The Fiero was no rear engines, but MID engined. Even after driving my friend Ray's 86 GT last August (not this last August, but 2009), the engine wasn't the most powerful, but the chassis was still tight and able to carve well. At speed, the front end felt like a VW Beetle... it got really light over 90mph.

the soft cam issue in the 4.4L, 5.0L and 5.7L V8's were a black eye for GM. You got maybe 65,000 miles out of a cam before the lobes got round. My buddy Matt had a beat to shit 82 Impala with the 267 (4.4L) V8 in it. The cam was so worn, the car wouldn't go over 70 or so without popping and spitting/sputtering... the frame and body were so far gone, it wasn't worth fixing, but he did.

GM didn't listen to anyone they asked about the Cruze. They just decided that people would buy what they were selling, which is the fucking logic that damn near put them out of business in the first fucking place.

Posted by Samurai it came down to bottom line. The Cobalt was a North American car. Period. It's no sold anywhere else but North America. The Astra is an aging chassis, but sells well in Europe and Australia... as a Saturn, the Astra didn't sell well at all. So instead of actually engineering a new car, the high command decides that the car currently being sold as a Chevy Lacetti will be just perfect for north America. have you guys seen this piece of shit? http://www.chevrol...evy_cruze_pictures just another anonymous 4 door people movie with the soul of a fucking cupholder. oh joy. fuck you, GM

While I agree with most of what you said, I don't think the Cruze is that bad. Its not epic like the Cobalt is, but from the specs and the outside, it looks like it might be a nice daily driver. Maybe when I play the rental car game, I will find out for sure.

It's a Daewoo. So it's fucking garbage.

Posted by Samurai At speed, the front end felt like a VW Beetle... it got really light over 90mph.

How the hell did you get a Beetle up to 90?

Posted by A. Lien This Daewoo replacing the Cobalt business makes me sick too. It's been said that the only real profit GM makes is from GMAC Financing. The new Camaro was probably wise, to bring in older drivers and younger who like the retro theme. And complete the Challenger, Mustang, Camaro picture.

actually, GMAC got spun off in the re-structureing of 2008 and is now Ally bank. last time i checked Ally is only 15% owned by GM now. I know that its so far from GM that EDS has stopped being thier IT provider

Posted by bandi It's a Daewoo. So it's fucking garbage.

110% fucking agreed

How the hell did you get a Beetle up to 90?

my friend Shawn had a 72 SuperBeetle back when we were younger. It had a big holley 2bbl on it with some obnoxious exhaust. His dad tinkered with the timing and stuff so it was actually not all that gutless. I want to say that the engine was an 1800 or something out of a VW van

Hahaha... nice. One day I'll shoehorn a carbed Porsche 911 engine into one.

Man I need to check this forum more often...

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GM's reasons for discontinuing the Fiero were rising insurance costs and they didn't see a profitable market for a 2-seat sportscar. Interesting, considering the Fiero was profitable throughout its entire production run, despite the overhyped media attention over the fires (which only affected about 200 of the vehicles built in 1984).

What makes the second reason even harder to believe is the fact that the next year GM began producing the Buick Reatta, Toyota's MR2 was still selling fairly well, Honda released the CRX and delSol, and Mazda introduced the Miata/MX-5.

Makes the Corvette thing that much more believable, doesn't it?

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! actually, GMAC got spun off in the re-structureing of 2008 and is now Ally bank. last time i checked Ally is only 15% owned by GM now. I know that its so far from GM that EDS has stopped being thier IT provider

Of course the Fiero was a mid (rear) engine car, compared to a mid front engine car like the RX7. The Porsche 914 was an almost neutral handling mid rear engine rig. Extremely good handling. I remember reading how Porsche had to put counter weights in the front bumper of the early 911's. They needed to balance the 'bag of cement on the bumper' effect of the rear engine. Still my favorite car... and handle incredibly well when set up right/driver knows where the weight is.

Interesting on the GMAC, a shame if GM divested/dumped a successful branch of the big machine. Stumbled across this the other day...

Sorry couldn't get the *&%$%# link to work!

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Posted by A. Lien The Porsche 914 was an almost neutral handling mid rear engine rig. Extremely good handling. I remember reading how Porsche had to put counter weights in the front bumper of the early 911's. They needed to balance the 'bag of cement on the bumper' effect of the rear engine. Still my favorite car... and handle incredibly well when set up right/driver knows where the weight is.

Some early 911s actually had dual batteries (mounted in the front) to help counteract this... the handling of a 911 has been compared to throwing a hammer, it's fine if you know what you're doing!

Posted by bandi Some early 911s actually had dual batteries (mounted in the front) to help counteract this... the handling of a 911 has been compared to throwing a hammer, it's fine if you know what you're doing!

the Cobalts' battery is in the trunk... weird.
in the Fiero, if I remember right, it was right behind your head.

Posted by Samurai the Cobalts' battery is in the trunk... weird. in the Fiero, if I remember right, it was right behind your head.

is every cobalt battery in the trunk or just the SS?

most bimmers if not all got the battery in the trunk

Sam - don't all delta's have the battery in the trunk? I know the Ion did, and I think the astra did too? And doesn't the g5?

Also, which year fiero had the long buttresses? I think it was like 88?

Posted by oddspot is every cobalt battery in the trunk or just the SS?

all of them are in the trunk/spare tire well... even my 05 base coupe.

what's a buttress?

Posted by velcrozeppelin Also, which year fiero had the long buttresses? I think it was like 88?

'87 and '88 Fiero GT

Fiero GT fastback was built 86-88. 85 GT's were notchies.

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Battery was located under a removable vent next to the decklid on the passenger side. Most engine swaps have it moved to the front where the spare would be.