Thinking about a non-Fiero... opinions please

[ddroger]

I know its kinda heresy, but now that I'm Fiero-less, I was thinking about maybe a - Shh! Honda del Sol !!!

The good parts are: cozy two-seater, targa top and retractable rear window. decent performance with optional engines, honda reliability and parts availability.

The "other" parts are: Its a HONDA, engine is in the "wrong" place, drive wheels are in the "wrong" place, it looks a bit wide-hipped at the back and a bit bland at the front.

Flame me if you will, just keep the language at a "family" level.

Don  

Fieroless in the farmland

[aaron88]

My advice is:

Do what you want to do.  It’s your choice.

However, asking people here what they think can only indicate to me that you are trying to be talked out of this purchase.  Ask yourself why?

Honda makes good cars.  They just have less potential, and can be found everywhere.

Aaron

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[Rob]

Del Sol's are more expensive then it is worth trying to fix them up. If you want a small Honda like that TRY and find a RUST FREE CRX Si . They are definitly a better car. You can then do a b16 or ZC engine swap to get a little more power.

My little tidbit.

Later;

[FieroBUZZ]

Is this a 'toy'?  Del Sol's are neat but widely regarded as a chick's car.

Most have moved away from CRX but they can be nice, and now a bit more rare. Preludes are nice as well, but everyone seems to have one.    There are a couple for sale at ottawaprelude.ca

How about an MR2 (heresy),   Either an older s/c or a newer 'fancy' car.

[Stagger Straightly]

My other car is an Alero. At least it rhymes!  

[Rob]

Have you Looked at a 300ZX ? if you were willing to pay enough for a newer MR2 I would go for it and get myself the Nissan! Nice smaller car, with LOTS of power and very Comfortable! At least the drive wheels would be on the right end!

Later

[fiero308]

well, just an idea and I have NO idea of course of what your priorities are, but what about an 88 (GT maybe?) with a 5 spd and V6?  Rare enough and unique enough; superb looks, very Good handling, fun to drive, keep stock or fix up as you want; (and the sky is pretty much the limit)....   LOTS of stuff avail and will turn heads anywhere.  It shouldn't be that hard to find one to try and it would still be quite different from the red smoothie (with its extensive mods etc), enough so that it would be a brand new experience of ownership.

[ddroger]

Hey! -

Thanks folks!  I appreciate all of the comments and suggestions; even the odd bits of sychoanalysis thrown in.
Other cars I've already got on my "interest" list are MR2 s and Datsun 2xx series, as well as Porsche 914-4. I've pretty well decided that the car has to be a T-top or Targa-top.
As a three-time Toyota owner, I do lean a bit to the MR2, but the early ones seem to be pretty rusty and the newer style are just a bit more than I want to pay. 914-4 s seem to be mostly clapped-out junk by the time they're on the market; at least what I've seen over the last couple of years.

The idea of a nice 87 - 88 Fiero with a V-6 5sp & sun roof woudl be attactive to me too...  Hmmmm - so much to day-dream about! Keep the comments & suggestions flowing

Thanks,  

Don   "Fieroless in the field"

[FieroBUZZ]

914???  Datsun 2xxZ?  I see a man with an eye to the unusual.  I know, v-8 308 replica, yada yada....  

Honestly, a guy I shared an apt with in the 70's had a 914.  Not bad (it was fairly new) but nothing to write home about.  The 6 cyl ones are another story.  I had a Fiat 124 spider at the time.

I would jump at a nice 240 or 260 Z.  There are always a few nice ones in the US on the Z car board.

Want to look at something different, that sounds pretty cool?
http://www.mco.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1969

A Fiat X-19 with VW Passat running gear.  Now that's an odd combo.  Should go like stink though.  Tyler may know this guy, as he's from the MCO club.

[GoFast85]

Don  
Is your convertable still in the ottawa area?

[FieroDough]

For Honda, the picture below will explain how i feel.

as for MR2, WHAT!?!?!?!?!
The company that copied the Fiero? took business away from it??? Bahhh!

[BootMachine]

Honda Boy here!

...and I aint no ricer!

I would not get a DeSOl!

Here is why:

- chassis is not stiff
- limited engines you can drop in
- 2 seaters are crap (Hondas anyway)
- chicks car....and every Honda Guy knows it
- ZC engine is not that cool
- Limited aftermarket support (But still fairly large)

If its a honda you want look at a CRX SI, CIVIC Type R or SIR, Integra Type-R, SE or GSR, Prelude SH or SRV.

The fastest for the cheapest is the CRX. You get one for 2500, buy a V-Tec b18 + mounts + tranni for 1300, 50 shot NOS for 500 and some nice tires and BOOM low 14's in the 1/4!

If you want more torque and more luxory get a Prelude SH or SRV. The SRV is a little older but has a lot more potential.

Some other nice cars to look at would be:

- New Turbo Neon (SRT or something)
- Ford Focus SVT
- Toyota Celica GTS
- Toyota Supra (If you have cash and can find one)
- Toyota MR2 Turbo
- Mazda 6
- Mazda Proto Turbo
- Mazda RX7 or RX8
- Pontiac Sunfart GT
- Chev Cavi Z24
- Ford ZX3
- Nissan 300ZX
- Honda Civic SIR V-Tec

Get a prelude and I'll hook you up with EVERYTHING you need!

[BootMachine]

lets not forget the Jetta VR6 and 1.8T!

[FieroDough]

[GoFast85]

my $.02
new BMW X8 or 20 re-engined Fiero's for the best speed