1988 Pontiac Fiero

Formula Coupe

2.8 Liter V6

Automatic

1G2PE1196JP221778

Clear

GAS

UPDATE: I took the Fiero back to Firestone this morning and asked them to get rid of the hesitation in the engine; $484 later, the hesitation is way gone! They changed the oil and filter using a synthetic blend, checked the air filter, cleaned the fuel injectors, changed the spark plugs and the plug wires along with installing a brand new distributor cap and rotor and lubed the chasis. When I left the parking lot somebody tried to cut me off so I gave it a little gas...HOLY COW!!! This car doesn't lose traction, it just goes really fast! I did add the money I've spent on it over the past few days to the opening bid; but it's worth it, it runs great! I am really tempted to pull it from auction. I was watching Counting Cars last night and Danny was saying how folks like the IROC Z28 because it was a rare car at only 170,000 produced. They only made 5,484 Formula Fieroes! If you search Formula Fiero on here there is only one other car that pops up, and it isn't even actually a Formula! This morning I took a picture of the driver's seat, then put on a slightly used genuine sheepskin seatcover and took a picture of it. I will let it go with the car. It helps to smooth out the bumps a lot. The suspension on this car was designed for racing, not comfort. I also took a picture of the engine after getting the car back from Firestone. You can tell that the sparkplug wires and distributor cap have been replaced. I'll upload those pictures directly. The Fiero got a brand new heater core today. The antifreeze leak is gone. I've got one more receipt along with another picture of the undercariage uploaded. This one is taken from the front. The moisture you see is from the previous heater core leak. I actually took this picture yeterday, but for some reason it took a long time to get from my phone to my email. I was goint to get a picture of the driver's seat, but after walking to Firestone from home my cell phone camera lens was fogged over. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and then install a slightly used, but genuine sheepskin seat cover on the driver's seat just to sweeten the deal a bit. I found that the seasoned mechanics working at the new Firestone at Loughboro and 55 know Fieros. I watched Jim position the lift pads around the radiator lines and get the car in the air safely today. If the lucky winner is local, I would highly recommend taking the car there. They are familliar with it after putting brand new brake pads and rotors on the front and installing brand new belts and wiper blades. The good news is, I'll be selling a safe, driveable car that will heat and defrost quite handily this winter. Not a bad trate for a car that handles itself very well in the snow with the weight in the rear above the wheels that push. It's a fuel injected automatic to, so you could install a remote engine starter as well. I also found out that the tape deck does work today. It only plays when you wiggle the power button, and then only through the left speakers, though. I'd let Pat at Audio express hook you up with a new stereo and alarm with keyless entry and remote engine start. Might as well round the cab out with some new carpet and seat covers while you're at it. There's so much I'd love to do with this car, I just have more love for it than money to fix it up right. I discovered today that the cruise control and temperature guage need to be fixed. The good news there is that there is that all of the antifreeze and water will be brand new. While the car was up in the air I took a good look and a few pictures on my cell phone. I'll upload them. I don't think it looks too bad for a midwestern car. I didn't see any rust holes, just looked like surface rust to me, but I'll let you be the judge. I was really thrilled to find a ’88 Formula Fiero with the V6, automatic and WS6 suspension package with only 27,500 miles on it the other day; but I can't afford to hold onto it. After sleeping on it, I decided to sell what amounts to the greatest barn find of my life. This car was bought brand new by a sweet, little old lady and barely driven. I’ve had a ‘86 manual transmission Fiero that I got tired of replacing the clutch on and a ’86, 4 cylinder Fiero that I had to change a nylon timing gear on; not a cheap fix. I learned a long time ago that 6 cylinder, automatic was the way to go with Fiero. I also learned a long time ago that the last production year, 1988, got such improved suspension, brakes, and wheel/tire package that it was the only year that mattered. That year to get these goodies you could either get the GT package which came with goofy sail panels that added to your blind spot and a ground effects package that you were going to drag on every dip and parking bumper or, miracle of miracles, you could get a Formula package which had all the go fast and handling performance parts plus a functional rear spoiler to keep you planted to the road at high speed without the overblown GT body mistreatment. Of the available color choices, I always though black exterior, grey interior looked the best. This is part of a great review of the Fiero production history… The 1988 Fiero brought a new suspension design, thought by many to have a striking resemblance to those designed by Lotus, which at the time, was about to be acquired by General Motors. The suspension was never a Lotus design though; it was the suspension the Pontiac engineers had designed in the beginning, along with what they learned from the racing program. Up front were revised control arms and knuckles that reduced steering effort and improved the scrub radius. In the back, the old Citation parts were replaced with a real tri-link suspension with all new knuckles. This new suspension came with staggered wheel sizes on WS6 suspension equipped models, with 15 in (380 mm) by 6 in (150 mm) wide wheels up front and 15 in (380 mm) by 7 in (180 mm) wide wheels in the rear for improved handling balance and to offset the slightly increased front track that resulted from the improvements. Topping off the package were the new vented disc brakes at all four corners, which addressed another common complaint of road testers. A variable effort electro-hydraulic power steering unit, the same design later found on the GM EV1, was also to be a late addition. This option never made it to production — one reason cited is that models with the prototype power steering were noted as being too loud. The four-cylinder engine received an in-pan oil filter element and balance shaft. A "Formula" option was added, which offered many of the GT features with the standard coupe body, including the 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer, WS6 Suspension (which includes offset crosslace wheels) and the rear spoiler. 1988 marked the end of production for the Fiero, and is also considered to be the best Fiero produced. Improvements to suspension, brakes, steering, and improvements to both the four-cylinder and V6 engines took the car to a level far beyond the 1984 model that had received much criticism. 1988 was also the only year a yellow exterior color was available as a factory option. During the Fiero's final model year, the Pontiac, Michigan plant, where the Fiero was built, was closed down. The rest of the article can be found here… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Fiero Despite it’s extremely low, one owner mileage, this car does have some kinks to work out. You might as well replace the carpet. The good news is, the carpet is cheap since it’s a two seater and there are a ton of parts both new and used for this car on ebay and available from a venerable plethora of aftermarket manufacturers. There are also Fiero clubs and forums available to you for free advice and swap meets. I would go all the way with it and show this car off at Fiero events when it’s all said and done. This car is begging for a metallic black paint job. The tires aren’t brand new, but they have good tread and don’t look terribly dry rotted. They should last you for a while. It needs Freon too. Might as well convert to R134A, it only costs a few more bucks for the fittings. The door and sunroof gaskets could stand to be replaced, but they do their job. I drove this car home through the rain and stayed dry inside. The previous owner had the oil changed only a few miles ago as well. This car runs and drives great. There was a little hesitation when I test drove it, but the more I drive it, the better it runs. It always starts up first time and I haven’t heard any arguments from the engine or seen much smoke, just a fun, happy vibration from the V6 in the small of your back as you straighten the curves and flatten the hills. This car is a genuine joy to drive. With the mid-engine, rear wheel drive configuration, tri-link, independent suspension, rigid shell construction, light weight, aerodynamic design, skinny tires in front and fat ones in the back and a total lack of power steering, you are absolutely tuned into the road. A trip to the corner store turns into a Formula race. You need Italian racing gloves every time you let this car entertain you. It is going to be tough to let this car go. I am selling it no reserve, though. So some lucky person is going to own it. I hope you love and treat her right. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding.