Mom needs help!

[natas999]

I'm new to this but I need help so I'll give it a try. My son (in Army) was severely injured (by Army) and has now been honorably discharged/retired and is disabled. The Army is not as of yet living up to it's "responsibility's" big surprise-- long horrible story. Back to the point. We live in Southern Virginia. We bought a 91 automatic Festiva with a 92 engine in it. It had been sitting quite a while. We have a Festiva ourselves (manual) and love it. My husband spent MUCH time on "the new one" and it's running well except for one thing. It's blowing smoke. Our son is getting "the big green weeny" (army term) from the military so there is no more money to invest plus with the permanent damage to his back he can't ride in the vehicle anyway. $1280.00 invested in this Festiva (total) what is my best option to get this money back for my son? It will be years, if ever, before the Army comes through. Our son is very depressed, he just got home 2 weeks ago, and the OCEAN of red tape etc is overwhelming and he gets calls from his "still-in" Army buddies filling him in on the latest injured/wounded and killed. Between no money, disability and the emotional toll I have to get this thing sold for him. Any suggestions as to the BEST way to do this ASAP? Thanks for your time. Sincerely,
A WORRIED MOM.

[ejp2fast]

If possible, please post some pictures of the vehicle.
go to www.photobucket.com and create an account and then upload the pictures..
then, copy and past the picture url in a post.. this will attach the picture.

don't forget to fill in your profile location before admin gets on your tail.

Sorry to hear about your situation...

[freshtiva]

Im moving this to general discussion. Im not sure if you are looking to sell ("what is my best option to get this money back for my son") or you are asking for repair suggestions. If you are trying to sell the car please read the rules concerning posting in this forum. Here is a link to those rules below. Sorry to hear about your sons troubles !!

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1932

If you are wanting to sell the car people are going to want as much detail as possible, pictures will help. Just read the rules and start a new [FS] post in the FS/W forum. Good luck with everything !!

[natas999]

Thanks so much for your rapid reply. I"ll do more research about the "profile location" stuff and get it fixed. My husband is the one who found this site but we haven't used it much so it's all a little new. Right now we seem to be in a "weather front storm" thing so I'll have to wait on the pictures until the wind/rain/freezing stuff blows over to take them. Thanks again.

[natas999]

I apologize for not knowing all the in's and out's of this site. To be honest I've never used a forum etc before. I was wanting to get Festiva lovers opinions on the best methods to sell a Festiva with an issue (smoke). IE sell it as is? sell it part by part? Have it fixed and then try to sell it? Please let me know the appropriate place to ask such a question. We live out in the boon docks and my computer skills are obviously tiny... but I'm giving it a try. Please forgive any mistakes I have made. I'm a work in progress.

[ejp2fast]

no problem.. we like to see new members.

[Sparky]

Hooray for great Moms! Welcome to the site and many thanks to your son for his sevice to our country!

[FB71]

welcome to the site, and tell your son "thank you", from a Desert Storm/Success and Deny Flight vet.

Did your son spend any time at the Walter Reid hospital? I was recently involved in a project there, to help construct a driving simulator to aid the physical rehabilitation of injured troops.

[25Horseplay]

Natas999 if you want to send me pictures I will post them up for you if it will help.
Tell your son that WE appriciate what he has done in serving our country and if he wants good friends and online company to come here, he's welcome even if he isn't driving a Festiva.
If you need some help working on the car we have several members in southern Va. Maybe one would be willing to stop over and lend a hand.

[SimonTuffGuy]

I'd sell the car as is... I'm sure someone here is more than willing to buy something like that as a daily driver or project car. The smoking issue may be nothing major.