Possible future Festiva owner. PLEASE READ!!

[Festivadream]

I'm 18 and I currently drive a '92 Ford Explorer. My uncle has a turquoise Festiva sitting in his shed/house in northern Wisconsin where I live. He moved out to Washington a couple years ago and doesn't want it at all. Ever since I first rode in it when I was younger I've been obsessed with the Festiva.

Me and my dad went to look at it and it has no rust but it does have 136,000 miles on it. Not sure what year it is but I believe it's a L. The transmission needs to be rebuilt apparently and a set of clutch parts was sitting on the passenger seat.

The whereabouts of the key are unknown so it's hard telling if it starts. It also has a number of dings on the front side panels from when my uncle drove it around on drugs. The windshield has a pretty big crack in it on the passenger side too.

I'm wondering if you Festiva enthusiasts would consider this a salvageable Festiva.

Thank You.

[Festiva_Fred]

I'd take it! Congrats If you get it, I just got my First Festiva/First car not too long ago. Mines a 1990 L with 211,000 miles. It's just getting broken in only having 136,000 on it! How long has it sat? Mine sat for 4 years and fired right up the first time and even drove on the trailer!

[sasquatch]

ANY festiva is a GOOD festiva!!!!!! that one sounds like it is a VREY salvageable festiva.

[cubstiva1]

yeah watch for brake line rot, from sitting so long. but i'd get right to work on her, and get er back on the road. we have all the parts and know how you'll ever need. good luck with it.

[Festiva_Fred]

yeah watch for brake line rot, from sitting so long. but i'd get right to work on her, and get er back on the road. we have all the parts and know how you'll ever need. good luck with it.

Oh yeah definitely check the brake lines before driving it! 3 of mine were rusted out.

[Sparky]

It sounds like you may have a hidden gem...with cars like these, seeing a Festiva with the miles you described means you have more than half of the car's life to go! Hey, post your location is the Dairy State...there are a few members in that fine state who might be able to help you some...

[geezerstiva]

go for it! and welcome to the board!

[Ogrestiva]

Yes, I say get it Festiva's have been known to get anywhere from 300-500,000 miles on them, but the trans is another story. where do you live? I have a partially broken trans that you could use to replace parts if you need along with other parts that you may want, PM me if you are interested. Is it FI or carb'd? check the inside of the door frame by the floor and see what the sticker says the year is. MOST of the time the year in the door is a year less than the year it was released(mine says it was made in 92', but it's a 93').

[FB71]

no, it's a piece of junk, and you shouldn't bother with it. I'll be up right away to remove it for you, free of charge...

Sounds like a great starting point! I've started with worse!

[Festivadream]

haha cool. Thanks for all the replies. Its been sitting unused for at least 6 or 7 years. I have little to no knowledge of cars but my dad is very good at fixing them and would do it. I've got the Festiva fever!

[Festiva_Fred]

haha cool. Thanks for all the replies. Its been sitting unused for at least 6 or 7 years. I have little to no knowledge of cars but my dad is very good at fixing them and would do it. I've got the Festiva fever!

Cool Good luck to you! I would go through the car and check over everything. Mine sat for 4 years and started on the first try, but was running rough, but after some work: Changing the oil and filter, spark plugs, fuel filter and air filter, and putting fresh gas in I got it to run good again. I didn't have too much experience with cars, but it's fun doing the work yourself

[Festivadream]

Well, the transmission is sitting out in front of the car on the ground/ floor.

[sam.1956]

Welcome! Sounds like a really fun project you've discovered! Festiva's seem to be like potato chips -- you can't stop at just one. Just fair warning that Festiva ownership really is a madness!! There's no known cure, but symptomatic treatment involves gathering (... some would dare say "hoarding") literally ANYTHING that's Festiva related!

[freshtiva]

First of all, if your uncle is going to give you a festiva I dont think you should mention that he drove it around on drugs. Most festys have dings, drugs or not. Second, dont try starting it with 6 or 7 year old gas in it. Thirdly, welcome to the forum and fix that festy up !!!

[elcamino1]

If its been sitting for 6 or 7 years the tanks empty unless he parked it with a full tank of gas,fuel pump probably won't work if its EFI.