Anybody out there with experience autocrossing a fiero? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 12-02-2007, 07:34 PM

I am looking at low budget options for autocross next year including:
1. 1980 bmw 320i five speed
2. 1966ish vw sand rail
3. 1986 fiero gt v6 five speed
4. Old faithful, my84 280 euro five speed.

I am particularly interested in Fiero experience since I discovered my buddy has a decent looking one available...possibly.

Comments on the other options welcome too.

Tom W

Ara T. · #2 12-02-2007, 07:49 PM

I hear they are decent little cars after they ironed out the issues... I'd only get one if it was made in the later production years. They had a lot of teething problems. Sorry i can't give any first hand experience though.

I don't think I'd want to be doing any of the servicing on a mid engine car.

If it were me I'd just go for a Mazda MX5, they are super cheap, super reliable (for the most part) and super good handlers. Light weight, 50/50 balance, plenty of power for its size, beautifully shifting gearboxes and communicative steering.

t walgamuth · #3 12-02-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

I hear they are decent little cars after they ironed out the issues... I'd only get one if it was made in the later production years. They had a lot of teething problems. Sorry i can't give any first hand experience though.

I don't think I'd want to be doing any of the servicing on a mid engine car.

If it were me I'd just go for a Mazda MX5, they are super cheap, super reliable (for the most part) and super good handlers. Light weight, 50/50 balance, plenty of power for its size, beautifully shifting gearboxes and communicative steering.

That is what I would advise other people too.

For me they are just a little too prolific.

Tom W

Ara T. · #4 12-02-2007, 08:20 PM

Maybe you don't want to be driving around in a "girl car" either!

OldPokey · #5 12-02-2007, 08:29 PM

I hear that a Honda CRX makes a pretty good autocrosser...

Monomer · #6 12-02-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

Maybe you don't want to be driving around in a "girl car" either!

From all the cars guys I've talked to.

if you owned a Ferio, you "liked men."

go for the Mazda

CSchmidt · #7 12-02-2007, 09:03 PM

SCCA lists the cars and the classes they are assigned to. Then the cars are separated by stock and modified ... lots of rules to look at. There is usually a class level A - G depending on the car performance. You may be able to look at some results by the car / class also. As an example, when I was doing this, my GTI was a "stock G: class". The old Dodge Omni GLH was the hot ticket in the class I was competing in.

So the ultimate decision is to see what car you ar looking at, and look at the other cars that are in your class, then determine how competitive that particular car is compared to the to the others in that class.

If you start in the modified class, the differences are less clear since the mods make the cars less predictable.

I was a rookie and just interested in time improvements. So it didn't matter who I was racing against, I knew I probably wasn't going to win. So at each autocross I would try to for the best time improvement over the 3-4 runs of the day.

Chuck

Palangi · #8 12-02-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomer

From all the cars guys I've talked to.

if you owned a Ferio, you "liked men."

I understand that Fiero drivers occasionally got to meet a Fireman.

Angel · #9 12-02-2007, 09:30 PM

I'd rock the Fiero - Its different.

Tom W isnt in this autocross for the competition against others - why else would he have run his W123 6cyl this last season. Maybe now he is changing his tune (really getting sucked in =) but heck, rock the Fiero - you probably won't see others at the course.

I agree that none of the listed cars are bad, I know a lot of people who dig the 3-series for everything. But there is something about an american mid-engine car that makes me smile.

-John

TheDon · #10 12-02-2007, 10:00 PM

get an MR2 and you won't have the "burst into ball of flame" issues

LUVMBDiesels · #11 12-02-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

get an MR2 and you won't have the "burst into ball of flame" issues

Oh come now... the only ones that burst into flames were the '84 four cylinders

I would get the V6GT any day. I would then pull the engine and put in a turbocharged or supercharged Buick V6! It bolts right in and will kick serious a**!
Also I had a friend (MALE) who had a Fiero. He got hit broadside by a drunk driver in a F150. The car rolled over twice but he walked away without a scratch thanks to the space frame design. Think of it as a mega roll cage for autocrossing!

Matt L · #12 12-02-2007, 10:39 PM

A very heavy mega roll cage. Those cars aren't light.

rwthomas1 · #13 12-02-2007, 10:42 PM

I think there is someone making a kit to install a complete Cadillac Northstar engine and transaxle package into a Fiero. It'll run 12's bone stock and service is simple, plug into any GM dealer Tech II

RT

G-Benz · #14 12-02-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

...
1. 1980 bmw 320i five speed
2. 1966ish vw sand rail
3. 1986 fiero gt v6 five speed
4. Old faithful, my84 280 euro five speed...

Tom W

How did the VW sand rail make the cut?

Seems like a peculiar choice for anything but as a sand dune play toy.

The VW air-cooled motor in stock form doesn't produce much in the form of horsepower either...