#FieroFriday Craigslist Find

"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt) 07/24/2015 at 12:36 • Filed to: fierofriday, fiero, craigslist

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It’s #FieroFriday, Oppo! Time to look at everyone’s favorite second favorite third favorite cheap mid-engined 80s wedge. It’s the ‘88 GT you want, right? That’s the one with the revised suspension geometry, V6, and a five speed. It’s also the least sold version. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Sure, it hasn’t been registered in 20 years and is an absolute mess, but aren’t most of them? A grand seems a bit much to me, but I’m sure that he’ll come down if it’s just been sitting there for a couple of decades. This could be the first LeMons Fauxrarri with some work and fiberglass.

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 12:49

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CP

TheRealBicycleBuck > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:03

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Ummm, it’s missing something. All GTs had the sail panels, no?

itschrome > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/24/2015 at 13:08

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no. only 86 to 88

edit also just went to the listing... yeah I don’t think that’s an 88...

itschrome > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:13

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that’s no GT. the front bumper is wrong for any year GT and the lack of side sail panels would mean it would have to be pre 1986. but that bumper is wrong wrong wrong for any GT.

this is a listing of LIES!

TheRealBicycleBuck > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:18

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I think the nose is correct for an ‘88 Formula.

itschrome > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/24/2015 at 13:26

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yeah it is, I forgot about those. basically the same as the GT in 88 but with out the rear sail windows and less fancy interior..

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:37

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If it weren’t half way across the country, and if it is verified not to be completely rotted to hell... I would offer them 600$, and probably settle on 750-800 for that donor. Shipping/transporting the thing would double that expense, though.

The Subaru Leone RXII fastback hatch coupe beside it, also has some possibilities.

An 88 with the improved geometry, and a sunroof is a nice donor to start things from, and a space-frame car like that is easier to make bodywork changes on. As long as the space frame isn’t damaged or rotten, the body is plastic, and entirely replaceable, and even off-car paintable.

A GT-style rear upper quarter, tail lights, and rear bumper, on otherwise a clean, un-body-kitted Fiero is what I would want. All the sleekness, not the 80’s era timestamp on the lower body cladding.

It would be a nice car for a 3.4L DOHC V6 & 6-speed manual swap. The only thing better, would be a T-top car, but those are RARE.

Skamanda > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/24/2015 at 13:40

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Even better! I’ll take a Formula over a GT any day.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:45

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It isn’t a GT, it is an 88 Formula. Not all 86-88 Fieros were GTs, and V6 Formulas were the same mechanically as a GT, but with the base, simpler, (imho cleaner) bodywork, and the notch-back profile. It is possible that the person is mistaken to think all V6 Fieros were GTs, regardless of body style.

A pre-86-facelift car has the impact bumper nose, which is also different.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:45

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NOOOOOOOOOO!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:46

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Yep. More aerodynamic and lighter.

itschrome > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:48

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yeah but at the cost of looking cool!! looking cool is all that matters bro! I mean look at my sail windows brah, looks like a coupe but the jokes on you. you and your lame 70’s looking notch back.. bro gt means better! formula, pft.. more like baby formula!!

I may still be mad my mom wouldn’t let me have one..

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:49

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Lol, it was probably for the best. These aren’t exactly known for holding together well in an accident.

itschrome > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:56

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SHUT UP MOM!!!

haha

also the fact that the one I wanted to buy had a 305 v8 where the 2.8v6 use to be might have been an issue too...

Still dunno why they did a 305 not a 350.. but still the want was sooo strong.

right now in life I still want one but with northstar!

I’m sick in the head....

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 13:58

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I want one with a Northstar too. Supposedly it’s a relatively easy swap and as you probably know, the Northstar will rev to 8000 with just a valve spring change and killing the rev limiter. I posted a Fiero project with a Northstar a few weeks ago. Everyone hated it because Northstar. Personally, I think that it’s a very underrated engine and the potential of it has never been fully realized.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 13:59

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If it’s actually a 5 speed Formula, and it’s in decent shape under the skin, it could be a good restoration candidate. These cars are extremely rare and somewhat desirable, so could be something worth picking up and making a long term project out of.

TheRealBicycleBuck > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 14:11

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Yep. And less breaky .

itschrome > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 14:14

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Truth right there. Every one hates on them for two reasons:

1: the head gasket issues pre 2001 engine. yes they failed and it was expensive. it wasn’t a design flaw it was a cost saving measure to use the wrong damn bolts. also gm was still learning to properly cast aluminum.. what ever it was fixed get over it

2: they where in “old people” cars. most people who hate them never actually drove one. yes ok so maybe the people who owned them never went over 2k or 1/8th throttle, but thats not the engines fault!

But yeah they are a screaming engine! great power delivery, quick rev’s and tons of potential for growth. But as GM did not wish to continue spending money on development of a top teir non standardized block engine we lost it. But if you ever got to drive one of the last gen with the variable valve timing, whoa nelly! But still even my generation in my ‘04 sls is a screamer, love doing runs up to 6500k! I would love to have it pushed to 8k but Jesus that thing drinks hard at those rpm’s I can’t even imagine what 8k would do to a tank of gas!

I always though they deserved to be in something sportier than the Eldo.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > itschrome 07/24/2015 at 14:16

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There are plenty of Fieros rotting away with Iron Pukes just waiting for a swap....

itschrome > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/24/2015 at 14:18

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I went to check my bank account to see if I could put brakes on my caddy this week end and it laughed at me... someday when things aren’t this way I will do it! then again... I have the engine.... I just need a clean doner body.... but do I have the skill! no... no I don’t.. I need to be rich..or more skilled.. but to learn you must fail! but to fail you must have money to start! damn it, why is the world such a cruel place... when does the federation rise and the use of money fall? my body and my drive train are ready, beam us up scotty!

Tohru > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/04/2015 at 16:21

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Are you sure it’s not a notchback Fox-body next to it? Roommate and I are arguing about it.

Tohru > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/04/2015 at 16:23

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Not true. Near my house, two guys crashed one into a tree at 80mph while airborne. If they had been wearing seatbelts, they would have lived with relatively minor injuries. They weren’t, though - the passenger lived for a month, the driver made it about a year.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Tohru 08/04/2015 at 19:17

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Fox body notchbacks have a different roofline entirely. The A-pillars are curved, the body lines are not as sharp, and distinctly different at the top of the front fenders... there are lots of details that show it isn’t a Fox Mustang.

It is a Leone RXII. Even the ride height gives it away as a rough-road modded AWD Subaru.

And actually they are 3-door lift backs, but the rear hatch glass wraps around to the C-pillar.

Tohru > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/05/2015 at 09:52

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Thank you for the in-depth proof to say he is wrong.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Tohru 08/05/2015 at 11:40

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What can I say... I’m here to help. ;-)

But it still doesn’t mitigate the problem that I BADLY wish there were a car like this on the market now...

3-door lift-back fastback coupe (what is the point of a dinky little un-useable trunk lid?)

longitudinal 3-differential full-time AWD, not just FWD with occasional rear-assist.

Manual gearbox (or even an automated-clutch gearbox now)

Turbocharged I4, or 6-cylinder engine, not an economy engine.

Affordable, and reliable, as well as powerful and competent enough to be real fun.

The only other that immediately comes to mind, is Audi S2. Perhaps Celica AllTrac or Eagle Talon/Mitsu Eclipse, or Dodge Stealth RT/Mitsu 3000GT VR4 if you don’t mind a transverse haldex-type AWD, but those are all 15-20 years old now, and spare parts are no longer being produced. Or the EXPENSIVE, yet tiny Audi TT.

Audi won’t build the Quattro Sport concept car as a companion to A4, and Subaru won’t build an AWD coupe whatsoever, evidently.