Welcome back! I’m sticking with the oddballs today, with two vehicles that hail from the Tucson, Arizona area. Both have been somewhat re-imagined by their current owners, but both are claimed to be reliable runners. Which one of these altered beasts will appeal more to you? We’ll find out shortly.
First, let’s finish with yesterday’s scruffy classics. I expected this one to be a fairly even matchup, despite the price difference, and I was right. In fact, several of you wanted a “both” option, which doesn’t happen often; it’s usually “eww, neither one.”
Ultimately, the Studebaker pickup took the trophy, and I think I agree with that. I do love ’60s Volvos, especially Amazons, but the draw of that old Stude is too strong. Besides, it would be fun to take it to shows and events and watch people scratching their heads over that shift pattern.
Now then: I’m not generally one to modify my own vehicles; I tend to leave them in their as-designed form and just fix or upgrade things as needed. But I appreciate those who take a car and make it their own, especially an old cheap car that no one really cares about. I can’t say I always like, or understand, their choices, but I admire their spirit. Today, we’ve got a minivan that has been modified to go off-road, and a sports car that looks like it has been, but I think it’s less modified than it first appears. Let’s check them out.
1984 Pontiac Fiero 2M4 – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Oro Valley, AZ
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When Pontiac introduced the Fiero, the official line was that it was a “commuter car.” And sure, it was small and got decent gas mileage, so you could make that argument. But one look at it – the low-slung wedge shape, the midship engine placement – and you knew Pontiac’s engineers meant this to be a sports car. It took several years and a lot of refinements to make good on the promise of that shape, but it got there in the end. By 1988, it was a pretty respectable sports car. Never, not once during its five-year run, did anyone claim it was an off-roader, however.
The owner of this car isn’t the first one to give a Fiero a more aggressive stance; a quick Google image search yields jacked-up Fieros of all types throwing up roostertails of dirt. It makes sense; a Fiero works well off-road for some of the same reasons a Beetle does: it’s lightweight in the front, with all the weight in back over the drive wheels. It has a space frame with separate removable plastic body panels, so it’s not difficult to lift it a little and add clearance for bigger tires, much like a Beetle’s separate fenders.
But looking at it, I don’t think this Fiero’s suspension has been altered. It looks like the only modifications are the larger tires and the bolt-on fender flares – and a couple of cherry-bomb mufflers, which probably don’t improve the drone of the Iron Duke four-cylinder much. However it may sound, the seller says it runs and drives well. I don’t know what’s going on with the taillights; if anyone else can figure out what the hell that’s all about, please enlighten me.
The speedometer and odometer are broken, but the seller has installed a GPS unit to keep track of speed. It also includes the original wheels, if you prefer those to the wagon wheels. I’m not sure if the flares can be undone, however.
1991 Toyota Previa LE – $1,600
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Vail, AZ
Odometer reading: 381,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
You might guess, by the Gambler 500 logo on the door of this jacked-up Toyota Previa minivan, that you know its story. But no; there’s so much more to it than just a 500-mile jaunt through the woods. Apparently, this van was the transport of choice for a Rat Race-themed bachelor party road trip. The seller and five of his closest friends drove this van from Sacramento to Las Vegas to Silver City to Tucson, about 1,000 miles in total, and apparently it didn’t even hiccup.
The Previa is an anomaly in the minivan market; while most automakers were following in Chrysler’s footsteps with a transversely-mounted V6 driving the front wheels, Toyota laid a four-cylinder almost on its side and stuck it under the front seats, driving a more truck-like solid rear axle. Some Previas were supercharged and/or all-wheel-drive; this one is neither.
It has been lifted, and wears some seriously oversized tires; in fact, the seller says they’re a little too big, and rub the fenders even though they’re cut back. Some slightly less ridiculous shoes are probably a good idea. The front bumper has also been augmented with an obviously homemade brush guard and skid plate. If I’m not mistaken, those are street signposts – hopefully acquired through legitimate means, but I doubt it.
Obviously, it’s beat to hell on the outside, and has been painted with house paint. You’re either willing to put up with it or you aren’t. The seller claims the interior is in “pretty decent shape,” but that the air conditioner doesn’t work. After hauling six guys on a 1,000-mile road trip in the desert, it may be in decent shape, but I bet it smells ripe.
Cars like these are a hard sell, and I realize that. But they’re also fun to write about, and sure to stir up some colorful comments. And that, folks, is why I do this. If you want good car-buying advice, read Consumer Reports. I’m here to show you the dregs of the used car market, so we can all point and laugh together. So what’ll it be – the poser Fiero, or the half-dead Previa?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Fiero. The Previa is a tough vehicle, but after a desert running bachelor party is probably about to turn into a pile of rubble like if it were Wile E Coyote’s pursuit vehicle.
Fiero for me. The Previa looks too heavily molested for my taste.
Well, at least that Fiero is more interesting than the vast majority of them. That said, I’m going with the Previa, after tenting it and pumping in a solid dose of disinfectant/air freshener. Once that’s done, get the A/C fixed, pull up in front of my house, and confuse the hell out of my neighbors.
Do you want a toy or a work truck? If you want a toy, get the Fiero. If you want a work truck, get the Previa and give it a rattle can paint job.
Previa for the greenhouse alone. Such a nice interior to spend some time in. Tall glass abounds. Perfect for a camper van build.
I don’t want to be crawling in and out of the Fiero, or spend any time in its cramped little cabin.
Eh, I’ll take the Fiero and make a counterfeit Countach out of it. This is one of the very few times a kit would be an improvement.
I can smell that can from here. I’ll rallycross the Fiero, thanks.
This is The Way. (The Mandalorian incidental music plays)
A friend purchased and has babied an ’84 2M4 with a stick all these years, just winding it out every week or so, and I’ve always been a tad envious. (Even though that wouldn’t be the little roadster I’d choose to baby, myself.)
(My only connection to the weirdo minivan was an ill-fated, blessedly short-lived romantic coupling my sister-in-law had with some nutter who owned one and rolled that thing somewhere out in the desert en route from California to a family gathering. Which was a shame because one had to tip one’s cap to its design and I was eager to see it.)
As much as I want a Previa, that’s not the one. And I’ve always wanted a Fiero too so that’s the pick today. Laughing about the GPS speedo because I have the same thing going on my cop car. An old Garmin unit my Dad bought a long time ago, glued over the broken speedo…
no way in hell would I buy a youtubers cast off junk. I am kind of liking the weird stuff done tot he Fiero even. Oh and it has a manual trans.
I learned to drive in a minivan with a bra. No way am I going back to bra-town, even if it is a Fiero. Once you go bra-free you never go back.
Previa, the most cool minivan ever. If this car could talk …
While they’re both mid engine, RWD supercar goodness, I’ll take the Toyota reliability. If midship Yota engines are good enough for Lotus, they’re good enough for me!
I will not be accepting questions about my logic at this time.
“I will not be accepting questions about my logic at this time.”
No need. Your username says it all.
The inebriation doesn’t change my opinions or the quality of them (both of which are poor). It merely increases the “impulse buy” section of the brain.
That reminds me of one of my friend’s old saying, which was “The alcohol doesn’t change my stupid decisions, it just lets me make them faster”.
And deepens the inevitable regrets.
I’ll take the Bubba Stratos over the “oh my gawd, what is that stain”-mobile.
Those are EXCELLENT descriptions!
I made the same choice.
I’m going with the Pontiac. Judging from the pictures, I’d say they’re in the Rancho Vistoso neighborhood. There are some fun dirt trails just north of that area too.
I’m getting the Previa. The AC can probably be fixed. After that, shenanigans can be had in comfort!
There are several questionable choices with that Fiero (lowkey – who does furry seat covers in AZ?), but most could be undone and you’d have a reasonably civilized ride. There’s no undoing what has come of the Previa. God bless it for doing what it did, but Valhalla (or the desert equivalent) awaits. I guess I’m not fun or desert enough to appreciate what has come of either of these.
I’m with you on this. The Previa can’t be unbroken as easily as the Fiero, but neither is desirable in any way.
I’m a sucker for a mid-engined car so that’s…
…both of them. Dammit.
I’ve had five Toyotas, but as four of them were MR2s and none of my cars ever has been a van it’s got to be the Fiero.
Battle Wagons and Battle Vans will always have my heart. Previa.
Previa, please!
I think it would work better for its intended purpose than the Fiero which, despite its off-roady posing, has the exhaust about four inches off the ground under the rear bumper. It needs stacks.
No worries: that is standard steel box (or square) channel. It might still be stolen but I think it falls into the category of “whatever we had lying around”. Lowes sells it as “perforated square tube”.
Judging by the ramps, the Fiero still isn’t tall enough to clear the lip of the seller’s driveway. I’m still picking it, even though you can get a nicer one for the same price if you spend a few more minutes on your search.
These are both send it type vehicles at this point so I think the Fiero would be a bit more fun to send. But either would be fun for some type Lemons style race.
Agree on both being send its, but I think the Previs would be a lot of fun to blast along some soft roads.
They’re both worth slightly above scrap value, so I’ll take the Previa, which will bring more at the scrapyard.
Fiero. Honestly I’d rather have neither in their current state but at least I can drive the Fiero around as is until I was able to get around to fixing it’s issues.
Bad DIY tint job on them, from the looks of it. That dark would make me wonder about how bright they end up looking when lit. Hopefully peels off easily enough.