gjw@floyd.UUCP (10/27/83)
I am very interested and excited about the Pontiac Fiero. I think it would be a good replacement for my RX-7 in a year or two. That should give them enough time to get the bugs out. From reading C&D and Road&Track this is my opinion of the car and what's coming out for it in the future. First of all I consider it a true sports car. Its basic layout is designed for performance. Mid engine, no phony back seats(ala Prelude) 4 wheel disks, not much luggage room to keep it small. Incidently, I consider the Prelude a sports Coupe and therefore in a different class. I consider sports cars things like Triumphs, MG's, Lotuses, Porche 911 & 914's, Jensen Healeys, Fiat X1/9 and 124 Spiders etc. Unfortunately, many of the above are gone but there seems to be a new interest among manufactures worldwide to revive such cars. For example, Toyota is bringing out something that seems to be a copy of the Fiero. Anyway, from reading R&T's and C&D's road tests it seems like the Fiero has all the right ingredients. The only short coming is the engine. It has inadequate power for the capabilities of the chassis. 0-60 of 10.9 sec. is not bad but the engine does not have that run easily to the redline feel. Incidently both magazines tested it with the performance final drive of 4.10 and the WS-6 package which includes suspension tuning and wider wheels and tires. The rummored 2.9 liter aluminum turbocharged V-6 has been killed, but by 1985 it will be available with a port injected version of the high output 2.8 liter V-6 used in the X cars and A cars. This engine should produce 135HP @ 5400 and 170 ft-lbs of torque at 3500 and should make the car into a real stormer even with the four speed. A five speed probably won't be available till 1986. GM bought the tooling and production rights to build a Getrag (of West Germany) five speed transaxle for this and front wheel drive applications. The japanese made 5 speed transaxle used in the J cars does not have the capability to handle the torque of even the current 2.5 liter engine available now. What puzzles me is why didn't GM bring out the car with the high output carburreted V-6 that has been available in the 6000 STE and Citation X-11 for two years. The Fiero uses a X car front suspension and drive train moved to the rear. I have driven my brothers Porche 914(mid engine) and a Fiat x1/9 and the steering response of mid engine cars cannot be approached by my Mazda Rx-7 or my Saab Sonett III (front wheel drive). The plastic enduraflex body panels are a nice feature. All in all the Fiero is a very good modern sports car and with the above additions it will be a great one.