Post by R.Olayvar on Nov 8, 2013 21:51:52 GMT -9
Here is probably the "Most Pontiac" car ever built. Pontiac-only chassis (P-body), Pontiac-built engine (Iron Duke), and Pontiac-designed (Space-Frame). Beginning production in 1984 (But, it's roots lied with the 1960's Pontiac Banshee) and ending in 1988, the Fiero is one of the most unique vehicles to come out of the Big Three. Mid-engined, RWD, with an exotic style; but wait... a 4 Cylinder OHV engine is in there? That's right; it was marketed as an economy car, with 30MPG. During it's short 5 year run, 380,000 Fiero's were produced. Need a reference frame for that? The Toyota MR2 (A very similar vehicle) produced 239,000 units in JDM and USDM... in just 15 years.
But wait, don't these catch fire?
Yes, but wouldn't every car when they run a quart low of oil over a period of a year? Only 0.07% of Fiero caught fire during their production years; and it was due to a short dip-stick, as well as a typo in the car manual. All fires occurred with the 1984 model, and most have been recalled.
Oh, well it looks a little small; I heard it's made out of plastic too, it doesn't sound too safe.
Small? The 2000 Honda Civic is only 4 inches longer. Plastic? Every car has plastic. You mean the panels? They're actually quite nice. Unlike metal; which dents and stretches under minor pressure, ABS Plastic bends and warps under more pressure, and returns to normal form when released. However, they shatter and crack under intense pressures found in crashes. Best thing of all? They don't rust. "Doesn't sound too safe" eh? The Fiero was one of the safest vehicles during the 1980's; It's Space-frame design, welded by over 3,000 pieces of high-strength steel, helped gave it a 5-star crash rating in 1984.
Now here is mine. It's my first car, once owned by my Father, Grandfather, Grandmother, and Aunt. Very sentimental, I will probably never sell it. It is powered by a whopping 94 BHP I4 mated to a 3 Speed Auto. I hope to swap a 3.4 DOHC with a 5 Speed Manual; but I know it will be a long time until that happens.
But wait, don't these catch fire?
Yes, but wouldn't every car when they run a quart low of oil over a period of a year? Only 0.07% of Fiero caught fire during their production years; and it was due to a short dip-stick, as well as a typo in the car manual. All fires occurred with the 1984 model, and most have been recalled.
Oh, well it looks a little small; I heard it's made out of plastic too, it doesn't sound too safe.
Small? The 2000 Honda Civic is only 4 inches longer. Plastic? Every car has plastic. You mean the panels? They're actually quite nice. Unlike metal; which dents and stretches under minor pressure, ABS Plastic bends and warps under more pressure, and returns to normal form when released. However, they shatter and crack under intense pressures found in crashes. Best thing of all? They don't rust. "Doesn't sound too safe" eh? The Fiero was one of the safest vehicles during the 1980's; It's Space-frame design, welded by over 3,000 pieces of high-strength steel, helped gave it a 5-star crash rating in 1984.
Now here is mine. It's my first car, once owned by my Father, Grandfather, Grandmother, and Aunt. Very sentimental, I will probably never sell it. It is powered by a whopping 94 BHP I4 mated to a 3 Speed Auto. I hope to swap a 3.4 DOHC with a 5 Speed Manual; but I know it will be a long time until that happens.
