European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 27, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                June 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13 motorcycle conversion is costly affair the subject of car conversions has been discussed often in this and its time that we take a Brief look at the motorcycle converting a new or relatively new for Eig made car to specifications can be a Good depending on the Type of car but it can also be a Nightmare and a big mistake if things go in the Case of new Howe going the conversion route would Al most always prove a financial Nils Van general manager of the a a fes Concession cycles America in Frankfurt and provides a Good his information comes from Kawasaki motors which replied to a letter of inquiry from an american Serviceman who asked about converting a ninja using the ninja As an a euro pea specification 900r would Cost at least to convert and perhaps depending on the Epa testing the Kawasaki Headquarters Epa emissions testing is available Only in the United in regard to department of transportation Dot the cycles speedometer must be changed to read in Miles per the Headlamp must be of and the tires must have the Dot letters on the these costs would involve Kawasaki regarding the engine on the ninja the Cylinder Carburettor exhaust system and emis Sion controls All must be changed this generally applies to All with parts costing about and labor about bonding on entry would Cost about and the emissions test anywhere from to the Cost of a ninja including european is by the Cost of a euro pea specification ninja in Germany without tax is about to add for conversion purposes and you get a total of with converting appears to be a pointless and expensive Bow expands 3series Bow of Munich has announced that its 3series Range will be expanded by five new with the cars to be shown at the Frankfurt International Auto show on included in the expansion will be a 324d diesel a 325i a 3251 four wheel drive a 325i and an m3 sports Model with Power from a special 4cylinder m motor that turns out 195 the 324d diesel Model will have a engine of 86 while the 325i cars will be powered by 6 Cylinder engines of 171 while prices Are not yet Bow says they will Range in the neighbourhood of Marks for the 324d diesel to Marks for the Fourshee drive porsche at rec Center the porsche firm of Ger will display several of its models sat urday at the the Patton recreation Center in the presentation scheduled from 10 to 5 along with the porsche will display examples of catalytic and will Snow films about porsche car brochures will be available in and porsche personnel will be present to answer this Allday show is another in the Pat ton recreation centers continuing monthly series featuring european car firms and their Randy Barnett cat Corner the Topo theline Fiero it the Pontiac Fiero it shown Here comes with a v6 engine of 140 horse Power As the two seater which looks fast even when its parked on a is americas first mid engine production in it the Fiero features wide tires on Alloy and a spoiler at the headlights Are optional engine adds 50 horsepower Pontiac Fiero is a much improved car by Jan Zverina Detroit up last the mid engine Pontiac Fiero was the hit of the new car featuring innovations like Plas tic body an inner Frame construction similar to a Roll Cage in a race and an engine mounted in the artfully disguising its heavy use of Gen eral motors car the 1984 Fiero could be ordered in any color and with any engine so Long As it was red with a four color choices were gradually expanded to include Silver and but the real improvements came this year with an Isuzu made five Speed transmission for the four Cylinder a new instrument Cluster with an Oil pressure and a badly needed infusion of almost 50 horse Power with an optional v6 the two seater Fiero is now available in four starting at for the base for the sport for the Fiero and for the Fiero which has the v6 engine the Cost of a Well equipped be Model is about including for the larger for an automatic Gearbox and for air once there is ample legroom and although getting in and out is awkward because the car sits so while the Center console gives occupants a nestled a glance through the Side window shows you Are almost Eye level with the bumpers of most other the Sid View mirrors help reduce a Blind spot formed by the wide pillar Between the Side and rear Luggage space is almost but the Fiero was originally conceived As a commuter and Only turned into a sports Model after fuel prices dropped and the Public demanded a deep but narrow Well behind the engine holds a Large or the full sized tire that has to be carried if one gets a the front compartment holds the space Saver Brake and two Pontiac Fierose models were tested a 2m4 with a four Cylinder engine and 5speed and a 2m6 Model with a v6 and the four Cylinder Epa rated at 25 mpg city31 mpg is Peppy from standstill although it quickly runs out of steam by 60 even with the manual the 140horsepower v6 gives the car considerably More although the accelerator linkage makes it feel like the Power is coming from some Remote location rather than directly behind the front and one pays for the added Power with an Epa rating of Only 18 mpg city24 mpg and the engines extra weight is Felt in the Fieros the lbs stiff suspension gives a Choppy ride because the Driver sits Low and near the bad bumps Are telegraphed directly to the Driver through the and the Fiero Breaks into an Irish Jig at the first sign of poor the no Power Rackman opinion steering is an Arm Buster at Low speeds or but once on the Road it feels the gear shifter is the same awful unit As last besides its Sloppy one can easily shift into reverse while driving be cause there is no lockout As in other the shift linkage on the test car Leav ing Only two gears to Limp around an informal Survey among the More than 35 owners who were Selling their Fieros in the Detroit area showed that most were Happy with the car except for its space limitations and service problems with Many owners said they were Selling Sim ply because the Novelty of the car had worn to Purchase or to order a Pontiac or for More details regarding this sports prospective buyers May Contact general motors sales representatives at the a a fes new car sales Points on various bases in the new Fourshee drive Bow 3251 Bow of Munich plans to expand its sue wheel drive 3251 shown a 3251 and a special m3 sports see car Cess Ful 3series Range to include a four a 324d a 3251 Sedan Corner column for