Congrats to Cyclonecj!
Originally posted by cyclonecj
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Been waiting to re-enter my little car for a while. Lots of work done since last year when I co-won in June. Going for a solo win!
This is the story from last year, with minor updates:
Here is my 92 Festiva. 1.3L 5spd, A/C, Sport interior, & Bone stock. The Little Car!
It’s been part of the family for 19 years. I bought it because I was broke & changing to a better job, & could not afford to drive my truck to the new job every day, so I borrowed $500 for the down pmt on a $2000 car with 124k miles. It now has 270K miles, & has only had a few minor repairs (clutch, radiator & water pump, C/V shafts). It just keeps going....
My 2 daughters always called it the Little car, which has always stuck. They both used it to learn to drive a stick, then took their drivers test in it, as well as learning how to tow & back up a trailer. Since I tow a ski boat with the truck, I added a hitch & my daughter towed the ski to the lake every weekend for many years. Occasionally, I will still use it to tow the ski if I go up to the delta on a solo trip. It's amazing how many comments I get when I pull up to the launch ramp. BTW... Towing at 65 with the A/C on, it still gets 36mpg!
When my son-in-law had his car stolen, he borrowed it for a year before finally talking me into selling it to him. After another year, he blew out a CV shaft, & thinking it was the trans, he gave it back to me because his dad bought him a Mustang. I was so happy to have it back, I restored it back to excellent condition & have been driving it almost every day, (even though I have a new car sitting at home)! I have a few friends begging me to sell it, but it will never leave me again.
Since then, I have done quite a bit of work. I had the front seat (original red-stripe sport seat) re-foamed, & while he had it apart I had heated seat warmers added. The entire front suspension has been rebuilt, using Rio strut mounts, new CV shafts, tie rods, boots, etc. I spent 2 weeks trying to remove a CV shaft, gave up, & had to replace the trans with a spare in the garage.
I replaced the rear deck with a solid wood panel so I could add some REAL speakers, & covered it with grey cloth to hide it.
All lights have been converted to LED, & the headlights & fog/driving lights upgraded to relay.
In February, my grandson removed the stock wheels, installed studs & new 14" wheels. Really... he did everything. I had to loosen the lugs, & torque them at the end. He is only 5. Good times.
Just got back from an 800 mile mountain road trip with my sister & her husband. Car ran so good, with the exception of it puking some oil on the way home. Yet, in true Festiva fashion, it still got me home!
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Last, it took me 19 years, but I finally made the name official. Custom plates.
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This is the story from last year, with minor updates:
Here is my 92 Festiva. 1.3L 5spd, A/C, Sport interior, & Bone stock. The Little Car!
It’s been part of the family for 19 years. I bought it because I was broke & changing to a better job, & could not afford to drive my truck to the new job every day, so I borrowed $500 for the down pmt on a $2000 car with 124k miles. It now has 270K miles, & has only had a few minor repairs (clutch, radiator & water pump, C/V shafts). It just keeps going....
My 2 daughters always called it the Little car, which has always stuck. They both used it to learn to drive a stick, then took their drivers test in it, as well as learning how to tow & back up a trailer. Since I tow a ski boat with the truck, I added a hitch & my daughter towed the ski to the lake every weekend for many years. Occasionally, I will still use it to tow the ski if I go up to the delta on a solo trip. It's amazing how many comments I get when I pull up to the launch ramp. BTW... Towing at 65 with the A/C on, it still gets 36mpg!
When my son-in-law had his car stolen, he borrowed it for a year before finally talking me into selling it to him. After another year, he blew out a CV shaft, & thinking it was the trans, he gave it back to me because his dad bought him a Mustang. I was so happy to have it back, I restored it back to excellent condition & have been driving it almost every day, (even though I have a new car sitting at home)! I have a few friends begging me to sell it, but it will never leave me again.
Since then, I have done quite a bit of work. I had the front seat (original red-stripe sport seat) re-foamed, & while he had it apart I had heated seat warmers added. The entire front suspension has been rebuilt, using Rio strut mounts, new CV shafts, tie rods, boots, etc. I spent 2 weeks trying to remove a CV shaft, gave up, & had to replace the trans with a spare in the garage.
I replaced the rear deck with a solid wood panel so I could add some REAL speakers, & covered it with grey cloth to hide it.
All lights have been converted to LED, & the headlights & fog/driving lights upgraded to relay.
In February, my grandson removed the stock wheels, installed studs & new 14" wheels. Really... he did everything. I had to loosen the lugs, & torque them at the end. He is only 5. Good times.
Just got back from an 800 mile mountain road trip with my sister & her husband. Car ran so good, with the exception of it puking some oil on the way home. Yet, in true Festiva fashion, it still got me home!
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Last, it took me 19 years, but I finally made the name official. Custom plates.
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