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Over the last few weeks, I sold my '72 Mach 1 and my '89 Auto Festurda in hopes of landing a newer 5 speed Festiva. I heard about an '89 Mazda 323 with a shelled tranny for $450 that I posted some questions about. Maybe I can fix it and make a few bucks and learn some things while doing the fixup on the 323. Also, I was introduced to the Mercury Capri xr2 Turbo and thought that it was a pretty cool looking car.
So, Friday, I'm at work, when a guy I work with tells me he has a buddy that has a Mercury Capri xr2 Turbo for sale. My radar was on full alert. How much I ask. $4000 Not for me!! Way outta my price league right now. Anyways, somehow we get around to this guy has a motor and 5 speed out of another Capri, non-turbo, 110,000 miles for $200. I'm thinking, well there is my tranny for the 323, and a motor for a future transplant into a Festiva.
Went and looked at the 323 Saturday, what a piece of sh**. Guy told me it was cherry except for the tranny. :x Not worth it to me, but oh well.
So, onto the web for a 5 speed car. I looked at everything from North Dakota to Arkansas, from Indiana to Colorado when I find a 5 speed Festy that was hit in the left fender and rusty, high miles, but mega new parts. Wanted $250, I got it for $200. Said he thinks the rack is shot, so I'll tow it back and replace the rack...eBay $189 or something for a rebuilt one. At least that's what I thought I would do.
Anyways, I'm riding around with my cousin Saturday and we were talking about driving up and down streets, finding cars, knocking on doors and seeing if any of them were for sale. I even commented to him how I used to do that in my younger years, but never found anything to buy or anything anybody wanted to sell. I drop him off and am cruising used car lots when I see a few side roads. I drive up and down them to the last road, turn the corner and there it is. Red Festiva. Windshield has had "for sale" boot polished on, but semi- removed. I go to the door, lady says she's not sure her husband wants to sell it or not, but she'll call him. I go out to the drive to check it out, 5 speed, rear wiper, alloy wheels in superb shape, 106,000 miles. About that time he shows up in his pickup. I ask him if he's interested in selling it. He says not really, but what will you give me for it. I tell him, I have no idea what they are worth. He says, I'll tell you what, I'll sell it to you for what I bought it for. I asked how much did you buy it for? I'm thinking $800. I wouldn't have paid $800, but I could see where the guy could ask for that much. He says $350. :shock: I about crapped myself! So I bought it!!!!! Now the $200 car will probably become a parts car, and now I'm only about a baker's dozen away from having as many Festys as Freshtiva. :wink:
2 Festy's in one weekend. How was your weekend? Mine was Festabulous!!
Later,
Levitan
So, Friday, I'm at work, when a guy I work with tells me he has a buddy that has a Mercury Capri xr2 Turbo for sale. My radar was on full alert. How much I ask. $4000 Not for me!! Way outta my price league right now. Anyways, somehow we get around to this guy has a motor and 5 speed out of another Capri, non-turbo, 110,000 miles for $200. I'm thinking, well there is my tranny for the 323, and a motor for a future transplant into a Festiva.
Went and looked at the 323 Saturday, what a piece of sh**. Guy told me it was cherry except for the tranny. :x Not worth it to me, but oh well.
So, onto the web for a 5 speed car. I looked at everything from North Dakota to Arkansas, from Indiana to Colorado when I find a 5 speed Festy that was hit in the left fender and rusty, high miles, but mega new parts. Wanted $250, I got it for $200. Said he thinks the rack is shot, so I'll tow it back and replace the rack...eBay $189 or something for a rebuilt one. At least that's what I thought I would do.
Anyways, I'm riding around with my cousin Saturday and we were talking about driving up and down streets, finding cars, knocking on doors and seeing if any of them were for sale. I even commented to him how I used to do that in my younger years, but never found anything to buy or anything anybody wanted to sell. I drop him off and am cruising used car lots when I see a few side roads. I drive up and down them to the last road, turn the corner and there it is. Red Festiva. Windshield has had "for sale" boot polished on, but semi- removed. I go to the door, lady says she's not sure her husband wants to sell it or not, but she'll call him. I go out to the drive to check it out, 5 speed, rear wiper, alloy wheels in superb shape, 106,000 miles. About that time he shows up in his pickup. I ask him if he's interested in selling it. He says not really, but what will you give me for it. I tell him, I have no idea what they are worth. He says, I'll tell you what, I'll sell it to you for what I bought it for. I asked how much did you buy it for? I'm thinking $800. I wouldn't have paid $800, but I could see where the guy could ask for that much. He says $350. :shock: I about crapped myself! So I bought it!!!!! Now the $200 car will probably become a parts car, and now I'm only about a baker's dozen away from having as many Festys as Freshtiva. :wink:
2 Festy's in one weekend. How was your weekend? Mine was Festabulous!!
Later,
Levitan
Between the three of us we would have 13 festivas, more than enough for a festiva meet.
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