things GM could have done that would have been great but didn't: - 4 speed manual in the 80/81 Turbo Trans Am - turbo '82 Trans Am - 5 speed in 85-90 IROC-Z / 91-92 Z28 /Formula/ Trans Am/ GTA etc... Yet every once in a while something extra cool gets through such as the 97 SS LT4 and afore mentioned GNX, TTA. It's a shame Pontiac is gone. They started the muscle car era. When most of the other performance cars either had died or became pale shadows of their former selves in the early then mid and late 70s, Pontiac did their best to go against the grain launching the SD 455 in 73/74 and keeping displacement alive all the way to 79. Even in '78 the smog ridden Trans Am actually got a performance boost (W72) and improved handling (WS6) being a respectable car for the day. The lotus designed suspension and last year exhaust on the Fiero GT actually made it a neat car. It had an exotic un-domestic exhaust note from inside.
The 1990s supercharged Buick 3.8 can fit. A guy near me has done the swap👍
Should fit...have Northstar in my dad's fiero
Almost unsubbed when you didn’t return the balance to centre right away
I've owned several Fiero's over my life... Each one had a sunroof. Just real fun cars to drive. Canyon runs were a blast, like driving on rails with the right set up
Love the video, I had a 1985 4 cyclinder with the manual transmission. Black exterior with Tan interior, loved the car I put over 150,000 miles on it. You forgot to mention the speakers in the headrest of the seats. Also, there was a sun/moon roof option from the dealers, which absolutely sucked, they had a bad habt of leaking if you got any kind of leaf between the glass and the gasket. The main reason I got this was one of my previous vehicles was a FIAT X-19, which the Fiero borrowed a lot of the design from.
Doug keeps it real. Pontiac Fiero: thumbs up Maserati Ghibli: thumbs down
Loved the acceleration. Gives it a Score of 1 out of 10. What an idiot.
@@OfficialNakatsuMegami According to the Dougscore, 0-60 in above 7 seconds is a 1 out of 10.
1fishers he had a mullet in a previous life
I couldn't have said this better myself. That's Doug.
@@OfficialNakatsuMegami 勇気きみこ I've spotted these perverse acceleration scores before and come to the conclusion that they're all compared with a modern 1,000 bhp supercar. Accordingly, nothing manufactured before about 2005 is ever going to get more than a 5, whilst an '80s hot hatchback will always get a 1 even if it might have knocked your socks off at the time.
Doug: *Hates on Fiero taillight grid pattern* Also Doug: *Gushes all over Ferrari 348 almost identical taillight grid pattern*
The mustang svo and 93 cobra had the same black line taillight vibe.
Speaking of taillights why is there a massive crack in the middle on some and no crack on other shots?
I want back and watched both videos, and I really don't know how you came to that assessment. In this video at 3:50, his view is more nuanced than that, stating that he likes the light bar, but that the lines slightly diminish the effectiveness of the taillights. In the Ferrari 348 video at 2:54, he doesn't say *anything* positive about the taillights, just that, again, the lines just cover up the taillights and greatly diminish their effectiveness. I get your point that Doug can be inconsistent at times, but this is a poor example of that.
He Is a troll
Because exotic car
I'm 19 my first car was an 86 fiero gt automatic but since then I sold it and bought an 87 gt 5 speed this is my favorite car in the world I love the feel and look of the car I get so many compliments from people and questions I've never had any problems with them besides older car stuff like window seals and such and if it did these cars are very easy to work on this is also my daily driver
I personally love the boxy interiors of these 80s-early 90s vehicles. There's such a minimalistic charm to it.
The Fiero helped make Pontiac what it is today.
Out of business 🤓
I see what you did there...
HAHAHAHAHA
Gone?
Hahahaha rip
the *LOUD* *Button* is "to boost bass frequencies when the radio is playing at low volume." (ref. Fiero owners manual)
He never reads past the first few pages.
@@rjscott6116 "On page 268 you will see"
And completely misses the AM Stereo button.
Andi Goldberger who sucks as a guy speaking about the car he's a dick head
@Maimo Moline Boom Boom 😆
Hearing him talk about those taillights makes me wonder if he’s ever seen an 87-93 Mustang GT.
or any pontiac firebird since the 60s.... louvered taillights were a pontiac staple
I had 3 Fiero's, the 2M4 an 85 GT and the 88 GT. I loved them all. Wish i still had the 1988 GT!
Same. I had a red 84 2m4, black 85 GT and a metallic red 87 GT. Loved the Fiero
@@ChrisJBuff Looking back I'm not sure how I ever survived those days! 130 mph on 95 on Thanksgiving weekend runs up to spend the holiday with my kids! That car held that speed for 10 hours with 2 5 minute pit stops for gas. The glory days!
I had a Fiero and it wasn't fast but it would corner and turn on a dime compared to other low budget cars back then. I was fun. Thank's Doug . My Fiero was a manual transmission :)
Probably the biggest pile of “Would have, should have, could have” they ever built. Pontiac had a hot engine to stick in the back and GM killed that idea out of fear of dropping Corvette sales.
When DeLorean was at GM he was up against this too. His plan for the Firebird wasn't a car built on the same platform as Camaro. GM's execs have always had a can't compete with Corvette policy (even though sometimes other GM cars actually did beat it, just not on paper). The little Fiero could have been somewhat of an "affordable everyman's exotic" had they given it serious power. But then you'd be hurting Camaro Firebird and Corvette. Nope. Can't do that. Getting the 89 Turbo Trans am to happen took an act of Congress in GM.
honestly, I owned an 86 GT and it did just fine with the V6. Of course a V8 option would have been awesome, don't get me wrong. What gave the Fiero a bad rep was the shitty Iron Duke, and that's all the first year models came equipped with. They messed up there, as well as not offering a power steering option. Like wtf? by the 80s pretty much every car had power steering. They steered OK while driving, but they were a bitch to park, because you had to crank and crank the wheel.
In early tests before the Fiero was first released, it was tested with a V6 and outperformed the Corvette so badly, the Corvette honchos crapped their drawers, raised a stink and went crying to their mommies. So for 84 and 85, at the insistence of corporate GM, it became available with the Iron Duke four only. I bought my first Fiero in 89, have driven one for my primary transportation for 30 years now. Five years ago I bought an 88 with 20K on it and it is my only driver....besides my motorcycle, that is.
The Iron Duke was an excellent reliable engine and still is. You probably see a car on the road everyday that uses one. At least a Grubbman LLV aka the mail truck
NoMore Mr.NiceGuy maybe the one out of the Buick grand national (turbocharged v6) ? Hold up ok now I want a one!!
I had an '84 2M4 SE I bought used from dealership I worked at as a mechanic,and LOVED it!!
I had an 1988 Fiero Formula and loved it! It was like a little go-kart!
If Pontiac ever comes back, we need a Fiero and GTO.
@420 Friendly no a real GTO not a Holden Monaro
It's never coming back.
@@ethant.presland7438 I can dream.
@@Vin80_ true.
@420 Friendly LOL! Heck no. 1st or 2nd gen man....
"Today's cars look so much more modern". Wow.
Really? I don't believe it!
He won't be saying the same about a 2012 VAZ 2104 from Russia. Yes, Russian. But for a redesign, they aren't rushin' either.
Nothing new today looks as good as that Fiero he has pictured! Most of today's cars are ugly... will make gaudy/ugly used cars...
Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes
@@BuzzLOLOL You mean you don't enjoy being surrounded by all that modern, luxurious plastic?
Love the Fieros. Great little cars. I have had a few, would like to get a new one to play with. Thanks for doing this review!
My first car circa 1997. It was an 86. Loved it... absolutely loved it!!
“Months without seeing one of these”, really Doug? I haven’t seen one in 20 years.
Then you aren't in So Cal.... old cars are *everywhere* in So Cal.
@@LakeNipissing Do you see these often? Because I don't remember seeing these much if at all when I lived in OC and LA, though I can't say I was looking for them..
@@LakeNipissing Like Cuba
I see them every day in Iowa....they're pretty common in the Midwest USA. Jess must be from Canada or someplace with laws against older vehicles.
I see one every day dilapidated next to my neighbor's house under piles of trash
140 hp Fiero, "If only it had a bit more power." 200 hp BRZ, "If only it had a bit more power."
Craig Wagner And now the new supra comes out and people still complain that it doesn’t have enough power! Manufacturers: *WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT!?!?!*
Srt4, hold my beer and watch this
@@Fritz___ *MOAR POWER*
I bet you a 140hp Fiero with 5 speed would dust a BRZ with 200hp.
More powa baby!
I bought a '86 brand new when this body style first came out. The Fiero GT brings back fond memories for me. I drove mine from New Jersey to San Antonio TX with no issues. Wish I would have kept it. I'm currently waiting on one that I bought from one of my neighbor's relatives. It's identical to the one in the video, except it's going to need paint and other stuff done to it. It sat for four years, but it's all intact and original. Can't wait to get my hands on it and get it running. I think I'll hang on to this one for a long time.
Happy for you finding another one! I bought my '86GT 15-years ago. It was in pristine condition, but I went through the engine and put all new upgraded electrical system, sensors, control modules, Cardone distributor, 8mm plug wires and plugs. Initially when my O2 sensor went bad, I replaced the entire electrical system, and had no problems after that. I had my radiator fan relay go out, so I replaced all relays also. I did upgrade the cooling system with a Rodney Dickman low temp fan switch, 180* Stant thermostat and a new higher cfm fan motor. I run my 3800sc off of the same system and never over-heats.
A buddy of mine in high school had one of these. It was bright yellow and we loved it. At 6’5” I barely fit in it but riding in it was fun.
My dad has a 38k mile 88 V6 5speed Fiero Formula. Fun little car.
I would be very carful who you share that with.
@@richardleston5237 yea. And watch out for aliens
@Spencer7445 _ we are the aliens here. But they might just want to abduct this guys fiero
My dad has one as well with the auto trans. It's his baby from a by gone era. LOL
That's the best one! Independent rear suspension, new steering rack... The Fiero was coming on its own in 1988, then GM cancelled it.
Ah the Fiero , the basis of almost every kit car out there.
Well yeah, it's an affordable mid-engine car. Did you expect something else?
*toyota MR2 intensifies*
NOTO RIOUS -> I saw a “Testarossa” that started its life as a Fiero... it was great! 😂
Most of those kit cars look like absolute dumpster fires
@@CurtisL8.3066 Pussy don't care tho :)
Owned 2 in high school. First was an 88 4 cylinder, 2nd was 86 se v6. Loved both at the time, but they are typical 80s cars. I spun this thing in the rain on the freeway and around a small curve. Short wheelbase, rear engine, rear wheel drive points to lots of crazy spins.... even with low power. Still love the GT style, but I went through many headlight motors because they had a design flaw. Good times.
How the frick you had 2 in highschool
Thanks for the upload.
"I'm gonna be known as the guy who likes the Fiero" no Doug, your gonna be known as the guy who assumed the Fiero was complete shit but then realized its actually a decent car.
Outdoor Darren Right on. I've never been huge fan of these, but this car is very nice and deserves some respect.
You're.
@@drexlspivey29 Ok grammar police.
@@j887276 Best recognize.
@@j887276 Whether or not you like it, you're judged by your writing. Yet, even though I carefully check what I have written before clicking the 'reply' symbol, an occasional mistake slips through.
The "loud" function boosts bass and treble to round out sound at low volumes. Road noise tends to kill those frequencies and make the music difficult to hear at lower volumes, so that is when you engage "loud". Turning on loud with high volume just screws up the EQ and will cause distortion from excessive bass on most speakers. 15:24
Doug's the type of not to know there is a loud setting on almost every car deck out there today
Yup. Also known as "loudness" setting. Quite common in car stereos.
Same as the "LOUDNESS" button on many receivers 60's thru 80's
“Loudness” button was everywhere back in the day. Cars, stereos, Walkman’s, toilets ...
+1 LOL "Loud" Doug is quite the neophyte when it comes to the audio systems,, he also failed to mention that certain models also came with a factory sub-woofer with the premium sound package, the slide control for that was up on the map light pod but I didnt see it one this one..
Brings back memories! especially seeing the engine bay. Back in very early 90's - had to pull the blown engine out of a Fiero that was exactly like this one. If I remember right - had a few bolts underneath, and the engine swung down in its frame? Wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be to work on if I remember right? I dont remember it being anything super special with the way it drove - but somehow it was cool to drive.
I had an '84 back in my teenage years. Loved it :)
The "Loud" button, is a loudness compensation control. You'll also notice the equalizer. A loudness compensation control has been used on quality home audio products for decades. Human hearing is less sensitive lowest and highest frequencies as volume levels are decreased. The "Loud" button boosts those frequencies to provide richer sound at low volume levels. As for the horse power, it was indeed the '80s. In performance, the Fiero was a really close match with a non-turbo Porsche 924 of the day. Four speed automatic transmissions, for all intents and purposes, weren't a thing yet, so the GM 3 speed with locking torque converter was as close as you could expect at the time.
The loud button is on virtually every car radio/stereo so why he finds that odd or strange is in itself weird.
Actually those old Delco radio systems were not too bad.
@@72Disco1998 I agree.
''Loud'' for Loudness just like any stereo before the roll a menu era .Just for his videos, it looks like he’s being a moron on purpose . I wish for him that it's intentional . Otherwise , what an ignorant on simple mechanical & technical knowledge .
From what I remember, the Firebird and Camaro was also doing the same, with stats respectably close to Ferrari for Performance/handling.
I want to trim that little thread sticking out of the Fiero logo on the driver seat SO BADLY!!!
Stephen Mason....makes me feel like less of an OCD freak knowing someone else is being driven mad by that thread....after initially seeing that thread, it's all I could think of the rest of vid...
@@branon6565 now im looking for that part so I can also be annoyed 😠
How can someone not trim this right NOW
The “Loud” button on the stereo is short for loudness, which is a pre set EQ curve for lower volumes to make it sound louder, all it did was boost the highs and lows
I owned one of these. Couple of things on the V-6...changing the back plugs was a total PITA just to get to them. After you hit around 80mph the front end wanted to lift up! Also the seats had audio tweeters in the headrests! :) Craziest thing is the coolant runs from the radiator IN THE FRONT thru rail tubes under the body!
I have owned about 5 of these. At 70 to 80 mph, I never had a problem with the front end lifting up. At about 95 mph, yes it will lift a tad. Guys who race these will add some weight to the front end to combat that problem. Also the rear plugs are easier to get at if you remove the decklid or sit in the rear trunk area and lay across the engine. Really not much more difficult than modern cars.
9:08 "and when you're done... just close it" Excuse me while I pick my brain matter up off the floor
The lines through the back lights make the car look exotic - Ferrari's from this era had the same and it looks super cool and exotic
And remember the ultra-hot rakes on the sides of the Testarossa. Pininfarina perfection!
L DW I believe there was a kit you could buy to make your Fiero look like a Ferrari back in the 80’s
@@RajaReign78 interesting...
@@RajaReign78 There are a lot of different kits for the Fiero. In fact, there are two replicas in a 60 mile radius of my house. One is supposedly a "2001 Diablo" , and the other is supposed to mimic a Ferrari 308 GTB
This Doug guy just doesn't appreciate anything.
I had a buddy in high school with one of these. I actually really like it!
The square interior actually looks futuristic to me.
The lug nut covers are actually there to protect the lugs and studs from rust and are very effective as long as you don’t break them.
Forgive this kid he is in California and the idea of rain or snow is alien to him.
And if you ever see a mechanic confuse them for actual lug nuts, it's time to find a new mechanic.
@@MrKruger88facts lol
Gm also did a similar faux lug nut cover built into the hubcap on their trucks starting with the GMT400 I believe. May have been earlier as well. The faux lug nut cover actually held the hubcap in place. They work great at protecting those lug nuts from water and salt.
Loved that taillight design, especially on the firebird/ trans am
I had a 85 Fiero and I absolutely loved that car. It was fun to drive and I loved the speakers in the headrest. Not sure if all Fieros had that but mine did.
They copied the Ferraris, but discontinued them after '84 to save money...!
In the late 90s/early 2000s I remember people swapping in the 3800 Series II V6s (the same supercharged engine from the Pontiac Bonneville) and made these very quick and enjoyable.
Doug: "I love the glowing Pontiac logo" Also Doug: "Lincoln's that have a light-up emblem are stupid!!"
It's almost as if sports cars and luxury cars serve different purposes.
@@limyohwan Ha!
Says black stripes on tailights are pointless Proceeds to like a fiero logo that lights up
Maybe it's just me, but I thought he was making fun of the glowing logo, saying he liked it sarcastically
Cop: “License and registration.” Doug driving a Fiero: “Hold on a second it’s in my door pocket purse.”
We owned a 1985 Fiero SE with the optional 2.8L V6. It was equipped with a 4-speed manual. I learned how to drive a stick shift in this car!
"loud" is most likely the loudness button which boosts low and high frequencies at low volume so the sound is fuller. 😉my friend Dan had one of these back in 89, he was so proud of it we couldn't even touch it, lol. 🍺
On a real note I miss Pontiac. Nicer than a Chevy cheaper than a Buick or Cadillac.
FutureRN_Corey _ I miss the Aztec
Pontiac was like a more performance brand not a cheap rebadged Chevy
How about Oldsmobile.
shouldve killed buick instead of pontiac
yung tooli amen
Holy nostalgia! My friend's older sister had one of these for a minute, truly the poor man's Ferrari. Like what would happen if a 308gtb got wasted one low night and woke up in bed with a Trans Am, pregnant and full of questions.
Fieros are a blast to drive. My Dads friend had a manual gt that I got to drive every now and again when he came over for service. I'm surprised Doug didnt mention the speakers in the headrests. Those speakers made the sound system incredible for the time.
I miss my Fiero GT I had as a teenager... Loved that car. Very fun car to skirt around town with. Couple Bazooka Bass tubes behind the seats and your sound is taken care of :)
I was wondering for months why doug never did a fiero...now im satisfied
An '88 1/2 with the manual transmission and upgraded suspension would have been preferred, but this works. He did right by it.
He found one that wasnt on fire or has a ferarri replica kit
also the dodge srt-4
This review is kinda crap. My dad had one. He isn’t going over the right stuff.
My first car was an ‘87 Fiero GT and I regret selling it more than anything. Mine had a 5spd manual and removable glass roof!
Everyone saids the “I regret selling it” excuse to the point that it sounds Like lies
Cool comment
I had one just like yours red and grey and I loved it
It's probably "for the better"
For The Better o
I also just want to call attention to a button I've never seen before, the CrO2 button under the "loud" button. CrO2 is Chromium oxide, a metal used in the formulation of higher-end cassette tapes (cassettes are usually made with ferric oxide - rust, basically). The biasing of the machine needed to be different to play back these different types of tape, so I'm guessing that button changed the bias, EQ (CrO2 tapes were usually brighter), or both. Fascinating!
My best friend bought one new in 1984 Fiero 4 cylinder 2 seater. Got a chance to look it over & one of the cooler things was the speakers built into the seats. Think it was just the tweeter or mid range speaker. Nice shape to it but I later found out it had the chassis of the Chevette under it. Not a fan of them but the later model years definitely better with that V6 & better suspension.
For a lot of us Gen X'ers, Fiero GT was our introduction to the mid-engine experience. Just how different and exotic it felt driving cannot be overstated in 1988.
and it was actually fairly practical for it's time. I knew a lot of teens/young adults who had em.
@@gozinta82 Even in 4 cylinder guise?
@@toyoscio I don't see why not. 4's are more practical than 6's. V8's were for people who had money to burn for gas.
@@gozinta82 Very true, but GMs 4s weren't the best unlike Honda and Toyota
@@toyoscio Agreed. :)
I loved this car back in the day. I wish Doug wouldn’t evaluate old cars based on today’s standards for features. And, come on, this car deserves more than a “1” for acceleration.
I agree. For it's time, the v6-powered Fiero was quite quick. 140hp was a lot of power for the times, too. Chrysler was turbo-charging many of it's 4 cylinder engines to give them more grunt, and they too only had around 140hp. To put this in perspective, I was driving around a 9-year old VW Rabbit as a daily driver in 1988 with a lot less than 100hp. Problem is, Doug didn't live as a driver during the hey-day of these vehicles, so the reviews are definitely skewed due to a totally different perspective. Surprised he didn't comment that he had nowhere to put his Starbucks coffee while driving. I'd prefer to see someone close to their fifties reviewing these cars today - different & more accurate perspective.
According to the Dougscore, if it does 0-60 in more than 7 seconds, it gets a 1.
Yeah I thought the same thing but considering he uses the same rating for super and hyper cars it makes sense
Steven Reichert well, considering you can’t go back in time in these cars... you’d certainly evaluate the ownership & driving experience today.. in today’s context.. if you’re buying it.. today..
Doug is jaded, it's time we ignore his review scores. they're way too subjective.
My first car was a 1985 Pontiac Fiero. I bought it myself when I turned 15 and drove it until I was 19 when I gave it to my brother. LOVED that car.
My understanding at the time (from some GM employees my parents knew) is that the Fiero was originally meant to be a fun little sports car with more power. However, the decision makers feared that it would encroach on the Corvette and Firebird. So, they then decided to castrate it with the 4 cylinder. Then, Mazda came out with the Miata and showed what a small sports car SHOULD be in the late 80s. That was the end of the Fiero. As with many GM cars over the years, they started out with a good concept but killed it in the execution.
The Fiero was designed to be a ''Woman's commute car".....funny thing is just as many men bought them as did women.
it was intended to be a commuter car, the fears you mention were what kept them from refining it to a better car.
@@MrSoulauctioneerPontiac wanted it to be a proper sports car, they had even developed a turboed 2.9ltr V6 in collaboration with Porsche that made ~230hp which was intended for the Fiero. It was GM big wigs that didn't like the idea of it being a sports car, and wanted it to be a commuter and gave them such a small budget that they had to cancel plans to produce the 2.9.