I know the GM Deadly Sins aren’t everyone’s cup of Kool-Aid. Please keep in mind that DS status isn’t the actual cars’ fault; they deserve our love, appreciation and care just as any old car does. And we really do love them, warts and all. They’re like our adopted children; blame their genetic parents for any shortcomings. And so we do….
I mistakenly called the Fiero DS #17. It’s actually #19, which means that there will be a #20 and so forth. I have a rough short list in my head (not limited to those pictured). But if any of you would like to chime in with some (polite) suggestions ), I’m certainly willing to consider them.
And if you haven’t checked out the others, here they are all for your reading pleasure (or nausea).
On The Purpose And Nature Of GM’s Deadly Sins
#7 1976 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
#8 1984 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham
#11 1975-1979 Cadillac Seville
#12 1990 Pontiac LeMans (Daewoo)
#17 1980-1985 Cadillac Seville
There is one big item missing in all of these discussions about the Fiero, price.
In 1985, we were going to buy my wife her first new car. I asked her what she wanted: A Fiero, she said. At the time, I had a full on love for the Fox body Fords; particularly the Mercury Capri 5.0. After much cajoling, I got her into one, but if I hadn’t we’d have paid a lot less for a 4 cylinder Fiero. They ran about $10K, (prolly less, even back then you could get employee pricing!) our 1985 Capri RS was about $12K.
The late production 1985 V6 Fiero was about $12K (MSRP), the contemporary MR2 was about $14.5K (MSRP) and the X-1/9 about $14K (MSRP). The approximately $2K less was big money back in the 80’s. I personally would have not purchased an V6 Fiero, X-1/9 or MR2 because you could get plenty of V8 power for roughly the same money.
Regardless of my tastes, the Fiero sold relatively well, just due to pricing alone. You may have had to wait for your MR2 or CRX, but the Fiero was right around the corner, waiting for you.
In the early 90’s I was selling Toyotas, a young man came on our lot to see about trading his 88 Fiero GT for a Supra (IIRC). I took the Fiero for an “evaluation” ride, it was a little beast. I really wanted to sell a Supra (they had big spiffs on them, as they were super expensive and slow movers), but I told the kid flat out that I liked the Fiero GT for what it was. It was all for nothing, he didn’t qualify for financing on a Supra and he moved on.