Declare Independence From Mediocrity With These Three Underrated American Sports Cars
In the postwar sports car scene in America, European cars were more numerous and more popular. A generation later, Japanese sports cars proliferated yet home-grown choices remained limited. In fact, you could credibly argue that the number of true, two-seater American sports cars can be counted on two hands. Among them, there are three overlooked and somewhat misunderstood but very entertaining choices.
1988 Pontiac Fiero GT
The original Fiero was sold to GM bean counters as an efficient two-seater “commuter” car. Because power and sporty handling weren’t part of the original design brief, the 4-cylinder Iron Duke-powered 1984 Fiero contained a mish-mash of suspension parts from GM underachievers, like the Chevy Chevette and Pontiac Phoenix. It was at least exceedingly thrifty on fuel and actually quite safe despite some engine fires on early cars that tarnished its reputation. But sporty it was not.
Somehow, the Fiero found enough advocates in the vast GM bureaucracy to benefit from some actual development—a decently powerful and growly V-6 and a Getrag 5-speed were quickly added, along with a new flying buttress fastback body style. But the chef’s kiss came with the 1988 Fiero GT, with its revised suspension that was similar to what the engineers wanted in the beginning. While not designed by Lotus (as has been often stated), it certainly bore some of the hallmarks of their designs. Alas, GM killed the Fiero at the exact moment that they got it right, so the Fiero only lived up to its full potential for one year.
Because of its one-year greatness, the 1988 GT is the most valuable of the Fiero family, with a condition #2 (“excellent”) value of $22,000 compared to $17,200 for a 1986 GT. The #3 (“good”) condition value is a rather cheap $12,300. The 1988 Fiero Formula, which has most of the GT equipment but with less flashy styling, is cheaper still with a #2 value of $12,400 and a #3 value of $7700. And this is for a wedgy mid-engine two-seater with a V-6 in a 5-speed. Imagine how much it would be worth if it were European or Japanese.
2007-2009 Saturn Sky Redline Roadster
The Saturn Sky may well be one of the most overlooked sports cars in history. It’s the forgotten twin to the Pontiac Solstice, and many think that it’s the more handsome of the pair. While the 2.4-liter Ecotec-powered base model was somewhat unremarkable, the high-performance model—the Redline—was simply sensational. A new 2.0-liter direct injected and dual-scroll turbocharged engine offered 260hp (up from 177hp in the base car) and 260 lb-ft, while a limited-slip diff further added to the excitement. It was enough to push the Sky Redline to 60 in well under 6 seconds, while the classic rear-drive, front-engine layout and competitive price made it a real alternative to the Japanese and German small sports cars that dominated the segment.
With an excellent chassis, quick and communicative steering, and handsome styling, the Sky Redline should be remembered as one of the best American sports cars of all time. Motor Trend said that “the handling and the drivetrain” make the Sky Redline a true star. Alas, it left a legacy to last a lunchtime, and it seemed to disappear from memory along with the Saturn division itself in the wake of the Great Recession. None of this should stop you from seeking one out. Condition #2 values range from $21,300 to $23,600, and #3 values range from $14,600 to $16,900 depending on model year. The equivalent Pontiac Solstice GXP, which is more distinctive but less elegant than the Saturn, typically runs a few grand less.
1992-1996 Chevrolet Corvette LT1
The C4 (1984-96) generation of Corvette truly gets little respect. It was very nearly a clean-sheet design, and it certainly had the appearance of one, while some truly cool new tech would find its way into the car over its long production run. Although there were some shortcomings on the early cars, maybe the best thing to find its way into the C4 was the LT1 version of Chevy’s evergreen 5.7-liter pushrod V-8, introduced for the 1992 model year. More rev-happy, and pumping out an even 300 hp, it was a 55-hp leap over the L98 that preceded it and it made the complex, expensive and somewhat peaky DOHC ZR-1 feel almost redundant.
Road testers from the big-four mags of the day (Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Automobile, and Road & Track) were unanimous in their praise for the car, deeming it a massive improvement over the previous C4 Corvette. The chassis, which had seen significant improvement over the previous generation C3, remained more than up to the task, especially when working in tandem with Bosch ABS and traction control (the latter could be defeated by flipping a switch).
C4s, even the much better late LT1-powered cars, live in a somewhat uncomfortable middle ground price-wise, in that the subsequent C5 (1997-2004) Corvette is objectively a significantly better car for not much more money while the C3 that came before is a bit antiquated but also has a classic look and charm that the C4 lacks. Regardless, it’s positively criminal how undervalued these late C4s are. Really clean ones sell from the high teens to low-20s depending on year and body style, but a decent LT1-powered driver can be had for under 20 grand easily.
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A buddy of mine had the 88 Fiero GT and I had an 88 Supercharged MR2. Man, what a difference of 2 cars having the same idea but executing it differently! The interior of his car was cramped while mine was spacious. His dashboard was just a bunch of ugly boxes while mine was(comparatively speaking) designed to have everything fall in hand easily with a bit more style. I had a leather interior while his was cloth(was leather even an option in a Fiero?). I drove circles around that Fiero! The MR2 was a bit more twitchy at speed but it was more fun to drive. It truly was a go cart! I bought another 89 Supercharged MR2 back in 2007 and she’s my baby! Don’t see many of then on the road anymore but I see even less Fiero’s. I wonder where they all are?lol
So what did you think about the Fiero? hard to tell from your comment. lol.
The Fiero’s are all over in the Midwest. As for interior the MR2 is cramped vs my Fiero. People up to 6.3 fit fine.
I have a low mileage 1988 Fiero GT and i consider it a grand touring car not a true sports car. It does have a lot of room inside and decent luggage space. It is fun to drive and very forgiving of handling errors. It is not a fast car but is reliable. Yes it has the optional leather seating option from the factory.
What about the chrysler crossfire beautiful car excellent handling can be had in very good condition with low miles for under 10,000
Your right,sometimes I think people dont know they exist.I have one of those very low mile ones.Beautiful fun cars.Aint no way its going for 10k though.
My problem with the Sky (and Solstice) is that the car is way too small inside for how big it is outside. I couldn’t wait for these cars to hit the showrooms. But when I finally get a chance to sit in one, at 6′-4″, I couldn’t get in the passenger side, let alone under the steering wheel.
I like my 96 Collectors Edition Vette. Like it better than my wife’s C5.
I was at a cars and coffee last week and there was a red skyline redline roadster. I had to be the only one to look at it. On paper it is fast enough and I liked the interior quite a bit. Maybe in 20 years as they go away they will become classics. Right now it is a smart choice for someone that doesn’t give a crap about what others think.
All these cars have better and most times cheaper and easier counterparts in this day, the C4 has the C5 as mentioned I owned both the C5 is hands down better in all aspects and easier to work on IMO. The Sky has the Miata, the Fierro has the MR2. Its not American snobery just simple dollars and sense. If I am stretching my budget to 20 k and want a nice top down well handling powerful car higher millage 2015 Mustangs with the 5.0 Coyote are now in that price range. They handle better, are much faster and have todys comforts people want. Time marched on and these cars are a once a month fun thing, may of the alternatives I mentioned can be regular drivers.
The Fierro and the MR2 were completely different cars. The MR2 was a far superior copy in quality, but if you drive them both you wouldn’t even think they were the same in any way at all unless curbside watching them drive by — except that your arse is 4″ off the ground which makes them fun… in a way no Mustang or full sized chassis can do.
“Copy” ? They both came out in ’84
I thought that the Sky was a Vauxhall from Great Britain.
I learned to drive a stick by sneaking my dad’s 84 fierro out at night. Light and easy to push out and a half block undetected. With you butt just 5″ off the ground and a noisy engine behind you, and with a 44/56 F/R weight distro, it was a very fun car compared to almost everything in the boring 80’s. And I got caught and was duly punished by the five-0 after mastering the apex’s near home.
I did the same thing in 1969 with my Grandma’s Corvair. What a blast.
As Carroll Shelby once said “Its SPORT car, not sports! Sports are games you play.
And cars can’t play games? Methinks Ole’ Shel is splitting too many hairs. I’m 79, and all my life I heard them called ‘sportscars’, and so what?
My 2006 Lexus SC430 is a rolling Rolex watch. Quiet, smooth, fast, luxurious.
And built to last.
Ummmm, or maybe they get no respect because, we;;, they don’t deserve any?
Owned a Fiero from new. Owning one is like being married to a beautiful Heroin addict. Your life will be miserable for as long as they’re around. The Solstice/Ion twins translate to ‘bad Miata’. There are no shortage of bad Miatas. There are better bad Miatas.
The Vette is a bit of a hard call. I worked at a Chevrolet dealer when the new Corvette came out. They were a massive change from the previous generation. But, the technology, materials and workmanship conspired to make this a really sub par Vette. I think this is best shown by their low price, and that the most popular use for them is turning them into go carts. To make it worse, the next gen is both cheap, and massively better.
Sorry, but there are periods in automotive history best left forgotten. The same money here could get you a really nice Rx-7, Porsche 944, or a host of others.
Will someone please mention the Cadillac XLR!!
I’m a young guy who thinks the Fiero is cool in retrospect, but I know my dad would have laughed, shook his head, and closed this article immediately to see it leading with the Fiero. I wonder if Fieros will ever outgrow their original terrible reputation.
I have a mint condition ’94 C4 Coupe with 68K on the clock. Best car I’ve ever owned and an absolute blast to drive! The biggest fault is having to FALL into it and climb out without pulling on the steering wheel! LOL!