Fiero facts
Performance
The V6 Fiero hit .84-.86g on the skidpad (4 cylinder was roughly .80-82g)
- Porsche 911 Carrera -> .85g (the Carrera 4 was at .83g)
- Ferrari Testarossa -> .84g
- Lotus Esprit Turbo -> .86g
- Lamborghini Diablo VT -> .87g
- Acura NSX -> .87g
- Acura Integra GS-R -> .82g
- Pontiac Firebird Trans Am/Formula (’93+) -> .82g-.85g
- Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX -> .86g
The Fiero ran the slalom at 63.4-63.9 mph (about 61.5 for 4 cylinder models)
- Pontiac Firebird Trans Am -> 59.7 mph
- Lotus Epsrit S4 -> 60.6 mph
- Porsche 911 Carrera -> 61.9 mph
- BMW M3 -> 62.8 mph
- Corvette ZR-1 -> 63.6 mph
- Ferrari 348 -> 62.8 mph
- Acura NSX -> 62.3 mph
- Dodge Viper -> 62.7 mph
- Ford Mustang Cobra (1994) -> 61.1 mph
- Nissan 300ZX Turbo -> 63.0 mph
The V6 Fiero consistantly accelerated from 0-30 in 2.2 seconds- The Lamborghini Diablo manages 0-30 in 2.2 seconds.
Best quarter mile time for a stock V6 Fiero: 14.7 @ 92 mph. Worst: 17.0 @ 80 mph. Both Fieros were GT’s with manual transmissions.
Best top speed for a stock V6 Fiero: 135 mph. Worst: 115 mph. Both Fieros were ‘85 GT’s, the latter with an automatic transmission.
General
- Pontiac purchased Ferrari 308’s for handling, engineering and comparison purposes.
- Many V6 engines in Fieros dynoed at between 150 and 160 bhp
- The Fiero turned in a profit every year it was sold (including 1988)
- Fiero prototypes were running in 1980
- Most foreign auto magazines raved about the Fiero’s superior handling, its nimble response and excellent road feel. Most American auto magazines criticized the Fiero’s handling as being numb, heavy and not responsive
- The decisions to kill the Fiero was made on February 29, 1988
- The Fiero had nearly 3 times as many sales as the MR2 during any given year in its lifetime
- Pontiac spent over $300,000,000 to produce the Fiero, yet cancelled the car on a “hunch” they would lose a maximum of $20 million between 1988 and 1995
- Several factory prototypes were made of a Fiero convertible
- Two prototypes were made in 1986 of a Fiero with an aluminum frame. One of the aluminum Fieros had a 190 bhp Quad-4 engine
- Car & Driver called the Fiero, “One of the best cars in America” and gave the Fiero a slot in their top ten best category
- The Los Angeles Auto Expo gave the Fiero their Design of the Year Award
- The Fiero accounted for nearly 25% of all Pontiac sales in 1984
- Spectators at the unveiling of the fastback Fiero mistook the GT version as a new Corvette
- GM was struggling with the problem of employees purchasing Fieros before the public had an opportunity. Never before had this been a problem with a GM car
- Even though the highest sticker price for an ‘84 Fiero was about $10,000, one Michigan buyer paid over $15,000 for an ‘84 SE
- The Fiero was the first American car to win in IMSA GTU
- In 1985, the Fiero won at Sears Point (one of 3 straight victories), beating such successful competitors as Chevrolet’s Corvette and Ford’s Mustang
- A 4 cylinder Fiero belting out only 370 bhp took the NHRA’s Competition Eliminator title at the Keystone Nationals on September 15, 1985 with a best quarter mile time of 9.72 seconds at 134.41 mph
- The Fiero won well over 40 races in the 36 months it raced
Production year highlights
1984
Final drive ratio which improved 0-60 times from about 12.5 seconds to around 11.
Optional Indy edition featured white paint with red trim, red on gray interior, performance final drive ratio, and “aero” body work (nearly identical to an ‘85 GT’s).
Most common year for engine fire problems. Causes were insufficient oil capacity, flawed connecting rods shipped from the Saginaw factory, and improper placement of some engine bay components. Recall issued, all ‘84 Fieros have been serviced and corrected according to Pontiac Motor Division.
1985
4 cylinder renamed Tech-IV and received minor improvements.
GT model added featuring a revised body, WS6 suspension, and new trim options.
2.8-liter V6 introduced as an option for the GT and SE models. 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic available for V6 engine option, 5-speed manual added for 4 cylinder engine only. V6 engine features multi-port fuel injection and tubular exhaust manifolds, produces over 50% more power than the 4 cylinder.
Suspension is revised to reduce bump harshness and pitching behavior.
Decklid hump replaces vented plate.
1986
GT model receives fastback bodywork. 5-speed manual transmission introduced on some late ‘86 V6 equipped cars, 4-speed still most common. SE model receives ‘85 GT style bodywork.
Gauges are revised for V6 cars, featuring vivid backlighting and wrap-around tachometer.
3rd brake light added. Headrest stereo speakers are deleted.
15-inch wheels with offset tire sizes are found on the GT. Weave style wheel introduced. Suspension is recalibrated, improving rough road behavior further.
1987
5-speed manual standard on V6 models. V6 engine receives improvements to combustion efficiency, counter-weighting, and lubrication.
4 cylinder receives substantial improvements to lubrication system as well as the addition of balance shafts and a small power increase (about 98 horsepower vs. 92 for the previous engine). Suspension is again slightly revised.
Speedometer limit for V6 cars is increased to 120 mph. Improvements are also found in the hydraulic clutch and braking systems. The headlight motors were also upgraded to more reliable and quieter units.
1988
Monochrome paint is an option. T-top option added. Vented discs come standard. Suspension is revised to reduce scrub radius and rough road behavior. Lotus actually had nothing to do with the suspension improvement as most Fiero fans would like to claim, it was merely a media rumor. The suspension is completely unique.
V6 engine is again improved to increase longevity.
Fiero cancelled.
Model specifications
Year Weight Axle Trans Engine BHP@rpm Torque@rpm 0-60 1/4-mile
1984C 2464 3.32 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 12.5 18.9@70
1984C 2464 4.10 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.86 17.7@75
1984SE 2480 4.10 4-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.9 18.1@74
1985C 2505 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.8 18.0@74
1985SE 2560 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.4 15.5@90
1985GT 2572 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.5 15.7@87
1986C 2504 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 92@4000 134@2800 10.8 18.0@74
1986SE 2575 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.4 15.6@89
1986GT 2696 3.65 4-spd 6-cyl 140@5200 170@3600 7.5 15.9@85
1987C 2546 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 96@4800 135@3200 10.5 17.6@75
1987SE 2567 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.6 15.8@87
1987GT 2708 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.8 15.9@86
1988C 2547 3.35 5-spd 4-cyl 98@4800 135@3200 10.5 17.6@75
1988FM 2580 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.4 15.5@89
1988GT 2735 3.61 5-spd 6-cyl 135@4500 165@3600 7.8 16.0@85
C = Coupe
SE = Special Edition
GT = Grand Touring
FM = Formula