New to Forum and Festiva ownership

[Oldwarrior52]

I recently purchased a 1992 Festiva L with 5-speed. The inly option it has is A/C and it still works. Also the previous owner upgraded to 14 in steel rims and is currently rolling on 175/65R14's. I ordered the same size through Discount tires and will have thrm installed tomorrow. I am in the market for some parts, I have called the local pick n pulls and they only have 1 carcass to pick from so I am not hopeful it retains things I need. Is there a good source online that has decent prices? I have been looking online for a drivers side headlight and what I have seen is a bit pricey. $70 headlight for a $700 car! And help would be appreciated!

[Studebaker]

Personally I would buy a new headlight. Its not how much it cost. Its how much money driving the car will save you. Been driving a Festiva for about 15 yrs. Figured its save me from buying at least one new car.

Btw its a nice looking car. How about some more pictures.

Go check out the parts car. See if there's anything you might need now or in the future. Having a parts car in the back yard will save you a lot of money. I have three.

[Oldwarrior52]

It has only 86k original miles... on thr 200 miles drive back home running 60 with the A/C on I averaged 52 mpg.

[firebush357]

If those tires end up giving you problems like rubbing and stuff you can switch over to 165/55/14 which is almost identical to the stock tire diameter. These headlights are starting to get hard to come by in good condition because once they get water in them they get rusty inside.

[Oldwarrior52]

Yeah that's what happened to the driver side I got water in it and I got Rusty the headlight works there's just no reflective element left in that headlight.

[Oldwarrior52]

Yeah that's what happened to the driver side I got water in it and it got rusty... the headlight works there's just no reflective element left in that headlight.

[Oldwarrior52]

So those new tires were rubbing badly and I went down to a Pick-n-Pull it just got in an 89 Festiva. What a treasure Trove of had more options in my car had I got four wheels center caps plugs tires headlight new shifter knob all for $128 bucks!

[harpon]

I've always liked 155 tires- the old VW Rabbits in the 70's- I had several- had 13 x 155 tires and we'd comment - some friends had them too-how long they'd last. It was a heavier and longer car- but the proto type of transverse mounted (1.8) 4 cyl hatchback cars like Festys, for sure. 155/80/ 12 are a great stock tire and you'd never think you'd need any power steering. On my first old '88 Festy- I used to get NEW 145/12 inch tires for $15 because that was the tire they'd feature in the newspaper display ads- and they worked well- drove across the country a few times- but they did wear rather quickly. My Aspire first came with 175 x 13 and I didn't pay much attention to them- had them all replaced- but finally realized- geez I could return to 155 width- and that's what I've used ever since on alloy 13 Honda rims-

suddenly the Aspire felt like driving the Festy and not as sluggish- this old gal was getting tired of muscling the 175's in the parking lot and 20mm off the width makes a big diff there.

[harpon]

Sorry- keep getting weird responses to posting as if it's not up here when it is- escort 1.9.jpg

[Oldwarrior52]

So some things I accomplished this week, Texas state inspection $7... registration and tags $16 and toll tag. I bought a new am/fm tuner with mp3 plugin off Amazon for $30 and am waiting on a stock wiring harness to indtall it. I am going to drop the bumpers and paint them black then work on the stock steelies and paint them silver. My new tires should be in at Discount tire tomorrow.

[Oldwarrior52]

Finally got the tires in today, wow what a difference that makes on the highway! Bumpers are painted too... waiting for it to warm up to work on painting the wheels. I keep trying to upload pictures and keep getting a server error... oh well.

[Oldwarrior52]

[Oldwarrior52]

Old door panels, new door panels.

[Studebaker]

There is a rattle can red paint that is very very close to the Festiva red. I have used it to repaint the grill.

[Oldwarrior52]

It was a warm day yesterday so I got out the buffer and clay bar. The clear coat is long gone and I removed some oxidation but the color really came back. Looks alot better that when I first brought it home. Need to finish wiring in the radio then work on the wheels.