My new 59k mile 1988.... Ford Festiva

[theastronaut]

I'm not sure how "proud of" this I should be, especially after what I paid (the forum needs a facepalm emoji), but this seemed like the best place for it...

I flew out to Las Vegas last week to buy an '89 Festiva L Plus with only 56k miles, then drove it 2,300 miles home to South Carolina. The car had been in Phoenix all of its life until September when it was sold to a friend of mine in Las Vegas. He's moving and can't take it with him, he gave me first shot at it when his house sold. It has a factory radio and rear defroster since it's the "Plus" model and it was also ordered with optional A/C. It's a four speed and carbureted, just like all good muscle cars.

I got a chance to start cleaning it up this weekend, the fenderwells and under the hood are going to clean up nearly like new. If you have a chance to buy a car you like from southern Arizona and it's been garaged, do it! The condition everything is in is unreal for a 34 year old car.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

It's a four speed and carbureted, just like all good muscle cars.

Lol!!!
Don't know what that says about you John that you like those penalty boxes....but as long as you aren't hurting anyone I guess it's OK. I worked for a guy that would buy them as insurance salvage. We rebuilt dozens of those things. Not my cup of tea. Only thing I thought was redeeming was the gas mileage. though my girlfriend at the time CRX got better gas mileage than the Festiva's I drove. I would take a CRX over a Festiva every time. Tinny is how I would describe it. The "good" ones all had 5 speeds and FI though. Seriously though, it looks like it's nearly new condition though. Pretty amazing for the age. How much did you pay for it?

 

[123pugsy]

No, really, I'm laughing with you.....

 

[123pugsy]

It really is in great shape though. Unbelievable, actually.

 

[RosharonRooster]

Where in SC? We just got back from Summerville. 17hrs one way on thanksgiving....19hrs coming back yesterday. A 2 hr delay in Louisiana totally sucked.

 

[theastronaut]

Lol!!!
Don't know what that says about you John that you like those penalty boxes....but as long as you aren't hurting anyone I guess it's OK. I worked for a guy that would buy them as insurance salvage. We rebuilt dozens of those things. Not my cup of tea. Only thing I thought was redeeming was the gas mileage. though my girlfriend at the time CRX got better gas mileage than the Festiva's I drove. I would take a CRX over a Festiva every time. Tinny is how I would describe it. The "good" ones all had 5 speeds and FI though. Seriously though, it looks like it's nearly new condition though. Pretty amazing for the age. How much did you pay for it?

I started out in a '64 VW bug as my first car, so this is faster, better handling, more comfortable, better mileage, etc. I don't like modern cars, or anything newer than mid 90's so these are about as modern as it gets for me, and their simplicity and interchangeability of parts reminds me of the VW. The main reason is they handle like nothing else with coilovers swapped on, it's the ultimate autocross sleeper. I paid $5,700, plus had the cost of plane tickets to get there and hotels/fuel on the way back. The most I've seen one sell for is $7,000 on ebay, a '93 efi/5spd with 67k miles so I don't think I'm too deep in it.

It really is in great shape though. Unbelievable, actually.

Yeah most were trashed since they were cheap throwaway economy cars. We have a lot of well preserved older cars in my area, but this is on another level. The heat shield on the exhaust manifold looks 95% new. All of the ink stamps, inspection marks, etc are still present. I only spent about five minutes to get the fenderwells to look that nice.

Where in SC? We just got back from Summerville. 17hrs one way on thanksgiving....19hrs coming back yesterday. A 2 hr delay in Louisiana totally sucked.

All the way on the other end of SC in Anderson.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

John, didn't mean to come across as a jerk. Car is in incredible condition and that sounded like a fun trip.

 

[theastronaut]

John, didn't mean to come across as a jerk. Car is in incredible condition and that sounded like a fun trip.

Didn't take it that way at all, we've discussed my ridiculous obsession with these before lol.

 

[LITJOHN]

NIce little car!!
I knew a few guys that drove compacts as work cars, I was one of them. Bought Honda Hatchbacks with scrap titles, repaired them and used them for work cars. They all got well over 30mpg and lasted 5-7 years. Guys would give me crap about driving them and I'd just ask how much is your truck payment, how much a week are you dropping in gas, what's your insurance, tax, plates costs? They would never answer and usually gave me the ur # 1 sign. To me, daily drivers are for getting from point A to B.

John

 

[El Toro]

I think it's a nice little car and better then some of the new cars out on the market,plain and simple

 

[Kawickrice]

Great score.
I had an 80 Chevette that was unbreakable. I drove the wheels off of that thing. That was the last small car I owned

 

[austincooper]

I'm not sure how "proud of" this I should be, especially after what I paid (the forum needs a facepalm emoji), but this seemed like the best place for it...

I flew out to Las Vegas last week to buy an '89 Festiva L Plus with only 56k miles, then drove it 2,300 miles home to South Carolina. The car had been in Phoenix all of its life until September when it was sold to a friend of mine in Las Vegas. He's moving and can't take it with him, he gave me first shot at it when his house sold. It has a factory radio and rear defroster since it's the "Plus" model and it was also ordered with optional A/C. It's a four speed and carbureted, just like all good muscle cars.

I got a chance to start cleaning it up this weekend, the fenderwells and under the hood are going to clean up nearly like new. If you have a chance to buy a car you like from southern Arizona and it's been garaged, do it! The condition everything is in is unreal for a 34 year old car.

I bought a new Ford Fiesta in 1979. Drove it everywhere. Gold with cloth houndstooth seats that wore through in a month and then took out my lower back. Except for the seats a decent car.

 

[Evil_Fiz]

Nice find. I've heard good things about the handling on those. My best friend in high school had one. I used to tell him if he painted a picture of Charlie Brown in the window and put a big handle on the roof he would have a lunch box with wheels.

-----
Emil

 

[MJM]

I like it, no make that, I love it. Great score !!!

So here's my offer....... I'll trade you my Barracuda, 3/4 Gallon of SPI black epoxy, activator, and a brand new roll of 180 grit sandpaper.

 

[theastronaut]

I like it, no make that, I love it. Great score !!!

So here's my offer....... I'll trade you my Barracuda, 3/4 Gallon of SPI black epoxy, activator, and a brand new roll of 180 grit sandpaper.

I don't know about that... does the Barracuda have a four speed?

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Ha, ha. I recognized a lot of the scenery from my numerous motorcycle rides.
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are about an hour from my house.

 

[tomsteve]

bet theres room for a 302 under the hood.

 

[MJM]

I don't know about that... does the Barracuda have a four speed?

It was an automatic, now it's a manual at your request. It only took a couple of minutes to cut a hole in the trans tunnel

 

[Dean Jenkins]

Ha, ha. I recognized a lot of the scenery from my numerous motorcycle rides.
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are about an hour from my house.

Sedona is one of our favorite places to visit. Not for vortexs or any new age weirdness. Just beautiful country.