1988 Pontiac Fiero GT 5-speed Low Miles

Up for auction is an unmolested 1988 Pontiac Fiero. This is the more desirable GT model. equipped with the Getrag 5-speed. I have owned this car for about four years now. If you are familiar with Pennock's Fiero Forum. I purchased this car from user "Notorio. " Please feel free to look up information through that channel about some back history on the vehicle. I truly enjoyed owning and driving this car. but times change. and I need a more practical vehicle at the moment. I plan to purchase another Fiero when the time is right. If you want any more photos. please let me know!I plan to also put up a cold start video of the FieroThe Bad:- Faded Clearcoat/Paint. shown in photos. on the topside of the car- Cruise Control does not function - It is either the switch in the turn signal stalk or the cruise control unit in the engine bayThe Good:- Less than 90k original miles- New Clutch. installed less that 7k miles ago-Taillight lenses/sail panels original and in great shapeA Hemmings Article About the vehicle:Perfecting Pontiac's P-Shooter - 1988 Pontiac Fiero GTMarch. 2015 - Thomas A. DeMauroThe latter part of the 1970s ushered in a second energy crisis and high inflation. What better time. then. to propose a lightweight. two-seat commuter car with a sporty appearance. miserly fuel consumption and a relatively low price tag?Those were the attributes presented to GM management regarding what became the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. With no obvious threat to the Corvette's performance reputation. and having a concept that was in line with the times. the "P-car" (P-body) was approved. Of course. Pontiac neglected to mention the fact that the original intent of the entire project was a lot more sports car than commuter car. Though high fuel mileage figures. spine-compressing acceleration and glue-like stick in the curves are not always mutually exclusive goals--especially when considering the lightweight yet stiff P-car chassis. drag-cheating wedge-shaped body and mid-engine layout (a first for a U. S. production car)--in the 1984 Fiero's case. Pontiac was trying to play both sides of the equation by attempting to market it as an economy car and a sports car at the same time. Evidence of this tactic is revealed in Pontiac's 1984 dealer brochure: "Fiero can be described as an economy car. It can also be considered a practical and durable car. And by its technical specifications alone. Fiero may legitimately be called a sports car. " Problem is. some sports car people don't want to own a vehicle that is also referred to as an economy car. and to others who are trying to squeeze every possible mile from a gallon of gas. the term "sports car" has a wasteful connotation attached to it. This two-pronged approach led to high expectations on both sides and inevitably resulted in some compromises. Budget constraints ultimately ended up combining a sports car appearance and technological. design and assembly innovation with a commuter car heart and chassis. The space-frame body structure. mill-and-drill construction and dent-resistant and no-rust Enduraflex body panels were state of the art. but the 92hp. 2. 5-liter. 151-cu. in. Tech IV "Iron Duke" four-cylinder engine and chassis were derivative of existing economy car platforms to save money. None of this was lost on road testers. many of whom applauded the build and styling attributes. but pointed out the acceleration and handling shortcomings to potential buyers. Regardless. the Fiero sold 136. 40 units in its first year. well above its initial estimates. Over the following four model years. Pontiac would continue to tip the scales in favor of the sports car side. In 1985. the new GT employed the smooth front and rear fascias and the side aero-skirts from the previous year's Indy Pace Car; it had WS6 suspension and offered the Pace Car's rear spoiler optionally. More important. it gained a 140hp 2. 8-liter (173-cu. in. ) V-6 engine (also optional on the SE). Additionally. suspension revisions were made to improve handling. In 1986. the late-introduction restyled GT featured fastback-type sail panels and other visual upgrades. It also received a Getrag five-speed gearbox late in the model year for its V-6 engine. since the five-speed that had become available with the 2. 5-liter engine in 1985 didn't have the torque capacity for the larger powerplant. Sports car leanings were becoming more obvious with each revision. Mostly a carryover year. 1987's notable changes included an increase in fuel tank capacity to 11. 9 gallons. from 10. 2. in order to extend the driving range between fill-ups. and the ignition system was upgraded for the four-cylinder standard in the lower models. For 1988. the Fiero's suspension was completely redesigned. ultimately delivering the sports car handling and braking that had been anticipated since the 1984 model. The street fighter notchback Formula was also introduced and featured the WS6 suspension and V-6 of the GT. but fewer standard creature comforts in order to keep the price down and performance up. Mitchell Bell. a teacher from Winter Park. Florida. knows the history of the Fiero all too well. Back when he was preparing for college in the summer of 1998. his girlfriend. Samantha (now his wife). drove a 1988 Fiero GT. That led to meeting a fellow Fiero owner and the purchase of our feature car. One afternoon. when Mitchell and Samantha were out. the driver of a C5 Corvette noticed her car parked in front of the house. He stopped and spoke with Mitchell's father. Michael. about Samantha's Fiero GT and explained that he had a Bright Red 17. 00-mile 1988 Fiero GT for sale. which was in new condition. Coincidentally. Mitchell had been looking for a car to serve double-duty as a spirited daily driver for work and school. yet be interesting and clean enough to participate in shows with his dad. He had been considering the Buick Grand National. but decided that this Pontiac would be an excellent choice. The following list of standard GT features leaves little doubt that the Fiero had grown into a real sports car by 1988. They include the 135hp multi-port fuel-injected 2. 8-liter V-6 engine with 165-lb. ft. of torque; five-speed manual transaxle; Eagle GT+4 tires on aluminum wheels; four-wheel disc brakes; monotone Aero Package; tinted glass; body side moldings; reclining bucket seats; convex rearview mirrors. left-hand remote; lamp group; Delco AM/FM stereo with seek and scan features. a clock and a cassette deck with auto reverse; tilt wheel with leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel; controlled-cycle wipers; instrument panel gauges with a tach; power windows; remote deck lid release; remote-release fuel-filler door; dual map lights and tuned dual twin-port polished exhaust. Purchased from Courtesy Pontiac in Longwood. Florida. this particular Fiero GT included the three-speed automatic transaxle. sunroof. rear deck lid spoiler. floor mats and an option group that was comprised of A/C. cruise control. power mirrors and door locks. and visor vanity mirror. Said three-speed automatic featured a lock-up converter and a 3. 33:1 final drive ratio. Base price for the 1988 Fiero GT was $13. 99. With options and destination charges. this one cost $16. 58. "It was the first really cool sports car that I ever owned. Mitchell confides. "My parents helped with the down payment. I had to keep a job to make payments on it. as well as stay in college. to keep the car. " He also cites his Pontiac as being a major force behind his completion of college. as knowing that he was responsible for paying for it kept him focused. More satisfying than paying it off. was. of course. spending time behind the wheel. The Pontiac had a way of even making the daily commute pleasurable. "I love the way my Fiero GT drives. With the sound of the engine running behind you and the complete connection to the road. there is nothing like it. I liken it to a large go-kart with A/C and a radio. Mitchell quips. "It has no power steering. so at slow speeds it's hard to turn. but it handles like a dream. I have participated in Run For the Hills. which is a weekend of driving switchback roads at a high rate of speed in the mountains. My GT showed me what its capabilities really were. "Undoubtedly. Pontiac chassis engineers would be pleased with Mitchell's sentiments. as the suspension revisions for 1988 were extensive and expensive--to the tune of about $30 million. According to Pontiac. it began with combining "reduced spring rates with higher damping control shocks and struts. [to increase] wheel control. while maintaining ride quality. "In front. overall suspension travel was increased. Wheel spindles were 30-percent shorter: scrub radius was 30-percent smaller; anti-dive was increased by 40 percent; upper control arms were 20-percent longer and lower control arms were 25-percent longer. Revised pivot points improved steering. and the turning radius was cut by 12 percent. In the rear was a new tri-link layout with struts that improved anti-lift and anti-squat qualities. and the rear wheel travel was increased to better absorb road imperfections. Additionally. the GT was enhanced with the WS6 Special Performance Suspension. featuring a 16:1 quick-ratio rack-and-pinion steering rack; added 22mm rear anti-roll bar to complement the existing 23mm front bar. reducing understeer and body lean in cornering; specific springs. shocks/struts and bushings; 15x6 front and 15x7 rear Diamond Spoke aluminum wheels; and 205/60R15 front and 215/60R15 rear Eagle GT+4 tires enhancing all-weather performance. The four-wheel disc brake system was improved by using upgraded calipers and vented rotors. While driving his GT has provided years of satisfaction. Mitchell has also enjoyed showing it since 1999. and it continues to win awards today. "I like the fact that every time I go to car shows or cruises. I am the only one with a Fiero. he says. "It seems like everyone once owned one or knew someone who did. I always have a great time talking with people about the car and how different it really is. "The problem with exclusivity is that parts can be difficult to source. Because 1988 was the only year of production for the suspension. stock replacement parts for it and other one-year-only items can be a challenge to find. A member of the Central Florida Fieros club. Mitchell relates. "My wife and I have done so much over the years in this car. including participating in large Fiero shows all over the country and in local events. that it has become a part of our history together as well. The 1988 model was the Fiero that GM should have built in the first place. and like most people say. GM got it right and then killed it. "For that final model year. approximately 26. 00 1988 Fieros were built. and a mere 6. 48 (or 6. 49. depending upon the source) GTs were produced. The sales slide from 1985 through 1988 was likely precipitated by a combination of issues. not the least of which was the fact that earlier models were more commuters than performers. And then there was the highly publicized recall related to some engine fires in earlier four-cylinder models. Nevertheless. the Fiero did not return for 1989. despite the existence of a stunning 1989-'90 prototype. Regardless of the reasons for its ultimate demise. generally the Fiero improved in some ways with each successive model year. Today. they enjoy very active and loyal owner and club support. and they are a favorite for modifications. which means that the attributes of this 1988 model won't soon be forgotten by those who appreciate Pontiac's precious P-car. On Feb-26-15 at 18:01:34 PST. seller added the following information:Vehicle is located in Rancho Cucamonga. CA.