 By Rich
Automotive Traveler I love to look at numbers as they relate to cars. And I recently read that in 2007 the  Pontiac Solstice outsold the Mazda Miata by a score of 16,779 to 15,075 (GM sold an additional 11,263 units for the Saturn Sky) making it the most popular moderately-priced (under $30,000) 2-seat roadster. At the same time I also noted that sales for all three declined in 2007 even though each introduced new versions, the high performance GXP for the Solstice and Redline for the Sky, and a retractable hardtop for the Miata.
While I?m a big fan of the Solstice, I am an even bigger fan of the last two-seater Pontiac produced, the 1984 to 1988 Fiero. Over the years I?ve owned five, including two V6s, and currently own two; a 1984 that was highly modified (yellow fastback body kit and turbocharger) by International Research Motorsports which was on display at the 1984 SEMA Show and recently featured in Pontiac Enthusiast, and plain white a 1988 base coupe.
Both Fieros are low mileage examples (the ?84 has 33,000 miles, the ?88 66,000 miles) and the ?88 is nominally my daily driver. I picked it up on eBay for $1,800 last fall when gas prices started to rise here in Southern California as it gets about 35 MPG on the freeway and 25 MPG around town. A clean car with 60,000 miles and functional A/C for less than two grand was simply too good to pass up.
Both are 4-cylinder cars powered by Pontiac?s 150 cubic inch Iron Duke and the ?88, with the upgraded suspension, handles great and still is rattle-free thanks to its advanced space frame construction. Until recently, the Fiero boasted some of the highest assembly tolerances of any vehicle in GM history.
When looking deeper at the numbers I noted something interesting. In its first year the Fiero sold 136,840 units, all 4-cylinder models and the following year, when the V6 was added, sales slipped to 76,371 (sales rose slightly in 1986 when the flying buttress GT was added). These are staggering numbers when compared to the current sales volumes of the Solstice, Sky and Miata combined.
But the price and performance numbers tell another interesting story, just how close the final 150-horsepower V6 Fieros built in 1988 are to the current 177-horsepower 4-cylinder Solstice.
Yes, I know that the Solstice has far more standard safety gear (the ?88 Fiero lacks even a driver-side air bag) but the last Fiero and the current Solstice are more similar than they are different, including vibrant on-line communities for both. Best of all, you can pick up a mint, loaded well-maintained ?88 V6 Fiero GT fastback typically for less than $6,000. Don?t believe me, do a completed items search on eBay.
I went through this exercise not to denigrate the Solstice but to illustrate how maligned the Fiero has been over the years and to put it in perspective; even today it compares favorably to its modern-day counterparts. And best of all, its body will never rust.
On June 24 to 27, 2008 Fiero enthusiasts from around the world will mark the 25th anniversary of its introduction with a celebration at the Marriott Centerpoint in where else, Pontiac, Michigan. I for one plan to be there?my only decision will be which Fiero to drive 2,300 miles to the event, the yellow ?84 or the white ?88.
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