The Ultimate Pontiac

[Jim Prower]

The Fiero was slow, had poor handling and was unreliable by all accounts. The cars you mention are all fine cars, which make them easy to be passionate about.

I think the first is the only actual truth. The car had a bad rap because of a few engine fires in first-year versions. It didn't handle poorly, but wasn't best-in-class. (probably on par with a Hachiroku, a bit short of the MR2)

Just sort of middle-of-the-road. I suppose that's enough.

 

[land sea air]

Haha the Trans Sport, I always loved the styling of those vans. It would be awesome to take a Beretta GTZ engine and drivetrain, and stick it in.

the styling inside and out was definitely... interesting, the 3.8 had reasonable performance and would not die, the transmission starting to go was what sealed the deal and let me get my first MB.

 

[L_Hamilton]

Dad's GTO. Dont know why this wasnt more popular. Great looks, incredible handling, smooth ride. It's a corvette with 4 seats. And seats them comfortably. I'm 6'3 and I fir with PLENTY of leg space.

 

[YSSMAN]

The Fiero was slow, had poor handling and was unreliable by all accounts. The cars you mention are all fine cars, which make them easy to be passionate about.

Actually, near the end of their run (as always is the case with GM), the quirks had been worked out and they were actually building credible sports cars that could have pulled off interesting upsets against their Japanese and German competition. Problem was, because of what had been before it, no one really cared.

Even here in domestic-friendly Michigan, a Fiero is still a rare sight. I'd love to get a late-model V6 GT and tinker with it, but in searching for actual forms of practical transportation (not just a toy), the MR2/MR-S ends up making more sense.

 

[Adamgp]

If I recall it was the 4 cylinder Fiero that hadthe fires. The 2.8 V6 in the GT was fine, but fairly weak. (135hp)

My friend owns 2 Fieros. One has a bored out 2.8 V6 and set up for autocross. Fully upgraded suspension and weight reduction, handles awesome.

The other is a parts car for now but will be getting an LT1/LS1 transplant.

 

[Jim Prower]

It was the first batch, first year 4-cylinder that had fires.

 

[Paulie]

If I recall it was the 4 cylinder Fiero that hadthe fires. The 2.8 V6 in the GT was fine, but fairly weak. (135hp)

My friend owns 2 Fieros. One has a bored out 2.8 V6 and set up for autocross. Fully upgraded suspension and weight reduction, handles awesome.

The other is a parts car for now but will be getting an LT1/LS1 transplant.

Sounds like some nice Fieros your friend has/will have. If I had one it'd be a 3800 V6 or a High feature V6 going in it.

 

[Adamgp]

Sounds like some nice Fieros your friend has/will have. If I had one it'd be a 3800 V6 or a High feature V6 going in it.

Yeah they are nice. The one with the V6 is down for the winter with electrical gremlins that nobody can seem to figure out, and my friend is wondering what to do.

I told him about the Grand Prix/W body parts supplier I get parts from who can get him a good deal on a L67 3800 supercharged V6. He sounded interested.

 

[Joey D]

Even here in domestic-friendly Michigan, a Fiero is still a rare sight. I'd love to get a late-model V6 GT and tinker with it, but in searching for actual forms of practical transportation (not just a toy), the MR2/MR-S ends up making more sense.

They are rare? Maybe on your side of the state but it seems like every teenage kid who thinks they will be the next Michael Schumacher buys one here. Whenever there is a hideous accident it typically involves a young rid in a Fiero pushing his car past it's/and his limits on a twisty road.

 

[mPWRD]

G8 GXP, anyone? A poor man's M5...

 

[Gil]

Crazy flare hungry Americans, in Australia I'd say the Monaro qualifies as bad-ass.

Don't need flares by any stretch.
But in the dictionary under the word sleeper you will find the latest iteration of the venerable "Goat".
Hell, the G8 has more visual cues of being "bad-ass"

 

[Paulie]

Don't need flares by any stretch.
But in the dictionary under the word sleeper you will find the latest iteration of the venerable "Goat".
Hell, the G8 has more visual cues of being "bad-ass"

I didn't mean flare as in flares, I meant flare as in shizam, kabang, sizzling style.

 

[mPWRD]

Lol you meant "flair". Totally different word. Way to go, Paulie...

 

[Paulie]

Lol you meant "flair". Totally different word. Way to go, Paulie...

Once upon a time I was smart, then I left school and stopped using my brain.

 

[mPWRD]

You left school? You little criminal...

 

[Paulie]

You left school? You little criminal...

No, I meant finished school, left it on time. I got senior dux of my school.

 

[Cano]

incredibly, no one has mentioned a Judge, so here we go, in the best looking GTO ever, hell to the 69s pop-out headlamps...

and, also, to whoever mentioned the 73 Trans am 455 SD, YESSSSSSSSSSS. (sorry for the big pic, but everyone needs a 1600x1200 of 73 TA):

both of them, two of the best 5 muscle cars ever and ever. I'd change almost anything for one in a heartbeat.

 

[Paulie]

Err, Cano, The Judge has been managed many times already in this thread, including the VERY first post which you should read before posting in a thread.

 

[Jay]

But in the dictionary under the word sleeper you will find the latest iteration of the venerable "Goat".

Well it did come from the Omega jellybean platform, but I like it as it is, I prefer not to have so much 'flair'.

hell to the 69s pop-out headlamps...

Vacuum actuated concealed lights for the Win!

incredibly, no one has mentioned a Judge, so here we go

Yeah... as Paulie said post No.1 for starters. I didn't mention Judge as I would prefer a top spec non Judge with the 455HO (in 68 please )

 

[Cano]

Yeah... as Paulie said post No.1 for starters. I didn't mention Judge as I would prefer a top spec non Judge with the 455HO (in 68 please )

so, no Judge... no one even mentioned a Judge spec GTO, every one just said "GTO"...

 

[Jay]

so, no Judge... no one even mentioned a Judge spec GTO, every one just said "GTO"...

As I said, Paulies post #1 (see below)

I feel this could be a good one, Pontiac have had such a raft of awesome or meaningful cars. For me, it's the 1969 Judge GTO

 

[Tornado]

It's easy to have no passion towards a Fiero.

Speakers. In the headrests!
But seriously, aside from the things that Jim already tackled, there are crazy amounts of clubs and get-togethers for the Fiero.

 

[JCE]

WTF, the Fiero is probably the coolest non-Fbody Pontiac in the last 25 years. The Fiero is just sweet.

I want one of these...

 

[Djustice]

Shaking life to this old thread, since pontiac was offered tothe slaugther by GM to get the bailout package by Obama.
A real iconic brand was killed off (not so much the later years "E.G: the aztec" exception the G8).

But the early years, including the very first musclecar: 64/65 GTO , and the very last musclecar: Pontiac firebird that held high torque big displacment far into the smog ages.

It is really a shame that such a brand does not get more recogniczed in the GT universe.

I migth be a bit bias¨d as i own an early 2.gen firebird Formula, and love to show it off, and put a lot of tuner people in the dust with my heavy steel dinosaur.

and the sound it makes: (the brake pedal has been lubed up after this video )

 

[Jahgee]

To answer the threads question

 

[Joel]

@Djustice awesome car man, my uncle has a 1980 Firebird Trans Am that he restored over the last few years, they're awesome cars to drive. Love the rumble from the engine, it's the closest thing to a real muscle car I've ever driven.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Ultimate Pontiac? It just has to be a V6 J Body:

Look at that magnificent muscle car! The absolutely brutal power!

 

[Azure Flare]

All hail the Crap Rust Sunbird!

 

[Slash]

Always been a Firebird/Trans Am fan over the Camaro. These are my favorite variants but there are a few I left out.

\

 

[Crash]

Ultimate Pontiac? It just has to be a V6 J Body:

Look at that magnificent muscle car! The absolutely brutal power!

I wondered how long it took for someone to post that once this thread got bumped.