Good suspension mods with good gas milage, is it posible?

[Nerd Racing]

So I found a aspire with 67k on it. My other festiva is taking to long before he sells it. Is there anything wrong with the aspires? I mean you guys are swaping the sup and everything would it not be easier to buy a aspire instead or is it the weight savings you guys are going after?
Thanks for the imput you guys have been pretty good.
Chris

There isn't anything wrong with an aspire. I actually prefer them now that I have driven them for 4 years. They do have a different feel to them, but they also have aftermarket parts that can be adapted quite easily for body kits and such.

[waldoz]

As far as motor and tranny wise they are the same? This one is a 95 with 5 speed and one owner very clean look from the pics. I am trying to go look at it today if they ever email me back.

[Biglay5150]

Where is it located? How much do they want? Just curious.

[graywolf_14]

I have seen the vx wheels b4 bt I thought they were 14's?

[Biglay5150]

Oh by the way my buddy has a Festiva for sale here in Salem. I borrowed it wile I was doing my trans swap. It runs good but needs paint and some tlc. Hes got it on craigslist for $500 but I could hook you up a deal. Let me know.

[Levitan]

I'm not a big Aspire fan, but AspireGuy95 has a white, lowered, 4 door that I think looks awesome. There might be some photos of it in one of my threads in the Photo Gallery.

[TominMO]

I have been floating around on your board, its great to say the least. I think I am picking up a 92 with 160k and second owner with freeway miles. Is it possible to still get good gas milage with some good susp mods? Is there a special combo that some of you guys run? I tried to search but no luck. My round trip to work is pretty far but I would love to have bit better wheels and susp and still keep stock gas mileage. I was paying almost $300 a month in gas last year and I don't want to go back to that.
Thanks for any info and advice.

Cheapest (and to me best) way to go for a daily commuter:
1. new KYB struts, stock springs--lower springs will be stiffer. The new struts will already provide an increase in stiffness. Up to you.
2. 13" Metro wheels are a direct bolt-on and give you a far greater range of tire availabilty. I'd recommend 175/70x13--shorter, stiffer sidewall gives a little better cornering; it's taller than stock, so is geared higher for better hwy mileage. I like Kumho Solus KR21 tires. I'd do the strut/tire upgrade first, then see if you really want stiffer springs as well. With stiffer springs, hwy expansion joints might be too annoying.
3. check out the steering boots, they're probably needing replacement.
4. do the rear brakes and bearings.
5. replace hoses and belts, do basic tuneup stuff. Run some combustion chamber cleaner in the gas, and some de-sludger in the oil. With next oil change, throw in some seal conditioner.
6. buy a cheap seat cushion from Wal-Mart if you are so inclined, for the long commute.

[waldoz]

Where is it located? How much do they want? Just curious.

Well as long as you don't swoop in and buy it out from under me. Its in portland they want $1500 bit high though. I have to go look at it to really see. No email yet anyways. I think I really don't want a beater, looking for somthing super clean and no mantinace needed . I just want to drive the thing.

If I can get it for resonable price I will beable to go through the sup and put some goodies on it. Then I can build some braces ect for it or what ever. My wife says if I get that car the kids will not beable to ride in it. lol She says its unsafe.

[Biglay5150]

I have two young kids and I feel that my festiva is safe enough to drive them around in. I know a guy with an Aspire for sale in Portland. Heres a link.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1177461896.html

Call him and tell Him I (Bob with the Festiva) told you about it. Its very very well maintained he has alot of records.

[waldoz]

I have two young kids and I feel that my festiva is safe enough to drive them around in. I know a guy with an Aspire for sale in Portland. Heres a link.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1177461896.html

Call him and tell Him I (Bob with the Festiva) told you about it. Its very very well maintained he has alot of records.

I did see that one. If it did not have bad tittle and the dent but was a stick that would def be on the table.

[tb8983]

Waldoz,
I'm live just outside of portland(part of biglay5150 club) I have the aspire swap fms lowering springs and kyb's in all four corners and a full aspire swap running a 185/60r13 and after i did my swap and suspension i only notice a couple of mpg drop 2 or 3 at the most. It was well worth it to me cause my car feels like a gocart.

[waldoz]

How much did you spend on your sup? Thats about what I want to go, no wheel gap and the gocart set up. Later I can build some braces

[waldoz]

I am finding more scams on CL than ever starting to piss me off. That aspire I found on CL is on ebay in cali. The guy knows its me cause it happend with a ford focus too, except that I won the aution and tired to hunt him down. If any one in my area knows of a aspire of festiva. Post on here please.
thanks

[tb8983]

springs and the kyb's are from fms bout 400 and the aspire swap i got from a random guy on craigslist for 80 bucks and spend 200 getting new bearing, brakes and rotors and another 200 on tires and 150 for my strut tower brace

[waldoz]

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/1188138061.html

Anyone know about this one, I am going to go look at it in a little bit. He says it does not pass smog because of the carb. Said if it did not sell he was going to put a 16 valve swap on it with fuel injection. Only thing I don't like about it is its a rolling science project. It has all the stuff done as brakes and sway bars and stuff. To me it might be worth the extra $.
Tell me what you guys think?
Thanks
Chris