[Spridgets] Price:quality in Exhaust Manifolds

Andrew Payne andrewpayne at intrex.net
Sat Feb 21 14:43:54 MST 2009


The original Fiero design was a slick mid-engined coupe that ot performed and
out handled the Corvette, at a much lower final price.  By using light weight,
mid-engine placement, a modern engine, and a chassis and suspension built from
scratch, GM had a potential winner.  Always forward thinking,  GM determined
that it could not risk the Vette's crown, and it was more cost effective to
limit performance of the Fiero, rather than improve the Vette.  Once the Fiero
became a styling showcase rather than an engineering showcase, they just threw
parts bin items in. Hence the Iron Duke engine.  The late V6 GT model was
closer to the original design, but still not to the level of the original
elegant design.   This compared to Porsche's stubborn belief that they are
wholy defined by an engine placement that thumbs its nose a the laws of
physics.  However, they have done everthing in there power to overcome this
design.

Drew

-----Original Message-----
From: "Billy Zoom" <billyzoom at billyzoom.com>
To: "Andrew Payne" <andrewpayne at intrex.net>; "Michael Rowe"
<mdrowe at optonline.net>; "Spridget Chat Group" <spridgets at autox.team.net>
Sent: 2/21/09 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Price:quality in Exhaust Manifolds

> When does a well executed poor design exceed
> a poorly executed superior design?  I.e. Porsche 911 vs. Pontiac Feiro.
I don't understand. The Fiero was poorly designed and poorly executed, but
looked kind of interesting from the outside.


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